Friday 26 February 2016 12:10, UK
FIFA presidential candidate Jerome Champagne has failed with a late bid to have Friday's election postponed.
The Frenchman - one of five contenders to replace the banned Sepp Blatter - is the second of them to attempt to have it put off this week.
Lawyers representing Prince Ali of Jordan also made unsuccessful moves to get the election cancelled after his request to use transparent booths in Zurich was turned down.
Champagne's representations to the Court of Arbitration for Sport have now been rejected too and the election will take place as planned.
He had supported Ali's earlier request for see-through booths and 'independent scrutineers' in order to ensure the vote was conducted without fear of corruption.
But after reviewing Champagne's paperwork, the president of the CAS Appeals Arbitration Division dismissed it.
That came as each of the five candidates - Sheikh Salman, Tokyo Sexwale and Gianni Infantino being the others - canvassed in the Swiss city in a final push to secure votes from 209 national associations.
Favourite Sheikh Salman told North American members he would find ways to avoid cutting the number of coveted committee positions which carry expenses-paid meetings in Zurich.
The same CONCACAF representatives will take part in another vote on Friday expected to pass FIFA reforms that include abolishing 17 of the current 26 standing committees.
Salman said: "I am sure that we need most of you around. It is an investment in the people we have in football."
Minutes later, Infantino - referring to the level of development funding pledges he has made from FIFA's income at each World Cup - reminded the same group of delegates about his cash promises.
He said: "Something is wrong if we cannot find 1bn [dollars] out of 5bn. And something is wrong because it has not been done."
Infantino, the UEFA general secretary, and Sheikh Salman appear to be the candidates with the most support.
Although Prince Ali earned 73 votes in last year's presidential vote against Blatter, he is considered to be an outsider this time.
He said: "I'm a candidate that's running for the presidency of FIFA to represent the world. I'm independent, beheld to no one."
The other two candidates - former FIFA official Champagne and anti-apartheid campaigner Sexwale - are struggling to attract support.
Sexwale, a political prisoner on Robben Island with Nelson Mandela, said: "FIFA is a broken house... [and] needs to repair the damage that's been done to the brand.
"It's severe and very, very painful. Some of the people are incarcerated, some are in jail, some are on the run.
"Some are friends but if crime has been committed then justice must be seen to be done whilst you spare the innocent."
Blatter decided to quit in June after being elected for a fifth term and long before he was banned for eight years by FIFA in December. He had the ban reduced to six years on Wednesday.
He consequently will not be involved in Friday's formalities at the Hallenstadion in Zurich and the same applies to UEFA president Michel Platini.
The former France international is serving the same suspension for his part in a financial transaction authorised by Blatter in 2011 which consequently ended his candidacy.
UEFA vice-president Angel Maria Villar opened the extraordinary congress of Europe's governing body in Zurich by backing Platini, who is challenging his ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
He said: "Michel Platini continues to work to defend himself to defend his innocence and honour. I firmly believe and hope Michel will be back with us soon."
