Paris (AFP) – One week before the presidential election to FIFA, the cards are reshuffled Michael van Praag and Luis Figo retire, leaving the Prince Ali alone challenge the incumbent leader Joseph Blatter always favorite, to 79 years.
. Predictable withdrawals
Three candidates sitting in the same reservoir of votes (54 votes to map the UEFA opposed Blatter, plus some other slingers like the United States, disillusioned World-2022 attributed to Qatar) were the electoral suicide
Van Praag, 67, president of the Dutch Football Federation (KNVB) knew, launching on March 23. “It would be wise at a time of s’ sit and see the balances, and either leave it like that, or else remove one or two candidates. “
This top challenger to Blatter took place as confirmed to AFP Renske Bruinsma, door Floor-KNVB: “Everyone knows that there has been a discussion between the candidates about a possible consolidation forces”
On Thursday, Van Praag’s campaign team. confirmed its withdrawal by a sober statement: “After many deliberations and discussions with the various people involved, Michael van Praag has decided to withdraw his candidacy and join his forces to the candidate Prince Ali”. The former president to handle Ajax Amsterdam should be explained in more detail in the evening, during a press conference, which is promised “a statement” Prince Ali.
Figo Former star player of Barcelona, Real Madrid or Inter Milan, has a few more hours to announce his withdrawal Thursday. The former Portuguese Golden Ball of 42 years became a reason: while he enjoyed great popularity -Jose Mourinho rested, for example-but his inexperience in the instances penalized
. That will weigh Ali?
The Dutch newspaper “De Volkskrant”, who had fanned withdrawals Van Praag and Figo on Wednesday, painted a picture of forces. The three challengers have traveled the world to convince the presidents of the federations (209) who will vote next Thursday in Zurich. In this game there, Prince Ali emerged victorious: “He visited the largest number of countries and had an almost unlimited campaign budget” summarizes the Batavian newspaper. And to emphasize that, because he is since 2011 the executive committee of FIFA (kind of government the World football), the Jordanian “has best contacts.”
But the man in the twitter account “AliForFifa” (“AliPourlaFifa”) also has disadvantages: it is not President of the Asian Confederation (AFC) which depends on his country, Jordan. This is the Sheikh of Bahrain Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa in this position and is an avid supporter of “Sepp” Blatter. And in view of some voters, it will seem very young in every sense of the word: he is 39 and he only sits for four years on the executive committee of FIFA
In front, such as. said an expert dossier AFP, Blatter for 40 years at FIFA, 17 of the presidency, “has an ability to make people dependent or liable, but not in the sense that they regret it: these people know Blatter with what they have, they do not know what they have with another “
Figo, bitter on her Facebook page Thursday, did no illusions for Prince Ali.: “My decision is made, I will not participate in the election called for the presidency of FIFA. This electoral process is anything but an election. It is a plebiscite which aims to give absolute power to a man, what I refuse to support. Is it normal that an election for one of the largest organizations in the world takes place without public debate? Is it normal that one of the candidates do not even bother to take present a program? “
Blatter refused any public debate, repeating that his record spoke for him.
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