Former Real Madrid and Inter winger Luis Figo has confirmed himself as a candidate to challenge Sepp Blatter as FIFA President.
The Portuguese icon confirmed in an interview with CNN that he wants to see the game’s governing body improve its image.
“I care about football, so what I'm seeing regarding the image of FIFA, not only now but in the past years, I don't like it,” said the 42-year-old.
Former Real Madrid and Inter winger Luis Figo has confirmed himself as a candidate to challenge Sepp Blatter as FIFA President.
The Portuguese icon confirmed in an interview with CNN that he wants to see the game’s governing body improve its image.
“I care about football, so what I'm seeing regarding the image of FIFA, not only now but in the past years, I don't like it,” said the 42-year-old.
“If you search FIFA on the internet you see the first word that comes out: scandal. That's what we have to change first and try to improve the image of FIFA. Football deserves much better than this.
“I've been talking with so many important people in football – players, managers, president of federations – and they all think that something has to be done.
“Last year we had the World Cup, I was in Brazil and I saw the reaction of all the fans regarding the image of FIFA and I think something has to be changed.
“Change in leadership, governance, transparency and solidarity, so I think it's the moment for that.”
Figo claims that he took his decision after a report by American lawyer Michael Garcia, which covered the bidding process that assigned Russia and Qatar their World Cup tournaments, was left undisclosed.
“After that report was not published I think that was the moment of change and the moment I thought that something had to be done.
“If you are transparent and if you ask for an investigation, a report, why wouldn't you make it public? If you have nothing to hide about that, you have to do it.
“I think no-one is untouchable in this life. If you think like that you are wrong.
“I have so many examples in football; you can play against the strongest team or you can play against the weakest team and you never know who will win.
“Sometimes you think you will lose and you win, sometimes you think you will win and you lose. That is the beauty of sport. That is the beauty of this running too. It is not easy but you have to believe.”
Figo is now a candidate alongside David Ginola, Jerome Champagne, Prince Ali and Michael van Praag, all of whom will be attempting to challenger Blatter's rule.