Count me out of the FIFA presidency race, says CONCACAF leader Webb
MIAMI: Jeff Webb, president of the central and north American confederation [CONCACAF] has ruled out any prospect of standing for FIFA president.
Incumbent Sepp Blatter will be seeking a fifth term in office at the world federation’s congress in Zurich in May. Deadline for nominations closes on January 29 and FIFA vice-president Prince Ali bin Al Hussein and former FIFA official Jerome Champagne have signalled candidacies.
Webb, who also heads FIFA’s anti-discrimination commission from the Cayman Islands said: “I have been asked to possibly run for office of FIFA president but my immediate focus is with CONCACAF and my work continues there. Who knows what lies in the future, but right now my focus and firm commitment is with being the president of CONCACAF.
“We (CONCACAF) have accomplished a lot and we have so much more to accomplish . . . I believe in a better future for football and will never stop working for that hope and dream.”
However he acknowledged the significance of the election, saying: “FIFA, I believe, is at a crossroads and whatever happens in these elections, everyone at every level of the game must never forget that football is bigger than any of us.”
Webb was answering questions at a press conference during the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship in Kingston.
Addressing the changes within CONCACAF since the exit as president of the disgraced Jack Warner, Webb said: “Firstly, we started a transformation process, we also started a reform process. The governance of CONCACAF is at an all-time high, we have actively 21 committees that make decisions and recommendations to the executive body.
“We have invested heavily in a process that embraces all aspects of CONCACAF. We are also in the process of instilling a new culture within CONCACAF in the way we conduct business. We have worked hard in restoring credibility and trust, which we value so much.
“I am very much satisfied as I believe we have seen a real transformation in CONCACAF — internally and externally, I believe that we have done and accomplished so much along this journey, yet there is so much more to be done and that’s where my immediate focus is.”
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