Portuguese football legend Luis Figo has pulled out of the FIFA presidential election with a tirade against current president Sepp Blatter and the election process.

Blatter is now left only with Jordan’s former FIFA Executive Committee member Prince Ali bin al-Hussein as Michael van Praag, the Dutch FA president, had also withdrawn earlier in the day.

Frustrated by Blatter’s refusal to attend a public debate, former world footballer of the year Figo called the governing body a dictatorship. He said that the process was “anything but an election”.

The former player of Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid said, “This process is a plebiscite for the delivery of absolute power to one man – something I refuse to go along with. That is why, after a personal reflection and sharing views with two other candidates in this process, I believe that what is going to happen on May 29 in Zurich is not a normal electoral act.”

Figo said that he faced hypocrisy among federation presidents across the world during his campaign. He refused to give any names.

Both Figo and Van Praag believe that FIFA has lost its credibility, and leveled accusations of nepotism against Blatter, who is seeking to extend his 17-year tenure when the 209 national federations vote next week.

Van Praag has endorsed Prince Ali, but Figo did not make any similar mention.

Blatter, who is widely expected to emerge the winner in May 29 election, is standing for a fifth term. The longtime president had announced to quit in 2015.

KK/AS