By Andrew Warshaw
October 20 – Asian football supremo Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has been given considerable encouragement by “senior” figures in the game to run for the FIFA presidency.
According to the BBC, Salman has written to members of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) executive committee saying he has been urged to stand “by a growing number of senior football administrators, FIFA members and personalities of public life.”
The deadline for candidates to submit the relevant paperwork – together with letters of support from five football associations – is next Monday, October 26. Michel Platini, despite being suspended, has already submitted his application as has Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, who lost to Blatter in May and has been campaigning with trips to Chile and Mexico in the last few days.
Sheikh Salman had publicly backed Platini but now appears to be on the verge of putting himself forward following the UEFA president’s 90-day suspension.
In his letter of 18 October, quoted by the BBC, the AFC president said he had not “actively considered” running and added: “More importantly, I am not a candidate today.”
The Bahraini said he won’t make up his mind until he obtains the relevant feedback but added: “You and the AFC membership that you represent are the people that I am responsible to and whom I am elected to guide and serve. Without seeking your views, I would fail in my duties. It is largely in your hands if I accept the challenge.”
Meanwhile, former Swiss international Ramon Vega is the latest name being linked with the FIFA presidency though he almost certainly doesn’t meet the strict electoral criteria.
“If I am the catalyst to reforming FIFA then I’m definitely considering going forward,” said Vega who played for Tottenham, Celtic and Watford during a long spell in English football.
“I will definitely back a footballer to be leading a football association,” added Vega who has worked in finance since retiring from football in 2004.
He told the BBC he brings the “experience of two worlds of football and finance” to the table and that he had been approached by “various federations in Europe” to stand.
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