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SPORTSSaturday 23 January 2016
Prince Ali confident he can win FIFA presidency AP: FIFA candidate
Infantino
WELLINGTON, New Zealand people in football around up. World Cup entry for the win- addresses
(AP) — Prince Ali of Jordan the world, but you have to “A president of FIFA needs ner of an Oceania qualify- members of UEFA
is confident he can win the have a leadership that un- to be somebody who rolls ing competition, saying he
FIFA presidential election derstands what needs to up his sleeves, goes on the would lobby to eliminate GRAHAM DUNBAR
and turn around what he AP Sports Writer
says is a critical situation FIFA vice president Jordan’s Prince Ali bin al-Hussein speaks during an interview with The Associ- NYON, Switzerland (AP) —
facing football’s governing ated Press in London. Prince Ali is confident he can win the FIFA presidential election and turn UEFA gave strong but not
body. around what he says is a critical situation facing football’s governing body. total support on Friday for
Prince Ali, who is one of its general secretary Gi-
five candidates for the (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) anni Infantino’s bid to be-
presidency vacated by come FIFA president, and
Sepp Blatter, told reporters be done. I believe (I’m) the ground and works directly the current system which delayed its own expected
in New Zealand on Friday only one who can really with national associations. I requires a playoff against leadership election. Amid
he believes he will win on come in and do this.” know I will. That’s the point, a team from another con- months of uncertainty for
Feb. 26 in Zurich and that His priorities would be to I’m my own man and I’m federation. European soccer, leaders
he is the one person who restore FIFA to its role as a doing things exactly as “I’m totally against the idea of the 54 member federa-
can turn the organization “service organization” for they should be and hope- of a half slot,” he said. “It’s tions were summoned to
around. players and fans and to fully when I win and I get a real challenge not just for UEFA for the first time since
The 40-year-old Jordanian implement a two-term limit that mandate that will be Oceania but also for Asia, a crisis meeting in October
lost to Blatter by 133 votes for presidents and execu- the impetus to really drive Conmebol and Concacaf after their president Michel
to 73 in a presidential elec- tive committee members. things the way they should as well.” Platini was suspended by
tion in May, before Blat- “We have to come back be.” Prince Ali also supports an FIFA. They heard Infantino
ter was banned for eight to good practices to make Prince Ali was determined enlarged World Cup but explain his plans as would-
years. it a modern organization to establish a culture of full would not make it an elec- be FIFA president and were
Prince Ali said “I am fully which is relevant for the transparency within FIFA. tion issue. told that an election to re-
confident I will win this time we live, and to restore “In terms of all aspects of “We have to look @ how place Platini is now unlikely
if things are conducted faith for all our stakehold- the organization, whether it things are conducted to happen at a congress in
properly. ers,” he said. is our financial situation, sal- within FIFA in terms of how May in Budapest, Hungary.
Across the world the “At the end of the day FIFA aries, the World Cup bids, decisions are made,” he Instead, UEFA will wait out
weight has been lifted is the umbrella for football we need to be really open said. “(There is) room for Platini’s appeals to over-
off of people’s shoulders. across the globe and it because that is what the enlarging the World Cup turn his eight-year ban
People want to be proud would be a shame to let world deserves for the most but that subject should not from duty. “UEFA’s nation-
of being part of this orga- things go on the way they popular sport,” he said. be brought up by a reform al associations also over-
nization again and, with- are. That is why I’m running He dangled the carrot committee or during a FIFA whelmingly expressed their
out going into specifics on as a candidate, to fix this to New Zealand of direct presidential campaign.”q support for Gianni and will
numbers, I’m building on officially announce their
what (votes) had last time individual positions in due
around.” course,” European soc-
Football New Zealand sup- cer’s governing body said
ported his candidacy in in a statement. The other
May and his visit on Friday candidates to succeed
was part of a worldwide Sepp Blatter in the Feb.
tour to solicit support. 26 election in Zurich are:
“FIFA is in a critical situation former FIFA vice president
right now and we need Prince Ali of Jordan; Asian
to fix that,” Prince Ali said. Football Confederation
“We have one chance president Sheikh Salman of
coming in February. I be- Bahrain; former FIFA official
lieve we have wasted a Jerome Champagne; and
year and we need to get South African businessman
it right. FIFA’s reputation Tokyo Sexwale. Infantino
has suffered dramatically can count on a big major-
and that has affected ev- ity of the 53 European fed-
erything. There is a real de- erations with FIFA votes to
sire to get things back on support him having served
track. as their top administrator
“We have a lot of good since 2009. Still, Malta has
said it will vote for Prince Ali
UEFA approves goal-line technology for Euro 2016 of Jordan, who got votes
from across Europe when
he lost to Blatter 133-73
NYON, Switzerland (AP) — decision did not commit In the Champions League, Although UEFA President in May, and other UEFA
Goal-line technology will UEFA to choosing a goal- the technology will be used Michel Platini has been a members have publicly
make its UEFA debut at this line technology (GLT) pro- in each match starting with long-time opponent of GLT, expressed doubts about
year’s European Champi- vider. the last qualifying stage — he had shifted position for their candidate. Infantino
onship, and in the Champi- FIFA used the GoalControl the 10-team playoff round Euro 2016 in his home coun- announced Friday that
ons League from next sea- system at the 2014 World in August — before the 32- try before his ban by the Russia’s federation — a
son. Cup. The German compa- team group stage. FIFA ethics committee. long-time Blatter supporter
UEFA said after an execu- ny and Britain’s Hawk-Eye The second-tier Europa At Euro 2012, match offi- led by sports minister and
tive committee meeting system are widely used in League could be equipped cials did not award co-host FIFA executive commit-
Friday that it will give its ref- European leagues. from the group stage on- Ukraine a goal when the tee member Vitaly Mutko
erees more technical help UEFA will equip all 10 stadi- ward in the 2017-18 season, ball crossed the line in a 1-0 — has formally pledged
at its top competitions. The ums at Euro 2016 in France. UEFA said. loss against England.q support.q
