FIFA: Tokyo Sexwale Withdraws As Presidential Election Underway In Zurich

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, Sports News Friday, February 26th, 2016

BALTIMORE, MD, (AFRICAN EXAMINER) – Voting to elect new world football governing body – FIFA President is underway, in Zurich as one of the five contesting candidates, Tokyo Sexwale, withdrew from the race.

With Sexwale’s withdrawal at the extraordinary congress, four candidates including Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa, Gianni Infantino, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein and Jerome Champagne are presently slugging it out in the FIFA number one man election.

After the voting, the winner is expected to be declared today around17:30 GMT, albeit, more than one round of voting might be required before the winner emerged.

Before voting began, a number of reforms was passed at the extraordinary congress. These included: the future disclosure of FIFA salaries, limits on a President’s term and the introduction of a new council to replace the current executive committee, featuring a female representative from each confederation.

There are 209 FIFA member nations but Kuwait and Indonesia are currently barred from taking part, leaving a total of 207 eligible voters.

For the FIFA President to emerge, after the first round of voting, a candidate must secure two-thirds of the available votes. If no candidate achieves this, a simple majority will be required in the second round.

If there is still no winner, a third round will take place, minus the candidate with the lowest votes in round two.

FIFA has insisted the winner must be declared today because an ice hockey rink is due to be installed at the Hallen stadium venue at midnight.

Following this, the body has spent £500,000 converting its headquarters into a back-up venue.

It would be recalled the former FIFA President Sepp Blatter resigned his position after emerging winner, in a controversial election last year. Baltter was indicted by FIFA Ethics committee of huge financial impropriety in his over a decade tenureship.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) President, Isa Hayatou has since been appointed, early January, 2016, the acting FIFA President, weeks after Blatter resigned late in 2015.