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Dutch FA chief to challenge Blatter
(MENAFN- Arab News) THE HAGUE Netherlands: In the biggest challenge yet to Sepp Blatter Dutch football association leader Michael van Praag entered the FIFA presidential election race on Monday.
Van Praag became the first would-be Blatter opponent to announce he has the required nominations from five of FIFA's 209 member federations.
'It's widely known that I'm very worried about FIFA' said Van Praag who told Blatter in Brazil last June that 'people tend not to take you very seriously anymore.'
The Dutch association said in a statement that Van Praag will send his official candidacy letter along with five declarations of support from unnamed federations to FIFA headquarters on Tuesday. The entry deadline is Thursday four months ahead of the May 29 ballot.
Van Praag's campaign was launched after he revealed the plan to his UEFA executive committee colleagues at a meeting in Nyon Switzerland.
Still UEFA is not formally endorsing Van Praag as its candidate despite its open hostility toward Blatter.
'There is no candidate of UEFA as a matter of fact' UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino said at a post-meeting news conference. 'What we provide at UEFA is a platform for everyone to express (his) view. It is certainly positive for football that there is more than one candidate.'
UEFA and its president Michel Platini who last August opted out of a contest against his former mentor Blatter have also encouraged FIFA Vice President Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein of Jordan to stand.
Prince Ali announced his intention to stand three weeks ago but has not revealed his five supporting nations.
However Van Praag took an apparent swipe at the prince in his statement.
'For quite some time I was hoping that another credible challenger would put himself forward but that simply has not happened' said the former president of four-time European champion Ajax.
Other potential candidates include longtime Blatter ally Jerome Champagne a former FIFA international relations director and former France player David Ginola.
Blatter who has led FIFA since 1998 is the overwhelming favorite to get a fifth presidential term.
Van Praag became the first would-be Blatter opponent to announce he has the required nominations from five of FIFA's 209 member federations.
'It's widely known that I'm very worried about FIFA' said Van Praag who told Blatter in Brazil last June that 'people tend not to take you very seriously anymore.'
The Dutch association said in a statement that Van Praag will send his official candidacy letter along with five declarations of support from unnamed federations to FIFA headquarters on Tuesday. The entry deadline is Thursday four months ahead of the May 29 ballot.
Van Praag's campaign was launched after he revealed the plan to his UEFA executive committee colleagues at a meeting in Nyon Switzerland.
Still UEFA is not formally endorsing Van Praag as its candidate despite its open hostility toward Blatter.
'There is no candidate of UEFA as a matter of fact' UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino said at a post-meeting news conference. 'What we provide at UEFA is a platform for everyone to express (his) view. It is certainly positive for football that there is more than one candidate.'
UEFA and its president Michel Platini who last August opted out of a contest against his former mentor Blatter have also encouraged FIFA Vice President Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein of Jordan to stand.
Prince Ali announced his intention to stand three weeks ago but has not revealed his five supporting nations.
However Van Praag took an apparent swipe at the prince in his statement.
'For quite some time I was hoping that another credible challenger would put himself forward but that simply has not happened' said the former president of four-time European champion Ajax.
Other potential candidates include longtime Blatter ally Jerome Champagne a former FIFA international relations director and former France player David Ginola.
Blatter who has led FIFA since 1998 is the overwhelming favorite to get a fifth presidential term.
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