WATCHING the politicians in their leaders’ debate last week got me thinking ¬– imagine if it happened in sport?

You could have football managers on a similar 15-1 quiz show format making their bids for star players.

Instead of ‘if I were prime minster...’ it might be ‘if Raheem Sterling chose us...’.

I think it could be TV gold watching the eccentric Louis van Gaal stood on a stage with the outspoken Jose Mourinho while Arsene Wenger denies hearing any of the questions.

We could even go down the route of the Indian Premier League cricket and have a draft-style summer bidding war for the best players – though not many clubs would enjoy being outbid by the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City with their millions to splash.

Internationally, football already has its own election looming with the FIFA president’s role up for renewal.

Unfortunately for those like the English FA yearning for change, it is harder to shift Sepp Blatter than David Cameron.

Blatter is almost untouchable and if all the nations who say they are still backing him follow it through, mainly in Asia and Africa, then we will not see any change soon.

His challengers, including Portuguese legend Luis Figo, FIFA vice-president Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan and Dutch Football Association chairman Michael van Praag, seem to fighting a losing battle – more’s the pity.

Like the politicians here, there had been calls for a similar live debate but when you rule with an iron fist like Blatter then you can refuse point-blank to be put on the spot and true to form, he did just that.

And it appears we are inevitably heading towards a fifth term for the incumbent president.

It would not be too bad if Blatter actually meant it when he stated a desire to change how FIFA works going forward.

Let’s face it, like most statesman, once re-elected the goalposts will shift like a Middle-East World Cup date.

There is a fear factor with some regarding FIFA and while it may backfire ¬– as was proven when England’s bid for the 2018 tournament was dismissed after the British press investigated alleged corruption at the organisation – I have to say I admire the stance FA chief Greg Dyke has taken.

A bit like Nigel Farage and his UKIP colleagues and their desire to leave the European Union, it can be risky to isolate yourself against others not willing to follow suit.

But if it was to pay off on May 29, and those countries who have pledged support to Blatter change their minds on election day, then it would have been worth the risk.

Just like the possibility of UKIP storming our general election, however, I just cannot see it happening.