By Andrew Warshaw
January 29 – FIFA presidential candidate Michael van Praag has spelled out precisely why he is challenging Sepp Blatter and has named the federations who are backing his nomination.
Speaking at a news conference to formally launch his challenge, Van Praag, president of the Dutch Football Association (KNVB), said he had letters from Belgium, Sweden, Scotland, Romania, the Faroe Islands as well as his own country, and had sent them to FIFA.
He also said he would only stand for one four-year term if elected, repeating his stance of last summer that the time had come for Blatter to step aside in order for FIFA to become more modern and democratic.
“FIFA is doing badly and has lost all credibility,” van Praag said. “FIFA is constantly under suspicion of conflicts of interests of nepotism, of corruption. FIFA has its back to the future. I have nothing against Mr Blatter. In fact I like him a lot as a person.
“However, someone who has led an organisation for so many years, and who has become the personification of its poor image, can no longer be the face of a modernisation operation for a new FIFA. It is impossible.”
Van Praag is one of five prospective candidates trying to bring an end to Blatter’s17-year reign along with Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein of Jordan, former FIFA official Jerome Champagne and ex-international players Luis Figo and David Ginola.
All of them need five federation letters of support to officially stand for election, with nominations closing at midnight Central European Time today.
Van Praag likened his chances of winning to a lower-league team taking on the favourite in a cup competition. “Everyone expects the small team to lose but sometimes they win.”
He said if he succeeds, he would advocate a bigger World Cup, find a place for Blatter in an advisory role, attack match-fixing and “hold on to the good things FIFA has achieved”.
But he added: “I want to do things differently to Mr Blatter, I only want to hold the hold the presidency for a single term of four years. This is because I want to make room for a new generation as quickly as possible because I want to make full use of my time in office and not waste any time on a possible re-election.
“I know from experience in business as well as football, big steps in reforming an organisation can be taken in four years. And modernisation is what is needed so badly and it will begin with normalisation.
“As soon as a football organisation gets into political difficulties, a so-called normalisation committee is set up to solve the problem. It is time FIFA applied this tool to its own organisation, because FIFA is stuck in a headlock. FIFA is doing badly and has lost all credibility.”
Van Praag revealed he spoke to Blatter earlier this month and told him of his intentions saying he wanted the veteran Swiss to remain a FIFA advisor at the head of a foundation to help underprivileged children across the world that would help guarantee Blatter’s legacy.
“I said Sepp, you will make yourself immortal if you take the plunge and step aside. This is not about you or me, but about football.”
Blatter apparently politely declined the invitation.
Van Praag insisted he was not working in tandem with other contenders like Prince Ali or Figo and would present his own detailed manifesto in the next few months.
UEFA claims it is not backing any particular candidate but there is a growing belief that the way events have unfolded over the past few days have Michel Platini’s hand all over them in terms of how to find way of beating Blatter in a head-to-head contest on May 29.
UEFA, for instance, has strong ties with Scotland – one of the nations backing van Praag – while the English FA have gone for Prince Ali.
Scottish FA chief Campbell Ogilvie explained why his federation was behind the Dutchman.
“I believe Michael is the right candidate at the right time to restore harmony to the game.” said Ogilvie. “We believe Michael has the experience, integrity and gravitas required to expedite the modernisation of world football’s governing body.”
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734922266labto1734922266ofdlr1734922266owedi1734922266sni@w1734922266ahsra1734922266w.wer1734922266dna1734922266