Dutch FA boss Michael van Praag to stand for Fifa presidency

Dutch FA president Michael van Praag has announced he will stand as a candidate for the Fifa presidency.

Van Praag revealed the news to Uefa’s executive committee on Monday and announced his candidature on the Dutch FA’s website.

The move is set to see Sepp Blatter, Van Praag, Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein from Jordan and also possibly Frenchman Jerome Champagne confirmed as candidates after Thursday's deadline.

However, Uefa president Michel Platini is also keen to give support to Prince Ali and ensure that there is no split vote among those associations keen on reform of Fifa.

Van Praag said in a statement: “It is well known that I am very worried about Fifa. It is high time that the organisation comes back into the real world. I had hoped that a credible opponent [to Blatter] would emerge, but that’s simply not happened. In that case you cannot just talk but you must also act decisively and take responsibility so there therefore I am announcing my candidacy.”

Dutch FA [KNVB] secretary general Bert van Oostveen added: “It is clear that something has to change in Fifa to restore credibility. Michael is the right man for this. The KNVB will fully support him in his campaign.”

Van Praag will formally announce his candidacy at a news conference in Amsterdam on Wednesday.