Prince Ali and Sexwale withdraw from FIFA Forum as Infantino receives Central American boost

Gianni Infantino is to be backed by the seven-member Central American Football Union in the race for the FIFA Presidency ©FIFA

Gianni Infantino's campaign for the FIFA Presidency has been boosted by a declaration of support from the seven members of the Central American Football Union (UNCAF), while his South African rival Tokyo Sexwale has been criticised for the "low profile" nature of his campaign.

This comes after both Sexwale and Jordanian candidate Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein withdrew from appearing at tomorrow's televised FIFA forum at the European Parliament (EP) in Brussels.

With Asian Football Confederation chief Shaikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa also not appearing, and with Infantino providing only a video presentation, it means only French outsider Jérôme Champagne is scheduled to appear.

Prince Ali reportedly advised the joint organsers from the EP's Sports Intergroup and campaign group #NewFIFANow that he would not attend after being advised that the event "may well constitute a breach of FIFA election rules".

It is thought this may have followed a complaint to the Ad-Hoc Electoral Committee by one of the two candidates not initially scheduled to appear, either Infantino or Shaikh Salman, although both have already denied making such an attempt.

Sexwale withdrew after hearing of Prince Ali's decision, and has been called to appear before the South Africa Football Association to explain himself over a "low profile" campaign.

Tokyo Sexwale has been criticised for the low-profile nature of his campaign ©Getty Images

"We were on our way to Brussels, but we are turning around and going home," he told Reuters.

Television network ESPN have consequently cancelled plans to broadcast a live stream of the debate, and the poor turn-out is hardly a good image for FIFA which is in the midst of various corruption scandals and has been challenged to be more open and transparent.

Sexwale, the former South African Government Minister turned diamond mining magnate, has offered few ideas to reform FIFA so far, and has failed to gain the support of the Confederation of African Football despite being the continent's contender.

UEFA general secretary Infantino, meanwhile, published the letter of endorsement from the Central American federations on his Twitter page.

It was signed by Presidents of the Federations of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, Guatemala, Belize and Nicaragua as well as UNCAF chief Rafael Tinocco.

Various other countries, including Germany, Switzerland and Portugal, have also declared their support for the 45-year-old.