ESPN Invites FIFA Presidential Candidates to Televised Pre-Election Debate

Candidates to be the next president of FIFA have been invited by ESPN to take part in a televised debate. The network asked the five candidates to "express their views to the public," according to ESPNFC.com.

The network released a statement Tuesday expressing a desire to ensure accountability during the voting process: "Our goal is to provide a forum for open, transparent discussion about the future governance of the sport in advance of the election that will determine who occupies the most powerful position in global football."

The five candidates for president are Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, Jerome Champagne, Gianni Infantino and Tokyo Sexwale. The election is set for Feb. 26.

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Champagne has already agreed to participate in the debate in London on Jan. 29, per a report from James Corbett of Sporting Intelligence. Yet Champagne, the former deputy general secretary for world football's governing body, said performances in front of the camera will not be a deciding factor in the vote.

"I feel that unfortunately—as I have said already when I launched this campaign myself—that it will be a succession of deals done behind closed doors of five-star hotels."

The debate questions will likely involve references to the corruption scandals that have strangled the institution. The controversy has escalated to the point that Sepp Blatter, the man Champagne and Co. are bidding to replace, has been banned from footballing activities for eight years, along with UEFA president Michel Platini.

Voters may want clear expressions of intent from the candidates about how they intend to repair FIFA's image and end the culture and cycle of corruption.

If the rest of the candidates choose to follow Champagne's lead, the mission to restore credibility in football's principal organisation will start in front of ESPN cameras.