Frenchman Jerome Champagne is to make another bid for FIFA presidency, saying that football’s governing body needs to be saved from collapse and the World Cup protected.
Champagne, who held four posts at FIFA, including deputy secretary general, between 1999 and 2010, said the organisation was “in danger” after being buffeted by a wave of scandals over the last few years.
“We need to save FIFA and its role of governance and redistribution, which is in danger at a time when they are needed the most,” said Champagne in a letter to FIFA’s 209 member associations, which will choose the next president at a Congress on February 26.
“We must also restore FIFA’s credibility and prepare it for the challenges of an ever-evolving world.”
“We must protect the World Cup as that moment of planetary communion during which the pride in our colours and friendship among people of the world are truly at the altar.”
FIFA was thrown into turmoil in May when the US Department of Justice indicted 14 officials and sports marketing executives on a series of corruption charges.
In June, president Sepp Blatter announced he would lay down his mandate, just four days after being re-elected for a fifth four-year mandate.
Earlier this month, Blatter and UEFA president Michel Platini, who had been the favourite to replace him, were both suspended for 90 days pending an ethics investigation.
Champagne had wanted to run in the election earlier this year but failed to get the written backing from five national football associations (FAs) which is needed to register.
With the October 26 deadline for nominations looming, Jordanian Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein and former Trinidad and Tobago midfielder David Nakhid have announced their candidacies.
Former Brazil World Cup player Zico also wants to run but has said he is struggling to get the backing of five FAs and Asian football chief Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain has said he is taking soundings about a possible run.
