Former France soccer player David Ginola speaks at a press conference to launch his bid to challenge Sepp Blatter for the FIFA presidency, in London, Friday Jan. 16, 2015. 47-year-old Ginola has until Jan. 29 to show FIFA he has the support of five national associations, and he must also prove he has played anAlastair Grant/Associated Press

David Ginola Announces Withdrawal from FIFA Presidential Election

Rory MarsdenJan 30, 2015

David Ginola has ended his campaign to become FIFA's next president and withdrawn himself from May's election, in which he was set to challenge Sepp Blatter for the top job in football's governing body.

BBC Sport reported the news on Friday, with Ginola failing to secure the five nominations from national associations required for him to launch a campaign:

TOP NEWS

Real Madrid CF v Girona FC - LaLiga EA Sports

Bleacher Report1w

Real Betis V Real Madrid - Laliga Ea Sports

Bleacher Report1w

Sky News' Paul Kelso relays the former France international's comments following his inability to meet the required criteria ahead of Thursday's deadline:

Ginola's campaign was being backed by a well-known Irish bookmaker famed for its ingenious public relations stunts and always seemed to have something of a pantomime edge to it.

Sports writer James Masters echoes the attitude of many towards a stunt that seemed doomed to fail:

Blatter will be hoping to win a fifth term come May, and his expected challengers are Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan, Dutch federation president Michael van Praag, former Portugal international Luis Figo and French former diplomat Jerome Champagne, per Sky Sports.