I am a man of football, inside and out… says LUIS FIGO
Former National Portuguese football and Real Madrid star and FIFA Presidential Candidate Luis Figo threw his hat in the ring for president on February 18, 2015 – “Football runs through my veins. I am a man of football, inside out and I am ready to help bring about change.”
Radical change might happen if Figo is able to tap into and share the wealth of FIFA’s reserves. Figo’s “For Football Manifesto” promises $2.5 billion dollars, reflecting 50% of FIFA’s revenues, for funding grassroots football development around the globe to assure the future of football.
Check out Luis Figo’s Manifesto and see what you think yourself. FIFA is an archaic monstrosity of a bureaucratic empire that is run more like a monarchy than a business – and although the 2014 World Cup in Brazil was one of the most successful on record, FIFA’s president is loathed by millions of soccer fans.
FIGO’S PLEDGE
There is far too much at stake to sit on the side lines and refuse to act – that is not the man I am.
I urge you all to join me in ensuring a new style of leadership at FIFA, one that places global Football at the heart of everything it does and stands for.
Football has given me so much in my life and I now want to give something back to the game that has shaped me so deeply…
Throughout my career I have worked at all levels of the game. This has given me a unique insight and understanding that I feel can enhance the discussion about the future of FIFA and the future of Football.
Sepp Blatter is the current President of FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) and was elected on 8 June 1998, taking over for João Havelange. Blatter has been re-elected as President in 2002, 2007 and 2011.
Manifesto. I am a man of football, inside and out…
Blatter may rule FIFA for the foreseeable future – or until he chooses to step down as he only needs 105 votes to keep his job and it seems logical that he already has the African block close to his chest. Regardless of rumors ranging from cheating on his wife to bribery in soccer, Blatter has remained steadfast in control of world soccer.
The question is – will he be re-elected again or can Figo topple the giant and tempt enough of the 209 football federations to buy into his Manifesto?
With a campaign focused around meeting the needs of its members, Figo’s proposals may be newsworthy.
The self-proclaimed global football icon, Figo said, “Football has given me so much during my life and I want to give something back to the game. I look at the reputation of FIFA right now and I don’t like it. Football deserves better.”
“In recent weeks, months, and even years, I have seen the image of FIFA deteriorate and as I speak to many people in football – to players, managers and Association Presidents – so many of those people have told me that something has to be done,” continued FIGO.
“Throughout my career I have worked at all levels of the game,” said FIGO. “This has given me a unique insight and understanding that I feel can enhance the discussion about the future of FIFA and the future of football.”
From the working class suburbs of Lisbon, Figo went on to make 577 appearances for Sporting Lisbon, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid and Internazionale. He also captained Portugal at the 2006 FIFA World Cup during an international career in which he won 127 caps – making him Portugal’s must capped player.
Figo, who has served on the UEFA Football Committee from 2011 – 2015, will run a campaign for change, focussing on better governance, more transparency, increased solidarity and the protection of true football values. A detailed program for positive reform will be unveiled in the coming weeks.
Figo said, “I am convinced that FIFA’s position as the governing body of world football is absolutely vital. For this to be preserved it is essential that we see change at the top and we set FIFA on a new course, which is all about football and less about politics. This is why I am looking forward to getting on the road in the coming weeks, to explain in detail my programme and my vision. My aim is to nourish my plans with the insights and ideas of the National Associations, to listen to their concerns and to provide a forum for a new approach to FIFA which is focused on FIFA’s stakeholders rather than just FIFA.”
