FIFA rejects Musa Bility's presidential candidacy

Zurich: Liberian Musa Bility's candidacy to become the FIFA president has been rejected following integrity checks by football's global governing body.

Michel Platini, the suspended European football (UEFA) chief, was also not included in the list though the Frenchman could be added should his ban end before the election to be held on February 26, 2016.

The candidacies of Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, Jerome Champagne, Gianni Infantino, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa and Tokyo Sexwale were approved.

"The Ad-hoc Electoral Committee admitted and declared five candidates eligible to stand for election to the office of FIFA President," FIFA said in a statement on Thursday.

"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."

"For reasons of protection of personality rights, the Ad-hoc Electoral Committee - while it has explained its considerations in detail to Musa Hassan Bility - will not comment publicly on the specifics of its decision."

"The decisions of the Ad-hoc Electoral Committee on the eligibility of candidates may be appealed at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne," the statement added.

The election will be held to find a successor to the suspended Sepp Blatter, who is under criminal investigation for alleged corruption.