FIFA reveals five candidates for chairmanship

GENEVA (AVRUPA TIMES) FIFA Electoral Committee approved the candidacy of five nominees out of seven for the chairmanship position Thursday.

FIFA confirmed the candidacy of UEFA Secretary-General Gianni Infantino, Jordanian Prince Ali Al Hussein, former FIFA Deputy Secretary-General Jerome Champagne, South African businessman Tokyo Sexwale and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa.

A statement on the FIFA website said the committee did not approve the candidacy of Liberian Football Federation Chairman Musa Bility without citing any reason for rejecting his bid.

Michel Platini, head of the European football's governing body UEFA who ran for the FIFA Presidency, is not on the list of candidates.

FIFA previously stated that Platini is unable to stand as a candidate for FIFA Presidency before his 90-day suspension term -- which started on Oct. 8 -- ended.

His suspension is set end Jan. 8, 2016 and the election are scheduled for Feb. 26, 2016.

On Oct. 8, FIFA Ethics Committee suspended many top football executives from football related activities such as FIFA President Sepp Blatter, UEFA President and FIFA Vice-President Platini and FIFA Secretary-General Jerome Valcke for 90 days within the scope of the corruption investigation.

Blatter, 79, is suspected of violating his "fiduciary duties" and acting "against the interests of FIFA".

Another allegation against Blatter is that he had made a "disloyal payment" of 2 million Swiss francs ($2 million) to Michel Platini, the president of European football’s governing body UEFA, in February 2011. This payment, "at the expense of FIFA", was allegedly for work performed between January 1999 and June 2002.

Swiss police arrested seven FIFA officials, including two vice presidents, on corruption charges in May at the request of U.S. authorities, who later issued indictments against seven other people in the case.

Following claims of corruption, Blatter, who has always denied any wrongdoing, announced his decision to step down on June 2, just after he was re-elected as president for a fifth consecutive term. He is due to leave office on Feb. 26.

FIFA presidential election will be held in Zurich, Switzerland.