Sepp Blatter responds directly to Rio Ferdinand on Twitter as Fifa president criticised over racism comments

Footballers, managers, anti-racism campaigners and even Prime Minister David Cameron united to condemn Blatter’s comments, issued in two separate television interviews on Wednesday, in which he claimed racism was not a problem in football and that black players should remember it is “just a game” and “shake hands” with their abusers.

Blatter’s desperate backtracking continued on Thursday, when he conducted another interview with Fox Sports to highlight his desire to take the World Cup to South Africa last year, as well as his friendship with black delegates at Fifa as evidence he is not racist. He also suggested his comments were misunderstood. “I can tell you all my life in football has been accompanied by fighting discrimination and fighting racism,” he said.

But that attempt to douse the controversy failed to impress his critics in Britain, who found an unofficial ringleader in Ferdinand. The defender used his Twitter account to urge Blatter to step down.

In a reference to a picture posted by Fifa of Blatter hugging Tokyo Sexwale, a South African politician, the Manchester United defender said: “Fifa clear up the blatter comments with a pic of him posing with a black man..I need the hand covering eyes symbol!!”

In a series of tweets sent directly to Blatter, he added: “Your comments on racism are so condescending its almost laughable. If fans shout racist chants but shake our hands is that ok? Just for clarity if a player abuses a referee, does a shake of the hand after the game wipe the slate clean?

 “To say what you said about racism in football spoke volumes of your ignorance on the subject.”

Remarkably, Blatter then responded with a tweet of his own at Ferdinand. “The 'black man’ as you call him has a name: Tokyo Sexwale. He has done tremendous work against racism and apartheid in Africa,” he said.

“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’s outrage was mirrored by several Premier League players. The Aston Villa midfielder, Jermaine Jenas, attacked Blatter’s “ignorant” and “ridiculous” views, while Louis Saha described his comments as “poor”.

The Birmingham manager, Chris Hughton, was stunned Blatter thought his remarks would not spark controversy. “The massive concern is firstly that one person who heads the world’s governing body is allowed to make the comments he made and secondly that he has made the comments he’s made,” Hughton said.

“What concerns me is that you have the head of our world organisation and he has probably had to make apologies on four, five or six occasions. He almost seems untouchable.”

The chief executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association, Gordon Taylor, did not hold back in his criticism either.

“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 [Uefa president] Michel Platini,” Taylor said.

“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. He doesn’t understand how divisive racism is — it creates 'them and us’.”

The Football Assocation, mindful of its frosty relations with Fifa in recent months, chose to express its displeasure with a short statement reiterating its “zero tolerance approach against racism.”

But Britain’s politicians had no reason to contain their anger, with Cameron calling Blatter’s comments “appalling”. In a statement he said: “A lot of work has gone into ridding racism from all aspects of our society, including football. It’s appalling to suggest that racism in any way should be accepted as part of the game.”

Sports minister Hugh Robertson went further, calling for Blatter to stand down. “This is incredibly serious but it is part of a pattern of behaviour,” he said. “Yes [he should go]. His 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.”

Sir Clive Woodward blasts Rugby Football Union for 'ignoring' former England coach Martin Johnson

Woodward, who also said he had no interest in being England coach again, did not mention names but elite rugby director Rob Andrew was an implicit target.

“To put in a rookie manager like Martin and to put no one alongside him, to let him run his own ship for 3½ years without any analysis is so, so wrong,” said Woodward, speaking on Sky Sports Rugby Club.

“Who made these decisions? Martin had no coaching experience so it was a big risk. He rang me before he took the job and I advised him not to take it. I told him that he should earn his stripes at a club like Leicester, for example, earn his credibility.

“I don’t see Martin as a big risk-taker but he took a risk. And the union did, too, and to negate that risk they should have put someone alongside him. For the union to leave him on his own was wrong. It left him horribly exposed. It’s ended in tears and someone should be accountable. As for me, I have no wish to coach England again.”

Johnson was a surprise attendee at Thursday’s Professional Game Board meeting in London which was considering reviews from three different sources on England’s World Cup campaign. He was accompanied by Andrew, who submitted his own report. There were also reports from the players’ association and considerations canvassed from the Premiership clubs.

