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 Ali, whose request for transparent voting booths was rejected last
week by FIFA, is unhappy with the arrangements for a vote expected
to set a new tone of transparency for an organisation mired in the
past in secret dealings.
Having rejected the Jordanian prince's offer to make transparent
booths available to the congress, FIFA instead will ask voters to
leave their mobile phones outside while choosing between five
candidates.
"This request is not sufficient," said a statement issued by Ali's
legal team. "FIFA remains silent upon the measures to enforce it and
sanctions associated with it."
Neither CAS nor Ali was immediately available for comment.
Ali had wanted transparent booths at the Feb. 26 election to ensure
delegates do not photograph their ballot papers when they choose the
head of soccer's world ruling body. This would prevent delegates
coming under pressure to produce evidence of their vote to
interested parties.
FIFA's 209 member national associations (FAs) each hold one vote at
the election where Ali is among five candidates standing to replace
outgoing President Sepp Blatter, who is banned for eight years amid
a graft scandal that has shaken soccer's global governing body.
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Under FIFA statutes, voting is secret.
Ali's lawyers said FIFA had objected to their demand for an
expedited appeal hearing to deliver a verdict before Friday's vote,
prompting them to ask CAS, sport's highest court, to suspend the
election.
FIFA was not immediately available for comment.
(Additional reporting by Julien Pretot in Paris; Brian Homewood in
Zurich; Editing by Ralph Boulton)
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