Luis Figo, FIFA Presidential Candidate, Snubbed by Asia's Soccer Bosses
Luis Figo was virtually cold shouldered by Asia's football bigwigs during the AFC Congress in Bahrain
Used to cynical challenges and hard tackles, Luis Figo found how football off the field can be bitter and lonely. The former Portuguese legend, now a candidate for world football's highest position, was given very little space to play as Asia's soccer chiefs brutally snubbed the former Real Madrid star during the AFC Congress here.(Patel New AFC Vice-President)
"Is this a level playing field? I should be allowed to address all the members here. Is this democracy?" Figo told this correspondent, his disappointment written all over his face.
Asia is clearly Sepp Blatter's territory and the region's football bigwigs made it amply clear that Figo was not welcome in this continent as someone who has dared to challenge a man who has fun FIFA as "Asia's friend."
Three men remain in the fray to challenge Blatter in next month's FIFA presidential elections. Jordan's Prince Ali Hussein, Holland's Michael van Praag and Figo are opposing Blatter, who is seeking a fifth term after running world football for 17 years.
The fate of the contestants will be decided by FIFA's 209 members in Zurich on May 29. On Thursday at the AFC Congress here, Asia once reiterated its support for Blatter leaving Figo bitter and bewildered if nations will adopt Fair Play when the elections take place.
Figo, largely backed by UEFA's 53 voting members, is vehemently opposing "scandalous" Blatter and their rivalry clearly spilled onto the AFC Congress here as the duo did not see eye to eye and hardly exchanged pleasantries even after being at handshaking distance twice within 12 hours.
Blatter addressed AFC members twice in as many days, wooing them with sentimental comments and of course his lofty promises for the biggest football region in the world. This left Figo on a sticky pitch and his request to address the gathering was shot down by AFC bosses on Thursday.
Livid and hurt at Asia's snub, Figo cut a lonely figure, barely managing a smile when several officials, including the Malaysian Prince, ran up to him for personal photographs. The former FIFA Player of the Year had no answer to football politics and was clear that Blatter had a massive impact on Asia.
The AFC, of course, was right in denying Figo a chance to speak at the Congress. After all, this event was not a platform for wooing support for FIFA elections.
During his playing days, Figo dribbled past the best of defenders and created the best assists one can imagine on a soccer field, but this is a new game and the Portuguese great is just learning the ropes.