David Nakhid has filed an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport after FIFA rejected his candidacy for its upcoming Presidential election ©Getty Images

Former Trinidad and Tobago footballer David Nakhid has filed an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against FIFA’s decision to refuse his candidacy for its upcoming Presidential election. 

Nakhid’s bid received the support of five National Federations - a requirement for anyone wishing to stand for President - but it emerged that one of these countries had also backed another candidate, deeming him ineligible to run.

The 51-year-old was therefore absent from FIFA's confirmed list of candidates released at the end of last month and has now filed an appeal at the CAS, which if successful will enable him to stand in the election to replace outgoing President Sepp Blatter at the Extraordinary Congress due to take place in Zurich on February 26. 

"In appealing to the CAS, Mr Nakhid seeks the annulment of the challenged decision and an order that his candidacy be reinstated," read a CAS statement.

"No hearing date has been fixed for the moment.

"A procedural calendar will be determined within the next days, after consultation with the parties."

David Nakhid is a former Trinidad and Tobago international
David Nakhid is a former Trinidad and Tobago international ©Getty Images

The list of candidates released last month featured Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan, Liberia’s Musa Bility, Jérôme Champagne of France, France's Michel Platini, Swiss Gianni Infantino, Bahrain's Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa and South Africa’s Tokyo Sexwale.

Five of those seven currently remain in the running with Bility prevented from standing last week after failing an integrity check conducted by FIFA, and Platini’s candidacy dependent on him successfully appealing against his existing ban from all footballing activity.

Platini was provisionally suspended for 90 days last month in the wake of an alleged "disloyal" payment of CHF 2 million (£1.3 million/$2.0 million/€1.9 million) made to him by Blatter, who has also been suspended.



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