Johannesburg, Oct 25 (IANS): South African businessman Tokyo Sexwale has expressed his desire to run for FIFA presidency.

The 62-year-old former political prisoner is currently FIFA's anti-racism advisor and the South African Football Association has said it would support his bid, BBC reported on Saturday.

The announcement comes before Monday's deadline for the February 26 vote.

Sexwale was part of the organising committee of the 2010 World Cup which was held in South Africa. He has also mediated for FIFA in disputes between the Israeli and Palestinian football bodies.

Sexwale will have four other competitors for the presidency in Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan, former Trinidad and Tobago midfielder David Nakhid, ex-FIFA official Jerome Champagne and Michel Platini, president of European football's ruling body UEFA.

Earlier this month, FIFA president Sepp Blatter and Platini were provisionally suspended for 90 days after Swiss prosecutors opened a criminal investigation into a 1.35 million pounds payment allegedly made by Blatter to Platini.