FIFA President Blatter 'Dismisses' Invitation From BBC, Sky To Debate Rivals

FIFA President Sepp Blatter has "loftily dismissed a joint invitation from BBC and Sky" to join in a televised debate with his rivals for the presidency, according to Owen Gibson of the London GUARDIAN. Sky and the BBC had invited Blatter and his three rivals -- former Portuguese footballer Luis Figo, Jordanian FIFA VP Prince Ali bin al-Hussein and Dutch FA President Michael van Praag -- to hold a televised debate (GUARDIAN, 3/18). In London, Charles Sale wrote Blatter "was always expected to refuse the request," but instead of "a courteous answer by letter to the prominent TV stations, Blatter relayed the curt reply 'thanks but no thanks' via one of his flunkeys in a telephone call" (DAILY MAIL, 3/18).