FIFA Presidential Election Candidates
ZURICH (AP) A look at the candidates in the FIFA presidential election on May 29 in Zurich:
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SEPP BLATTER
Age: 79
Country: Switzerland
Background: FIFA President (since 1998). Has worked for FIFA since 1975, including 17 years as secretary general.
Nominated by: Not yet identified.
Campaign Promises: No published manifesto. In a letter to 209 voting federations this month, Blatter said his priorities include more effort to tackle discrimination and match-fixing, promote women's soccer, protect players' health and ''consolidate our relationships with our business partners.'' Favors 32-team World Cup.
Key quote: ''We have to go on (with) what we have done so far and improve.''
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PRINCE ALI BIN AL-HUSSEIN
Age: 39
Country: Jordan
Background: FIFA vice president for Asia (2011). President, Jordan Football Association (1999). Founder, Asian Football Development Project.
Nominated by: Jordan, Belarus, England, Georgia, Malta, United States.
Campaign Promises: Expand World Cup to 36 teams, giving extra places to Africa, Asia, CONCACAF. Upgrade South American, Oceania playoff places to full qualification slots. Restore continental rotation when choosing World Cup hosts. Require bidders to respect labor and human rights.
Limit FIFA presidents to two 4-year terms.
Give FIFA member federations $1 million per year, doubling their current FIFA payments in 4-year World Cup period. Increase FIFA's revenues by improving the reputation and brand to attract sponsors. Fund scholarships for coaches to work in less developed soccer countries. End a ''culture of intimidation.''
Key quote: ''We need a change of culture and a departure from FIFA's authoritarian approach to strategy.''
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LUIS FIGO (withdrew)
Age: 42
Country: Portugal
Background: FIFA World Player of the Year in 2001. UEFA Champions League winner in 2002 with Real Madrid. FIFA Under-20 World Cup winner in 1991.
Nominated by: Portugal, Denmark, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland.
Withdrawal: Pulled out of election on May 21.
Previous Campaign Promises: Expand World Cup to 40 teams or a 48-team tournament with two continents each hosting 24 teams in a group stage before a single country hosts the knockout rounds. Take $1 billion from FIFA's reserves to share among the 209 member federations. Guarantee a seat on FIFA executive committee to each country which has won the World Cup.
Key quote: ''I look at the reputation of FIFA right now and I don't like it. Football deserves better.''
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MICHAEL VAN PRAAG (withdrew)
Age: 67
Country: Netherlands
Background: President, Dutch soccer federation (2008). UEFA executive committee member (2009).
Nominated by: Netherlands, Belgium, Faeroe Islands, Romania, Scotland, Sweden.
Withdrawal: Pulled out of election race on May 21 and switched his support to Prince Ali.
Previous Campaign Promises: Expanded 40-team World Cup with ''proportionally more countries outside Europe.'' Serve a single 4-year presidential term to ''normalize'' FIFA, cut costs and modernize the institutional culture. Publish the presidential salary. Retain the outgoing president as an adviser and head of a `'Sepp Blatter Foundation'' to help underprivileged children.
Key quote: ''The current state of disarray asks for a change in leadership.''
