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Blatter clarifies racism comments after outcry

Sepp Blatter was criticised by Rio Ferdinand on Twitter after his comments on racism were released © Getty Images

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FIFA president Sepp Blatter was forced to clarify his comments after claiming racist abuse between players on the pitch should be settled by a handshake.

On a day when the Football Association charged Liverpool's Luis Suarez with racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra, and with a racism investigation against John Terry still going on, in two television interviews Blatter said racism on the field of play is not a problem.

Asked if he thought there was racism on the pitch, the FIFA president told CNN World Sport: ''I would deny it. There is no racism, there is maybe one of the players towards another, he has a word or a gesture which is not the correct one, but also the one who is affected by that.... He should say that this is a game. We are in a game, and at the end of the game, we shake hands, and this can happen, because we have worked so hard against racism and discrimination."

However, the FIFA supremo quickly clarified his stance on fighting racism, claiming his comments had been misunderstood.

The statement on FIFA's website said: ''I would like to make it very clear, I am committed to the fight against racism and any type of discrimination in football and in society. I have been personally leading this battle against racism in football, which FIFA has been fighting against throughout the past years through campaigns in all of our competitions such as the 'say no to racism' campaign.

''I also know that racism unfortunately continues to exist in football, and I have never denied this. I know that it is a big problem in society, and that it also affects sport. I strongly believe that we should continue to fight together against racism on and off the field of play, in order to eradicate this plague.

''My comments have been misunderstood. What I wanted to express is that, as football players, during a match, you have battles with your opponent, and sometimes things are done which are wrong. But, normally, at the end of the match, you apologise to your opponent if you had a confrontation during the match, you shake hands, and when the game is over, it is over.

''Anyone who has played a football match, or a match in any sport, knows that this is the case. Having said that, I want to stress again that I do not want to diminish the dimension of the problem of racism in society and in sport. I am committed to fighting this plague and kicking it out of football.''

Blatter's comments had provoked a furious reaction. Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand said on his Twitter account: ''Tell me I have just read Sepp Blatter's comments on racism in football wrong... if not then I am astonished. I feel stupid for thinking that football was taking a leading role against racism.....it seems it was just on mute for a while.

''Just for clarity if a player abuses a referee, does a shake of the hand after the game wipe the slate clean??''

Players chief Gordon Taylor told BBC Radio Five Live: ''It's ironic that Sepp Blatter should come out and talk like that because we've worked hard to get FIFA to have anti-racism on the agenda. It's very insensitive and inappropriate at this time.

''When as the president of FIFA he's got to be shouting from the top of the hills that it's unacceptable on the pitch. We want players to set an example to the rest of the world and particularly the supporters.''

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.