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FIFA president Sepp Blatter: There is no racism in football
The head of the governing body for world football claims discrimination is not a widespread problem in the game and that a handshake should be enough to settle such cases
Nov 16, 2011 12:42:00 PM
By Luis Mira
Fifa president Sepp Blatter has rejected suggestions that football is plagued by racism.
The FA is currently investigating two incidents involving Chelsea defender John Terry and Liverpool striker Luis Suarez after they were accused of making racist comments towards QPR's Anton Ferdinand and Manchester United's Patrice Evra respectively.
Blatter believes that racism is not an issue in football and revealed that any cases should be settled on the field.
"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," he told CNN World Sport.
"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.
"I think the whole world is aware of the efforts we are making against racism and discrimination. And on the field of play sometimes you say something that is not very correct, but then at the end of the game, the game is over and you have the next game, in which you can behave better."
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The FA is currently investigating two incidents involving Chelsea defender John Terry and Liverpool striker Luis Suarez after they were accused of making racist comments towards QPR's Anton Ferdinand and Manchester United's Patrice Evra respectively.
Blatter believes that racism is not an issue in football and revealed that any cases should be settled on the field.
"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," he told CNN World Sport.
"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.
"I think the whole world is aware of the efforts we are making against racism and discrimination. And on the field of play sometimes you say something that is not very correct, but then at the end of the game, the game is over and you have the next game, in which you can behave better."
Follow Goal.com on
to get the latest soccer news directly. Check out Goal.com's page; be part of the best soccer fan community in the world!
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