Sheikh Salman, the president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), says “senior” figures in the game have urged him to run for the Fifa presidency.
In a letter to members of the AFC executive committee, the 49-year-old Bahraini confirmed he is not yet a candidate.
But he added he had been urged to stand “by a growing number of senior football administrators, Fifa members and personalities of public life”.
The election takes place in February, with the deadline for candidates to submit the relevant paperwork set for 26 October.
Shaikh Salman publicly backed Uefa chief Michel Platini for the Fifa presidency in July but now appears amenable to the idea of running for the post himself, following the Frenchman’s 90-day provisional suspension.
Platini is suspended as Fifa studies reports he received a £1.35m payment in 2011 from Sepp Blatter, who will step down as head of the world governing body in February. Blatter is also serving a 90-day suspension while Fifa’s ethics committee investigates the payment.
Both Platini and Blatter have appealed against their suspensions and both deny any wrongdoing.
In his letter of 18 October, Shaikh Salman said he had not “actively considered” running and added: “More importantly, I am not a candidate today.”
The Bahraini has sounded out his fellow AFC members for their thoughts on him running.
“You and the AFC membership that you represent are the people that I am responsible to and whom I am elected to guide and serve,” he wrote.
“Without seeking your views, I would fail in my duties. It is largely in your hands if I accept the challenge.”
Meanwhile, an “extraordinary” meeting of Fifa executives taking place in Zurich today is expected to confirm presidential election date of 26 February will remain unchanged.
The ongoing reform process is also expected to be discussed, with Francois Carrard – the chairman of the Fifa committee examining various options – due to present an update on the latest developments.
