Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/644193
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 24 FEBRUARY 2016 20 Sport SPORTTODAY FOOTBALL FIFA election could be suspended Prince Ali bin al Hussein has called for the postponement of Friday's FIFA presidential election, according to lawyers claiming to represent the Jordanian PRINCE Ali, one of five candi- dates to succeed Sepp Blatter, is seeking reassurances over the voting procedure for the election after world football 's governing body dismissed his idea to use transparent polling booths. And, with the reassurances that the voting process will be "fair and transparent" still to be given and requests for a swift hearing at the Court of Arbitra- tion for Sport before Friday's vote blocked by FIFA, Prince Ali has requested the election be delayed. "We have requested FIFA to set out the conditions of a fair elec- toral process," a statement from law yers Szpiner, Toby, Ayela and Semerdjian read. "Instead of agreeing upon HRH Prince Ali 's offer make avail- able to the FIFA the transparent voting booths, we do note that FIFA will simply request voters 'to leave their mobile while go- ing to vote'. "This request is not sufficient. FIFA remains silent upon the measures to enforce it and sanc- tions associated with it. Prince Ali has naturally brought the matter to CAS on Monday the 22nd (of February). "FIFA has objected to our de- mand for expedited hearing in order for an award to be deliv- ered before February 26th. "This behaviour bears no ra- tional other than denying any right to a fair and transparent voting process. "As a consequence, we are now seeking provisional measures before CAS to suspend the com- ing election on Friday 26th of February." Prince Ali already plans to test FIFA's resistance to transparent voting booths by having some sent to Zurich ahead of Friday's vote. FIFA, which is this week ex- pected to vote in wide-scale re- forms to ensure openness and guard against the corruption which has engulfed it in recent times, insists it is sufficient for delegates from the 209 voting nations to hand over cameras and mobile phones before enter- ing the booths at Hallenstadion in Zurich. Press Association Sport under- stands Prince Ali wishes to be made aware of the rules in case delegates f lout the ban. Voters reportedly documented how they had voted in June's presidential election, which Blatter won ahead of Prince Ali before resigning days later, prompting this week 's extraor- dinary congress and leading to Prince Ali 's request as he bids to ensure a fair election. Prince Ali is standing for elec- tion alongside Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al Khalifa of Bah- rain, UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino, South Afri- ca's Tokyo Sexwale and Jerome Champagne, a former FIFA deputy secretary general from France. Sheikh Salman, the Asian Football Confederation presi- dent, and Infantino are consid- ered the favourites to succeed Blatter, who first became FIFA president in 1998. Barca worried about Premier League wealth - president BARCELONA are concerned about the financial clout of the Premier League when the new English television deal kicks in for top-f light clubs next season, said president Josep Maria Bar- tomeu. The 20 Premier League teams will share most of the 5.1 billion pounds for live domestic TV cov- erage in a three-year deal start- ing next term and Bartomeu said they were Barca's main rivals in the battle for players. "Premier League teams will have an incredible financial situ- ation ... and we are worried," he was quoted as telling the BBC on Monday. La Liga leaders Barcelona vis- ited Londoners Arsenal in a Champions League last 16 first- leg tie yesterday. "The Premier League is the best football competition. It has the most interest for fans and most revenues," said Bartomeu. "They are doing things good and keeping teams in the com- petition where everyone being equal is of interest for every- body. "We have different budgets in Spain and it would be difficult for someone like Leicester to be top of the league," Bartomeu added, referring to a set-up where Barca and Real Madrid take nearly half of the TV cash between them. He is worried more of Spain's best talent could be lured to England by the new riches on offer but said Barca's players were attracted by more than just money. "Our rivals are the Premier League, they are the big adver- saries. We have to do our best to increase our revenues and our financial situation to make the talent of our teams stay with us," he said. "That is why I am so worried and we are working on this. We want to keep the talent at home. "I know our players are in touch with other clubs, it's normal. None of our players said they want to leave," added Bartomeu. "Most get better economic of- fers but our players are not in Barcelona for the money, they are there because of the football and the fans' commitment." Barca trail Real in the soccer rich list but Bartomeu said his goal was to reach one billion euros ($1.10 billion) in annual revenue to "develop our club and make it bigger". Real topped Deloitte's Football Money League of the highest earning clubs for 2015 on 577 million euros, ahead of Barca (560) and Manchester United (520) in third. Barcelona's President Josep Maria Bartomeu Prince Ali bin al Hussein