Figo pulls out of FIFA race...

Luis Figo has become the second candidate to withdraw from the race to become the president of FIFA in the space of a few hours, leaving only two people in contention, Sky Sports reports.

The former Real Madrid and Barcelona player has ended his campaign after Dutch federation chief Michael van Praag pulled out on Thursday morning.

Only current president Sepp Blatter – who is bidding for a fifth term in office – and Prince Ali bin al-Hussein are now in contention ahead of the vote involving 209 national federations next week.

Portuguese legend Figo’s participation was called into question by opponents of Blatter, who suggested getting behind one person in a bid to oust him from a position he has held since 1998.

Now the 42-year-old has cut his campaign short and labelled world football’s governing body a dictatorship under the Swiss administrator.

Figo has adamantly refused to go along with a process he sees as a “plebiscite for the delivery of absolute power to one man”, insisting it is “anything but an election” and questioning how democratic it is.

Blatter’s re-election is widely expected when the vote is held on May 29 despite both Figo and Van Praag arguing FIFA has lost credibility following corruption scandals and accusations of nepotism aimed at Blatter.

Figo said, “I have witnessed consecutive incidents, all over the world, that should shame anyone who desires soccer to be free, clean and democratic.

“I have seen with my own eyes federation presidents who, after one day comparing FIFA leaders to the devil, then go on stage and compare those same people with Jesus Christ. Nobody told me about this. I saw it with my own eyes.

“The candidates were prevented from addressing federations at congresses while one of the candidates always gave speeches on his own from the rostrum. There has not been a single public debate about each candidate’s proposals.

“Does anyone think it’s normal that an election for one of the most relevant organisations on the planet can go ahead without a public debate?

“Does anyone think it’s normal that one of the candidates doesn’t even bother to present an election manifesto that can be voted on May 29?

“Shouldn’t it be mandatory to present such a manifesto so that federation presidents know what they’re voting for?

“That would be normal, but this electoral process is anything but an election. This process is a plebiscite for the delivery of absolute power to one man – something I refuse to go along with.

“That is why, after a personal reflection and sharing views with two other candidates in this process, I believe that what is going to happen on May 29 in Zurich is not a normal electoral act. And because it is not, don’t count on me.

“I do not fear the ballot box, but I will not go along with nor will I give my consent to a process which will end on May 29 and from which soccer will not emerge the winner.”