Style,
charm but little substance to Ginola's FIFA campaign
Send a link to a friend
[January 16, 2015]
By Mike Collett
LONDON (Reuters) - While Michel Platini
made the leap from pitch to high office another famous ex-France player,
David Ginola, is unlikely to complete the same journey after launching
an improbable campaign to unseat FIFA president Sepp Blatter on Friday.
|
Platini, who has been president of European soccer's governing
body UEFA since 2007, decided last year not to run against Blatter
in this year's FIFA elections in May -- partly because he thinks
Blatter is unbeatable.
But Ginola, paid 250,000 pounds ($380,000) to stand by a bookmaking
firm, appears undaunted, even if his bid has already been widely
dismissed as a publicity stunt that has no chance of even gaining
the five nominations needed for him to enter the race officially.
At Friday's London launch, Ginola appeared desperately ill-prepared
to answer questions from skeptical reporters on his knowledge of
several key issues he would need to fully understand if he ever
assumed the role of the head of world soccer's governing body.
Ginola, one of the most aesthetically pleasing footballers of his
generation when he glided down the wing for Paris St Germain,
Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and France in his pomp in the
1990s, has lost none of his Gallic good looks and charm more than a
decade on from his retirement as a player.
Looking at a video of his career highlights before launching his
campaign he quipped "I was worth it then", a reference to the
advertising slogan for the hair shampoo company he used to promote.
When he played at his peak there was always something of the
romantic charmer about his game, and while his performance on Friday
was full of charm and idealism there was little substance on how he
would implement the changes he wants to see in the world game.
[to top of second column] |
He brushed off questions about the International Football
Association Board (IFAB), Third Party Ownership (TPO) and was unable
to name any members of the FIFA Executive Committee, instead
speaking about bringing trust back to soccer and getting fans around
the world involved in his campaign.
Asked if being a former player would give his campaign more
credibility, among the fans at least, Ginola replied: "Michel
Platini is the prime example of an ex-footballer who is now in
charge.
"He did great things on the soccer pitch and he has done great
things as UEFA president -- and for me he has set the target."
Whether he can reach it, or will even get a chance to try, is
another matter entirely.
(Reporting by Mike Collett)
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
|