Sheikh Salman Says FIFA Presidency Race is Duel With Gianni Infantino
Sheikh Salman feels that out of the five candidates in the running to become the next FIFA president, only he and Gianni Infantino have a realistic chance of winning.
FIFA presidential frontrunner Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa said on Sunday that only he or Europe's Gianni Infantino can win the race to become FIFA's next president. (Sheikh Salman Warns of 'FIFA Bankruptcy')
The Asian Football Confederation president also said that any candidate who does not have "a minimum number" of votes should not stay in the contest for the February 26 vote, putting pressure on the other three campaign contenders.
Asked who how many candidates had a chance of winning, the Bahrain sheikh said: "Realistically for the five, I think two."
Pressed on who they are, he added: "I think Gianni has the support of the confederation and I think Asia have their candidate. From what I hear, from what I feel, I think its between me and him." (UEFA Members Gather to Hear FIFA Candidate Gianni Infantino)
Infantino is the UEFA general secretary.
The other three candidates are Tokyo Sexwale from South Africa, Jordan's Prince Ali bin Hussein and Jerome Champagne from France.
Sheikh Salman said that anyone who had no chance of winning should now consider dropping out of the race.
"Well, I think that, you know, any candidate who feels that he cannot bring, let's say, a minimum number (of votes), I don't think he should continue."