Prince Ali a 'credible' candidate to take Blatter's role

Sepp Blatter’s challenger for the FIFA presidency Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan has been hailed as a “credible” candidate to run for the position.

Football Association chairman Greg Dyke and UEFA president Michel Platini have both welcomed the announcement by Prince Ali that he will stand for election.

Dyke, who has previously called for Blatter not to run again, said: “Personally I welcome Prince Ali’s decision to stand for the FIFA presidency. It is very important that there is a credible candidate standing against Mr Blatter and Prince Ali is certainly that.”

Platini added: “I know Prince Ali well. He has all the credibility required to hold high office. We now await his proposals and his programme for the future of football.”

The FA board will make the decision about who to support once nominations close on January 31 but Prince Ali already has close ties with the organisation.

The only other person to have stated they will stand for FIFA’s top job is Frenchman Jerome Champagne, but it remains uncertain whether he would get the minimum five countries to nominate him.

Britain’s FIFA vice-president Jim Boyce said it was important for the democratic process for there to be a proper election in May.

Boyce told Press Association Sport: “I have known Prince Ali for the last three and a half years and he is someone who is held in the highest esteem and is a very credible person.

“He has decided he will stand for the presidency of FIFA and it gives the 209 associations now the opportunity to decide, and another choice. It’s a democratic process and it should make the elections at the end of May very interesting.”

Prince Ali – a 39-year-old Sandhurst-educated son of the late King Hussein of Jordan – is understood to have spoken with Platini several days ago to inform him of his intentions.

Platini is said to be “very pleased” by the announcement – he has already said he will not support Blatter for another term – and will now consult with the European associations.

Prince Ali has positioned himself as a leading reformer of FIFA and was among those calling for the Garcia report into World Cup bidding to be published in full.

He said in a statement: “I am seeking the presidency of FIFA because I believe it is time to shift the focus away from administrative controversy and back to sport.

“This was not an easy decision. It came after careful consideration and many discussions with respected FIFA colleagues over the last few months.

“The message I heard, over and over, was that it is time for a change. The world’s game deserves a world-class governing body – an international federation that is a service organisation and a model of ethics, transparency and good governance.”

Blatter has held his position as FIFA President since 1998 and will be running for a fifth term at the 65th FIFA congress in Zurich on May 29.