LONDON: David Ginola has ended his bid for the FIFA presidency a mere 13 days after launched it as little more than a publicity exercise for a bookmaker.

The former France, Tottenham and Newcastle winger had been unable to obtain the five nominations from national associations needed to carry him over the first threshold by the end-of-day deadline.

A website run by ‘Team Ginola’ confirmed that his campaign was at an end and that all monies would be refunded.

Ginola, on launching his campaign with a ‘car crash interview’ in which he was unable to name one member of the FIFA exective committee, had admitted: “I need to know a lot more about FIFA.”

Now he will have a full four years to do his homework.

** FIFA president Sepp Blatter has confirmed having formally submitted his own candidacy for the election in Zurich on May 29.

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