by Mark Bassey

Jerome Champagne has confirmed that he is no longer in the race to become FIFA president.

The former director of international relations at the world football governing body, revealed that he did not receive the mandatory support from five football associations.

Champagne was only able to secure three letters by the January 29 deadline and has taken a swipe at the criteria, which he claims will not allow a fair election process.

“I regret to announce that I have not presented the five sponsorship letters needed to be registered as a candidate in the election of 29 May,” Champagne said.

“I warmly thank the three federations that have endorsed me and the many presidents who explained with candour and friendship that they could not do it despite their interest in my programme. The reasons were numerous…

“Because they feared reprisals from their confederations having issued ‘recommendations’. Because their federations were candidates to host continental competitions.

“Because they relied too heavily on the financial support. Because they were committed to defend a united continental front.

“[And] because some of the presidents were themselves engaged in an election or simply preferred another candidate.

“The institutions have mobilized to eliminate the only independent candidate. The latest events orchestrated in secret, with barely veiled intentions by one of them, distributing letters of support between candidates, made me lose sponsorships especially in Europe.

“I also note that I would have been a candidate with the old version of the rules.”

The other candidates left in the race alongside incumbent Sepp Blatter, are Prince Bin Al Hussein, Michael van Praag and Luis Figo.

ifreke

Ifreke Inyang is a public commentator and social media critic who has worked with a number of high profile publications across the country.