Sepp Blatter insists that racism is not rife in football, and that players should resolve the situation with a handshake.
The FIFA president feels that the work done by football’s governing body to counter racism has worked wonders, but it has not ultimately eradicated the prejudice from the pitch.
“I would deny it (was rife). 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,” Blatter 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 where you can behave better.”
Away from the interview, he tried to clarify his comments on Twitter, attempting to dispel any idea that he was defending racism in the modern game.
“Racism and discrimination of any kind have no place in football. I have said this many times before, and I will say it again and again,” he tweeted.
“However, – and it is not an excuse – sometimes, in the heat of the moment, things are said and done on the field of play.”
“This does not mean that, in general, there is racism on the field of play. Football unites people more than it divides them.”
