Three FIFA presidential candidates are using this weekend’s Caribbean Football Union (CFU) general meeting in Antigua as part of their campaign mission ahead of next month’s elections.Switzerland’s Gianni Infantino, Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, of Jordan, and Frenchman Jerome Champagne have been given presentation slots between yesterday and today during the regional body’s meeting to canvass for votes ahead of the FIFA general elections of February 26.
The draw for the 2016 Scotiabank Men’s Caribbean Cup is also on the agenda but the presence of the three aspirants for FIFA’s top post is certain to unseat any other issue for prime news here this weekend.
Bahrain’s FIFA vice-president Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, widely regarded as a front-runner in the presidential race, will not attend. He has submitted a letter to be shared at the CFU session after organisers saying his schedule “did not permit his presence” at the meeting.
UEFA general secretary Infantino, Prince Ali, a former FIFA vice-president and Champagne, who previously served as a FIFA deputy secretary general, will grab the opportunity to proclaim their world football plans to CFU member associations.
The Caribbean region joins with North and Central America to represent CONCACAF which is seen as a pivotal Confederation for votes in FIFA. Only the African confederation, UEFA, and the Asian Confed carry more votes than CONCACAF to FIFA’s election platform.
FIFA has been wallowing in controversy and corruption allegations in recent years and on February 26 in Zurich the football voters will decide who replaces disgraced longtime former FIFA chief Sepp Blatter.
The 79-year-old Swiss presided over the organisation from 1998 until his suspension in October 2015.