Blatter resignation opens new FIFA race

French football legend Platini is the best known of the potential runners for Presidency

Sepp Blatter's shock resignation opened up a new race Wednesday to become president of FIFA with a mission to reform football's scandal-tainted world body.

The names of UEFA president Michel Platini, Prince Ali bin al Hussein, who challenged Blatter in a vote last Friday, and Portuguese football great Luis Figo were immediately pushed forward.

But no figure made an official declaration. "There will be jostling for position. The election will take time," commented one FIFA executive member in the hours after the 79-year-old Blatter gave in to pressure to stand down over a bribery scandal that hit the football body.

French football legend-turned-politician Platini is the best known of the potential runners.

The 59-year-old, three time winner of the Ballon d'Or, established his administrator credentials as organiser of the 1998 World Cup. He has headed UEFA since 2007.

Platini decided last year not to run against Blatter in the election on Friday. He did not rule out an attempt in 2019 however.

But Platini's own reelection in April to a new term in charge of the wealthiest and most powerful of football's regional confederations could also hold him back from a bid for FIFA.

Platini praised the "difficult" and "brave" decision made by Blatter to stand down. But he gave no sign of his own intentions.

Jordan's Prince Ali, who was a FIFA vice president until Friday when he lost the presidential election to Blatter, made it known through a spokesman that he is "ready" for football's top job.

"As for new elections, Prince Ali is ready," Sala Sabra, vice-president of the Jordanian football federation which the prince heads up, told AFP.

The prince, Sabra added, was also ready "to take up the presidency immediately" if asked.