PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Kenya: Dutch football chief joins FIFA presidency race
Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - Michael van Praag, the president of the Royal Dutch Football Association, has confirmed he will challenge incumbent Sepp Blatter for the presidency of FIFA, the sport’s global governing body.
Confirmation of Van Praag’s candidacy arrived just hours after Blatter had accused European governing body, UEFA, of not having the “courage” to challenge him, according to UK sports industry organization, SportsBusiness.
Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, Jerome Champagne and former footballer David Ginola have already declared their intention to run, but Van Praag’s bid is considered by many to be the first serious challenge to Blatter’s presidency.
“Michael van Praag is a candidate to succeed Sepp Blatter as president of FIFA,” the Association, known as KNVB, said. “On Tuesday, Praag sent his official candidacy with the required five letters from associations who support his candidacy to FIFA headquarters in Zurich.”
Van Praag, 67, is the first candidate to confirm he has the support of five associations – a necessity for each contender.
The deadline for entrants is Thursday, four months ahead of the final vote on 29 May.
“For quite some time, I was hoping that another credible challenger would put himself forward, but that simply has not happened,” Van Praag said.
Van Praag said last June: “People link FIFA to corruption and bribery and all kinds of old boys' networks.” He also told Blatter in Brazil: “People tend not to take you very seriously anymore.”
The new development which brings to five the number of candidates, including incumbent Blatter, who will gun for the FIFA presidency.
Blatter, seeking a fifth term, enjoys massive support in Africa, for championing Africa's case globally, culminating in South Africa hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup - the first time the global event was held on African soil.
Another plus for Blatter is the 2014 FIFA Club World Cup, which Morocco hosted.
In Kenya, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) late last year declared support for Blatter's candidature.
Blatter also takes credit for the many development projects initiated in Africa by FIFA under the FIFA Goal Project.
-0- PANA DJ/VAO 27Jan2015
Confirmation of Van Praag’s candidacy arrived just hours after Blatter had accused European governing body, UEFA, of not having the “courage” to challenge him, according to UK sports industry organization, SportsBusiness.
Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, Jerome Champagne and former footballer David Ginola have already declared their intention to run, but Van Praag’s bid is considered by many to be the first serious challenge to Blatter’s presidency.
“Michael van Praag is a candidate to succeed Sepp Blatter as president of FIFA,” the Association, known as KNVB, said. “On Tuesday, Praag sent his official candidacy with the required five letters from associations who support his candidacy to FIFA headquarters in Zurich.”
Van Praag, 67, is the first candidate to confirm he has the support of five associations – a necessity for each contender.
The deadline for entrants is Thursday, four months ahead of the final vote on 29 May.
“For quite some time, I was hoping that another credible challenger would put himself forward, but that simply has not happened,” Van Praag said.
Van Praag said last June: “People link FIFA to corruption and bribery and all kinds of old boys' networks.” He also told Blatter in Brazil: “People tend not to take you very seriously anymore.”
The new development which brings to five the number of candidates, including incumbent Blatter, who will gun for the FIFA presidency.
Blatter, seeking a fifth term, enjoys massive support in Africa, for championing Africa's case globally, culminating in South Africa hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup - the first time the global event was held on African soil.
Another plus for Blatter is the 2014 FIFA Club World Cup, which Morocco hosted.
In Kenya, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) late last year declared support for Blatter's candidature.
Blatter also takes credit for the many development projects initiated in Africa by FIFA under the FIFA Goal Project.
-0- PANA DJ/VAO 27Jan2015
