By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent
November 7 – Harold Mayne-Nicholls, the former Chilean FA president who announced last month that he was considering taking on Sepp Blatter for the FIFA presidency, says he will make a final decision in the New Year even though Blatter is odds-on favourite to clinch a fifth term next May.
Mayne-Nicholls, the respected head of the FIFA technical inspection team which assessed all nine candidates who bid for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup, says the current impasse over exactly when to stage the 2022 tournament in Qatar was a classic example of why FIFA needs fresh direction.
Mayne-Nicholls and his team flagged up several caveats in Qatar’s bid, not least the heat, but in the end the Gulf state managed to persuade a strong majority of the FIFA executive committee at the time to hand the World Cup to the Middle East for the first time.
“When I submitted my report exactly four years ago, we said it was risky for the health of the players to play in June and July,” said Mayne-Nicholls in the second part of a two-part interview with Insideworldfootball (http://www.insideworldfootball.com/world-football/south-america/15789-exclusive-mayne-nicholls-says-nov-dec-2022-must-be-a-non-starter).
“It has taken us four years to get to the point where we are seriously talking about Qatar and the heat. In my personal opinion, that is partly down to the leadership. I’m still studying the situation (over whether to run) and it motivates me a lot. I would like a lot of candidates so we can discuss ideas.”
The first declared presidential candidate was Jerome Champagne, a former deputy general secretary of FIFA. January 29, four months before the election, is the deadline for contenders to confirm whether they will go for the top job in world football.
“I will take a decision in the New Year,” said Mayne-Nicholls. “I won’t go right up to the deadline. If I go for it, I will do my best to try to bring new blood to the game.”
Mayne-Nicholls, 53, says he has received considerable encouragement to go all the way even though Blatter will be expected to romp home against whoever takes him on.
“I have received a lot of calls from friends. Lots of people have said they will support me but I know very well you need more than just words.”
No longer involved in his federation, he is nevertheless certain he will meet the criteria of having been actively involved in football for two of the previous five years. “In 2010 I was at the Chilean FA and in 2011 a consultant for FIFA. I’ve also been vice-president of my club.”
Mayne-Nicholls says he already has the required minimum support of five national federations but won’t name them.
Speaking in measured rather than bombastic language about his chances, he continued: “Of course five is not enough. I know full well you cannot go into an election with just five. But I think I would definitely get support from outside South America. I’ve already been talking with people in Asia, Europe and CONCACAF.”
Mayne-Nicholls revealed he took his decision to consider running once UEFA boss Michel Platini ruled himself out. “Nothing is decided but it’s on the table.”
“A big factor is my family. It would be a big change for all of us and I have to think about that. But we need a change. We cannot continue this way. But I agree I would need to work very hard with a real campaign – not just via the internet – to make sure people know who I am and what I stand for. “
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