'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Luis Figo has confirmed that he has dropped out of the race to be the FIFA President. He also said that the world football governing body is “living under a dictatorship” under current President Sepp Blatter’s reign.
It was a four-man race for the Presidential seat with Figo, current President Blatter, Dutch football federation President Michael van Praag and Jordan’s Prince Ali bin al-Hussein. However, with Figo’s and Praag’s withdrawal, the election becomes a direct competition between the remaining two men.
Figo said that he has seen the hypocrisy among the voters of the elections – the Federation Presidents – around the world.
Figo revealed, “I have seen with my own eyes federation presidents who, after one day comparing FIFA leaders to the devil, then go on stage and compare those same people with Jesus Christ.”
The Portuguese great believes that FIFA needs a change in leadership as it had lost credibility.
“FIFA needs change and I feel that the change is urgent,” he said.
“FIFA's reputation as an obscure organization that is so often viewed as a place of corruption.”
Sepp Blatter failed to present an election manifesto for the upcoming elections and Figo touched on that subject saying that it should be mandatory for candidates to present a manifesto just like in other elections.
He questioned, “Does anyone think it's normal that an election for one of the most relevant organizations on the planet can go ahead without a public debate? Shouldn't it be mandatory to present such a manifesto so that federation presidents know what they're voting for?
“That would be normal, but this electoral process is anything but an election.”
The elections for the top-seat in FIFA takes place on May 29th in Zurich, where it is widely expected Blatter will extend his 17-year reign with a fifth term.
