ESPN invites Fifa presidential candidates to live TV debate
The election for the next head of world football`s governing body is due to take place on 26 February in Zurich.
The presidential hopefuls are Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa, Tokyo Sexwale, Gianni Infantino and Jerome Champagne.
Champagne told sportingintelligence.com: "I can tell you that ESPN proposed to the candidates a televised debate and I have already expressed my agreement."
Who are the Fifa candidates?
Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, 40, is president of the Jordan Football Association
Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa, 49, is Asian Football Confederation president
Tokyo Sexwale, 62, is a South African former government minister
Gianni Infantino, 45, is Uefa`s general secretary
Jerome Champagne, 57, is a former Fifa executive
Uefa boss Michel Platini, 60, also hoped to run as a candidate, but the Frenchman was suspended for eight years from all football-related activities following an ethics investigation.
The 79-year-old Blatter was also handed an eight-year ban after both men were found guilty of breaches surrounding a £1.3m ($2m) "disloyal payment" made to Platini in 2011.
Swiss Blatter, Fifa president since 1998, and Platini deny wrongdoing and intend to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.