FIFA confirms final five for presidential election

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FIFA on Tuesday confirmed the final five candidates to take over from the banned Sepp Blatter as head of the world body one month from the vote.

FIFA’s electoral committee said that Prince Ali bin al Hussein, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al Khalifa, Gianni Infantino, Tokyo Sexwale and Jerome Champagne had all been admitted for the final campaigning.

The vote, caused by Blatter’s decision to stand down amid growing scandal, will be held in Zurich on February 26.

“The Ad-hoc Electoral Committee has formally admitted and declared the candidates eligible for the election of the office of FIFA president at the extraordinary FIFA Congress,” said a letter sent to all 209 member associations on Tuesday.

While Sheikh Salman, head of the Asian Football Confederation, and Infantino, the UEFA general secretary, are seen as the frontrunners, all five are involved in a frantic hunt for votes.

Sheikh Salman said Monday that he could invite Infantino, or English Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore to be FIFA secretary general if he wins.

Infantino and Prince Ali, a former FIFA vice president from Jordan, were at a South American confederation, CONMEBOL, congress in Asuncion on Tuesday seeking support.