Bob Ley, who will anchor ESPN’s coverage of the FIFA presidential election on Friday, has a few delicious ways of describing what might happen.
One: “I think Friday holds the potential to make the 1968 Democratic National Convention look like high tea.”
Two: “ ‘American Hustle’ with shin guards.”
FIFA’s so-called extraordinary congress to elect Sepp Blatter’s successor and approve (or maybe not) some much-needed governance reforms will not be visually exciting to those watching Ley’s updates on ESPN or the simultaneous, and continuous, coverage on FS1. Hours of procedural matters will lead into speeches by the five candidates, and only then will the delegates line up to deposit their paper ballots in boxes.