Figo proposes bigger World Cup

                                            Luis Figo                                

The former Ballon d'Or winner released his manifesto at a Wembley press conference Luis Figo says he will consider expanding the World Cup and restore the old offside rule if he wins FIFA's presidential election, BBC reports.

as he prepares to challenge Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, Michael van Praag and incumbent Sepp Blatter for world football's top job.

Among the Portugal great's eye-catching proposals was a promise to redistribute a huge chunk of FIFA's cash reserves and another to hold a "real and structured" debate on the possibility of introducing new technology to help match officials.

And the future of FIFA's showpiece tournament is also up for discussion with the proposal of three different World Cup structures: the current 32-team format, a 40-team tournament and a 48-team finals split into two mini-tournaments and a final knockout stage.

The additional teams, according to the proposals, would come from non-European associations.

Figo is a supporter of the goal-line technology already in place and will consider further use of replays and the introduction of sin bins for players guilty of "unsporting behaviour towards referees".

Also included was a commitment to stop the 'triple punishment' of penalty, red card and suspension for any player committing a professional foul in the box, and another to restore the 'old' offside rule "where a player is judged offside whether directly involved in the play or not".

The 42-year-old has the support of Jose Mourinho and David Beckham ahead of the May ballot.