SOCCER-FIFA/ZICO Zico looks to widen tentative support base for FIFA presidency bid

Record ID: 145087

  • Title: SOCCER-FIFA/ZICO Zico looks to widen tentative support base for FIFA presidency bid
  • Date: 5th August 2015
  • Summary: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (AUGUST 4, 2015) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) FORMER BRAZIL INTERNATIONAL AND FIFA PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, ZICO, SAYING: "I think this is what democratisation is about. You have to act in ways which benefit the majority and not just half a dozen. I think that FIFA lacks this transparency, as do many other institutions. It is no coincidence that
  • Embargoed: 20th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA7VZB6SZLUIY9GICOA6DMVN2WS
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Zico told Reuters on Tuesday (August 4) that he is cooperating with the decision taken by the Brazilian Soccer Confederation (CBF) to support his bid for FIFA presidential candidacy as long as he first obtains the support of four other federations.
    The former Brazil international said that though he does not fully agree, he is acting on the decision that was taken after he met with CBF President Marco Polo del Nero last Thursday in an attempt to get his candidacy off the ground.
    "The first step has been taken. People I have confidence in and who I have spoken with arrived at the conclusion which I accept, and that is how it is, now I will only return to the Brazilian Soccer Federation when I have the support of four other federations. But I think it is a great mistake that someone else has to support you for (the backing of) a confederation," Zico said in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday.
    Candidates to replace outgoing FIFA president Sepp Blatter must have the backing of five national associations.
    They have to formally register their bids by October 26, four months before the election which will take place at an extraordinary Congress in Zurich on February 26.
    Zico, who played for Brazil in three World Cups, has coached in Japan, India, Qatar, Uzbekistan, Greece, Turkey and Iraq. He said that he was hoping to get further support from some of those countries.
    "My first move to find the support of four other (federations) was towards Japan, given everything that happened in my 15 years there, and the doors open to me there. I sent a special letter to Japan and I will wait for their response. My translator is there for a meeting on August 7. Of course my agents are speaking with Turkey, India, Greece and Uzbekistan, all the places where I have worked," Zico explained.
    UEFA President Michel Platini announced his candidacy for the top job last week, and stands against former Vice-President Chung Mong-joon, and Liberian FA President Musa Bility.
    The 60-year-old former France and Juventus midfielder Platini has long been the favourite to succeed Blatter and last week his supporters indicated that he has picked up widespread support from leaders of the continental confederations.
    "(Platini) is in the same situation as everyone else in terms of having to look for support from other federations. His chances of course are increased by his being at the top of UEFA and his ability to move around. I am not going to spend money to leave (Brazil), going after each country, that is not my objective. Nor will I get companies on board to do my campaign and travel the world asking for support," said Zico.
    A former protege of Blatter's, Platini turned into one of his biggest critics and he has said FIFA's corruption scandal "disgusted" him and gave him "stomach trouble".
    But the Frenchman's own critics will focus on his support for the 2022 World Cup to be held in Qatar. Platini, part of the FIFA executive committee since 2002, voted for Qatar, despite FIFA's own technical report flagging up concerns about the searing heat in the Gulf state.
    Zico stressed that he wants a fresh start for FIFA, for it to be an organisation for sportsmen free of corruption and stunts.
    "I think this is what democratisation is about. You have to act in ways which benefit the majority and not just half a dozen. I think that FIFA lacks this transparency, as do many other institutions. It is no coincidence that all these issues keep coming out. It is a real shame for those of us in the soccer world when directors are arrested, when people throw money around, this is all very sad," said Zico.
    Del Nero, who promised Zico backing if he can show the support of four other federations, is a member of FIFA's executive committee but missed the last meeting on July 20, saying he needed to tackle domestic issues.
    He also missed the FIFA Congress in May in Zurich, having left Switzerland shortly after his predecessor Jose Maria Marin was among seven people arrested at their hotel having been indicted on corruption charges in the United States.
    Del Nero has repeatedly denied any involvement in the bribery schemes laid out in the U.S. indictments.
    Marin and five others are still detained while Swiss authorities consider a request from the United States for their extradition.
    The seventh, former FIFA vice president Jeffrey Webb, has already been extradited, pleaded not guilty in a U.S. federal court and been bailed on a $10 million bond.
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