Donald Trump has said he may skip the presidential debates - because they clash with NFL games.

The Republican nominee has said the schedule, that was decided a year ago, is 'unacceptable' and has accused the Democrats of rigging the timetable.

He told ABC News: 'I'll tell you what I don't like. It's against two NFL games. This is ridiculous.'

The billionaire businessman said the NFL contacted him to complain, but they deny reaching out.

An NFL spokesman said Saturday: 'While we'd obviously wish the debate commission could find another night, we did not send a letter to Trump.'

Donald Trump has said he may skip the presidential debates - because they clash with NFL games. He made his anger known with this tweet on Friday night

A Trump aide told CNN Money: 'Mr. Trump was made aware of the conflicting dates by a source close to the league.'

'It's unfortunate that millions of voters will be disenfranchised by these chosen dates,' they added.

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Both the NFL and the Commission on Presidential Debates have rejected Trump's assertions.

Trump began by making an accusation in a tweet posted Friday night: 'As usual, Hillary & the Dems are trying to rig the debates so 2 are up against major NFL games. Same as last time w/ Bernie. Unacceptable!'

Trump expanded his conspiracy theory when asked about the debates during an interview for Sunday's 'This Week' on ABC: 'Well, I'll tell you what I don't like. It's against two NFL games. I got a letter from the NFL saying, 'This is ridiculous. Why are the debates against' — 'cause the NFL doesn't wanna go against the debates. 'Cause the debates are gonna be pretty massive, from what I understand, OK?'

Asked about Trump's assertion, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy tweeted on Saturday: 'While we'd obviously wish the Debate Commission could find another night, we did not send a letter to Mr Trump.'

A Trump aide said Saturday that the Republican candidate 'was made aware of the conflicting dates by a source close to the league.' The aide was not authorized to speak by name and requested anonymity.

The nonpartisan, independent presidential debate commission serves as the event sponsor and sets the participation criteria, dates, sites and formats. The sites and dates for three presidential debates were announced in September 2015.

The billionaire businessman said the NFL contacted him to complain, but they deny reaching out

'The CPD did not consult with any political parties or campaigns in making these decisions,' the commission said in a statement issued Saturday.

Two of the three debates will be televised at the same time as an NFL game. On Sept. 26, the night of the first debate, ESPN will carry the Monday night game featuring the Falcons vs. the Saints. On Oct. 9, the second debate will air opposite the Sunday night game featuring the Giants vs. the Packers on NBC.

The Democratic Party was criticized during the primary race for scheduling debates between Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders on Saturday nights and holiday weekends, times when viewership is low. The Sanders campaign suggested that was an effort to limit the size of the audience.

Trump told ABC: 'You know, Hillary Clinton wants to be against the NFL. She doesn't — maybe like she did with Bernie Sanders, where they were on Saturday nights when nobody's home.'

The Clinton campaign did not comment on Trump's assertions.