FIFA Presidential candidate Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein has claimed here there is a "culture of intimidation" within football's governing body and said he cannot be a part of the world governing body if Sepp Blatter is re-elected.

Prince Ali, President of the Jordanian Football Association and a member of the FIFA ruling Executive Committee since 2011, also revealed for the first time that the countries who had nominated him are Belarus, Georgia, Malta and the United States, as well as Jordan and England.

"There has been a culture of intimidation within FIFA," he told a news conference.

"In the past people have taken a principled stand and have been punished for it.

"I hope that things are played fairly and rightly but obviously an incumbent has an advantage.

"I am totally committed to this and my aim is to win this election.

"I could not see myself in FIFA for the next few years otherwise."

FIFA's Member Associations have now officially received the candidature files for Prince Ali, Blatter, President of the Royal Dutch Football Association Michael van Praag and Portugal's former FIFA World Player of the Year Luis Figo.

The election is due to take place in Zurich on May 29.

Once all four have been integrity-checked, the Ad-Hoc Electoral Committee will reconvene to review all submission and once this process has been completed, they will formally admit and declare the candidates who are eligible to become FIFA President.

Frenchman Jérôme Champagne announced yesterday he did not have the required support to officially enter the race, while former France star David Ginola's whose candidacy was widely denounced as a publicity stunt, pulled out of the running last week.

Prince Ali has called for more transparency within FIFA and feels all the candidates should have a public debate before the election in Zurich on May 29 ©Getty Images
Prince Ali has called for more transparency within FIFA and feels all the candidates should have a public debate before the election in Zurich on May 29 ©Getty Images



The 39-year-old Prince Ali, bidding to deny the Swiss a fifth term, believes there should be more transparency within world football's governing body and he has called for a public debate ahead of the election.

"If we are talking about transparency, I would like to see a public debate including the incumbent so that everyone across the world knows our positions," he said.

His chances of dethroning Blatter, however, were dealt a blow just a couple of weeks after he announced his candidacy by the fact that the Asian Football Confederation announced they would not be supporting his campaign.

But Prince Ali claimed that will not hamper his chances of becoming the next FIFA President as this is a "global election".

"I don't think that will be an issue," Prince Ali added.

"This is a candidacy for the whole world and not all confederations are united at the moment."

Despite the miasma of corruption allegations made towards FIFA and the fact that he could face three different challengers to his Presidency, Blatter remains the red-hot favourite to continue in a role he has held since 1998.

Prince Ali, who bases a large part of his campaign on complete reform to the governing body, believes Blatter has failed to bring about changes he has promised to make in the past.

"If we talk about proper reform, I'm not confident I've seen Blatter do it," he said.

"He's had the chance to do so but he hasn't done it.

"We've had promises from him that he won't run again but obviously that is not the case and I think we need full honesty and integrity and we should give a chance to others.

"The President needs to be held responsible."

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The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) will continue its efforts to foster Good Governance in local sport.

The economic and social potential of  local sport will only be maximized and manifest in sustainable development and growth  on a foundation of good governance.

Critical success factors are transparency, accountability and zero tolerance for corruption and the facilitating of these activities including money laundering and illegal gambling.

Constitution review of all existing National Sport Organisations(NSOs) and their constituent members is the starting point.

Term limitations, the voting in elections by executive committee members, conflict of interest are some of the pressing issues that need to be addressed.

The TTOC remains committed and dedicated to the concept of developing a Good Governance code for its affiliated members and is calling on all TTOC affiliated national sport organisations and national governing bodies to join with the TTOC to modernise sport governance in Trinidad and Tobago.

Sport governance reform in Trinidad and Tobago remains a priority and focus of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee(TTOC).

Brian Lewis

President

TTOC

The Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Board of Control (TTBBC) and the Special Advisor to the TTBBC, Boxu Potts, have extended condolences to the family of Tommy Thomas, who passed away last Saturday.
‘’We are saddened to hear this news which is a great loss to the boxing fraternity. He is not only known nationally but also internationally where he had worked countless fights. He worked with some of our great local boxers, including the late Jizelle Salandy and Ria Ramnarine,’’ a release from the TTBBC stated.
Up to the time of his death, Thomas was the lone international referee/judge in Trinidad and Tobago registered and recognised by the World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Association (WBA).
‘’Tommy was always a supporter of the sport. Even when fights were held in the most rural area he would take time off to serve. He was very selfless rather than selfish. He lent himself to the sport in many different ways,’’ added the TTBBC, which also noted that with Thomas’ passing they will have to work to develop young referees and judges.

