Football
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Jerome Champagne fears FIFA will hold elections behind closed doors

Jerome Champagne said he fears that FIFA will vote for the new president of the world football's governing body behind closed doors, and has called for a TV debate ahead of the May election. The former FIFA general secretary is so far the only candidate to stand for presidency against Sepp Blatter. He doubts that he will be given a fair chance.

Champagne, 56, worked for the world football's governing body until 2010. Since leaving the world governing body he has advised various football federations and was football commissioner for the World Festival of Black Arts in Dakar.

In September, Champagne announced his decision to run for FIFA presidency against Sepp Blatter, but has yet to reveal the national associations backing him. He needs the support of at least five FAs, and in October said that he will not announce them until when he has to.

"I am not naive. I know that those who back me also risk trouble. There will certainly be pressure. I don't want to provide a target too soon," he told German broadsheet FAZ back then.

Speaking to Bild, Champagne has now again called for a public debate ahead of the elections, which will take place in late May 2015. But current FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who will stand for a fifth term, already said in late September that public debates are not appropriate for FIFA.

"I plead for a democratic FIFA and hope for a transparent electoral procedure with debates," Champagne told Bild. "In the lead up I would like to see a TV debate with all candidates. This would increase the transparency, and turn the focus on the contents."

"But you always have to fear that there won't be a fair election. It could be tried to pressure associations in the lead up. Should FIFA again make a decision behind closed doors that would be sad and would damage the battered FIFA image even more.

"Sadly there are too many persons in the football pyramid, who want to help themselves and not football. I want to change that."

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