LONDON: FIFA presidential candidate Gianni Infantino said on Monday he would not automatically choose a European to be his secretary general if he wins the election to lead world soccer this month, breaking a pattern dating back more than 100 years.

Infantino, who appears to have widespread backing in Europe and promised support from South and Central American countries, hinted he could appoint an African to run FIFA’s day-to-day administration if he wins the election in Zurich on Feb. 26.

Speaking at London’s Wembley Stadium, he gave no specific indication why he would seek to broaden FIFA’s power base as he launched his action plan for his first three months in office, should he win the vote.

But with outgoing president Sepp Blatter banned from soccer, and secretary general Jerome Valcke sacked as part of the corruption allegations engulfing the sport, all eyes are on candidates’ reform proposals to clean up soccer and keep big money sponsors on side.

The 45-year-old Swiss, currently general secretary of European body UEFA, does not want FIFA to be seen as being Euro-centric.

“What we want to do is open the doors of the FIFA administration to the most able people around the world,” he said.

“I am convinced the general secretary of FIFA should not be an European. Why not an African?,” he told reporters as he detailed the 11 key points he would focus on in office.

Since FIFA was founded in 1904, it has had 10 secretary generals — the official who runs the day-to-day-operations — and all of them have been European.

Infantino is one of five men standing to become only the ninth elected president in FIFA’s 112-year-history.

The current incumbent is acting president Issa Hayatou of Cameroon, while FIFA also has an acting secretary general, Markus Kattner, who stepped in to replace Valcke who was sacked last month after being implicated in the illegal sale of World Cup tickets in Brazil in 2014.

Blatter, who has been banned from soccer for eight years pending an appeal, and Valcke are among the highest profile casualties of the corruption and bribery scandal that has roiled FIFA since May. Both deny wrongdoing.

The FBI and Swiss authorities have arrested 41 people and their investigations are continuing.

As well as Infanto, Frenchman Jerome Champagne, Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein of Jordan, Tokyo Sexwale of South Africa and Sheikh Salman Ebrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain are also standing for election as FIFA president.

FIFA has cut off funding to the corruption-hit confederations for soccer in the Americas, the global football body said on Monday, in a move, which could cause future cash flow problems for the two organizations.

The two bodies, CONCACAF and CONMEBOL, have been at the center of a corruption scandal that has engulfed world soccer and seen 41 individuals and entities charged in the United States on a variety of graft-related offenses.

“We can confirm that in light of current proceedings involving individuals related to CONMEBOL and CONCACAF, FIFA has put contributions toward these two Confederations on hold until further notice,” said a FIFA spokesperson.

In support

A stellar cast of football figures including Jose Mourinho and Luis Figo appeared in support of Gianni Infantino’s FIFA presidential bid at an event at London’s Wembley Stadium on Monday.

UEFA general secretary Infantino, who is bidding to succeed the disgraced Sepp Blatter in the February 26 election in Zurich, was accompanied by a host of glittering names from the game as he outlined his plans for the first 90 days of his presidency.

Mourinho, sacked as Chelsea manager in December, and Figo, himself a former FIFA presidential candidate, were joined by figures including ex-England and AC Milan manager Fabio Capello, Brazil great Roberto Carlos and former Spain captain Fernando Hierro.

Addressing the challenges facing the world governing body, reeling from the biggest corruption scandal in its history, Infantino said: “My main task will be to bring football back to FIFA and FIFA back to football.

“The image of FIFA has to grow and come to the top again, and we can do this only if we live and breathe football and work 2,000 percent for football.

“These legends who are here are a testimony for the love we all have for football.”

Former Real Madrid, Barcelona and Portugal star Figo told reporters: “I think we are in a crucial moment right now.

“People need to think whether they want things to continue in this situation or if they want a change. If you see the other candidates, he’s the right person to make that change.”

Infantino, 45, faces competition from Bahrain’s Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa, South African businessman Tokyo Sexwale, Jordan’s Prince Ali bin Hussein, a former FIFA vice president, and former FIFA official Jerome Champagne of France.

Infantino’s proposals for his first 90 days include appointing a “non-European” FIFA general secretary to replace Jerome Valcke, who was sacked for corruption offenses, and launching the bidding process for the 2026 World Cup.

The multilingual Swiss also revealed that he had faced death threats over European governing body UEFA’s pursuit of match-fixing investigations.

“I’ve received life threats against me, against my family because UEFA was acting against match-fixing,” he said.

“I had to have a police escort for my children because of the actions of UEFA against match-fixing.”