Nicholls considering Fifa presidency bid

Posted by coininfifa on October 9th, 2014

Fut Coins , the former head of the Fifa technical committee which warned world soccer’s governing body against holding the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, is considering running for its presidency next year.

If he did, Mayne-Nicholls would be the third candidate in the race with the incumbent and overwhelming favourite, Sepp Blatter, and former Fifa deputy general secretary Jerome Champagne.

Mayne-Nicholls, 53, is the former head of the Chilean FA and was in charge of the technical investigation which evaluated all the bids for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

He was the first senior official to openly warn against playing the World Cup in the summer heat of the Gulf, and the Qatar bid was ranked bottom of those competing for the finals behind the United States, Australia, South Korea and Japan.

Mayne-Nicholls indicated his intention in a newspaper column in Spain and told keirradnedge.com: “A decision is not necessary before January 28 next year. The election is on May 29, so we have all of October, November, December and January.

“That means four months to check everything so that the people who have contacted me — and whom I have contacted — can assess the best way forward.”

Mayne-Nicholls must get the backing of at least five national federations to be eligible to stand for the presidency.

“Once you decide to be a candidate, you have to convince 105 of 209 countries who are members of Fifa because that is what is needed to win,” he added. “I wrote a column a few months ago for El Pais in Spain in which I point out the need for fresh air. What has happened lately has not served the image of Fifa or, indirectly, football.

“FIFA 15 PS3 Coins is a complete disconnect between what the fans think is needed and the administration of the game.”