AP, London :
Sepp Blatter has rejected the chance to debate with his three FIFA presidential election rivals on live television.
London-based BBC and Sky say they have been told that 79-year-old Blatter wouldn’t take part in their planned “fans’ congress.” Blatter’s rivals had quickly accepted the invitation from broadcasters to debate live ahead of the May election.
FIFA Vice President Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, Portugal great Luis Figo and Dutch football association chief Michael van Praag want to end Blatter’s reign, which began in 1998.
The secret election of the 209 national associations is on May 29.
The TV event is unlikely to take place without Blatter.
Asked last year if he would debate with any election rivals, Blatter said: “We shall not imitate all what is done in politics.”
