FIFA have confirmed that four candidates are in the running for the top job in world football ... the incumbent Sepp Blatter, former Portugal forward Luis Figo, Dutch FA president Michael van Praag and Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein of Jordan.
Fifa president Sepp Blatter Photo: PHOTOSPORT
FIFA's ethics committee will carry out integrity checks before the contenders can be formally declared as candidates.
78 year old Blatter is standing for a fifth term, having held power since 1998 and he's widely expected to win the vote in Zurich on the 29th of May.
Frenchman Jerome Champagne said last night he hadn't received the necessary backing from five national associations, so he isn't able to stand.
Champagne says national associations feared "reprisals" if they supported him.
Champagne, needing the backing of five national associations for his bid, said in a statement that he had won the backing of only three.
The Frenchman said he had lost sponsorship after former Portugal forward Luis Figo and Dutch FA president Michael van Praag announced last week they would stand.
Blatter, in charge since 1998, is favourite to be re-elected for a fifth mandate in the election on May 29 where each of FIFA's 209 member associations hold one vote.
