London - Even if David Ginola gains the nominations required by Thursday's deadline to stand against Sepp Blatter, his improbable bookmaker-funded campaign could be scuppered by FIFA's gambling rules.
Ginola's campaign is being organized by stunt-prone Irish bookmaker Paddy Power, which is paying the former France international £250 000 to seek the FIFA presidency.
And ahead of Thursday's deadline to enter the race, FIFA has issued an election guide that stresses that official candidates are bound by its ethics code.
One regulation, designed to protect the integrity of football, states: "Persons bound by this code shall be forbidden from taking part in, either directly or indirectly, or otherwise being associated with betting, gambling."