Champagne to make another bid for FIFA presidency

Champagne had wanted to run in the election earlier this year but failed to get the written backing from five national football associations (FAs) which is needed to register.

With the Oct. 26 deadline for nominations looming, Jordanian Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein and former Trinidad and Tobago midfielder David Nakhid have announced their candidacies.

Former Brazil World Cup player Zico also wants to run but has said he is struggling to get the backing of five FAs and Asian soccer chief Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain has said he is taking soundings about a possible run.

Champagne confirmed to Reuters that he had the five FAs, said he would not comment on rival candidates and criticized the way in which the campaign had been conducted.

"We are witnessing the first months of the electoral campaign being dominated by controversy and deals made behind closed doors," he said.

He called for three televised debates between the candidates, in December, January and February.

"FIFA also deserves a proper debate about its future," he said. "Errors have been made and they must be corrected ... with no whitewash."

Champagne said he wanted to address the financial gap between a few wealthy clubs and the rest of the sport.

He said clubs were losing identity and "prefer to trade their young talent rather than groom them into active members of their squad."

His proposals included giving more places to "under-represented" continental confederations such as Africa's on FIFA's executive committee and at the World Cup, and including players, clubs and leagues in decision-making.

On the field, his proposals include a so-called orange card, which would mean a temporary sending-off for the player concerned, and more respect for referees, who would be able to punish dissent by moving a free kick forward by ten metres as in rugby.