FIFA President Hears Calls For Resignation After Remarks About Racism In Soccer

FIFA President Sepp Blatter is coming under "growing pressure to resign" after he indicated "racial abuse on the football field should be resolved with a handshake," according to Sam Munnery of the LONDON TIMES. England’s Pro Footballers' Association CEO Gordon Taylor "accused Blatter this morning of being 'out of touch' and said that the most powerful man in football should step aside" and allow UEFA President Michel Platini to take over. Taylor: "Everybody who heard the comments should have been upset, I feel they are embarrassing. He does not understand how racism is so divisive." Other top soccer figures "weighed in as the game reacted with anger to the comments given by Blatter in two television interviews that racism did not exist in football." Former England national team F Les Ferdinand: "I hope it's the last comment I hear from him because it's a disgrace that someone in his position can say that there is no racism (in football)." Munnery reports Blatter "attempted to qualify his comments by issuing a statement on the Fifa website, accepting that racism 'continues to exist' in football and reiterating his commitment to fight discrimination in the game" (LONDON TIMES, 11/17). In London, Luke Edwards notes Blatter has been "furiously trying to backtrack" on his comments. But Taylor said, "I just feel it's the straw that broke the camel's back. When you see the corruption they've had at Fifa, the comments he made about homosexuals not going to Qatar, the way he talked about women's football, the style of the arrangements for the World Cup, the fact he won't have technology. I think it's really time to move over for Michel Platini. It is embarrassing -- if one person should get it about racism it is the head of Fifa, which has 200 countries in the world, is so diverse with different cultures, creeds and colours" (London TELEGRAPH, 11/17).

DIRECT RESPONSE: Manchester United D Rio Ferdinand got into a testy back-and-forth with Blatter on Twitter beginning yesterday. Ferdinand tweeted directly at Blatter, saying, "your comments on racism are so condescending its almost laughable. If fans shout racist chants but shake our hands is that ok?” He added, “Fifa clear up the blatter comments with a pic of him posing with a black man..I need the hand covering eyes symbol!! fifa.com/aboutfifa/orga…” Blatter responded to Ferdinand in a series of tweets, 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 this morning replied to Blatter, saying, "to say what you said about racism in football spoke volumes of your ignorance to the subject. ... I guess you now have the full support of all the women, gay community + people against racism in football." He added, "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" (TWITTER.com).