After yesterday declaring he was running for FIFA presidency with the backing of Paddy Power, David Ginola today held a press conference to discuss the bid.
Paddy Power has put forward £250,000 of the £2.3m crowdfunding campaign to fund Ginola's push for Presidency, the public are being asked to fund the rest, with one already contributing £1,000. The money contributed by Paddy Power is Ginola's fee.
The Frenchman needs 5 nominations from national football associations to run, not an easy task, with Jerome Champagne and Jordan's Prince Ali also declaring their candidacy.
The use of the Irish bookie as a sponsor has lead to doubts about his candidacy from the start, as can be seen from the Twitter reaction.
I’m standing for FIFA president and I need you on my team.RT to show your support. #TeamGinola http://t.co/BWaaBEIv4m pic.twitter.com/d9S9KKlt1R
— David Ginola (@teamginola) January 16, 2015
Ginola being paid 250k to front a PR stunt while asking punters to contribute £2 million. Is this seriously the best we can do? — Matt Dickinson (@DickinsonTimes) January 16, 2015
Oi @Betfair, fancy giving us £250k to stand for the FIFA Presidency? Already have the backing of 5 local pubs. #VoteHeaton
— Andy Heaton (@Andrew_Heaton) January 16, 2015
Ginola paid £250,000 to attract media to press conference for election he might not even contest. Marketing #genius. Football #wasteoftime — James Pearce (@Pearcesport) January 16, 2015
Good lord: only way Ginola for FIFA president thing could seem more pathetic was if he used Lucinda Creighton slogan: pic.twitter.com/ceqZx7tUpw
— emmet malone (@emmetmalone) January 16, 2015
David Ginola strategy will be not to defend any positions, hang around for the right moment and then launch a creative attack. Great stuff! — Keith Gillespie (@KeithGillespie7) January 16, 2015
David Ginola couldn't answer my questions about IFAB (key to changing football rules) or third-party ownership (key issue in football)
— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) January 16, 2015
Paddy Power asking for donations to #TeamGinola. Imagine actually helping Paddy Power fund a publicity stunt. — (via @JonnyGabriel) (@JonnyGabriel) January 16, 2015
First priority for Ginola campaign is apparently a series of billboard ads. Presumably with copious branding.
— Owen Gibson (@owen_g) January 16, 2015
I am with #TeamGinola 100% — Duncan Bannatyne (@DuncanBannatyne) January 16, 2015
From the campaign website: if you donate to Ginola, a breakdown how it will be spent on global ad campaign for bookie pic.twitter.com/njiPYDCdR7
— sportingintelligence (@sportingintel) January 16, 2015
Ginola calls on public to raise money for FIFA election?! Already being paid £250k. Clueless on key issues. No chance of winning. No thanks. — Stuart Fraser (@stu_fraser) January 16, 2015
Problem with Ginola 'campaign' is it is an unfeasible sideshow that deflects from serious situation around a FIFA requiring radical change.
— Ian Ridley (@IanRidley1) January 16, 2015
They say that Kennedy beat Nixon partly on looks. This bodes well for Ginola. — David Baddiel (@Baddiel) January 16, 2015
See Also: David Ginola Makes W***** Gesture At Jake Humphrey Live On BTSport
