FIFA's current President Joseph Blatter declined to participate in an open debate with the other three candidates to take over his duties. The Swiss was the only one to reject the invitation, while Luis Figo, Michael Van Praag and Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein had given their OK.
The debate may not take place now, since the other candidates had agreed to their participation, but they had established it would be necessary for all of them to be in it. The event would have been televised by the BBC and SkySports networks, with its format, location and structure yet to be determined.
The 79-year old Blatter is seeking a fifth term of office as football's main man, facing tough competition by the former Dutch Football Association president Michael Van Praag, former Inter Milan and Real Madrid star Luis Figo, and Prince Ali bin Al Hussein from Jordan.
The FIFA presidential election will take place on May 29 in Zurich.
Blatter (top left), Figo (top right), Van Praag(bottom left) and Prince Ali(bottom right).
