FIFA election: Football body rejects transparent voting booths, Prince Ali approaches CAS

FIFA elections will be held on February 28 in Zurich.

New Delhi: The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has rejected a demand to use transparent voting booths at next week`s election on Saturday.

FIFA presidential candidate Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan had requested to use transparent voting booths to ensure delegates do not photograph their ballot papers when they choose the head of football's world body.

FIFA`s 209 member national associations (FAs) each hold one vote at the election where Prince Ali is among five candidates in contention to replace already suspended Sepp Blatter as the president of the embattled association.

Domenico Scala, head of FIFA`s electoral committee, had agreed to Prince Ali's fear that the voters could produce evidence of their vote by using a mobile phone.

Scala, however, rejected his request saying, members would be reminded that voting is secret and told to hand over mobile phones and cameras before doing so.

Earlier, Jerome Champagne, who is also running for the post, said that FAs were under pressure to vote for certain candidates and some had been asked to provide evidence of their vote.

Since FIFA's rejection, Prince Ali has reported approached the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), sport`s highest tribunal.

The elections will be held on February 28 in Zurich.