Sexwale, a former prisoner in an anti-apartheid jail with Nelson Mandela, had conducted a low-key campaign and was always considered an outsider in the five-man contest.
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“Dear comrades, and distinguished guests”, he said, in a pre-vote speech, “I don’t stand before you to teach you anything about football”.
The room erupted in applause when Sexwale suspended his campaign after saying that the election of any of the four remaining candidates would be cause for “a party”. “With only four people, it is your problem now”.
The head of Asian football Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, a royal from Bahrain, told the FIFA congress in Zurich that support for the world’s smaller and less wealthy nations was key to promoting unity across the football world.
“If there are more than two candidates for the office of FIFA President, whoever obtains the lowest number of votes is eliminated as from the second ballot until only two candidates are left…” I hope one day they can resolve their problems, and we will be able to help them.
Sexwale says he does not want to be part of a division in Federation Internationale de Football Association.
FIFA members Friday approved major reforms aiming to end corruption scandals ahead of voting for a new president who faces a mountainous task boosting the image of football’s governing body.
Blatter had been banned from any football-related activity (administrative, sports or other) at national and worldwide level for a period of six years, but that did not stop Sexwale declaring his allegiances.
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However, addressing a news conference in Zurich on June 2, Blatter said he made a decision to lay down his mandate at FIFA extraordinary elective Congress. FIFA announced in July that the election of the new president would be held on February 26, 2016.
