FIFA: NFF may not endorse Kalu to contest for Presidency

It was obvious last night that the Nigeria Football Federation may not endorse the candidature of former Abia State Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu for FIFA Presidency. Former Wimbledon star John Fashanu among many others have been campaigning for Kalu to contest the election to replace Sepp Blatter

However, Kalu has to be endorsed first by the Nigeria Football Federation before he can contest for the position. The federation also has to consider section one of article 13 of the FIFA statutes of the section which specifies conditions a candidate running for the office of FIFA President must meet.

The article states: The candidate shall have played an active role in association football (as a board member, committee member, referee and assistant referee, coach, trainer and any other person responsible for technical, medical or administrative matters in FIFA, a Confederation, Association, League or Club or as a player) for two of the last five years before being proposed as a candidate (cf. art. 24 par. 1 of the FIFA Statutes).

So due to this qualifications, the Nigeria Football Federation, even if it wants to endorse Kalu, may not be able to do so because the football -loving former Governor may not meet the above requirements.

Amaju Pinnick, President of the Federation said on television Monday that the federation would meet to discuss Kalu’s interest in FIFA presidency.

However, a member of the federation said last night that their hands were tied by the statutory requirements to endorse Kalu.

Another member of the federation also advised that the former Governor ‘’should be wary of people who would want to defraud him’’.