Fifa Watch
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| Sepp pleads |
The deadline for nominations for FIFA President passed at midnight CET last night, with the final count announced on Monday.
Barring a miracle, however, we can be fairly sure the final battle will be between incumbent Sepp Blatter and Mohamed bin Hammam, with the vote due on the 1st of June.
Former Chilean star Elias Figueroa pulled out at the last minute, while US sportswriter Grant Wahl predictably failed to win support with his 'citizen's bid' for the top job, inspired by Norman Mailer's attempt to become mayor of New York City in 1969.
Bin Hammam, boosted by his nation's controversial capture of the 2022 World Cup Finals, is hoping to be the first Asian president of the organisation. Expect he and Blatter to do their bit for the planet as they jet around the 280 member nations over the next couple of months pressing flesh and promising the earth in exchange for a vote.
FIFA Presidents
Robert Guérin (France) 1904-1906
Daniel Burley Woolfall (England) 1906-1918
Jules Rimet (France) 1921-1954
Rodolphe Seeldreyers (Belgium) 1954-1955
Arthur Drewry (England) 1955-1961
Stanley Rous (England) 1961-1974
João Havelange (Brazil) 1974-1998
Sepp Blatter (Switzerland) 1998-
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(c) Sean O'Conor & Soccerphile