Liberia FA head Bility announces run for FIFA presidency

Musa Bility, president of the Liberia FA, has announced his intention to stand for the FIFA presidency.

The 48-year-old has joined former Brazil international Zico in putting himself forward as a potential successor for Sepp Blatter, who is stepping down from the role despite being re-elected at a turbulent FIFA congress in Zurich last month.

An extraordinary meeting of the FIFA ExCo will take place in July, when the date for a new presidential election will be determined.

Bility insists an African name must be on the ballot, reflecting the continent's size and status in the world game.

"Being the single largest bloc, if Africa does not put up a candidate it says a lot about us," he told BBC Africa.

"It shows a sense of mediocrity, it shows our only relevance is to go and vote to make leaders.

"I think that is not right, I think leaders must lead.

"We (in Africa) are leaders, we are the largest group in FIFA. We must take the lead to reform the organization, to unify the organization, to bring football together. There is too much acrimony right now."

Bility is a relatively minor player on the world stage, but has already begun the process of securing the five association nominations he requires.

"I have spoken to about half a dozen of the presidents of African football and I have their support - you can see the excitement," he added.

"If I have one reason to believe that Africa is not going to stand by me, I am not going to put up my candidacy."

Issa Hayatou, incumbent president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) stood against Blatter in 2002 - the only African to go for FIFA's top job.

Bility has had a thorny relationship with CAF in the past, being hit with a six-month ban from football activity in May 2013 after he led a battle against rule changes relating to Hayatou's re-election.

Bility unsuccessfully appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport but later had the ban lifted early.