By Andrew Warshaw
July 15- FIFA President Sepp Blatter delivered a generally positive report on the World Cup in Brazil – but admits his organization came up short when it came to dealing with discrimination.
Despite all the fears about lack of organization and street protests, the tournament was widely considered one of the best off the field – and perhaps THE best on it.
Blatter was thrilled with the quality of football. “It was a very special World Cup, on the field of play it was exceptional, there was not a single match without intensity,” he said. “The bar has been set very high for the next World Cup.”
Blatter also praised the general attitude of fair play pointing out there were fewer injuries than usual. But he was less happy about discriminatory chanting and banners at some games. “I’m not sure we have been very successful in all matters. In the matter of racism, we have to fight against racism and discrimination and I am not totally happy with the way we fought against this.”
“We spoke yesterday with [Russian] President Putin. He insisted that the next World Cup will be devoted to the fight against discrimination and racism.”
Not everyone will be convinced by that given Russian football’s reputation for discriminatory behavior by fans.
Blatter also admitted he was “a little surprised” by the nomination of Argentina’s Lionel Messi as the tournament’s top player, an award that used to be delivered by the media but which now is under the control of Fifa’s Technical Study group.
And he dismissed the embarrassing boos and jeers targeted at him and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff when they both presented the trophy at Maracana Stadium on Sunday to German captain Philipp Lahm.
“This is normal,” said Blatter, who was also booed at the 2010 final in Johannesburg. “If you are in this business you have to live with that.”
He would not be drawn on the record World Cup ban meted out to Luis Suarez for his infamous bite but implied the four-month ban on the Uruguay striker – plus nine competitive international fixtures – imposed by Fifa’s disciplinary authorities was too strong.
“I feel for him because such a punishment hurts,” Blatter said. “But as the president of Fifa I have to accept decisions taken by our independent committees.”