David Ginola To Stand For FIFA Presidency
16 January 2015, 06:00 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50
Ex Newcastle United forward David Ginola has announced his intention to stand for the FIFA presidency.
The 47-year-old Frenchman will challenge incumbent Sepp Blatter for the top job in world football, with the 78-year-old Swiss - who has been in office since 1998 - having indicated he will seek a fifth term.
Earlier this month Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan, a member of FIFA's executive committee and a vice-president of the world governing body, announced he would stand against Blatter at the FIFA Congress in May.
Former FIFA deputy secretary general Jerome Champagne also insists he remains intent on running for office.
It is unclear whether Ginola, who first moved to the Premier League with Newcastle from Paris St Germain in 1995 and played in England for a further seven years, will fulfil the criteria as a FIFA candidate.
He will need the backing of at least five national associations and will have to demonstrate active involvement in football administration for at least two of the last five years.
Ginola is inviting members of the public and other organisations to join 'Team Ginola' in a bid to challenge Blatter for the presidency.
His bid has the backing of pressure group ChangeFIFA, which has long campaigned for new leadership at the top of an organisation that has faced numerous allegations of corruption. The bid is also supported by bookmaker Paddy Power.
Ginola said in a video posted on the teamginola.com website:
"I'm standing because like you, I love football.
Whether you are on the terraces or on the pitch we all know that the FIFA system isn't working.
You can see the full video below: