UEFA-backed Swiss in race for top FIFA job

World football’s governing body FIFA has confirmed the candidature of Brig native and UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino for the FIFA presidential elections scheduled for February 2016. A total of seven candidates are in the fray.  The 45-year-old Swiss lawyer received the last-minute backing of the European football’s governing body UEFA, which was probably prompted by the 90-day suspension of its president and hot favourite Michel Platini.  Even though Platini has been proposed as a candidate to FIFA he is currently barred from taking part in any football-related activities, including the FIFA presidential race. But that does not mean the door is completely closed to the former French international.  “Should such a ban be lifted or expire before the FIFA presidential election, the ad-hoc Electoral Committee would decide, depending on the respective exact point in time, on how to proceed with the candidature concerned,” stated FIFA.  Besides Infantino and ...