06 Jan 2015
Fifa vice president to stand against Sepp Blatter in upcoming election
BY Tom Anstey
Fifa vice president Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein has said he will stand as a candidate against current president Sepp Blatter for leadership of football’s governing body.
The Jordanian Prince, who has headed Jordanian football as president since 1999, will be the favoured candidate of UEFA, which does not want Sepp Blatter – president of Fifa since 1998 – to run for another term.
Prince Ali was among those calling for the publication of investigator Michael Garcia’s report into allegations of corruption around both the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids, not isolated incidents during the 17-year reign of Blatter.
"It is time to shift the focus away from administrative controversy and back to sport,” said Prince Ali in a statement. "The headlines should be about football, not about Fifa."
It was reported last month that there had been secret talks between Fifa officials and Sepp Blatter over his future at the helm of world football. At present, Blatter and Prince Ali have one other contender, in the shape of former French diplomat, Jerome Champagne.
Close Window