ZURICH, Switzerland, CMC- Former Trinidad and Tobago midfielder, David Nakhid, a FIFA presidential candidate, has taken a swipe at his main rivals for football’s top position.
Nakhid, who has officially launched his campaign, said neither Jordanian Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein nor the president of Asian soccer, Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain would be good solutions for the troubled organisation which has been hit by a series of corruption scandals.
Prince Ali has put in his nomination and Sheikh Salman is also expected to do so before the October 26 deadline for the vote four months later.
“You look at Prince Ali, someone who has been head of his own association since he was 23, 16 years. Now he wants to come and talk about reform?,” questioned Nakhid.
“He has been there 16 years by decree. What can he tell us about reform? Has he had a challenger in those 16 years or has been there as a Prince? Come on.”
Nakhid has successfully secured the five nominations from national associations needed to become a candidate and has submitted his paperwork to FIFA’s election committee.
Prince Ali and Sheikh Salman are considered front runners to replace outgoing Sepp Blatter.
“He (Sheikh Salman) has been part of that circle no matter what is said,” said Nakhid, who has played club football in the Swiss league and North America’s Major League Soccer and now runs a football academy in Lebanon.
“He (Sheikh Salman) has been around in Asia and if you know a bit about Asian football and the acrimonious battles that were waged and then you know it is going to be hard to split these guys from anything that has gone on”.
Nakhid, 51, who has played 35 times for Trinidad and Tobago between 1992 and 2005, says he wants a public debate involving all candidates vying for the position of FIFA president.
