Fifa presidential candidate Jerome Champagne says he is looking forward to a “fair debate” with new election hopeful Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein.
The Jordanian announced his decision to join the race to succeed Sepp Blatter on Tuesday, stating that the game’s attention needs to be turned back to the field after a string of controversies which came to a head recently amid allegations of corruption during the 2022 World Cup bid process.
And Champagne has reiterated his desire to bring football in line with the needs of the modern world, inviting Al Hussein to join a debate that he says will do the game the power of good.
"As I have been saying consistently, the 2015 election is not about personal ambitions or fights between institutions," said the Frenchman in a statement.
"It is about football, its governance but also its future with a clear choice.
"Growing polarization and inequalities. Or universality, continued inner rivalries and image problems for Fifa and football. Or reconciliation, inclusion and re-building of the reputation.
"Risk of losing control on the game taken away by those wishing to serve themselves. Or stronger governance to serve football at national, continental and world levels as well as the national FAs, the members of Fifa.
"It is about evolution for what needs imperatively to be changed in the future and about continuity for what has been done correctly in the past!
"It is about platforms, concrete proposals and visions! Mine are known, clear and public."
The 56-year-old, who was the first man to declare his intention to stand for election for the term between 2015 and 2019, continued: "So let’s wait for the release of the other alleged candidates' programs and let's start the democratic and fair debate that I have been calling upon since the first day of my campaign. The debate we all and football need."
Champagne and Al Hussein are the only confirmed challengers to Blatter thus far, with the election due to take place at the Fifa Congress in Zurich in May.
