By David Owen
July 22 – FIFA’s ad hoc electoral committee met on Tuesday, just a day after February 26 was fixed as the date of the election that is expected to bring down the curtain on Sepp Blatter’s near 18-year reign as President of world football’s governing body.
The committee comprises the same three men who fulfilled a similar role for the last FIFA Presidential election in May: Domenico Scala, chairman of FIFA’s audit and compliance committee; Claudio Sulser, chairman of its disciplinary committee, and Larry Mussenden, chairman of the FIFA appeal committee.
It was decided that Scala would serve as chairman, with the other two men as committee members.
The committee will be responsible for supervising the electoral process, including instructing the investigatory chamber of FIFA’s Ethics Committee to carry out an integrity check of all candidates.
The FIFA general secretariat must receive written notification of candidatures by October 26, along with declarations of support from at least five member associations.
The general secretariat will in turn forward candidatures to the ad hoc committee for examination and a decision on the admission of the candidates.
UEFA President Michel Platini, who did not present himself when Blatter was re-elected for a fifth term earlier this year, is increasingly expected to run this time, with a declaration believed by some to be quite close.
The 60-year-old Frenchman is quoted at odds as short as 4/5, and no longer than 2/1, to win the Presidency.
Prince Ali bin Hussein, whom Blatter defeated in May, is widely quoted at 5/4 or 6/4 for the job this time, while Kuwait’s Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, President of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), and a man who may actually be key to drumming up support for Platini among members of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and others, is between 6 and 10/1 third favourite.
Blatter himself is available from some bookmakers at a price of between 6 and 20/1, while Chung Mong-Joon, a wealthy South Korean and long-time FIFA vice president who is viewed by some as a possible runner, is generally quoted at 12 or 13/1.
It appears possible at the moment to stake money on just about anyone with a name in football to secure the big job.
Prince William, President of the Football Association and second in line to the British throne, is available from one bookie at 200/1, a similar price to former referee Pierluigi Collina and ex-England defender Sol Campbell.
Liverpool-turned-Manchester City star Raheem Sterling is quoted at 500/1, as is Vladimir Putin, President of 2018 World Cup host Russia.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734887570labto1734887570ofdlr1734887570owedi1734887570sni@n1734887570ewo.d1734887570ivad1734887570