Dutch FA president Michael van Praag to challenge Sepp Blatter for FIFA top job - 7M sport

Dutch FA president Michael van Praag to challenge Sepp Blatter for FIFA top job



Posted Tuesday, January 27, 2015 by skysports.com

Dutch FA president Michael van Praag to challenge Sepp Blatter for FIFA top job
Michael van Praag: KNVB President ready to challenge Blatter

Dutch Football Association president Michael van Praag is to stand against Sepp Blatter for the FIFA presidency.

A statement from the Dutch FA confirmed van Praag's candidacy just a day after Blatter said his critics within UEFA "don't have the courage" to take him on.

And, according to the statement, van Praag has the backing of five associations necessary to run in the election.

"Michael van Praag is a candidate to succeed Sepp Blatter as president of FIFA," it read.

"On Tuesday, Praag sends his official candidacy with the required five letters from associations who support his candidacy to FIFA headquarters in Zurich."

Van Praag, who will hold a news conference on Wednesday, said: "It is well known that I am very worried about FIFA. It is high time that the organisation comes back into the real world.

"I had hoped that a credible opponent would emerge, but that's simply not happened. In that case you cannot just talk but you must also act decisively and take responsibility so there therefore I am announcing my candidacy."

Van Praag is the fifth man to announce his intention to oppose Blatter after Jerome Champagne, Prince Ali Bin al Hussein, David Ginola and Mino Raiola.

Prince Ali, a FIFA vice-president, has been called a credible candidate by both UEFA president Michel Platini and FA chairman Greg Dyke, and Sky sources understand Dyke has welcomed van Praag's decision to stand.

But Champagne this month admitted he may struggle to win the required number of nominations.

Ginola told Sky Sports News HQ last week his campaign is genuine and not just a publicity stunt, while Raiola - a prominent agent who counts Zlatan Ibrahimovic among his clients, says he will "reform FIFA 360 degrees" if he presses ahead with his bid.

Thursday is the deadline for potential candidates to win the five nominations and officially enter the race. The vote will take place in May.



Attention: Third parties may advertise their products and/or services on our website.7M does not warrant the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of their contents.
Your dealings with such third parties are solely between you and such third parties and we shall not be liable in any way for any loss or damage of any sort incurred by you.