By Andrew Warshaw
November 16 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter has waded into the racism row involving England captain John Terry by saying that any individual instances of abuse are in the heat of the moment and should be resolved by a handshake between those involved.
The English Football Association is currently dealing with two incidents – one involving Terry, whose alleged abuse of Queens Park Rangers’ Anton Ferdinand made worldwide headlines, the other concerning Liverpool’s Luis Suárez.
Both deny any wrongdoing.
Earlier this year, former Brazil defender Robert Carlos walked off the pitch during a Russian league match after a banana was thrown at him from the stands, while the Malaysian Football Association was forced to apologise to Chelsea when their Israeli midfielder Yossi Benayoun was subject to racial slurs during a pre-season tour.
Blatter, who has championed FIFA’s anti-racism stance, says so much work has been done to tackle the problem that it should not be blown out of proportion on the rare occasions when abuse could be construed to have taken place.
“There is no racism,” said Blatter.
“There is maybe one of the players towards another, he has a word or a gesture which is not the correct one, 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.”
Blatter’s remarks, made to CNN, will be seen by some to have inflamed the situation when, in all likelihood, he was trying to do the opposite.
In a statement later on FIFA’s website, Blatter was quick to clarify his remarks to CNN in order to try and ensure they were not misinterpreted.
“I would like to make it very clear, I am committed to the fight against racism and any type of discrimination in football and in society,” he said.
“I have been personally leading this battle against racism in football, which FIFA has been fighting against throughout the past years through campaigns in all of our competitions such as the ‘Say no to racism’ campaign.
“I also know that racism unfortunately continues to exist in football, and I have never denied this.
“I know that it is a big problem in society, and that it also affects sport. I strongly believe that we should continue to fight all together against racism on and off the field of play, in order to eradicate this plague.
“My comments have been misunderstood.
“What I wanted to express is that, as football players, during a match, you have ‘battles’ with your opponents, and sometimes things are done which are wrong.
“But, normally, at the end of the match, you apologise to your opponent if you had a confrontation during the match, you shake hands, and when the game is over, it is over.
“Anyone who has played a football match, or a match in any sport, knows that this is the case.
“Having said that, I want to stress again that I do not want to diminish the dimension of the problem of racism in society and in sport. I am committed to fighting this plague and kicking it out of football.”
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