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Blatter defiant amid racism row

Sepp Blatter says he has fought racism throughout his "life in football" © Getty Images

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FIFA president Sepp Blatter has defended his record in tackling discrimination, but appeared to stand by his controversial suggestion that racism on the pitch should be settled by a handshake.

Blatter has come under fire for comments he made in a TV interview on Wednesday, in which the head of world football's governing body claimed that racism was not a problem in the game.

The Swiss official was fiercely criticised - with a host of players including Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand publicly denouncing Blatter - and subsequently tried to clarify what he said.

In a fresh TV interview on Thursday, Blatter insisted that he has been at the forefront of trying to tackle racism, telling Fox Soccer: "I can tell you in all my life in football now has been accompanied by fighting discrimination and fighting racism.

"I thought, and I'm still a very optimistic man, that after the World Cup in South Africa where it was really connecting the people, all different races, all different cultures being brought together through football, that not only in the continent of Africa but everywhere in the world that this was over.

"But still, where human beings are, there are still some moments and we can never stop going against racism, against discrimination."

However, Blatter also appeared to re-iterate the inflammatory point he made on Wednesday, suggesting that racist comments on the pitch should be forgotten when the final whistle blows.

"But if you also be a little bit in a sporting spirit when there is something happening on the field of play, during a match between two players - I call it foul language," he said.

"I'm not saying about discrimination, but it's foul language, it's a foul play. At the end of the match, if you have foul play [when] the match is over you shake hands now because it's what we want to do. Before the match and at the end of the match everyone shall shake hands and therefore also forget what has been on the field of play.

"But having said that, I go on with my determination and my energy to go against all discrimination and racism.''

The furore surrounding Blatter has been heightened by the fact there are two high-profile current cases in England involving alleged racism on the pitch.

Chelsea's John Terry is being investigated by the Football Association and the police after allegations he racially abused QPR defender Anton Ferdinand, Rio's brother, and on Wednesday the FA charged Liverpool's Luis Suarez with racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra.

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