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Nakhid, who is based in Lebanon where he runs a football
academy, has returned to the Caribbean seeking support from
local officials.
In order to be a candidate, the 51-year-old Nakhid would need
the backing of five national associations -- a requirement which
has kept other outsiders off the ballot in previous elections.
"I have put my hat in the ring and we are looking forward to the
challenge," he told Reuters on Wednesday, adding that he was
"optimistic" of getting the five nominations.
Nakhid said he had met with Caribbean Football Union (CFU)
president Gordon Derrick in Antigua and had been invited to
speak to the CFU's executive committee on Saturday.
Derrick confirmed to Reuters that Nakhid would be given an
audience.
The CFU has 25 of the 35 votes from the CONCACAF confederation
which also covers North and Central America as well as the
Caribbean.
"FIFA's focus must be on development accompanied by proper
oversight," said Nakhid, who has been strongly critical of
Trindid's former FIFA vice-president and ex-CONCACAF president
Jack Warner.
"This region has been under-developed due to the inept
leadership that came from this part of the world. Jack Warner
never really represented this region," he said.
So far UEFA president Michel Platini, ex-FIFA vice-president
Chung Mong-joon of South Korea, former Brazil great Zico and
Liberian FA chairman Musa Bility have said they are running in
the election.
Jordan's Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein, beaten by Blatter in May's
election, is considering another run while South African Tokyo
Sexwale has also said he is weighing up whether to stand.
Nakhid has one strong connection to Zurich. He played for the
city's club Grasshoppers in the early 1990s and also played in
Major League Soccer for the New England Revolution.
(Reporting By Simon Evans, Editing by Ian Chadband)
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