Luis Figo has announced that he intends to challenge Sepp Blatter in the FIFA presidential elections.
The former Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter Milan star is one of several candidates to have declared their intention to run for the position. The next president will be decided by a vote on May 29.
"I care about football, so what I'm seeing regarding the image of FIFA - not only now but in the past years - I don't like it," Figo told CNN. "If you search FIFA on the internet you see the first word that comes out: scandal - not positive words. It's that we have to change first and try to improve the image of FIFA. Football deserves much better than this."
I'm delighted to announce my candidacy for the FIFA Presidency. Football has given me so much during my life & I want to give something back
— Luís Figo (@LuisFigo) January 28, 2015
The 42-year-old added: "I've been talking with so many important people in football - players, managers, president of federations - and they all think that something has to be done. Last year was the World Cup, I was in Brazil and I saw the reaction of all the fans regarding the image of FIFA and I think something has to be changed.
"Change in leadership, governance, transparency and solidarity, so I think it's the moment for that."
.@LuisFigo "If you search FIFA on the internet you see the first word that comes out: scandal" http://t.co/FXkGDJpWxF pic.twitter.com/DbsWMFAns3
— John Sinnott (@JohnSinnott) January 28, 2015
Blatter, who is seeking a fifth term, remains the hot favourite to be elected role but now faces competition from former FIFA executive Jerome Champagne, Jordanian FA president Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein, Dutch FA chairman Michael van Praag, and former France international David Ginola, as well as Figo.
The more people stand for Fifa president, the more certain it is that Blatter wins. Figo and Van Praag are Nadering Prince Ali.
— Rory Smith (@RorySmithTimes) January 28, 2015
Although it's nearly a decade since he last played in Spanish football, it'd probably still be for the best if Figo doesn't go canvassing in Barcelona...
