11 November – Peter Auf der Heyde, a university professor at Southampton Solent University, has launched a plan to run for the FIFA presidency.
A former journalist and soccer club owner, Auf der Heyde promises to cap his salary at just $1 a year if he becomes governor.
In the past, the professor served as sports editor at Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) and as president of the Grahamstown Football Association in South Africa. “There should be no uncontested elections and in this case Infantino must be challenged. It is important for accountability and transparency,” he told BBC Radio Solent.
Auf der Heyde said he has written to all 211 FIFA member associations and received replies from the Jamaican and English FAs. As part of his manifesto, he would like to introduce a global competition for smaller nations.
It will seek nominations from five football associations to stand in the FIFA elections, which the world governing body will host in March at its annual congress in Rabat, Morocco. FIFA’s acting president has confirmed he will run again despite the World Cup privatization scandal and statutory limits.
Last week, FIFA Council member and former Japan Football Association president Kohzo Tashima announced his intention to run. Former Tottenham Hotspur and Switzerland player Ramon Vega also wants to challenge Infantino.
It has been widely reported that Arsene Wenger, FIFA’s global head of football and former Arsenal manager, is weighing up a bid. The Frenchman is understood to be considered a serious candidate by UEFA, which has led the opposition against Infantino but, for now, the European governing body has not revealed its promised candidate.
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