The 66-year-old has been at the helm of the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB) since August 2008 and has openly called for the current incumbent Sepp Blatter to step down.
He announced his decision to stand on the body’s official website and raised concerns about FIFA’s current leadership in the process.
“I am very worried about the deteriorating situation at FIFA, the public opinion, the trustworthiness is very bad and with me a lot of people in the world believe so,” he said.
“I was hoping that a credible, fresh face would stand up to do it but unfortunately that is not the case. So that’s why I decided to take my own responsibility, especially after what I said in Sao Paulo and therefore I go for it.
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Bin Hammam was the only challenger to the president four years ago but withdrew from the race after he was suspended on bribery charges, leaving Blatter to run unopposed amid farcical scenes at the congress in Zurich.
The head of European soccer’s governing body, Michel Platini, has called on Blatter to stand down, but announced he wouldn’t be running for president.
It remains to be seen whether Ginola, or any of his fellow candidates, can make a significant dent in the support Blatter holds among FIFA’s members, and make the May elections anything more than another forgone conclusion.
