By Andrew Warshaw
January 23 – The FIFA official overseeing the presidential election process says the names of the candidates for the May 29 ballot may not necessarily be announced until several days after next Thursday’s deadline for nominations.
In a statement, FIFA compliance chairman Domenico Scala said his three-man panel will need time to carry out integrity checks and other key issues before confirming those eligible to stand.
“We have to consider that it will take some time until the (panel) will be in a position to announce the candidates,” Scala said.
“Thus, we really cannot comment, regardless of whether any prospective candidate declares that he/she meets the requirements by the deadline.”
Scala did not name any of the prospective candidates who are preparing to confirm whether or not they will stand. Nor did he make it clear whether FIFA would publish the names of the five member federations each candidate needs under the rules to enter the race.
The new electoral regulations were set up as part of FIFA’s reform process to ensure a fair process and that only bone fide contenders could apply. Many believe that by the time all the relevant paperwork has been processed, only Asia’s outgoing FIFA vice-president Prince Ali bin al-Hussein will be left to run against Sepp Blatter although former FIFA deputy general secretary Jerome Champagne could well be in the race as well.
Scala’s panel colleagues are FIFA disciplinary committee chairman Claudio Sulser of Switzerland, and appeals committee chairman Larry Mussenden of Bermuda. “It is impossible for the (panel) to confirm anybody prior to having assessed the proposed candidates,” Scala said on FIFA’s website.
“Any of the 209 member associations can propose a candidate for the office of the President until the end of 29 January.”
“This does not necessarily mean that we will receive all respective documents physically on 29 January – it is sufficient if, for example, the postmark confirms that the submission was made within the deadline. As such, it is possible that relevant documents will be received only in the following days, for example at the beginning of February.
“It is impossible for the Ad-hoc Electoral Committee to confirm anybody prior to having assessed the proposed candidates.
“All submissions must be made in writing to the FIFA general secretariat within the deadline. The general secretariat will then forward them to the Ad-hoc Electoral Committee for examination and for a decision to be made on the admission of the candidate to the FIFA presidential elections.
“Before such a decision is made, however, the Ad-hoc Electoral Committee will, upon receipt of the proposed candidatures, forward them to the investigatory chamber of the ethic committee to carry out the integrity check within the ten-day deadline specified in the Electoral Regulations.
“Upon receipt of the integrity check, the Ad-hoc Electoral Committee will reconvene in order to review all of the submissions made and to take a decision on the admission and declaration of the proposed candidatures.”
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734830439labto1734830439ofdlr1734830439owedi1734830439sni@w1734830439ahsra1734830439w.wer1734830439dna1734830439