According to Sky News, Sepp Blatter has turned down an invitation to take part in a live televised debate with his rivals for the FIFA presidency.
Sky and the BBC had invited the FIFA president and his three challengers to take part in an hour-long debate, answering questions from an international audience of football supporters.
All three of Blatter’s rivals – Prince Ali of Jordan, Michael Van Praag of Holland and former Portugal winger Luis Figo – have accepted the invitation on the condition that the FIFA president take part.
On Tuesday a FIFA representative informed the broadcasters that Blatter was declining the invitation. They did not offer any explanation for his decision, and he has not responded in writing.
Sky and the BBC proposed a four-way debate, broadcast on television, radio and online, in front of an audience of fans drawn from all 209 FIFA member nations. This ‘Fans’ Congress’, mirroring the national football associations who will elect the FIFA president, would provide all the questions.
In the invitation, the broadcasters wrote: “We believe this is a perfect opportunity for those who aspire to the FIFA presidency to address the issues that matter to supporters of the world’s favourite game.”
Blatter’s rivals all enthusiastically welcomed the proposal, but stressed the importance of the FIFA president’s participation.
Prince Ali told the broadcasters he was “very keen to participate in” and said the Sky-BBC proposal “makes a lot of sense”.
Figo wrote: “I am honoured by your invitation to take part in such an important debate and it will be a pleasure to contribute to such an important discussion for football.”
For his part, Blatter’s rejection of the debate proposal is in keeping with a low-key “non-campaign” that appears designed to minimise debate and risk.
Since formally declaring his candidacy at the end of January, Blatter has made no public comments regarding his plans for FIFA or published a manifesto or any other proposals for what would be his fifth term in office.
He is not thought to have appointed any campaign staff, and under the election rules FIFA employees are prevented from working for his election effort.
He remains a strong favourite to win the election in Zurich, Switzerland, on 29 May.
