Mumbai: Former England defender Sol Campbell believes a retired player would be the ideal candidate to take charge of Fifa and lead a successful cleaning up operation at the corruption-tainted world governing body.

Charges of racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering are hanging over Fifa and outgoing president Sepp Blatter has seven months to instigate reforms in response to the worst crisis to hit the organisation in its 111-year history.

Asked if it was time for someone who has played the game at the highest level to succeed Blatter in February's presidential election, Campbell said that it was a logical course of action. "There are a lot of intelligent guys out there who have played football... It's just picking the right character," the ex-England and Arsenal captain said here, attending the launch of his former club's new home and away kits.

"The right footballer with the right character, they are good team builders. They have been in pressure situations. They understand getting deals and getting deals over the line.

"They have played around the world, they have met a lot of people and they are used to talking to people with different backgrounds. That's what you want."

Uefa chief Michel Platini is regarded as one of the most gifted players of his generation and the former France captain is expected to garner strong support should he decide to run for the top job early next year.

The 40-year-old Campbell, who started his career at Arsenal's north London rivals Tottenham, felt the person replacing the 79-year-old Blatter should be comfortable in dealing with all the stakeholders of the game. "Someone who can shake a hand of someone from the streets and shake a hand of a president or a queen," Campbell added.

(Reuters)