Zico wants FIFA election rules changed so he can run for president

Former Brazil great Zico met with FIFA President Sepp Blatter on Tuesday to ask for changes in election eligibility rules at soccer's governing body.

ZURICH (AP) — Former Brazil great Zico met with FIFA President Sepp Blatter on Tuesday to ask for changes in election eligibility rules at soccer's governing body.

Zico has announced he wants to run for FIFA's presidency after Blatter leaves in February, but is struggling to fulfill the requirement of having at least five federations supporting him as a candidate.

Zico told The Associated Press that this rule needs to change because local federations are pressured by their confederations and can't make their own choices.

He said Blatter was very receptive to his letter calling for the changes, and said the president also didn't agree with the current rules.

"It's difficult," Zico told the AP in a telephone interview after meeting with Blatter at FIFA's headquarters in Zurich. "The way things are right now, it's very difficult for anybody to become a candidate."

So far, Zico only has the support from Brazil and needs to find other four federations to back him by Oct. 26 in order to become an official candidate.

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He expected to have the support of Turkey and Japan, countries where he spent a lot of time playing and coaching, but said the local federations are being pressured not to support him.

"The federations must be allowed to make their own choices," Zico said. "President Blatter agrees with that, and hopefully things will change in the future. If we can achieve that, it would be a significant accomplishment going forward."

FIFA said Blatter received Zico as a courtesy and at the former player's request, and said "there was no discussion on the merits of the FIFA presidential election rules."

UEFA President Michel Platini is considered the frontrunner to replace Blatter next year. UEFA had been pushing for tighter qualification rules for presidential candidates before they were approved last year by FIFA's executive committee.

Zico, who played for Brazil at the 1978, 1982 and 1986 World Cups, said that recently he had very productive meetings with Turkey's federation but was not able to get its support because of UEFA's influence. The same thing happened in Japan, which he said is being pressured by the Asia confederation.

Platini, who has some influential supporters in Asia, dismissed the need for changes in eligibility regulations, saying "rules are rules."

"He doesn't have five letters?," the Frenchman said when asked Tuesday about Zico's intentions. "I'm sorry."

Zico later published the "open letter" he delivered to Blatter with a list of 10 points "essential for the reform process," including the need to "reform the FIFA presidency" through term limits, transparency and "an open and transparent electoral" process.

"Elections are one of the key things to be reformed," he wrote. "After all, an election under the current rules can only serve those already committed to the current system."

Zico said he has the "ideal platform for advancing" changes at FIFA.

"The football community seeks a fresh, independent candidate not involved with or compromised by the current and previous governance structures at FIFA, confederations and national associations," the 62-year-old Brazilian said.

Blatter can't actually do much about changing the election rules. Any changes would have to be approved by FIFA's executive committee — which is meeting this week in Zurich to discuss other matters.

Zico traveled to Switzerland to try to gather support for his bid by meeting with federation officials who are attending the session on Thursday and Friday.

He said he will meet with U.S. federation president Sunil Gulati on Thursday and is hopeful of winning his support, which would leave him needing three more.

"It will be difficult, we know," he said. "But let's see how it goes."

GALLERY: Rare photos of Brazil's Ronaldo

Rare Photos of Brazil Soccer Great Ronaldo

Ronaldo chose to join PSV after the 1994 World Cup, for which he was selected despite being just 17, but did not play. Ronaldo scored 30 league goals in his first season in the Netherlands.

Ronaldo presents his FC Barcelona jersey to fellow Brazilian Alex Barros at the Montmelo circuit outside Barcelone in 1996. This was only the beginning of Ronaldo's interest in racing. Since 2005, Ronaldo has been the co-owner of A1 Team Brazil, a Brazilian Grand Prix racing team.

Ronaldo of Barcellona is escorted by Italian policemen out of Pisa's airport in 1997. Barcellona played Fiorentina of Florence in a Champion's League semifinal soccer match held in Florence.

Ronaldo cuddles up to former girlfriend Susana Werner in 1997.

Ronaldo, accompanied by his mother, Sonia Nazario De Lima, presents Pope John Paul II with a Brazilian national team jersey and an Inter Milan jersey at the Vatican in 1998.

French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez charges into Ronaldo during the 1998 World Cup final between France and Brazil. France won 3-0.

Ronaldo stands dejected after the 1998 World Cup final with his silver medal.

Ronaldo gives the thumbs-up on a tour of the falls at Foz do Iguacu National Park, Brazil, in June 1999. The Brazilian national soccer team was training nearby in preparation for the Copa America tournament.

Rivaldo and Ronaldo lounge by the pool in Buenos Aires. The two played on the Brazil national team from 1994 to 2003 and the tandem scored 96 goals in 171 combined appearances.

Ronald and his then wife, former Brazilian soccer player Milen Domingues, make a toast during their wedding in 1999.

Ronaldo tries his hand at golf during the 2001 Pro-Am at the Brazilian Open in San Paolo.

F1 racer Michael Schumacher of Germany douses Ronaldo with champagne after a friendly match for UNICEF in Rio de Janeiro in 2001.

Ronaldo, sporting his famous triangle haircut, celebrates on the pitch after Brazil beat Germany 2-0 to win its fifth World Cup in 2002.

Ronaldo honors Brazil in the 2004 Olympics by carrying the Olympic Torch through Rio de Janeiro.

Ronaldo celebrates with Real Madrid teammate David Beckham after he scored a goal during their La Liga match against Levante at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2004.

Ronaldo, donning a sleek pinstripe suit, attends the GQ Awards 2004 in Madrid with his then girlfriend Daniela Cicarelli.

Real Madrid's Ronaldo and David Beckham chat during a lunch in 2004.

Brazilian soccer fans will forever remember Ronaldo (pictured here in 2005) for his fun-loving antics, dominant scoring ability, mesmerizing dribbling skills and leadership on two World Cup-winning teams.

Ronaldo joined AC Milan, the sixth of his seven career teams, in February 2007. Here, he poses with AC-Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani.

Ronaldo joined the Corinthians in March 2009. The stint was the last professional team of his soccer career. After the Corinthians were eliminated from the 2011 Copa Libertadores de America, Ronaldo announced his retirement while citing nagging injuries that have stalled his career.

Ronaldo presents Hugh Jackman with a Corinthians jersey embroidered with the name Wolverine and the number 'X' to promote Jackman's movie 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine.'

In a long standing soccer tradition, Ronaldo exchanges his Corinthian's jersey with Israel's president Shimon Peres' Israel national soccer team jersey.

Ronaldo joins Rogerio Flausino of Jota Quest, a Brazilian rock band, on stage at the Monange Dream Fashion Tour in Rio de Janeiro in April 2010.

Ronaldo leaves Nello's restaurant on the Upper East Side of New York City in 2011.

Michael Phelps, Natalis Chan and Ronaldo attend a press conference at the Mission Hills Golf Club in Haikou, China, in 2012.

Ronaldo Nazario de Lima and then girlfriend Paula Morais walk along the streets of Madrid in 2013.

Ronaldo attends the 2013 European Poker Tour in Barcelona.

Ronaldo waves from a float as he takes part in Gavioes da Fiel samba school performance during the second night of carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in March 2014. Gavioes da Fiel's theme for the carnival was an homage to Ronaldo.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter welcomes Ronaldo at the 2014 Football for Hope Festival at Vila Olimpica Mane Garrincha Caju in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Ronaldo attends the men's final on day 15 of the 2015 French Open 2015 at Roland Garros Stadium in Paris, France.

Ronaldo brings out the trophy ahead of the final at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia.