Platini not included on list of five candidates for FIFA presidency

Football’s world governing body FIFA has approved five candidates to run for its presidency in February, amid the worst crisis in the organisation’s history.

The five are Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan, the Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain, UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino of Switzerland, South African businessman and former political prisoner Tokyo Sexwale and Frenchman Jerome Champagne, a former FIFA official.

Football: FIFA approves five presidential candidates, Platini pending https://t.co/xR05hi7kEPpic.twitter.com/v6z3g6XMO9

— Agence France-Presse (@AFP) November 12, 2015

UEFA president Michel Platini, originally the favourite to succeed Sepp Blatter, is not on FIFA’s list because he is suspended for 90 days pending a full Ethics Committee investigation.

But that could change if the Frenchman wins an appeal against the ban.

FIFA has been thrown into turmoil by the US indictments of 14 football officials and sports marketing executives for alleged corruption.

Blatter, also suspended for 90 days, is facing criminal investigation in Switzerland.