<!--Article Start--> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="document jq_ColDocument jq_ShareArea"> <div class="tooltipContent"> <div class="scrollContent jq_Content jq_langdir tinyscrollbar doctooltip-y fontsize_0"> <div class="viewport"> <div class="overview"> <strong><span title="FIFA">FIFA</span> on Thursday approved five candidates to stand in February's vote to replace <span title="Sepp Blatter is the FIFA president">Sepp Blatter</span> as president of world football's governing body, but <span title="Football (soccer) player">Michel Platini</span> has not yet made the list.</strong> The five who met the qualification criteria following a series of integrity tests were: Prince Ali Al Hussein, Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, <span title="J rA?me Champagne">Jerome Champagne</span>, <span title="Gianni Infantino is the UEFA general-secretary since 2009.">Gianni Infantino</span> and <span title="Tokyo Sexwale (born 5 March 1953) is a South African businessman, politician, anti-apartheid activist, and former political prisoner.">Tokyo Sexwale</span>, a <span title="FIFA">FIFA</span> statement said. The candidacy of <span title="Luis Carlos Almada Soares">Platini</span>, the suspended head of European football who had been the favourite to succeed Blatter, will be examined once his 90-day suspension by <span title="FIFA">FIFA</span>'s ethics committee is over. The only candidate to be disqualified after receiving provisional approval was <span title="Musa Bility is the President of the Liberia Football Association and a former player.">Musa Bility</span>, the head of the Liberian football association. "The Ad-hoc Electoral Committee did not admit the candidature of Musa Hassan Bility, in view of the content of the integrity check report relating to him," the statement said. <span title="FIFA">FIFA</span> said it had explained the reasons for disqualification privately to Bility, but it would not make the specifics public. The race is thought to be wide open given <span title="Luis Carlos Almada Soares">Platini</span>'s potential ethics violations, including a probe over a murky 1.8 million euro ($2 million) payment he received from <span title="FIFA">FIFA</span> in 2011. His suspension triggered a flurry of activity with the powerful Asian football chief Sheikh Salman, former <span title="FIFA">FIFA</span> official Champagne, South African anti-apartheid campaigner Sexwale, <span title="UEFA">UEFA</span> . general secretary Infantino and Bility all throwing their hats into the ring. The race is likely to be heavily shaped by whether <span title="Luis Carlos Almada Soares">Platini</span> is ultimately admitted, with Infantino indicating he would stand aside if his <span title="UEFA">UEFA</span> boss qualifies for the vote. Later Thursday, Platini released details of 60 personalities who have signed a letter supporting his candidacy for football's top job, including former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier. Platini invoked Liverpool fans' famous Anfield battle cry as a means to thank his backers. "I want to thank all the signatories of this letter for their support," he told News Tank Football website. "Their initiative touched me and further strengthens my resolve (to be FIFA president) -- I will never walk alone." Platini's lawyers, meanwhile told AFP that their client was "astounded" how slow the process was for FIFA to decide on his appeal against the suspension. The appeal was lodged with FIFA by the lawyers on October 10. "Mr Platini is astounded that FIFA's appeal commission, with whom he lodged an appeal several weeks ago, still has not made a decision," said a statement from Platini's lawyers. "This surprising delay is totally inconsistent with the urgency invoked by the ethics committee to justify the provisional sanction imposed on him. "Mr Platini remains a confirmed candidate for the FIFA presidency." <strong>By AFP</strong> </div> </div> </div> </div></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <!--Article End-->