Without Support, Former Brazilian Player Zico Is Out of Fifa Presidential Race

10/27/2015 - 10h09

It will not be this time that Fifa will have a new Brazilian president. Rio de Janeiro native João Havelange led the organization from 1974 to 1998.

Former player and now coach Zico, also from Rio, did not get the support of five federations to register nomination in time for the election for Fifa's presidency, scheduled for February 26, 2016. The deadline ended on Monday (26) at 9 pm (BRT).

Zico, 62, launched his name after Joseph Blatter resigned in June this year, following corruption allegations.

A new election was organized and it was established that the candidates need the minimum support of five national federations to enter the race.

Zico first focused on associations of countries where he played or coached such as Japan, Turkey and India.

Without their support, he tried federations of Portuguese speaking countries like Angola and Mozambique. There were also smaller associations from Africa, as Eritrea.

Until Monday night (26), three African federations confirmed their support by e-mail, but Zico could not get the other two.

After a meeting in July, the CBF said that it would give its signature provided that Zico could get the support of four other federations.

Right now, FIFA presidential election is polarized between two Europeans: the Swiss Gianni Infantino, 45, Uefa general secretary who had his name released this Monday (26) by the organization that controls football in Europe, and the Frenchman Jérôme Champagne, 57, FIFA deputy general secretary from 1999 to 2010.

Translated by JULIANA CALDERARI

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	Xu Zijian/Xinhua
	Former Brazil soccer player Zico speaks during a news conference in Rio de Janeiro