Frenchman Champagne announced his candidacy in January last year and has since been joined in the race by Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein, who will also attempt to deny Blatter a fifth term in office.

Candidates need at least five nominations from the 209 FIFA members, but Champagne has conceded he is not confident of securing the required votes.

"I would say that it's easier to get 50 votes than five letters of support," he said.

"There's a lot of fear, sometimes pressure.

"I'm discussing with a lot of federations to get these letters.

"If I have five letters by January 29 I will compete and if I don't, I will say 'I don't have them'."

The development comes after Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) President Jeffrey Webb - who has long been touted as a potential replacement for Blatter - officially announced he will not run, despite claiming he was asked to enter the race.

Jeffrey Webb has ruled himself out of the running to challenge Blatter for the FIFA Presidency ©Getty Images



"I have been asked, but as I said my immediate focus is with CONCACAF and my work continues there," Webb, who is a FIFA vice-president, told the Jamaican Observer.

"Who knows what lies in the future, but right now my focus and firm commitment is with being the President of CONCACAF.

"FIFA, I believe, is at a crossroads and whatever happens in these elections, everyone at every level of the game must never forget that football is bigger than any of us."

The Caymanian was elected CONCACAF President in 2012, taking over from Jack Warner, who had been widely accused of corruption, and he has since attempted to clean up the sport across his federation.

"I am very much satisfied as I believe we have seen a real transformation in CONCACAF -internally and externally," Webb added.

"I believe that we have done and accomplished so much along this journey, yet there is so much more to be done and that's where my immediate focus is."

The latest twist in the ongoing saga could leave Prince Ali as the only realistic candidate to challenge Blatter, who has been FIFA's President since 1998.

Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein's FIFA Presidency bid suffered a setback after AFC members declined to support him in his challenge to Sepp Blatter ©Getty Images



But Prince Ali, who has been President of the Jordan Football Association since 1999, has himself suffered a setback in his bid to take over from the Swiss after senior officials at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) meeting in Melbourne refused to support him, saying they would unanimously back Blatter instead.

Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah has also dented the Jordanian's bid by claiming it is "too early" for him to mount a serious campaign.

Champagne and Prince Ali have breathed new life into the Presidential race but Blatter remains the hot favourite.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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