Portuguese legend Luis Figo has thrown his hat into the ring to become FIFA President.
The former Sporting, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter Milan forward, 42, is the latest shock name to join the race to replace Sepp Blatter at the head of world football's governing body.
Figo's announcement that he is to run as a candidate follows that of former Newcastle United and Tottenham winger David Ginola.
Giving something back
Prince Ali of Jordan, Dutchman Michael van Praag and Jerome Champagne are also presidential challengers to Blatter, who has been in charge at Fifa since 1998 and intends to run for a fifth term.
"Football has given me so much during my life and I want to give something back to the game," said Figo. "I look at the reputation of Fifa right now and I don't like it. Football deserves better. In recent weeks, months, and even years, I have seen the image of Fifa deteriorate
"As I speak to many people in football - to players, managers and association presidents - so many of those people have told me that something has to be done."
Thursday deadline
Potential candidates for FIFA presidency have to register their interest in standing before Thursday's deadline. All confirmed challengers must pass an anti-corruption test, according to Fifa electoral committee member Dominico Scala.
An icon of Portuguese football, Figo played 127 times for his country and, after a controversial €37million switch from Barcelona to Real Madrid in 2000, won the Champions League with Los Meringues in 2002. He won the Ballon d'Or in 2000 and was voted Fifa World Player of the Year in 2001.
Any candidate seeking election as president requires the support of five FAs to be eligible, but Figo has already told CNN that he has secured sufficient backing ahead of Thursday's cut-off date.
FIFA Corruption
Figo said that the catalyst behind his decision to run against Blatter was FIFA's failure to publish Michael Garcia's report into possible corruption linked to World Cup bidding.
"After that report was not published, I think that was the moment of change and the moment I thought that something had to be done," Figo said. "If you are transparent and if you ask for an investigation, a report, which you have nothing to hide, why don't you make public that report? If you have nothing to hide about that, you have to do it.
"[Publishing the report] is the easy thing to do if all the people is doubting what happened. If it came from FIFA to order that report and after that you don't publish, it is not a good decision."
On social media, the reaction to Figo's decision to stand has been positive, with most commentators in general agreement that Blatter's monopoly of the FIFA presidency needs to end if it wants to shed its reputation for shady dealing and corruption.
by Stephen Gillett
