FIFA reconfirm elections for February

Platini’s presidency bid put on hold due to suspension

ZURICH: FIFA’s executive committee reconfirmed on Tuesday that they will hold the election for a new president to replace Sepp Blatter in February 2016.

In a statement the world football’s governing body confirmed an extraordinary elective congress will be held in Zurich on February 26, 2016, when there will be a vote for a new president.

It means potential candidates have until Monday to register their interest in running for the most powerful job in football to replace Blatter, 79, who has been in charge since 1998.

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Football’s governing body has been in chaos since October 9 when the ethics committee suspended both current president Blatter and UEFA president Michel Platini for 90 days due to an ongoing investigation.

Prince Ali bin alHussein, who lost to Blatter in May’s election, and former Trinidad and Tobago captain David Nakhid have officially stated their intention to run, as has Platini.

But the executive committee confirmed Platini’s bid will not be considered as long as he is suspended.

Chairman of the FIFA Electoral Committee, Domenico Scala, explained “presidential candidacies submitted in due time and form, but which relate to candidates who are subject to a [provisional or definite] ban from taking part in any football-related activity, will not be processed... as long as such ban is valid and in force.”

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He added that should such a ban be lifted or expire before the February 26 election, the Electoral Committee “would decide, depending on the respective exact point in time, on how to proceed with the candidacy concerned.”

Meanwhile, both former Switzerland defenders Ramon Vega and Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim al Khalifa, president of the Asian Football Confederation, say they are considering running for FIFA’s presidency.

FIFA watchdog suspends Blatter, Platini for 90 days

Reform proposals

The executive committee also welcomed preliminary reform proposals to set an age restriction of 74 years and a 12-year maximum term for the presidency of world football’s governing body.

The proposals are set to be considered by the executive committee in December 2015.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 21^st, 2015.

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