Football
ESPN staff 8y

Musa Bility's FIFA presidential candidacy rejected, five in contention

FIFA has confirmed the five candidates for the body's presidential election, with Liberian football association chief Musa Bility's candidature rejected.

Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa, Jerome Champagne, Gianni Infantino and Tokyo Sexwale are currently eligible to stand for election.

Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman has passed the checks despite claims from human rights groups he was involved in a crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in his home country Bahrain.

Michel Platini's application to be FIFA president will only be considered if his ban is lifted prior to February's election.

FIFA said in a statement: "The integrity check included a review of corporate records, litigation cases, bankruptcy proceedings, potential regulatory actions taken against the candidate and a review of media reports concerning potential red flags (fraudulent behaviour, match manipulation, human rights violations, etc.).

"Each candidate was then asked to comment on the content of the detailed report produced.

"The ad-hoc electoral committee did not admit the candidature of Musa Hassan Bility, in view of the content of the integrity check report relating to him. For reasons of protection of personality rights, the committee - while it has explained its considerations in detail to Musa Hassan Bility -- will not comment publicly on the specifics of its decision.''

The decision can be appealed at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne.

The electoral committee will not carry out integrity checks on Platini, the UEFA president who is currently suspended for 90 days pending an ethics committee hearing into a £1.3 million payment he received from FIFA in 2011, until the disciplinary process is complete.

The election of the successor to Sepp Blatter, who is also under a 90-day suspension, takes place on Feb. 26.

Information from the Press Association was used in this report.

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