Sepp Blatter rejects proposal for FIFA presidential election TV debate
FIFA president Sepp Blatter has rejected a proposal for a television debate with his three challengers ahead of May’s election for a new four-year presidential term, according to The Associated Press.
BBC and Sky reached out to Blatter and his challengers—FIFA vice president Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, Portuguese great Luis Figo and Dutch football association president Michael van Praag—with the proposal earlier this month.
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The proposal called for a one-hour "fans' congress" to be aired live on television, online and on Facebook. Prince Ali, Figo and van Praag had previously said they were willing to participate in a debate.
The debate is "unlikely" to occur without Blatter's participation, according to the AP.
Blatter, 78, is seeking his fifth term as the head of FIFA. He first took office in 1998 and is viewed as the overwhelming favorite to win the May 29 election.
- Molly Geary
