French Champagne announces he will run for FIFA presidency

Frenchman Jerome Champagne, a former deputy secretary general of FIFA, confirmed on Friday his candidacy for the presidential election of the global football governing body, to be held on February 26.

"With determination and respect, I come before you again as candidate for the presidency of FIFA. The events of the past few months have renewed my determination to be a candidate," Efe quoted Champagne as saying.

Champagne, who was deputy secretary general of FIFA between 1999 and 2010, tried to run for FIFA in the recent elections, held last May, but did not formalise his candidacy as he did not get the necessary endorsement of five associations.

Before the closing date for nominations, which will be next Monday, fellow French Michel Platini, the European football body president who is suspended by FIFA for 90 days, Jordanian Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein and the former Trinidad and Tobago team captain David Nakhid, have confirmed joining the election.