FA call for FIFA to postpone presidential vote

Bernstein made his announcement after Blatter’s only challenger Mohamed Bin Hammam was suspended on Sunday due to allegations of bribery.

The FA had previously announced that it was abstaining from voting due to concerns about the lack of transparency and accountability within the organisation as well as saying that recent allegations had made it difficult to support either candidate.

In a statement Bernstein said: “Events of the last few days have reinforced our views, and we call on FIFA and ask other national associations to support us with two initiatives.

“First, to postpone the election and give credibility to this process, so any alternative reforming candidate could have the opportunity to stand for president.

“Secondly, to appoint a genuinely independent external party to make recommendations regarding improved governance and compliance procedures and structures throughout the Fifa decision-making processes for consideration by the full membership.”

FIFA suspended executive committee members Bin Hammam and Jack Warner following an inquiry into claims that the pair offered financial incentives to members of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) in exchange for votes in the upcoming election.

FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke was accused of sending an email in which he said that Qatar ‘bought’ the right to host the 2022 World Cup. Valcke confirmed that the email did exist but insisted he was referring to Qatar using their ‘financial strength’ to legimately lobby for votes.

Despite the controversy surrounding the organisation, Sepp Blatter has denied Fifa are in a crisis. He said: “We are only in some difficulties and these difficulties will be solved inside our family.”

UEFA president Michel Platini says he doubts whether the FA would gain enough to support to postpone the election.

Platini says the proposal would need 75 per cent support from the 208-nation congress but Bernstein has received backing from the Scottish FA.

The Scottish FA’s chief executive and former Yorkshire CEO Stewart Regan said: “The Scottish FA can today confirm its position that the Fifa presidential election be postponed in light of recent uncertainty.

“We believe the election should be rescheduled to facilitate a period of consultation to deal with the issues that have arisen in recent weeks. The events of the last two days, in particular, have made any election unworkable.”

Meanwhile, airline giant Emirates have become the third of FIFA’s key sponsors to express disappointment at the controversy surrounding the organisation.

Coca-Cola and Adidas both issued statements yesterday admitting their concern over the ongoing bribery claims within world football’s governing body.