Despite remarks by the Confederation of North, Central America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF) President Jeffrey Webb that member associations will not be pushed to vote en bloc at the International Football federation (FIFA) elections for the presidency, GFF Normalization Committee Chairman Clinton Urling said there is no clear indication how the federation will vote May 29.
Webb, in an earlier interview with a different section of the media, said member associations within the confederation will not be forced to vote as a block.
He added that he was comfortable with the idea of member associations supporting and voting for different candidates at the upcoming International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) presidential elections.
Speaking exclusively to Stabroek Sports, the FIFA Appointed Chairman said “There is no set criteria in terms of how we will vote in Zurich, much of it will come down to discussions with the candidates and conferring with our regional colleagues when we attend the CFU and CONCACAF Congresses in April.
“The NC has not given much formal thought to the process, but we have received campaign materials and telephone calls from contesting candidates,” he added.
He went on: “I’m not sure that CONCACAF always voted as a block. The votes are done via secret ballot, so members can vote however they wish. CONCACAF in the past endorsed a candidate, but that wasn’t compulsory on members.”
Incumbent FIFA head Sepp Blatter, who allegedly held the support of the CONCACAF region under former president Jack Wagner, will be up against former Portugal winger Luis Figo, Dutch Football Association President Michael van Praag and Jordan’s Prince Ali bin al-Hussein.
Initially in the running, the French duo of Jerome Champagne and David Ginola pulled out of the contest after both failed to obtain the required five nominations from respective associations.
Blatter was elected to office on June 8th 1998 at the 51st FIFA Congress after long serving President Joao Havelange decided against running for office after 24 years at the helm. He currently is the eighth FIFA President after being re-elected in 2002, 2007 and 2011.
