There are just five candidates left in the race to elect a new FIFA president. The position was left vacant last year after longtime president Sepp Blatter stepped down amid a growing corruption scandal at world football’s governing body. The vote to choose his successor will be held at an extraordinary FIFA congress in Zurich, Switzerland, on February 26.
- The frontrunner - Sheikh Salman Bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa
(Bahrain)
- The frontrunner - Sheikh Salman Bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa (Bahrain)
A member of the Bahraini royal family and president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) since 2013, Sheikh Salman is also a vice president at FIFA and clear frontrunner to become the next president. The African Football Confederation (CAF) gave his campaign a major boost when they endorsed him. With 54 member countries, CAF has the largest number of votes at the FIFA congress, making its backing critical. Salman, 50, already has the support of his own AFC.
- The challenger - Gianni Infantino (Switzerland)
- The challenger - Gianni Infantino (Switzerland)
Secretary general of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), Gianni Infantino, 45, has the backing of the Central American Football Union (UNCAF) and is therefore another clear favourite. Infantino won the backing of the French Football Federation (FFF) in late January in a snub to French hopeful Jérôme Champagne. Once the right-hand man of suspended UEFA president Michel Platini – the former heir apparent to the FIFA presidency – Infantino is largely considered Sheikh Salman’s closest rival. His campaign message has been to open FIFA up to “people all over the world”, including women.
- The anti-Apartheid activist - Tokyo Sexwale (South Africa)
- The anti-Apartheid activist - Tokyo Sexwale (South Africa)
A former prison mate of Nelson Mandela, Tokyo Sexwale is not your average candidate. The South African businessman is better known for his activism than for his experience with football. He also lacks the support of the CAF, which chose to back Sheikh Salman. The move came as a major blow to Sexwale, who is the only African candidate in the race.
- The diplomat - Jérôme Champagne (France)
- The diplomat - Jérôme Champagne (France)
A former diplomat and close ally of disgraced former FIFA president Sepp Blatter, Champagne, 57, spent a total of 11 years covering international relations at FIFA. The experience gave him a thorough knowledge of the 209 FIFA member associations, but he has kept a low profile - so much so that the FFF is backing Infantino. But Champagne can count on the support of France’s Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) and its president, Frédéric Thiriez.
- The underdog - Prince Ali bin al-Hussein (Jordan)
- The underdog - Prince Ali bin al-Hussein (Jordan)
A FIFA vice president since 2011, Prince Ali, 40, reached the second round of last year’s FIFA presidential election before losing to incumbent Blatter. Prince Ali also doesn’t have the support of the AFC, which has chosen to back Sheikh Salman instead. In his FIFA election manifesto he called for more transparency at FIFA and term limits for senior officials.
