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PARIS. – Football fans around the globe want FIFA leader Sepp Blatter to quit now and let an independent commission reform world football’s scandal-tainted governing body, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, who could run for president, said.
The Jordanian prince, a former FIFA vice president, remains a fierce opponent of UEFA boss Michel Platini’s FIFA candidacy. But he is still sounding out football leaders before deciding whether to launch a new bid.
Blatter has said he will stand down when an election is held on February 26, but Prince Ali said the FIFA leader’s proposed reform task force, mainly named by regional confederations, is doomed.
“It has to be done with a new president. I don’t think that they can do it in such a short period of time,” said the 39-year-old prince.
“I also believe that you have to have a real independent task force come in and help the situation and help implement it.”
Prince Ali said quick reforms are crucial but was adamant that Blatter, engulfed in the storm over bribery charges in the United States against seven FIFA officials and seven sports business executives, must leave now.
“I don’t think that anyone who has been involved in the past should remain. They cannot be a part of that process,” the prince said by telephone from Amman. Following the allegations that more than $150 million was given in bribes “people have to take responsibility and they have to step aside”.
“You need to have new blood, new ideas. That’s a given and that’s clearly a demand of the entire world, from football fans across the globe.”
FIFA has said an independent personality will head the proposed 10-person task force. Francois Carrard, a former International Olympic Committee director general, has been approached but he has not yet given an answer. Critics say the task force will lack credibility as the other members will all be named by FIFA’s six member confederations.
French football legend Platini is considered favourite to win the FIFA election, but the prince said he was the wrong person to change world football. “The practice of backroom, under-the-table deals must end,” the prince said in a strongly worded statement when Platini announced his campaign.
“I have total respect for him as a player and also as UEFA president,” the prince said.
“I worked with him, we had our agreements, disagreements. It is nothing personal at all, but I don’t believe that he is the right person to do the reforms for FIFA right now. You have to have fresh people in there and he has been part of that system.”
The prince said he had listened to Platini’s proposals but did not consider it strong enough to change FIFA.
The prince and Platini have both called for the publication of Michael Garcia’s report into bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, awarded to Russia and Qatar. – AFP.
Online Reporter