France legend and former Tottenham and Newcastle star David Ginola has announced he will run for FIFA's presidency in the election in May, challenging Jordan's Prince Ali bin Al Hussein in the race to oust incumbent president Sepp Blatter.
Aiming to remove the 78-year-old Swiss from office, Ginola declared his candidacy in a video post, saying: “I’m standing because like you, I love football. Whether you are on the terraces or on the pitch we all know that the FIFA system isn’t working. The game needs to change, but I can’t change it on my own.
“I need you to stand up and change it with me. I need you in my team. By joining Team Ginola you are saying yes to a FIFA built on democracy, transparency and equality. You are saying ‘yes’ to a Fifa which cares about one thing – football.”
Blatter has held office at world football's governing body since 1998, and is seeking a fifth term. However, with all the scandal the association has come under, many have called for him to step down.
Ginola, who also enjoyed a successful spell with Paris Saint-Germain during his career, may be a welcomed candidate in the race given he is the only one who has a background in professional football.
Whether the 45-year-old Frenchman will even be eligible to run, it is yet unknown. He has to meet two criteria, one is having the support of at least five national associations.
Ginola will also have to display active involvement in football administration for at least two of the last five years.
