BBC Abandons Plans To Hold Televised FIFA Presidential Debate

The BBC "abandoned plans to stage a televised debate" with the five candidates vying for the presidency of football's scandal-plagued governing body FIFA after one declined to take part and others imposed conditions, according to Brian Homewood of REUTERS. The broadcaster "had hoped to stage the debate in London in mid-February, two weeks before election in Zurich on Feb. 26," but confirmed in a statement that "it would no longer go ahead." It "was the second time in three days that plans to bring the candidates together and publicly discuss their plans for the sport's future had been scuppered." The BBC "highlighted a comment on Twitter by presenter Victoria Derbyshire, who said the decision was made after one candidate had declined to take part." She said, "We've pulled our live head-to-head TV debate (with) FIFA Presidential hopefuls. After one declined, some others wanted to, um, move the goalposts." No televised debate "has ever been held in a FIFA presidential election" (REUTERS, 1/27).