Peter Auf der Heyde is seeking to be nominated to challenge incumbent Gianni Infantino in the March 2027 Fifa presidential election. BBC Sport says candidates must confirm they are standing against Infantino by 18 November.
Nomination and challenge
BBC Sport says Auf der Heyde needs nominations from five football associations to become a candidate. He has written to all 211 of Fifa's member associations and says he has already received replies from the Jamaican and English Football Associations.
Auf der Heyde told BBC Radio Solent: “I feel very strongly that there needs to be a challenge in any election. There should not be an uncontested election and in this case Infantino needs to be challenged. It's important for accountability and transparency.”
He added: “I'm not asking for countries to vote for me, I'm asking for them to nominate me,” and said: “Once you have a nomination and become an official candidate you can then ask questions that you can't ask otherwise.”
Emerging nations World Cup
Auf der Heyde proposes an emerging nations World Cup for smaller footballing nations. “I'd like to see an emerging nations World Cup,” he said.
“This would be for countries like Eswatini, Andorra and San Marino,” he said. “They should be allowed in my view to play for a global competition where only these kind of countries have a chance to play.”
BBC Sport says only 48 nations qualify for the men's World Cup finals every four years, with 163 missing out. Auf der Heyde said: “It would be wonderful if winning teams from that competition could then qualify further.”
Other potential challengers
BBC Sport says Infantino is seeking a fourth and final term as Fifa president. He is also facing competition from Kozo Tashima, the honorary president of the Japan Football Association, and Ramon Vega, a former Tottenham Hotspur and Switzerland defender.
Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is considering standing against Infantino.
Career and remuneration proposal
BBC Sport says Auf der Heyde lectures in journalism at Southampton Solent University. He was previously sports editor of the Deutsche Presse-Agentur in Germany, and was president of the Grahamstown Soccer Association in South Africa. He also owned and managed second-division side UDW FC in the early 1990s.
Auf der Heyde said: “I would suggest that $450,000 (£337,259) is a very adequate salary and in my case I would ask to be paid $1 per year and after four years if I have maintained my promises then I can get the remaining money.”
