Election candidates to declare they are standing has passed with eight contenders to replace Sepp Blatter.


UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino will run for the highest position in world football with the unanimous backing of UEFA's Executive Committee.

Former Brazilian international Zico will not be in the running though after he was unable to get the letters of support he needed from five member associations. It is understood he only had four.

The 11pm deadlineon Monday evening passed without him getting the elusive fifth letter which would have ensured he would be part of the vote on February 26.

A statement from European football's governing body confirmed Infantino's candidacy - but that does not mean the end of Michel Platini's continued participation in the contest to succeed Sepp Blatter.

Platini is currently banned from football, and an investigation into an allegedly "disloyal payment" he received from FIFA remains

Liberian FA boss Musa Bility and the president of the Asian Football Confederation, Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, also announced their candidacies on Monday.
They join Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, Tokyo Sexwale, Jerome Champagne and David Nakhid in the race after they - unlike Zico - were able to obtain five letters of support from FIFA member nati