POLL: Who Should Succeed Sepp Blatter As FIFA President?
June 3, 2015
As the sports world reels from the shocking news that Sepp Blatter is to stand down as FIFA president, the focus turns to who will succeed the Swiss who has been in charge of world football since 1998.
Blatter made his announcement on Tuesday in Zurich amid a turbulent time for FIFA. The US Department of Justice’s investigation into racketeering and corruption allegations continues, with 14 people involved in football indicted including several senior FIFA officials.
There is also a Swiss police investigation into the 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosting rights award process.
Jordan’s Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, who lost out to Blatter in last week’s election at the FIFA congress in Zurich, has suggested that he is willing to stand again in an interview with CNN, saying “I have to talk to national associations and see how they feel about this, as it’s very early.
“But if they want me to do it, I will do it.”
But UEFA president Michel Platini has also been tipped as a potential president. The Frenchman tried in vain to persuade Blatter to stand down last week on the eve of the congress.
Fellow European and head of the Dutch FA Michael van Praag stood aside as a presidential candidate to back Prince Ali’s bid but could be tempted to stand again. While Issa Hayatou, president of the African Confederation and an IOC member, is the second-longest serving member on FIFA’s executive committee and challenged for the presidency in 2002 losing out to Blatter.
FIFA’s Domenico Scala, chairman of the audit and compliance committee, confirmed this week that an extraodinary congress to elect a new president would most likely take place between December and March.
So, who do you think is best placed to lead FIFA into a new era?
*This poll is now closed.
