It all started this way (quote from the Telegraph By Josie Ensor, and Conrad Quilty-Harper):
"In an interview with Al Jazeera English, Blatter was asked if he thought
racism was a big problem in the sport.
The president of the sport's world governing body replied: "During a match
you may make a movement to somebody or hurt somebody or you may say something to
somebody who is not exactly looking like you, but at the end of the match it is
forgotten."
As well as ill-advised, Blatter's comments are ill-timed. Two of the Premier
League's most high-profile players - Luis Suarez and John Terry - are currently
being investigated over allegations they racially abused fellow professionals,
and this year has seen an increase reported racial incidents - both on the pitch
and online."
As if there isn't enough problems with the FIFA organisation in recent years and more than enough criticism of the recently re-elected President, Sepp Blatter.
Then someone asks him a pretty simple question on racism in Football. This is what the Blatt said:
Oops, then the apology and that "sorry" word! Too late mate!
Should have been dead simple - point to the work that has been done in Football around the world through Football. FIFA have taken the lead in so many ways, strong stand against racism, no mucking around on this one - "Say No To Racism". End of story - and the right one.
But the Blatt stuffed it completely. Poor bugger! In one nonsensical reply to the simple question put to him, he trivialized the entire issue in Football around the world. What a goose!
It seems racist comments on the field of play are to be resolved by a handshake, according to the Blatt. What planet was the Blatt orbiting when he thought up this response? What a goose! And he runs FIFA, was re-elected by a whopping big majority of member countries (including Australia in spite of the appallingly corrupt conduct of the World Cup bid(s) process by FIFA), for another four years.
The resultant furore, particularly in the UK where they have a couple of pretty serious accusations of racist comments made to players by other players on the field during games, absolutely skewered the Blatt.
What a mess!
The comments made by people of some substance in Football in the UK are withering and on the mark. The article below sums it up (sourced from Martyn Ziegler articlehttp://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/223349,uk-pm-leads-criticism-of-blatter-comments.aspx ):
" FIFA president Sepp Blatter today remained defiant in the face of criticism as even Prime Minister David Cameron attacked him over his remarks about racism.
Blatter appeared to stand by his suggestion that racism on the pitch should
be settled by a handshake in an interview with Fox Soccer today - despite
Cameron's criticism which followed sports minister Hugh Robertson's call for the
75-year-old to step down.
The FIFA president also became embroiled in an amazing Twitter row with England defender Rio Ferdinand, who accused the Swiss of being "ignorant".
Cameron said: "It's appalling to suggest that racism in any way should be accepted as part of the game.
"A lot of work has gone into ridding racism from all aspects of our society, including football. As many of our top sports stars have rightly pointed out, now is not the time for complacency."
Outside of Britain however, the controversy has barely caused a ripple - it merited a single paragraph in French sports daily L'Equipe, and was treated similarly in Spain, Italy, Germany and the United States.
In an interview with Fox Soccer, Blatter stuck to his guns and pointed out that FIFA had taken the World Cup to South Africa.
He added: "But if you also be a little bit in a sporting spirit when there is something happening on the field of play, during a match between two players - I call it foul language. I'm not saying about discrimination, but it's foul language, it's a foul play.
"At the end of the match, if you have foul play (when) the match is over you shake hands... and therefore also forget what has been on the field of play."
The furore has been heightened by the fact there are two high-profile current cases in England involving alleged racism on the pitch.
Chelsea's John Terry is being investigated by the Football Association and the police after allegations he racially abused QPR defender Anton Ferdinand, Rio's brother, and the FA yesterday charged Liverpool's Luis Suarez with racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra.
Blatter's remarks led to a Twitter war of words with Ferdinand. The Manchester United defender criticised FIFA's attempts to clarify Blatter's comments with a statement on their website underneath a large picture of Blatter with South African minister Tokyo Sexwale, who was imprisoned on Robben Island during the apartheid era.
Ferdinand wrote: "Fifa clear up the blatter comments with a pic of him posing with a black man..I need the hand covering eyes symbol!!"
Blatter was stung into a response today and replied directly to Ferdinand saying: "The 'black man' as you call him has a name: Tokyo Sexwale. He has done tremendous work against racism and apartheid in Africa.
