FIFA presidential candidates call for reform

FIFA presidential hopefuls Prince Ali Bin Hussein of Jordan and Gianni Infantino have expressed the need for reforms at the world soccer’s governing body.

Their calls they say are informed by the recent chain of scandals to hit the body.

The pair spoke alongside one another on a panel discussion during the 10th annual Dubai International Sports Conference.

Jordan’s Prince Ali, beaten in May’s FIFA presidential election, spoke of his desire to implement change in world soccer’s governing body should he be chosen as president.

“…I’ve been travelling a lot and visiting national associations around the world and they are very concerned about the reputation of the organisation,” Prince Ali told the conference.

“For me it just reinforced my commitment to make sure that we get FIFA in the right place and that we come back to the sport of football itself, and that’s my incentive and everyday it gets stronger and stronger,” he added.

UEFA General Secretary, Infantino, on his part strongly argued that only an efficient leadership could bring about the necessary reforms the football family is seeking at the organization.

“I think what we need now is indeed a strong leadership to implement the reforms immediately and I think this experience is certainly there and I’m looking very much forward to be able to show it in the next couple of months,” said Infantino.

The pair are two of five men seeking to replace FIFA President Sepp Blatter in February’s special elective vote. The election is set to take place on February 26 in Zurich.

Blatter and UEFA boss Michel Platini, the two most powerful men in world football, were banned for eight years on December 21 for ethics violations, leaving the world’s most popular sport lost in a sea of corruption cases.