By Nick Butler

David Ginola has officially withdrawn from the race for the FIFA Presidency ©Getty ImagesDavid Ginola has confirmed his withdrawal from the FIFA Presidential race this evening after failing to secure the backing of five football associations.


This leaves four challengers - France's Jérôme Champagne, Jordan's Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, The Netherlands' Michael van Praag and Portugal's Luis Figo - remaining in the race to challenging Swiss incumbent Sepp Blatter in May's election.

Blatter remains the overwhelming favourite to successfully bid for what would be a fifth term in office. 

Ginola, the former Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder who was paid £250,000 ($327,000/€380,000) by bookmakers Paddy Power to stand, was always a rank outsider, with the announcement two weeks ago that he was standing taking the football world by surprise.

Despite insisting last night he was pressing ahead with his campaign, the 47-year-old Frenchman has now admitted he has been unable to secure the nominations, promising to return the £6,300 ($9,400/€8,300) pledged by members of the public towards his campaign.

"Today I have mixed emotions," he said.

"There is disappointment, anger but there is also hope.

"I'm very proud of my campaign and the policies I proposed to reform football."

David Ginola thanked everyone who has supported him in a message on Twitter this evening ©TwitterDavid Ginola thanked everyone who has supported him in a message on Twitter this evening ©Twitter






But Ginola's fellow ex-professional Figo has confirmed that six federations - his native Portugal as well as Denmark, Montenegro, Macedonia, Luxembourg and Poland - have supported his campaign.

"I am very happy to confirm that my six nominations were delivered to FIFA this week ahead of the deadline," he said.

"I would like to thank my colleagues and friends from the nominating FAs and across the global football family who have already given their backing to my campaign and sent messages encouraging me in this mission.

"It has been a great start - my thanks to everyone concerned."

Van Praag, meanwhile, revealed yesterday he has been backed by Belgium, the Faeroe Islands, Romania, Scotland and Sweden, while outgoing FIFA vice-president Prince Ali has not revealed his nominees although it is known that the English FA was one of the five. 

Champagne has also not yet revealed his nominations, or confirmed he has received the necessary support, with more details expected soon. 

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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