Luis Figo: "Football has lost"

Luis Figo has said that "football has lost" following Sepp Blatter's re-election as FIFA president earlier this evening.

The former Portugal international had been due to run against Blatter, but pulled out last week in a bid to boost Prince Ali's chances of beating the incumbent.

Following Ali's withdrawal after the first vote in Switzerland, the former Real Madrid and Inter Milan winger told BBC Sport: "Today was another dark day in Zurich. FIFA has lost, but above everything, football has lost and everyone who truly cares about it has lost too.

"Mr Blatter had a very cynical reaction when he said that he couldn't control everyone. It offends everyone's intelligence. These persons, whom Mr Blatter has promoted through years, turned, with him, FIFA in to a decadent organisation.

"If Mr Blatter were minimally concerned about football, he would have given up on the re-election. If he has a minimal of decency, he will resign in the next few days."

Figo, who also had spells with Sporting Lisbon and Barcelona during his career, retired from playing in 2009.