Speaking at a news conference here, at the site where the English Football Association (FA) was founded in 1863, the Frenchman, a major figure in incumbent President Sepp Blatter's re-election campaign in 2002, told the audience: "As some of you well expected, I'm here to announce the launch of my candidacy for the FIFA Presidency in 2015."

"We need a different FIFA," he added.

"More democratic, more respected, which behaves better and which does more."

Champagne, 55, is likely to face Blatter in the Presidential election, although the current chief is yet to decide whether he will run for a fifth term and will not announce his intentions until just before the FIFA Congress in June.

Questions regarding Blatter left Champagne under a lot of pressure, with the Presidential hopeful refusing to comment on his position should the Swiss chief choose to run for another term.

When questioned on whether he thought he could beat Blatter in the election campaign, the Frenchman answered simply, "No", leaving doubts over the future of his campaign should his former boss run again, as is widely expected.

Champagne, a former French diplomat, worked at FIFA for 11 years, between 1999 and 2010, being a close ally of Blatter's from 2002 to 2005, where he successfully ran his re-election campaign in 2002 before taking on the role of deputy secretary general of world football's governing body.

Since leaving FIFA in 2010, Champagne has worked as an independent consultant in troubled regions such as Kosovo, Palestine, Israel and Cyprus.

His electoral platform comes via his 20,000 word document "What FIFA for the 21st century?" published in 2012, with him looking to curb the current standard which has seen European football's rich get richer, with many others seemingly an afterthought.

Jérôme Champagne has the backing of Pelé in becoming FIFA President ©AFP/Getty Images

Champagne's bid, which has the slogan "Re-Balance the Game in a Globalised 21st Century", has already been endorsed by world footballing legend Pelé who announced his support of the Frenchman through a video message during the announcement in London.

"I cannot stay away from a debate which is so important for the future of football and thus, I support Jérôme Champagne and his vision," said the three-time World Cup winner.

"Football today enjoys a lot of success but also faces many problems requiring a strong and democratic FIFA with a vision in favour of everyone, and a governance which is both universal and modern.

"FIFA must continue doing what has been done well in the past, taking its competitions and the World Cup to all countries and also continue its development programmes, but has to adapt itself to the 21st century and to the world of today."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
October 2012: Champagne calls for greater democracy within Blatter's reform process
January 2010: David Owen - Champagne departure leaves Blatter weaker