CAS to decide on Prince Ali appeal by Thursday

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will make a decision on Prince Ali bin al-Hussein’s appeal for changes in the FIFA voting procedures a full day before the presidential elections are held.

The Jordanian prince, one of five candidates to succeed Sepp Blatter at the head of football’s organising body, appealed to CAS on Tuesday to have the elections suspended after FIFA rejected his request for transparent voting booths to be used.

Prince Ali had requested the use of the booths and additional “independent scrutineers” in order to maintain transparency during the congress and prevent any chance of delegates being placed under pressure to vote for certain candidates.

“The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has registered an appeal and request for urgent provisional measures filed by HRH Prince Ali Al Hussein of Jordan against a decision taken by the FIFA ad-hoc electoral committee dated February 15 2016 in which it declined to incorporate the use of transparent voting booths for the upcoming FIFA presidential election,” a statement read.

“HRH Prince Ali Al Hussein seeks an order that FIFA be directed to use transparent voting booths, as well as independent scrutineers, in order to safeguard the integrity of the voting process and to ensure that the vote is conducted in secret. FIFA has been invited to file written observations in reply to Prince Ali’s request.

“The request for provisional measures will be decided by CAS no later than the morning of Thursday 25 February 2016. In the meantime, the CAS will not comment on this pending matter.”

Gianni Infantino and Sheikh Salman are the favourites to win Friday’s election in Zurich, ahead of Prince Ali, Jerome Champagne and Tokyo Sexwale.