Asian Football Confederation (AFC) head Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa arrives for a meeting with the FIFA task force in Doha February 24, 2015 (Reuters)
Bahrain's state news agency says Asian Football Confederation President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa has formally launched his bid to replace Sepp Blatter as FIFA president.
The official Bahrain News Agency reported early Monday that Sheikh Salman formally declared his intention to run Sunday evening in Zurich.
The Bahraini royal family member, who had until Monday to declare his candidacy, will be running against another Arab royal, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan.
Other contenders are UEFA President Michel Platini, South African tycoon Tokyo Sexwale, ex-FIFA official Jerome Champagne and David Nakhid, a former player from Trinidad and Tobago.
The 79-year-old Blatter won a fifth term earlier this year, but soon after laid out resignation plans as criminal investigations into FIFA officials and sponsors' criticism gathered momentum.
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
Short link: