Luis Figo won it all as a player, but his battle for FIFA presidency is in vain

The former world footballer of the year declared his intentions to run against Sepp Blatter for football’s top job on the eve of the deadline, and although his inclusion in what has already become a crowded race – with the likes of David Ginola also throwing his name into the hat – pleased many, Figo really has no chance at all of succeeding Blatter.

In reality, the Real Madrid icon’s attempt to usurp the much-maligned Blatter is likely a tactic from UEFA boss Michel Platini’s much wider anti-Blatter campaign.

Figo, who was once the world’s most expensive player, has emerged as the highest-profile contender in the fight to topple Blatter, and will spearhead UEFA’s three-pronged attack on the 78-year-old Swiss administrator.

Figo’s announcement – which aired live on television just 24 hours before the deadline for nominations – ensured that he joined chairman of the Dutch Football Association, Michael van Praag, and FIFA’s vice-president Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein of Jordan in UEFA’s fight against Blatter.

The Portuguese claims that he has already been assured of the five nominations required for him to run, as have Van Praag and Prince Ali, though it is hugely doubtful that Paddy Power-backed Ginola will receive the necessary tally to be considered as a viable candidate.

Figo has said that his decision to stand against Blatter came about after he became disillusioned by world football’s governing body’s refusal to publish the report into alleged corruption surrounding the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

This, of course, resonated with the masses, who are still at a loss as to why Qatar was awarded the 2022 World Cup in the first place, and who have since become angry at FIFA’s refusal in acknowledging that a tournament held in temperatures that routinely reach 50 degrees is neither safe nor practical.

He said: “I look at the reputation of FIFA right now and I don’t like it. Football deserves better.

“In recent weeks, months, and even years, I have seen the image of FIFA deteriorate and as I speak to many people in football – to players, managers and association presidents – so many of those people have told me that something has to be done.

“If you search FIFA on the internet, you see the first word that comes out: scandal. Not positive words. It’s that we have to change first and try to improve the image of FIFA. Football deserves much better than this.”

And indeed, every single word that the former midfielder speaks is the truth. He is right in what he says: football does deserve better. But whilst his intentions are clear to see, the worrying truth is that Figo, along with his two UEFA associates, has no chance of unseating Blatter.

And the reason being is that the Swiss, due to the close-knit relationships he has formed with association presidents during his four terms at the helm of FIFA – particularly in the African Confederation – already has a huge percentage of ‘guaranteed’ votes to be elected once more.

To win an election, a candidate requires 105 votes from member Football Associations, but FIFA is split into confederations along continental lines. And unfortunately for Figo, in the name of “unity”, four of those confederations have already decided to back Blatter.

The Confederation of African Football, which has 53 member nations, has confirmed that it is 100 per cent behind the Swiss, meaning that he is already nearly halfway there. And with his strong connections in South America, Oceania and indeed Asia, it is widely expected that Blatter will receive approximately 100 votes. Then there’s the matter of the few UEFA members who will not endorse Platini’s ‘Blatter out’ campaign and will instead back the current president.

And finally, it is believed that CONCACAF are also behind Blatter, particularly after president Jeffrey Webb said last year that the Swiss was a “tremendous president”. The majority of CONCACAF’s 35 votes will almost certainly go in favour of the 78-year-old.

So, it makes for pretty grim reading, particularly for the likes of Figo.

The only real chance the Portugal legend has of defeating Blatter is for Platini’s three-pronged assault to divide the vote of member associations and, as the election nears, ask Prince Ali and Van Praag to drop out in bid to rally behind Figo – providing he has the largest backing.

In truth, it’s an enormous ask in what already seems like a foregone conclusion, and as valiant as Figo’s efforts are, they are ultimately in vain.

A player that became accustomed to winning everything he contested, Figo will now have to suffer defeat in what is the most important battle in his football career.