A proposal for a debate had been put forward ahead of the 2015 Presidential election which took place in May, where the then-FIFA President Sepp Blatter turned down the opportunity to participate.

Five hopefuls for the job: Asian Football Confederation President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa, UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino, Jordanian FA chief Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, Frenchman Jérôme Champagne and South African businessman Tokyo Sexwale could now be on course to take part in a debate on January 29.

ESPN confirmed they had offered the candidates an opportunity to express their views to the public in the build up to the election, although there is no confirmation that all will accept and the public do not get a vote.

"Our goal is to provide a forum for open, transparent discussion about the future governance of the sport in advance of the election that will determine who occupies the most powerful position in global football,” ESPN said in statement.

The broadcaster stated that the debate would be scheduled for two days after Champagne, Prince Ali and Sexwale are due to attend a meeting at the European Parliament on January 27.

Champagne has already declared his support for the idea of a debate during an interview with sportingintelligence.com.

“I can tell you that ESPN proposed to the candidates a televised debate in London on January 29 and I have already expressed my agreement,” the former FIFA deputy general secretary said.

“I feel that unfortunately, as I have said already when I launched this campaign myself, that it will be a succession of deals done behind closed doors of five-star hotels.”

Blatter, who served as President since 1998, and UEFA chief Michel Platini, were given eight-year bans by the FIFA Ethics Committee earlier this month for breaches surrounding a "disloyal payment" of CHF 2 million (£1.3 million/$2.1 million/€1.8 million) made by the Swiss to the Frenchman in February 2011.

The exact charges against the pair are due to be announced at next year’s Extraordinary Elective Congress in Zurich in February, when the election will also take place.

Ethics judges ruled that Blatter broke rules on conflicts of interest, breach of loyalty and offering gifts, while Platini breached regulations on conflict of interest and loyalty.

Both men have vowed to fight the sanctions, but Platini’s hopes of being a candidate in the election look to be over having been told he cannot appeal against his suspension directly at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.