Seven candidates in race to succeed Blatter as FIFA president

FIFA, the world football's governing body, has announced that seven candidates will stand in its presidential election next year to replace embattled Sepp Blatter.

The seven candidates in the race for 26th February election are: Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, the UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino, Liberia's FA president Musa Bility, Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman, former diplomat Jerome Champagne, South African businessman Tokyo Sexwale and UEFA president Michel Platini, the Guardian reported.

Platini, who is currently under suspension from football for 90 days, could be allowed to stand for presidency if his ban ends before the election date, FIFA's electoral committee said.

Platini, who had been considered as the favourite to succeed Blatter, dealt a huge blow to his presidency dreams when FIFA's ethics committee slapped a provisional suspension on him over claims that he had received a 'disloyal payment' of 1.35 million pounds from the outgoing president in 2011.