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Trinidad and Tobago’s Lalonde Gordon topped the men’s invitational 300 metres field at the Armory Track Invitational in New York, USA, on Saturday. The double Olympic bronze medallist stopped the clock at 32.57 seconds. Gordon is second on the 2015 world indoor performance list, behind Czech Republic’s reigning world indoor 400m champion Pavel Maslak (32.53).
Odou Hazel claimed silver in the Armory Track Invitational college men’s 500m event. The ASA College student returned a time of one minute, 02.45 seconds.
There was a double triumph for Jessica James at the Masked Rider Open, in Texas. The Abilene Christian University junior won the women’s 600 yards in 1:23.53, and the 400m in 55.78 seconds. South Plains College freshman Aaliyah Telesford clocked 57.34 for eighth spot overall in the 400.
Reyare Thomas emerged victorious in the women’s 200m in 23.73 seconds, while sixth spot went to Western Texas College sophomore Marissa Gale (24.87). Jereem Richards finished second in the men’s 400m in 46.49 seconds, while his South Plains teammate, Domonique Williams clocked 2:16.28 for second spot in the women’s 800m.
Telesford got to the line in 7.04 seconds to finish fourth in the women’s 55m final. Thomas was disqualified for a false start. In the semifinal round, Thomas clocked 6.96, and Telesford 7.00.
At the Paradise Valley indoor meet, in Arizona, Arizona State University student Jamol James won the men’s 60m in 6.71 seconds.
In Texas, Michelle-Lee Ahye seized silver in the Howie Ryan Invitational women’s 60m final in 7.16 seconds. Ivory Coast sprinter Murielle Ahoure won in a world-leading 7.08. Ahye is fifth on the 2015 global performance list, thanks to her 7.16 run.
Pennsylvania State University’s Steve Waithe produced a 15.77 metres effort to finish second in the men’s triple jump, at the Penn State National Invitational, in Pennsylvania. Coppin State University junior Deandra Daniel cleared the bar at 1.82m for second spot in the women’s high jump.
At the Razorback Invitational, in Arkansas, Sparkle McKnight secured bronze in the women’s 400m in 52.67 seconds--her fastest clocking this season. The University of Arkansas senior is eighth on the 2015 world indoor performance list. For eight days in January, McKnight was the world-leader at 52.89.
Another T&T athlete, Texas A&M University’s Carlyle Roudette was 12th overall in the Razorback Invitational men’s 400m in 47.64 seconds.
At the Indiana Relays, Western Kentucky University student Peli Alzola finished third in the women’s 60m final in 7.65 seconds, and fourth in the 200m in 25.06.
In Arizona, Mikel Thomas was eighth fastest in the Mountain T’s Invitational men’s 60m finals in 6.87 seconds. He had clocked 6.80 in the qualifying round. And Thomas was disqualified in the 60m hurdles finals for a false start, after qualifying third fastest with a 7.90 seconds run.

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The appointment of former national footballer Brent Sancho as Minister of sport sends a good signal to the athletes of Trinidad and Tobago.

Minister Sancho is to be commended for accepting the position in what can be best described as challenging times for Trinidad and Tobago Sport given the macro economic reality of falling oil and gas revenue , the recent life sport scandal and other systemic issues bedeviling and hampering local sport.

In welcoming the new Minister of Sport there is confidence that his experience as a national team sport athlete , a professional footballer,  managing director of Central FC, his advocacy for player rights will give him the context and commitment to make decisions that are in the best interest of sport and the athletes.

In addressing some of the major problems zero tolerance for corruption and poor governance will be essential success factors.

On behalf of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee(TTOC) I welcome the new Minister of Sport and extend best wises to him for a successful , progressive and forward thinking tenure.