21.05.2015 21:49 h

Prince Ali 'the man to unseat Blatter', says Van Praag

Dutch football boss Michael van Praag said on Thursday Jordan's Prince Ali bin al Hussein is "the biggest candidate" to unseat longtime FIFA president Sepp Blatter in upcoming elections.

"I do believe he is the biggest candidate to mobilise enough votes to challenge Sepp Blatter," Van Praag said at a press conference in Amsterdam.

Van Praag earlier Thursday announced dropping his own bid for the presidency, followed a few hours later by former Portuguese star Luis Figo.

Van Praag, 67, said he decided to back Prince Ali on condition that a number of his proposals be taken up in the Jordanian royal's own proposals.

This included human rights aspects for workers employed to build stadiums and limiting the mighty world federation's presidency to two terms only.

Van Praag said the decision was taken at a meeting in Geneva last week with UEFA president Michel Platini urging the three to back a single candidate.

"He (Platini) played a big role in getting us together," Prince Ali said.

He added that at times "there have been attempts to divide Europe from the rest of the world, but you see a symbol today," with the continent backing a candidate from outside the region.

Observers said Prince Ali stood the best chance to unseat Blatter because the Jordanian had a better campaign budget and contacts within FIFA.

"As we have all seen around the world, there is a real desire for change and progress," Prince Ali said when asked about his chances.

"I can't predict right now... but if things are done in a correct way with no interference then I truly believe that we have a great chance of making that change," he said.

But Blatter, 79 is a strong favourite to win a fifth term at the head of the world's most powerful sporting federation.

The election will be held at the FIFA Congress in Zurich on May 29.

The winner will need a majority from FIFA's 209 member federations. Blatter has received strong public backing from nearly every regional confederation except Europe's UEFA.