Scottish FA president Campbell Ogilvie said the body had backed Blatter four years ago on the basis he agreed it would be his last term.

 

Ogilvie said: "The Scottish FA can confirm its support to Michael van Praag, president of the KNVB, on his candidacy for the forthcoming FIFA presidential election.

"We believe Michael has the experience, integrity and gravitas required to expedite the modernisation of world football's governing body. Having known him for more than 20 years, I believe he is the right candidate at the right time to restore harmony to the game.

"We agreed to support Mr Blatter in 2011 on the proviso this would be his last term in office and the Scottish FA continues to hold that belief. We also remain in favour of a term limit for the role, in keeping with good governance."

Luis Figo has sprung the biggest surprise so far of the contest to be FIFA president after announcing he is to stand against Sepp Blatter.

The 42-year-old former Portugal international and world footballer of the year says he already has the minimum five nominations and said FIFA's decision not to publish the Garcia report into World Cup bidding had convinced him that change was needed.

Figo's entry into the race means there should now be at least four candidates in the contest after nominations close at midnight on Thursday.

As well as Blatter and Figo, Jordan's Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein and Dutch FA president Michael van Praag are standing, while Frenchman Jerome Champagne is still hoping to gain the five nominations.

Figo, who cut his links with an Asian betting company before announcing his candidacy, said in a statement: "Football has given me so much during my life and I want to give something back to the game. I look at the reputation of FIFA right now and I don't like it. Football deserves better.

"In recent weeks, months, and even years, I have seen the image of FIFA deteriorate and as I speak to many people in football - to players, managers and association presidents - so many of those people have told me that something has to be done.

"If you search FIFA on the internet you see the first word that comes out: scandal, not positive words. It's that we have to change first and try to improve the image of FIFA. Football deserves much better than this."

Figo, who was an ambassador for Spain/Portugal's joint bid for the 2018 World Cup, added on CNN that the investigation by US attorney Michael Garcia, who has since resigned as FIFA' s ethics investigator. had been a turning point for him.

He said: "After that report was not published I think that was the moment of change and the moment I thought that something had to be done.

"If you are transparent and if you ask for an investigation, a report, which you have nothing to hide, why don't you make public that report? If you have nothing to hide about that, you have to do it."

He added: "Of course [Blatter] is a person that is running the organisation for so long, since 1998, and a lot of people can be the favourite but I can say for me it is a fantastic challenge to try and convince the people to follow me and support me."

The Scottish Football Association has confirmed it will be one of the five national associations that will nominate Van Praag, a fierce critic of Blatter's. Van Praag told a news conference in Amsterdam he had told Blatter of his intention to run and had even offered him an advisory role. He also criticised the 20million euros spent by FIFA on United Passions, the widely-mocked film it commissioned about the world governing body.

Prince Ali is expected to be nominated by the Football Association - FA chairman Greg Dyke is understood to have offered the association's backing to Prince Ali and discussions have taken place between FA board members ahead of a meeting on Thursday after which it is expected to be formally announced.

The FA board's view is that the more reformist candidates who enter the contest the better.

Figo, who has served on the UEFA Football Committee from 2011 to 2015, was raised in a tough suburb of Lisbon and went on to play of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter Milan. He also captained Portugal and won 127 caps - making him Portugal's most capped player.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has backed Figo's decision to stand for FIFA.

Mourinho said in a statement: "Luis Figo's candidacy is a great step forward for football. His career over many years grants a better future for FIFA.

"I believe in his character and determination, as well as his passion for the game. He will be a president focused on football and its general improvement, acting closely with all federations."