Figo Blasts Blatter's FIFA 'Dictatorship'

Luis Figo has withdrawn from the FIFA presidential election, describing the process as "shameful" and designed to deliver power to Sepp Blatter, who he said presides over a "dictatorship".

In a statement Figo said he had been shocked by the duplicity of senior FIFA figures, condemned Mr Blatter's refusal to take part in a public debate, and said his experience "should shame anyone who desires soccer to be free, clean and democratic".

Figo's withdrawal followed that of Dutch FA President Michael Van Praag, leaving Prince Ali of Jordan as the only challenger to Mr Blatter, who is almost certain to win when FIFA's 209 member nations vote on 29 May.

The former World Player of the Year cited particular frustration with the way he and his fellow challengers have been prevented from addressing national football associations at regional congresses, while Mr Blatter has always been given a platform.

FIFA's members are divided into six regional confederations, but of these only the European confederation, UEFA, offered all four candidates an opportunity to speak at its annual congress.

All five others blocked the challengers, but allowed Mr Blatter to speak, nominally in his role as FIFA president.

Mr Blatter also rejected an invitation from Sky News and the BBC to take part in a debate, and has neither published a manifesto or made any public statement of his plans for the next four years.

Figo said: "I have seen with my own eyes federation presidents who, after one day comparing FIFA leaders to the devil, then go on stage and compare those same people with Jesus Christ.

"Nobody told me about this. I saw it with my own eyes.

"The candidates were prevented from addressing federations at congresses while one of the candidates always gave speeches on his own from the rostrum.

"There has not been a single public debate about each candidate's proposals.

"Does anyone think it's normal that an election for one of the most relevant organisations on the planet can go ahead without a public debate?

"Does anyone think it's normal that one of the candidates doesn't even bother to present an election manifesto that can be voted on on May 29?

"Shouldn't it be mandatory to present such a manifesto so that federation presidents know what they're voting for?

"That would be normal, but this electoral process is anything but an election.

"This (election) process is a plebiscite for the delivery of absolute power to one man - something I refuse to go along with."

Mr Van Praag, who has made a coherent case for change at FIFA, also withdrew following a meeting of the three challengers in Switzerland last week.

Mr Blatter is certain to secure victory, such is his support across all six continental confederations, leaving Prince Ali focused on denying him the two-thirds majority required to win in the first round of voting.

Mr Blatter's fourth term has been mired in the fallout from the award of the Qatar 2022 World Cup, including concerns over alleged corruption, moving the tournament to winter, and the abuse of migrant labour.

That they have not imperilled Blatter's position speaks volumes about his popularity among the 209 associations that will decide the one-member, one-vote election.

Each country has already been promised $1.05m (£640,000) each from the proceeds of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.