FIFA presidential candidates
Luis Figo and Michael van Praag have written to the Asian
Football Confederation (AFC) requesting the opportunity to
address delegates at their annual Congress on Thursday.
Former Portugal international Figo, Prince Ali Bin Al
Hussein of Jordan and Van Praag, the president of the Dutch FA,
who are all challenging incumbent Sepp Blatter for football's
top job in the May 29 vote, have not been invited to speak.
However Blatter, who is expected to sweep up most of Asia's
47-votes, will address the Congress in his role as FIFA
president.
Figo told Reuters through a spokesman on Wednesday: "I've
been speaking individually with some Federations since I arrived
here in Bahrain.
"I think myself and all the other candidates for the FIFA
presidential election deserve a chance to address the Congress
even if it's for a brief speech.
"It would be in the interest of all the federations and I
hope I'll be able to speak openly and freely about my proposals
which I'm sure will benefit football and FIFA."
Vam Praag told Reuters "I have written to (AFC president)
Sheikh Salman twice and verbally asked him two days ago if I
could address the delegates and he has given me no reply."
The three men were also refused the chance to speak at the
CONCACAF conference of central and north American countries and
the Caribbean islands in the Bahamas earlier this month.
Nor were they given the floor at the South American
(CONMEBOL) Congress in Asuncion or the African (CAF) Congress in
Cairo. They were however given the floor at the UEFA Congress in
Vienna last month.
The agenda for the 26th Asian Congress naturally allows
Sheikh Salman Ebrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain the chance to make
an opening and closing address and his opening remarks will be
keenly followed by Blatter, who is seeking and is expected to
win a fifth term of office next month.
(Reuters)
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