David Nakhid joins race to replace FIFA president Sepp Blatter
Wednesday 12 August 2015 20:05, UK
Former Trinidad and Tobago midfielder David Nakhid has said he will stand in February's election to replace Sepp Blatter as president of FIFA.
Nakhid, who is based in Lebanon where he runs a football academy, needs the backing of five national associations In order to be a candidate - a requirement which has kept other outsiders off the ballot in previous elections.
"I have put my hat in the ring and we are looking forward to the challenge," Nakhid said, adding that he was "optimistic" of getting the five nominations.
Nakhid, 51, said he had met with Caribbean Football Union (CFU) president Gordon Derrick in Antigua and had been invited to speak to the CFU's executive committee on Saturday.
Derrick confirmed to Reuters that Nakhid would be given an audience.
The CFU has 25 of the 35 votes from the CONCACAF confederation, which also covers North and Central America as well as the Caribbean.
"FIFA's focus must be on development accompanied by proper oversight," said Nakhid, who has been strongly critical of Trinidad's former FIFA vice-president and ex-CONCACAF president Jack Warner.
"This region has been under-developed due to the inept leadership that came from this part of the world. Jack Warner never really represented this region," he added.
So far, UEFA president Michel Platini, ex-FIFA vice-president Chung Mong-joon of South Korea, Brazil great Zico and Liberian FA chairman Musa Bility have declared their intention to stand in the election.
Jordan's Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein, beaten by Blatter in May's election, is considering another run while South African Tokyo Sexwale has also said he is weighing up whether to stand.
