By Andrew Warshaw
January 12 – A proposed live television debate featuring the five FIFA presidential candidates has been scrapped because only two of them were able to accept an invitation to take part.
Insideworldfootball has learned that US broadcaster ESPN, which wanted to schedule the showdown for January 29 in London, has called off the idea because only Prince Ali bin al-Hussein and Jerome Champagne were available.
It is understood that scheduling issues prevented the other three candidates, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa, Tokyo Sexwale and Gianni Infantino, from taking part.
The election for the next head of world football’s governing body to replace Sepp Blatter is due to take place on February 26 in Zurich.
For planning purposes, ESPN asked all candidates to confirm their availability by January 2. But the broadcaster, which at first had apparently discussed running the programme today in Zurich following the Ballon d’Or ceremony, has now been compelled to cancel the project altogether.
An emailed letter sent to the candidates and seen by Insideworldfootball said ESPN had been forced to “abandon our pursuit of this live debate”, thanking Prince Ali and Champagne “for their help and willingness to take part in what we believe is an important and worthwhile event given the massive challenges that FIFA faces.”
On his Twitter account Champagne said: “Very disappointed that ESPN had to cancel the proposed live TV debate.”
It is understood that the invitation was sent on behalf of ESPN president John Skipper and that the debate was due to have been staged at the Olympic Park headquarters of Britain’s BT Sport Channel. Moderators had already been provisionally arranged for the 90-minute English-language broadcast.
No televised debate has ever before been held in a FIFA presidential election. British broadcasters BBC and Sky made a similar proposal before last May’s vote but Blatter, who ended up winning 133-73 against Prince Ali, turned down the invitation. Enhanced interest is now likely to focus on the only other forum of presidential candidates, being convened jointly on January 27 in Brussels by the European Parliament Sports Intergroup and #NewFIFANow, the UK-based lobby group.
Three of the contenders have confirmed their presence with Prince Ali, who has accepted in principle, trying to avoid a scheduling clash with South America. Sheikh Salman has a prior commitment to chair AFC executive committee meetings in Qatar at the same time.
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