Jerome Champagne Confirms Candidacy for FIFA President

Former FIFA executive Jerome Champagne has officially submitted his candidacy to become the next FIFA president. 

Champagne intially signalled his intention to go up against Sepp Blatter in the FIFA election in May, but had to withdraw from the running as he didn’t receive enough nominations. 

Following the recent investigations involving Blatter and UEFA president Michel Platini, which involved a payment of £1.3 million to Platini, the Frenchman has decided to have a second go at being named FIFA president.

Champagne’s announcement comes before Monday’s deadline for all candidates to formally submit their bids. He will be challenging Prince Ali bin-al Hussein of Jordan, Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman al-Khalifa and Platini, subject to his ban being overturned before the election. 

In a letter to Fifa’s 209 member associations, Champagne said: “At a time when FIFA, our FIFA, needs more than ever an open debate about its future, its reform and the reform of football, we are witnessing the first months of the electoral campaign being dominated by controversy and deals made behind closed doors.”

“We need to save FIFA and its role of governance and redistribution, which is in danger at a time when they are needed the most.

“We must also restore FIFA’s credibility and prepare it for the challenges of an ever-evolving world.”

The FIFA presidential election will take place on 26 February.

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