ZURICH -- Former Brazil great Zico has met with FIFA president Sepp Blatter to ask for changes in election eligibility rules at world football's governing body.
Zico has announced he wants to run for FIFA's presidency after Blatter leaves in February, but is struggling to fulfill the requirement of having at least five federations supporting him as a candidate.
Zico told The Associated Press that this rule needs to change because local federations are pressured by their confederations and can't make their own choices.
He said Blatter was very receptive to his letter calling for the changes, and said the president also didn't agree with the current rules.
Zico talked to the AP in a telephone interview after meeting with Blatter at FIFA's headquarters in Zurich.