The Nation Newspaper

Tag: FIFA poll

  • FIFA election goes to second round

    Interim UEFA chief, Gianni Infantino, caused a surprise by polling the most votes in round one of voting in Friday’s election to succeed Sepp Blatter as FIFA president.

    He, however, failed to get enough votes to seal outright victory, claiming 88 of the 207 votes available at an extraordinary congress in Zurich, the BBC reports.

    Pre-vote favourite, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa, garnered 85 votes.

    Prince Ali bin al-Hussein was next with 27, followed by Jerome Champagne on seven.

    Tokyo Sexwale withdrew from the race earlier on Friday.

    It is the first time voting for the presidential election had reached a second round since 1974, when Joao Havelange of Brazil became the first non-European president ahead of England’s Sir Stanley Rous.

    Blatter, who led world football’s governing body since 1998, stood down last year and was later banned from football for six years.

     

     

  • Sexwale withdraws from FIFA race

    Sexwale withdraws from FIFA race

    South African Tokyo Sexwale pulled out of the race to become the next president of FIFA on Friday, announcing in mid-speech that he was suspending his campaign with immediate effect.

    Sexwale had been seen as the outsider in the five-man race, Reuters reported.

    “I have got a surprise for you. My campaign ends today and I suspend my participation. With only four people, it is your problem now,” he Reuters quoted the South African businessman as saying on Friday.

    Sexwale had not been backed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), with the body making public in January its support of Asian confederation president, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa.

  • Eto’o backs Infantino for FIFA presidency

    Eto’o backs Infantino for FIFA presidency

    Cameroon legend Samuel Eto’o has given his backing to UEFA interim chief, Gianni Infantino, in his bid for the FIFA presidency.

    “I wish Gianni to win the FIFA election. I know that he has the interests of football at heart and that his experience, his determination and his passion for sports can  make a real difference for football in Africa and throughout the world,” africanFootball.com quoted the former Barcelona star as saying on his facebook page.

    He rejected the Confederation of African Football (CAF)’s decision to endorse the candidature of Bahrain’s Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa.

    Other candidates vying to succeed Sepp Blatter as head of the world football’s governing body include ex-FIFA executive committee member, Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, former FIFA deputy general secretary, Jérome Champagne and South African businessman, Tokyo Sexwale.

    The FIFA presidential election takes place at the Hallenstadion in Zürich, Switzerland, on Friday.

  • CAS to hear Prince Ali’s request on FIFA poll

    CAS to hear Prince Ali’s request on FIFA poll

    The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is to hear an appeal by FIFA presidential candidate, Prince Ali Al Hussein, for Friday’s election to use transparent voting booths and independent scrutinizers, the court said on Tuesday.

    Reuters reported that Prince Ali had sought the measures “to safeguard the integrity of the voting process” but FIFA’s ad-hoc electoral committee declined the request.

    After requesting “urgent interim measures” from CAS, the Swiss-based arbitration court said it would decide on the matter no later than Thursday morning, a day before the election.