Luis Figo to contest for FIFA presidency

Former Portugal international Luis Figo, has confirmed his decision to run for FIFA president at this year’s elections.

According to the world football governing body’s statutes, the deadline for candidates to be proposed by member associations, is four months before the start of the Congress.

I care about football, so what I’m seeing regarding the image of Fifa, not only now but in the past years, I don’t like it,” Figo told CNN.

“If you search Fifa on the internet you see the first word that comes out: scandal, not positive words. That’s what we have to change first and try to improve the image of Fifa. Football deserves much better than this.

“I’ve been talking with so many important people in football, players, managers, president of federations, and they all think that something has to be done.I care about football, so what I’m seeing regarding the image of Fifa, not only now but in the past years, I don’t like it,” Figo told CNN.

“If you search Fifa on the internet you see the first word that comes out: scandal, not positive words. That’s what we have to change first and try to improve the image of Fifa. Football deserves much better than this.

“I’ve been talking with so many important people in football, players, managers, president of federations, and they all think that something has to be done.

“Last year was the World Cup, I was in Brazil and I saw the reaction of all the fans regarding the image of FIFA and I think something has to be changed.

Change in leadership, governance, transparency and solidarity, so I think it’s the moment for that.