The 56-year old former diplomat joined FIFA back in 1999, serving as an executive for eleven years.

French diplomat Jerome Champagne confirmed on his website he will run for FIFA's front office, challenging Joseph Blatter for football's top seat.

“We have to take clear and informed decisions on whether we want to continue with the current economic polarisation, and the sporting imbalances it brings in its wake, or be willing to rebalance the game in our globalised 21st century,” can be read in the candidate's website.

Champagne's candidacy feels like a breath of fresh air for FIFA, given severe criticism on Blatter for extending his stint as football's top man for sixteen years. Champagne hopes for some changes that can benefit football in the long run:

“The next 10 years will be crucial for football and very particularly for FIFA, which is at a crossroads and in need of sweeping changes that must take it further than what has been accomplished to date," the letter states.

FIFA will celebrate their Congress in May.