Luis Figo says Sepp Blatter's win in upcoming FIFA presidency elections will mean `four lost years`

Portuguese football great Luis Figo, who is a candidate for the FIFA presidency, has said that incumbent Sepp Blatter's victory in the upcoming elections for the sport's world governing body's top post would mean four lost years.

Figo, who said that he is financing his own campaign, added that nearly every football leader he meets declares a desire for change but he did not know whether federations would turn against Blatter or not.

The current FIFA president is favourite to win a fifth term at a congress on May 29, but Figo, FIFA vice president Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein and Dutch federation chief Michael van Praag are standing against him, Sport24 reported.

Figo claimed that if nothing happens, it is going to be like losing four years of trying to modernise, trying to have more transparency because things would continue the same. He added that he is saying this to all the people he sees in meetings and the feedback is positive.

The former Barcelona and Real Madrid star said that most people say that they think they need change, but added that one has to wait and see on May 29 if really they want change, or they want to continue to be managed like this.

All three opponents say that they are standing because of FIFA's tarnished image after a storm of controversy over the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar.

Figo, the Ballon d'Or winner in 2000, has promised more transparency and a greater say for national associations, as well as a 40 country World Cup, the report added.