Fifa presidency: Sepp Blatter's possible successors

Candidates had until 23:00 GMT to submit the relevant paperwork - together with letters of support from five football associations.

World Football's governing body has confirmed it will hold the election to determine Blatter's successor at a special congress on 26 February 2016.

With Fifa yet to confirm the shortlist, BBC Sport takes a look at the eight candidates thought to be in the running.

Gianni Infantino

Age: 45

Nationality: Italian/Swiss

Status: Says he has entered his application

Years in game: 15

Current Position: Uefa General Secretary (since 2009)

Previous positions: Joined Uefa in 2000 as a lawyer and secretary general of the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) at the University of Neuchâtel

What he says: "My manifesto will be based on the need for ‎reform and also for a Fifa that genuinely serves the interests of all 209 national associations, big or small, and that puts football and football development at the top of its agenda."

Tokyo Sexwale

Age: 62

Nationality: South African

Status: Says he has entered his application

Years in game: Seven

Current Position: Mining tycoon

Previous Positions: Anti-apartheid campaigner (jailed for 13 years on Robben Island), former government minister, member of Fifa anti-discrimination task force, South Africa Apprentice presenter.

What he says: Speaking in 2011 following South Africa World Cup in 2010: "It was a great moment to see Fifa with us [at the World Cup] but also to see the world assemble in South Africa, the different colours of the rainbow of mankind and send the message across the world that Fifa is a unifying force."

Prince Ali bin Hussein

Age: 39

Nationality: Jordanian

Status: Says he has entered his application

Years in game: 16

Current Position: President of Jordan Football Association

Previous positions: Former Fifa vice-president and former president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC)

What he says: "The world game deserves a world-class governing body - an international federation that is a service organisation and a model of ethics, transparency and good governance."

Musa Bility

Age: 48

Nationality: Liberian

Status: Says he has entered his application

Years in game: Five

Current Position: President, Liberian FA

Previous Positions: Fifa Presidential candidate in 2015, withdrawing to allow Prince Ali to run unopposed against Sepp Blatter. He is also a businessman

What he says: "We all agree that football is facing a difficult moment and it is in difficult moments that great leaders emerge."

Michel Platini

Age: 60

Nationality: French

Status: Serving a 90-day suspension from all football activity by Fifa, while corruption claims are investigated

Fifa says it cannot recognise his candidacy while his ban is in place and he cannot campaign. However, Fifa's electoral committee says it may allow him to stand if his suspension ends before the election date.

Years in game: 43

Current Position : Uefa president (since 2007) and Fifa vice-president

Previous Positions: Played for Nancy, Saint-Etienne and Juventus. Captained France to victory in the 1984 European Championship. Coached France between 1988 and 1992. From 1992 to 1998, he was co-president of the Fifa World Cup Organising Committee, and vice-president of the French Football Federation from 2000. Since 2002, Platini has been a member of the executive committee of world football's governing body.

What he says: "I am counting on your support and our common love of football so that, together, we can give the tens of millions of football fans the Fifa that they want: a Fifa that is exemplary, united and shows solidarity, a Fifa that is respected, liked and of the people."

(BBC)