In the end, Ari Lahti didn’t want to be elected Fifa vice-president.
Ari Lahti will join the Fifa board. JAAKKO STENROOS / AOP
Ari Lahti has admitted that his criticized trips to the World Cup tournament in Qatar served as a launching pad for his election campaign.
That work had to culminate on Wednesday, when Lahti challenged the Hungarian Sándor Csányin Fifa vice-presidency.
But just as the 47th Uefa Congress was preparing to vote between Lahti and Csányi, the Finn asked to speak.
– This morning I have decided to give up the candidacy. The timing wasn’t right for me, and sometimes you have to take a step back to move forward. I thank everyone for the support and wished Sándor success in his mission, Lahti said.
That’s how Csányi got a new four-year Fifa presidency for free Gianni Infantino as a right hand..
Fifa has a total of eight vice-presidents, three of whom come from UEFA member countries. Uefa boss by Aleksander Čefer is automatically one of the vice-chairmen and the second place goes to the representatives of the home football associations (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland).
That third is now again closely held by Csányi.
– I have come to the conclusion that my time is not now, but our time will come. Based on the discussions, I am confident that we must continue our work to promote the values we feel are important also in international football, Lahti explained his decision in the Football Association’s press release.
The Veikkausliiga legend was also remembered at the Uefa congress organized in Lisbon Aarno from Turpewho passed away after a long illness last summer.