FIFA president Sepp Blatter's former right-hand man Jerome Champagne is set to launch a bid to succeed his ex-boss as the most powerful man in world football.
The 77-year-old Blatter has hinted he might stand again in next year's elections, while the UEFA president Michel Platini has also been widely tipped to challenge.
Champagne, FIFA's deputy Secretary General from 2002 until 2005, has been working as an international football consultant in troubled regions such as Kosovo, Palestine and Israel since leaving the organisation in 2010.
He sent an email to the world's media on Friday inviting them to a news conference, but would not elaborate on his plans.
