Luis Figo has pulled out of the FIFA presidential race, leaving incumbent Sepp Blatter and Jordanian former FIFA executive committee member, Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein, to slug it out.
Dutch FA president, Michael van Praag, had earlier withdrawn from the race.
Figo had been frustrated by Blatter’s refusal to participate in a public debate and labelled his 17-year reign as a “dictatorship”.
The former Real Madrid and Barcelona star claimed the electoral process was “anything but an election”.
“This process is a plebiscite for the delivery of absolute power to one man – something I refuse to go along with,” he said.
“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 also revealed that from attending meetings of the confederations around the world, he has seen practices that “should shame anyone who desires soccer to be free, clean and democratic”.
He added: “I have seen with my own eyes federation presidents who, after one day comparing Fifa leaders to the devil, then go on stage and compare those same people with Jesus Christ. Nobody told me about this. I saw it with my own eyes.”
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