Fifa presidential election: When are the results revealed and who is running to replace Sepp Blatter?
Five candidates are campaigning to replace Blatter in office at Fifa's Zurich headquarters
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Fifa are set to elect a new president to replace Sepp Blatter on February 26 during the 2016 extraordinary congress in Zurich.
The world football governing body has been rocked by a succession of accusations of corruption which has led to Blatter being handed an eight-year ban for a “disloyal payment” made to his Uefa counterpart Michel Platini.
Gianni Infantino, supported by the Football Association, joins Prince Ali Al Hussein, Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa, Jerome Champagne and Tokyo Sexwale on a five-man shortlist to be elected president.
Speaking in an interview with the Times, disgraced Swiss Blatter said: “I am sure that there is justice in this world, and that I have committed nothing which goes to criminal law.
“I have killed nobody, I have not robbed a bank, I have not taken any money from anywhere and I was even treating well all my ex-girlfriends. It’s true. They defend me. One I was married to only for a few months and she is really defending me.”
Blatter, who is awaiting the verdict on his appeal, has seen his inner circle in Zurich be arrested, banned or indicted by the Federal Bureau of Investigations but remains a largely influential figure following 18 years at the top of the world football governing body.
The 79-year-old added: “You cannot buy a World Cup, it will go at the end where the higher political influences are.
“For 2022, Platini at least had the courtesy to phone me and say, 'now we have had a meeting with the head of state and if the head of state is asking me to support France for different reasons then I will'. He said 'my vote will not be for the Americans'.
“I knew then there would be a problem, we tried but it was too late. It was one week or ten days before the vote. I tried to see what votes were left for the US but four votes were lost.”
The candidates to replace Blatter
Gianni Infantino: Uefa general secretary, supported by the Football Association.
Prince Ali Al Hussein: Fifa vice-president, runner-up in the previous election.
Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa: president of the Asian Football Confederation.
Jerome Champagne: former executive at Fifa from 1999 to 2010.
Tokyo Sexwale: South African businessman.
Click the links to read the candidates' manifestos.
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