"We have done several joint activities to raise awareness on the struggle against racism in South Africa. FIFA has a long standing and proud record in the area of anti-discrimination which will continue."
Ferdinand responded himself to Blatter this afternoon, saying: "To say what you said about racism in football spoke volumes of your ignorance to the subject.
"If we want 2 stamp out racism in society a football pitch is a good place to start - loved by billions of people around the world."
Meanwhile, sports minister Hugh Robertson and players' chief Gordon Taylor called for Blatter to step down.
Robertson said: "Sepp Blatter's comments are completely unacceptable. This is the latest episode that calls into question whether this man should be the head of world football.
"For the sake of the game, he should go."
Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Taylor said the racism remarks were "the straw which broke the camel's back" and that Blatter should step aside for UEFA president Michel Platini.
Taylor said: "Coming on top of his comments which were offensive about female footballers, his homophobic comments about homosexuals not going to Qatar, the World Cup bidding process, he won't have technology over goal-line decisions and the corruption which is so plainly evident at FIFA. It is time for him to go."
The international players' union FIFPro described Blatter's comments as "rather clumsy" and said there should be closer co-operation with FIFA in the fight against racism."
The FIFA president also became embroiled in an amazing Twitter row with England defender Rio Ferdinand, who accused the Swiss of being "ignorant".
Cameron said: "It's appalling to suggest that racism in any way should be accepted as part of the game.
"A lot of work has gone into ridding racism from all aspects of our society, including football. As many of our top sports stars have rightly pointed out, now is not the time for complacency."
Outside of Britain however, the controversy has barely caused a ripple - it merited a single paragraph in French sports daily L'Equipe, and was treated similarly in Spain, Italy, Germany and the United States.
In an interview with Fox Soccer, Blatter stuck to his guns and pointed out that FIFA had taken the World Cup to South Africa.
He added: "But if you also be a little bit in a sporting spirit when there is something happening on the field of play, during a match between two players - I call it foul language. I'm not saying about discrimination, but it's foul language, it's a foul play.
"At the end of the match, if you have foul play (when) the match is over you shake hands... and therefore also forget what has been on the field of play."
The furore has been heightened by the fact there are two high-profile current cases in England involving alleged racism on the pitch.
Chelsea's John Terry is being investigated by the Football Association and the police after allegations he racially abused QPR defender Anton Ferdinand, Rio's brother, and the FA yesterday charged Liverpool's Luis Suarez with racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra.
Blatter's remarks led to a Twitter war of words with Ferdinand. The Manchester United defender criticised FIFA's attempts to clarify Blatter's comments with a statement on their website underneath a large picture of Blatter with South African minister Tokyo Sexwale, who was imprisoned on Robben Island during the apartheid era.
Ferdinand wrote: "Fifa clear up the blatter comments with a pic of him posing with a black man..I need the hand covering eyes symbol!!"
Blatter was stung into a response today and replied directly to Ferdinand saying: "The 'black man' as you call him has a name: Tokyo Sexwale. He has done tremendous work against racism and apartheid in Africa.
"We have done several joint activities to raise awareness on the struggle against racism in South Africa. FIFA has a long standing and proud record in the area of anti-discrimination which will continue."
Ferdinand responded himself to Blatter this afternoon, saying: "To say what you said about racism in football spoke volumes of your ignorance to the subject.
"If we want 2 stamp out racism in society a football pitch is a good place to start - loved by billions of people around the world."
Meanwhile, sports minister Hugh Robertson and players' chief Gordon Taylor called for Blatter to step down.
Robertson said: "Sepp Blatter's comments are completely unacceptable. This is the latest episode that calls into question whether this man should be the head of world football.
"For the sake of the game, he should go."
Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Taylor said the racism remarks were "the straw which broke the camel's back" and that Blatter should step aside for UEFA president Michel Platini.
Taylor said: "Coming on top of his comments which were offensive about female footballers, his homophobic comments about homosexuals not going to Qatar, the World Cup bidding process, he won't have technology over goal-line decisions and the corruption which is so plainly evident at FIFA. It is time for him to go."
The international players' union FIFPro described Blatter's comments as "rather clumsy" and said there should be closer co-operation with FIFA in the fight against racism."
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