Blatter Opts Out Of Televised Fifa Debate

Sepp Blatter has ruled himself out of plans for a televised debate involving all four accredited candidates for the Fifa presidential election.

The trio of Fifa vice-president Prince Ali Bin al Hussein of Jordan, Dutch FA boss Michael van Praag and former Portugal international Luis Figo had all consented to an arrangement for a live debate but the incumbent has rejected invitation.

The Football Association (FA) chairman, Greg Dyke, had offered to anchor the debate- a joint BBC and Sky initiative- at Wembley, but it will no longer hold following the Swiss administrator’s withdrawal.

Blatter is Standing for a Fifth Term in the May 29 Polls.
Blatter is Standing for a Fifth Term in the May 29 Polls.

Blatter has communicated his decision verbally via a Fifa official that he is not in support of the novel idea intended to indulge all contenders in a head-on constructive discussion with topics stemming from their respective manifestos.

Blatter is likely to be quizzed about his refusal at a news conference in Zurich on Friday at the end of Fifa’s executive committee meeting which will ratify the dates for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Last month, Prince Ali said: “If we are talking about transparency, I would like to see a public debate including the incumbent.”

Figo followed suit, stressing: “The fans deserve to know what the candidates offer for the future.”