By Andrew Warshaw
October 30 – Seemingly light-hearted remarks made by Sepp Blatter during his much publicised appearance at the famed Oxford Union debating society last week have landed the FIFA president in hot water.
Blatter has been forced to apologise for apparently upsetting Real Madrid after sharing a joke with his audience when comparing Cristiano Ronaldo to his great rival, Barcelona’s Lionel Messi.
Ronaldo keeps missing out to Messi on the major player prizes and Blatter caused a storm – some might say in a teacup – when asked to compare the two superstars.
Unlike Messi, he said, Ronaldo resembled “a commander on the field of play” and then attempted to graphically imitate the Portuguese forward. “One (Ronaldo) has more expenses for the hairdresser than the other but that doesn’t matter,” Blatter added to widespread laughter. “I cannot say who is the best, there will again be a contest this year – I like both of them but I prefer Messi.”
Blatter’s attempt at having a joke with his audience backfired, however, when Real Madrid president Florentino Perez wrote a furious letter to the FIFA president. Blatter’s comments were “unfortunate and unacceptable” and had caused “enormous disappointment” to the club and their fans, Perez wrote.
Blatter responded quickly by saying his remarks were not intended to cause offence. “I want to make clear that for me Cristiano Ronaldo is at the same level as Messi and that the two are exceptional players, each in their own way,” he wrote.
“I regret very much that this situation arising from a university event is causing so much pain and I apologise for that. It was never my intention to annoy or show a lack of respect to Real Madrid, or one of their players or their fans.”
For his part, Ronaldo, who last won the World Player award in 2008 before Messi clinched four in a row, posted a link to a video of Blatter’s comments and a heavily ironic response on his Facebook page.
“This video shows clearly the respect and consideration that FIFA has for me, for my club and my country,” Ronaldo wrote.
“Much is explained now. I wish Mr. Blatter health and a long life, with the certainty that he will continue to witness, as he deserves, the successes of his favourite teams and players.”
Portuguese Football Federation president Fernando Gomes also described Blatter’s remarks as inappropriate.
“It was with surprise I watched and analysed the words of Sepp Blatter about the captain of our national team,” Gomes said in a statement. “I think the comments… show a clear lack of respect both towards Ronaldo and Portugal, a country that lives its football intensely.”
Insideworldfootball has obtained copies of the correspondence between Perez and Blatter which is printed below.
Letter from the president of Real Madrid, Florentino Perez to Joseph S Blatter:
Dear President,
We read with surprise the demonstrations made about our player Cristiano Ronaldo and his nomination for the Golden Ball and FIFA Player, that have been a huge disappointment among the Madridista family, especially since these unfortunate and unacceptable manifestations come from the President of world football’s governing body.
On the one hand, they are unfair to a football player who millions of fans around the world, Real Madrid or not, they are proud. This is without doubt one of the best players of all time.
They are disrespectful towards him, on the other hand, embodies the values of sport in a society certainly in need of this kind of example, and finally, we understand that your comments may influence the votes of those who have to decide on who should receive the award.
At Real Madrid, Club which has a special relationship with FIFA because as settlor, we are deeply disappointed by it all and, as President of Real Madrid want him record our disgust, it would be desirable rectification replenished, if it is possible damage to the player as to our institution.
Sincerely,
Florentino Perez
Letter from the President of FIFA, Sepp Blatter, the president of Real Madrid, Florentino Perez:
Dear President:
I have received your letter of today, the contents of which surprised me. Firstly, I would like to explain that in this ceremony held last Friday at the University of Oxford did not discuss the candidacy of players FIFA Ballon d’Or.
At the end of my presentation, and in response to a question about Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the moderator asked me to choose between one of two and at that point, having said that Messi is the kind of son that every mother would like to have, finally gave its name.
However, I want to clarify that for me Cristiano Ronaldo is at the same level as Messi and they are both outstanding players, each in their own way. Sorry that this situation produced in a university event hurt as much and I apologise for it.
It was never my intention to embarrass or disrespect to Real Madrid CF, or one of their players or their fans, not only for being the founder of the FIFA club but also for being the club that I follow and admire from my youth.
Sincerely, with a hug
Joseph Blatter
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