News Digest

Former Brazil star Zico running for FIFA Pres as Swiss police seize Blatter’s computers

Former Brazil star Zico says he wants to run for the presidency of FIFA. The 62-year-old former playmaker said Wednesday that “there’s a possibility now for change.’‘ FIFA said Wednesday its executive committee would meet next month to choose an election date. All 209 FIFA member federations will vote for a new president, with the current favorite being Michel Platini, the head of Europe’s governing body UEFA. While underlining his interest in standing for a revamped FIFA, Zico said he would first insist on a simplified voting system which is less open to "horsetrading”.

I feel I am capable. For sure, certain rules need to change.

Zico

Zico added that the Brazilian Football Confederation also needed a total overhaul with former president Jose Maria Marin one of seven top FIFA officials arrested in Zurich late last month as part of an FBI probe into corruption in the sport. Swiss authorities have seized computer equipment from FIFA President Sepp Blatter’s offices as part of an investigation into corruption in football’s governing body. Prosecutors took IT data from both Mr Blatter, 79, and FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke’s headquarters in the Swiss city of Zurich.