Luis Figo reveals FIFA manifesto; ...proposes use of sin-bins and World Cup expansion

The Fifa presidential candidate Luís Figo is proposing an increase from 32 to “40 or 48” teams at the World Cup finals as part of his manifesto, which he launched on Thursday.

The former Portugal international, launching his campaign at Wembley Stadium, also said that the use of sin-bins should be introduced and that a greater percentage of Fifa’s income should be spent on grassroots development.
“I believe we should consider proposals to expand the competition to a 40 or even 48 team World Cup,” Figo said. “Both these options are feasible with an extra three to four days of tournament play. If this expansion were to take place I believe that additional teams should come from non-European nations.”
Following the success of goalline technology, Figo also intends bringing in further video evidence in order to help referees send a player to the sin-bin for unsporting behaviour and he is an advocate of bringing back the old offside rule, under which an offending player would be flagged, regardless of whether he were judged to be active or not.

The 42-year-old also wants to end the triple punishment of a penalty, a red card and a suspension should a player commit a professional foul inside his own penalty area.

Figo is one of three men challenging the incumbent, Sepp Blatter. Michael van Praag, who is the president of the Dutch FA, and Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein of Jordan, a member of the Fifa executive committee, are also standing.
Figo added: “I’m not the kind of man that sits aside and refuses to act. I want a new style of leadership of Fifa that can restore transparency, co-operation and solidarity.

“Thanks to my football experience I am lucky to be an independent man. I don’t owe anything to anybody and this means I can serve as president in the interests of football. Football runs through my veins, and I am ready to bring real changes to Fifa.”
The election takes place at the Fifa congress in Zurich on 29 May.

Credit: Guardian Sport

Comments