Luis Figo launches Fifa presidency bid: Former Real Madrid player plans trials of sin bins and return of old offside rule

Former Portugal international unveils his manifesto to challenge Sepp Blatter

Luis Figo (GETTY IMAGES)

Luis Figo has launched his campaign to become the next president of Fifa.

“I am not the kind of man who sits on the side and refuses to act,” the former Portuguese football footballer told journalists at Wembley Stadium.

“It is time for me to give back to the world of football everything it gave me,” he said.

His priorities, he said, was to restore the image of Fifa.

He also said that Fifa “does not need” its $1.5bn financial reserves, and if elected in May he would immediately return $1bn to Fifa’s member associations.

“That is their money, not Fifa’s money, he said.”

Asked his opinion on the current president Sepp Blatter, who is favourite for re-election for a fifth term, Mr Figo said: “I respect him as I respect all the other candidates. He has been leading the organisation for many years and has made many positive achievements for football, but a point is reached where change is needed.”

On the pitch reforms would include, stopping the “triple punishment rule”, where goalkeepers are sent off, suspended and a penalty awarded, the testing of sin bins, and the old definition of offside returned.

Figo is one of three candidates challenging Sepp Blatter. The others are Jordanian Prince Ali Hussein and Michael Van Praag, the head of the Dutch Football Federation.

With the overwhelming support of African and Asian nations, Mr Blatter is favourite to win the election in May.