Sheikh Salman and UEFA discuss FIFA presidential bid, says Sheikh Ahmad

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FIFA's executive committee have confirmed that the planned presidential elections will go ahead as scheduled in February 2016.

Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa could be set to enter the FIFA presidential race as part of an agreement with European governing body UEFA, his key backer says.

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FIFA on Tuesday announced that it would not consider UEFA president Michel Platini's candidacy until his 90-day provisional suspension expired.

With no clear timetable for Platini to challenge his ban, officials who have supported the UEFA leader's presidential campaign -- such as Sheikh Salman of Bahrain -- must now decide whether to also apply by Monday's deadline.

"It is a big possibility," Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, a FIFA executive committee member from Kuwait and longtime Olympic powerbroker, told the Associated Press.

Sheikh Salman has also written to his AFC executive committee members saying he has "recently been urged by a growing number of senior" people within the game to run for the FIFA presidency. The Bahraini royal was seeking advice from colleagues before making a decision.

Sheikh Salman, left, is making contingency plans with UEFA, says FIFA executive committee member Sheikh Ahmad, right.

UEFA officials held regular strategy talks with Sheikh Ahmad ahead of Tuesday's emergency FIFA session, which was briefed on Platini's status as a potential candidate.
Sheikh Ahmad said confidential talks had taken place about what to do if Platini clears his name.
"From our side I think we are in a fair procedure," the sheikh said. "At least there [are] some names and there is understanding between the continents. Myself, I trust Platini."
Platini was the election front-runner until Sept. 25, when he was questioned by Swiss federal police about the suspected "disloyal payment" approved by Blatter from FIFA funds.

 

Switzerland's attorney general, Michael Lauber, opened criminal proceedings against Blatter and put Platini under suspicion. Both deny wrongdoing.
Until then, Platini's camp believed it could count on votes from more than 110 of the 209 FIFA federations, mostly from Europe, Asia and South America.
Should Sheikh Salman enter the race, "he will start with the same big number of potential support," Sheikh Ahmad said. "I think there will be more than three continents."
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
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