The embattled president had been due to speak at a medical event - his first public appearance since the corruption arrests that have rocked FIFA's annual congress in Switzerland.
But FIFA officials told Sky News the 79-year-old was pulling out of the session - which may have given the world's media a first chance to question him about the £96m bribery racket outlined by US prosecutors. Seven senior FIFA officials were arrested in their five-star hotel in Zurich on Wednesday over claims they had been part of "rampant and systemic and deep-rooted" corruption running through football over a 24-year period.
US authorities alleged a total of nine FIFA executives and five sports media and promotions executives are facing charges connected to the case, which they dubbed a "World Cup of fraud". Mr Blatter is scheduled to stand for re-election to a fifth term as FIFA President at the Congress on Friday.
FIFA has said the vote will go ahead as planned, despite growing doubt over whether it can proceed.
Speaking to Sky News, British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond added his voice to those calling for the vote to be postponed and said there was no doubt that FIFA "needs to clean up his act". Mr Blatter has not been named in the investigation, and in a statement he said he "welcomes" the probe into alleged misconduct.
"Let me be clear: such misconduct has no place in football and we will ensure that those who engage in it are put out of the game," he said.
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