FIFA presidential candidate Ali bin al-Hussein is calling for Friday's scheduled election to be suspended because of a dispute over voting arrangements.
Lawyers for the Jordanian prince say they are appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after the world soccer federation rejected Prince Ali's request for transparent voting booths.
He wanted the transparent booths to ensure delegates who are under pressure to choose a certain candidate do not photograph their ballots to prove how they voted. FIFA officials say they will not allow delegates to take their cell phones into the voting booth.
Five candidates seek to replace Sepp Blatter, FIFA’s long-serving president, who was forced to step down last year mired in scandal.
The United States has indicted 14 officials and associates of FIFA on wire fraud, racketeering, and money laundering charges.In a separate action, Swiss authorities have launched a criminal inquiry into FIFA’s controversial awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar.