Sexwale, a former anti-apartheid campaigner once imprisoned alongside the late Nelson Mandela, becomes the fifth official candidate to succeed Swiss incumbent Sepp Blatter after the South African Football Association gave him its full backing.

The 62-year-old diamond mining tycoon does not currently have an active role in South African football, but was a member of the team that successfully bid for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and also part of the Organising Committee for the event.

He was subsequently appointed to FIFA's Anti-Racism and Anti-Discrimination Committee and last May was appointed by Blatter as a liaison between the Israeli and Palestinian Federations.

In 1977, Sexwale was sentenced to 18 years in Cape Town’s Robben Island prison after being convicted on charges of terrorism and conspiracy to overthrow the South African Government.

Having served 13 years of his jail term, he was released in 1990 and went on to become a Cabinet Minister following South Africa’s shift to democracy.

German World Cup winner Franz Beckenbauer spoke of his support for Sexwale earlier this month, saying the South African can expect backing from the German Football Association (DFB).

Beckenbauer, who is facing being banned from football following investigations by FIFA's Ethics Committee, said the DFB know "about the quality of the South Africans" and also that of Sexwale.

Other confirmed candidates ahead of tomorrow’s deadline include UEFA President Michel Platini, Frenchman Jérôme Champagne, who attempted to enter this year’s race but failed to secure the required nominations, and Jordanian Football Association President Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, beaten by Blatter at the 2015 vote in May.

Former Trinidad and Tobago player David Nakhid has also announced he will stand, with former Brazilian international Zico unlikely to gain the necessary amount of support.

Doubts have been cast over Asian Football Confederation President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al Khalifa’s potential candidacy after the International Trade Union Confederation expressed "deep concern" about the Bahrain chief standing to replace Blatter.

Sheikh Salman is widely considered the favourite, despite having yet to officially declare he will stand. 

His campaign has hit an early stumbling block, however, having been accused of being complicit in the arrests and torturing of footballers and other athletes in Bahrain following a crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in 2011 by sitting on a committee which identified 150 sportspeople who had taken part in the demonstrations.

Sheikh Salman, who denies the allegations against him, is perceived to be the front-runner in the race following the seeming collapse of Platini’s candidature after the Frenchman was hit with a 90-day suspension.

It followed allegations about a payment of CHF 2 million (£1.3 million/$2.1 million/€1.8 million) made to him by Blatter, who has also been banned for the same period.

Blatter’s successor is due to be chosen at next year’s Extraordinary Elective Congress in Zurich on February 26.


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