Ginola fails in FIFA presidential challenge

About the best you can say about David Ginola’s bid for the FIFA presidency (see previous  reports) is that the Paddy Power marketers achieved masses of publicity from their support of the former professional football player.

It all ended this week when the Ginola candidacy failed to garner the support of five national football associations before January 29, a minimum requirement before a challenge can go forward.

The value of the widespread publicity generated by Ginola’s attempt probably far exceeded the GBP 250,000 that the online bookie invested in what was widely regarded as yet another innovative but controversial marketing and publicity stunt.

That was marginally augmented by a reported GBP 6,000 raised from public donations to the Ginola – Paddy Power campaign.

But the initiative did draw attention to the allegations of corruption and autocracy at the top of FIFA, and kept the latest election for president of the international body in the public eye.

Four candidates who did go forward were incumbent octogenarian Sepp Blatter; Dutch FA president Michael Van Praag, former Spain and Portugal football pro Luis Figo, and Jordan’s Prince Ali bin al-Hussein.

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