Figo Pulls Out Of Fifa Election

Luis Figo has joined Michael van Praag in withdrawing from the Fifa presidential election on 29 May.

The Ex-Portugal midfielder, 42, pulled out on the same day as Van Praag, 67, to leave Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein of Jordan as Blatter’s only rival.

Blatter is favourite to win a fifth term as president and Figo said: “This process is anything but an election.

“This process is a plebiscite for the delivery of absolute power to one man – something I refuse to go along with.”

Each of Fifa’s 209 member associations have a vote in the election and Van Praag, who is president of the Dutch football federation, says he will now support Prince Ali.

The English Football Association also intend to support Prince Ali, while the Scottish FA had previously said they would back Van Praag.

Figo also highlighted the need for change in his withdrawal statement.

“I travelled and met extraordinary people who, though they recognized the value of much that had been done, also concurred with the need for change, one that cleans up Fifa’s reputation as an obscure organization that is so often viewed as a place of corruption,” he said.

“I have seen with my own eyes federation presidents who, after one day comparing Fifa leaders to the devil, then go on stage and compare those same people with Jesus Christ. Nobody told me about this. I saw it with my own eyes.”

He also questioned an election process in which a main candidate – Blatter – had not produced a manifesto “so that federation presidents know what they’re voting for”.

Figo added: “There has not been a single public debate about each candidate’s proposals.”