By Martina Farmbauer in Rio de Janeiro
June 12 – SPORT1 interviewed Brazilian football legend Zico about his intended candidature for the FIFA presidency and how he wants to clean up the world governing. But before he declares his to run he wants to see some “new rules of the game” in the election race.
“If there are the necessary changes, I will compete,” the 62-year-old said as he declared themselves as “qualified” for the post via his experiences as a politician in the early 90s, when he was Minister of Sport in Brazil.
For many outside of Brazil he is known as the “white Pele”. At a press conference held at his football school CFZ he called for the abolition in the election regulations whereby a candidate must be proposed with the support of at least at least five national associations.
SPORT1: Zico, you have just returned from the Champions League final in Berlin. In Germany, the respect for Brazil is still great.
Zico: I saw that in the World Cup. If Germany had no respect, the result would have been 1:14 (Laughs.) No, seriously, I had to work there.
SPORT1: Is your experience as a player, coach and sports minister an advantage in the FIFA candidacy or is it perhaps a disadvantage because you without this experience you could take a clean approach?
Zico: I’m clean with or without experience. Michel Platini had only a post as an official, the organising committee of the 1998 World Cup in France, before he became UEFA president. Experience is very valuable for such an office and always helps.
SPORT1: How can FIFA be clean again?
Zico: That depends on who is in charge. The condition of a house always depends on the person who has the final say. So if the person at the top has an attitude, a philosophy, a structure in place, I believe that the majority follow. And anyone who is on the wrong path, the attempt must be made to remove them.
SPORT1: You also call for changes in the selection of candidates for the FIFA presidential election.
Zico: I am against the current rule that a candidate must be supported by at least five national associations. This is because I think this is where the corruption and the exchange of favors can start. Not only in the FIFA, but also in the Brazilian Football Association.
SPORT1: The Brazilian federation has a former president in jail and many accusations against the current leadership of the organisations that is most affected by the investigations into FIFA. Is it possible that you will run for president of the CBF?
Zico: Many people ask me that – why not do the CBF and FIFA at the same time? But today it is easier to get the support of five organisations in the world than to stand for the CBF. Logically, the ideal thing would be to start here in Brazil. But unfortunately the current rules of the game are not in favour of the people from football. I am 62 years old and only remember Joao Havelange and Sepp Blatter as FIFA president. Are they the only two people in the world who can control football?
SPORT1: Diego Maradona is a friend of yours. Do you really think that it would be suitable as a FIFA vice-president?
Zico: Maradona was until today only a player and a coach. But he is a big name in football. He has every right to be a candidate. But he is not a candidate as president, but as a vice president. I would like to see a name like Maradona in this organisation. In all that he has experienced and all the problems that he had he has the qualifications to continue to bring his voice to football.