SOCCER-FIFA/JORDAN REAX Prince Ali will stand for FIFA presidency - Jordan soccer official

Record ID: 150010

  • Title: SOCCER-FIFA/JORDAN REAX Prince Ali will stand for FIFA presidency - Jordan soccer official
  • Date: 3rd June 2015
  • Summary: AMMAN, JORDAN (JUNE 3, 2015) (REUTERS) JORDAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION VICE PRESIDENT SALAH SABRA WALKING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) JORDAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION VICE PRESIDENT, SALAH SABRA, SAYING: "We received the news of (Sepp) Blatter's resignation with relief because this what we called for and also Prince Ali (bin Al-Hussein) asked for Blatter's resignation many times, for many
  • Embargoed: 18th June 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Jordan
  • Country: Jordan
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAE9BGCUYKQOMY1DFDMHUAGFUBA
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Jordan Football Association (JFA) Vice President Salah Sabra welcomed the steps taken by Sepp Blatter to step down from the helm of FIFA, stressing that Jordanian Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein will be among the presidency candidates if the elections will be reorganized.
    Blatter unexpectedly stepped down as FIFA president on Tuesday (June 2), just four days after defeating Prince Ali to be elected into his fifth term in office.
    However, the JFA welcomed Blatter's U-turn and said they wished the Swiss had resigned before the elections.
    "We received the news of (Sepp) Blatter's resignation with relief because this what we called for and also Prince Ali (bin Al-Hussein) asked for Blatter's resignation many times, for many reasons, that date back years as we see there are many cases of corruption and decisions being made by one person. All the world, including UEFA president (Michel Platini), and other federation presidents demanded that Mr Blatter resign before the elections," said Sabra on Wednesday (June 3).
    Sabra also said the Prince Ali would run in any new elections for FIFA president, which are likely to take place near the turn of the year.
    "His Highness (Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein) is holding consultations with friends and his brothers, in addition to people who support His Highness, but I can assure you that if elections are held, the Prince will be among the candidates," he said outside the Amman International Stadium.
    The JFA also said FIFA was at a cross-roads and was "near collapse" following the corruption scandal that has seen the FBI and Swiss authorities arrest top FIFA officials and investigate if corruption played a part in awarding World Cups to Russia and Qatar.
    Sabra said FIFA needed a new leader at this critical moment in the sport's history.
    "Today the system of FIFA is undergoing a severe crisis and it is on the brink of collapse and we warned about this collapse for years and we warned during the campaign of His Highness Prince Ali (bin Al-Hussein) that FIFA's system is about to collapse, because of the cases and having one person making decisions. So, today FIFA is in a critical stage and I think if there will be no suitable person to lead it as soon as possible, we will witness an even more critical moment in international soccer," he said.
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