 “The members had a robust, open and detailed discussion,” PGB review chairman Ian Metcalfe said. The body will now take time to consider its recommendations before reporting to the RFU management board on Nov 30. They heard concerns expressed over various aspects of the World Cup campaign including conditioning, medical protocols and preparation.

Steve Diamond, who knows Jim Mallinder as well as anyone in English rugby, has called for “the dream ticket” of the Northampton head coach and Woodward to be paired to launch England’s campaign towards the 2015 Rugby World Cup. “It would be a marriage made in heaven,” said the Sale director of rugby, a former team-mate of Mallinder at the Cheshire club, coaching colleague there, too, and with England Saxons. Woodward was head coach of England at the time.

“Clive has got fantastic vision and the ability to deal with a whole range of issues at the union. It’s crying out for that. Jim would thrive as the front-of-house head coach with someone of Clive’s stature there as the statesman figure of the game. You’ve got to have a coach that coaches and that’s Jim’s forte.”

Diamond and Mallinder go back 20 years. Their coaching alliance entailed a stint with the Saxons when Woodward was in charge of the senior side.

“He rarely interfered but he knew exactly what was going on,” said Diamond, who remained a close ally of Mallinder even when he took up a post with Russia, leading them to World Cup qualification for the first time. He was a scouting consultant for Mallinder’s Northampton during those years. Wing Vasily Artemyev is at Franklin’s Gardens this season.

Diamond dismissed concerns that Mallinder might be too nice a guy to succeed. “He’s got that hard streak, don’t worry about that,” he said. “Everyone knows who the boss is. He’s definitely tough enough. He fits the bill for me.”

Northampton stressed on Thursday they would do all they could to retain Mallinder. “I wouldn’t want him to leave – that is a no-brainer,” chairman Leon Barwell said.

However, he also said he would not deny Mallinder the right to pursue his personal goals, even if he did not want to lose such a great asset should England come looking.

“I don’t want to be seen to be building Jim up too much as if I’m keen for England to come and get him,” said Barwell, son of Keith, the retired chairman and driving force of the Saints for over two decades, and the man who brought Mallinder to Franklin’s Gardens five years ago.

“Jim is a great man-manager as well as a great rugby technician. It’s rare to have that combination. He manages to draw the best from people, and that’s a precious skill. His success is evident in where we are today as a club as to where we were when Jim arrived.”

Martin Johnson resigns: Nick Mallett rules himself out of the running for England managerial role

Mallett revealed he was contacted by the RFU earlier this week to inquire about his availability for the job, suggesting he was the governing body’s first choice to replace Johnson, who resigned from his position yesterday following England's dreadful World Cup campaign, which was marred by off-field controversies.

English-born Mallett, 55, is out of contract having completed a successful four-year spell with Italy.

But just hours after Johnson ended his three-and-a-half year tenure by announcing his resignation at a press conference at Twickenham, Mallett informed Telegraph Sport that he was ruling himself out of contention.

The decision of Mallett, who was approached for the England job in 2006 following the sacking of Andy Robinson and before Brian Ashton was appointed, could be seen as a set-back and leaves Northampton’s director of rugby Jim Mallinder as the overwhelming favourite for the job.

“I would like to lay to rest the speculation linking me to the now-vacant England Rugby coaching position,” said Mallett, who coached the Springboks to a record run of 17 successive victories during his tenure between 1997 and 2000, including the defeat of England in the quarter-finals of the 1999 World Cup at the Stade de France.

 “The RFU contacted me earlier this week to enquire about my availability for the position, should Martin Johnson resign.

“I had previously expressed my interest in the position publicly and was interested to hear what RFU representatives had to say. After mulling it over for a few days and discussing the opportunity with close friends and family, I have decided that I will not be making myself available for the position and I have disclosed this to the RFU.

“My primary concern is my family — I am happy to have returned home to South Africa after a tremendous four-year term with the Italian national team.

“We are settled in Cape Town and it is my wish to be able to enjoy time with my wife and kids after four years in Italy.

“I thank the RFU for making their interest known to me. The job of England coach is one of the most prestigious in world rugby and I wish them all the best in their quest for the best possible man for the job.”

While Mallett pointed to family reasons as the primary motive behind his decision to withdraw, it is clear that the turmoil at the top of the RFU following the sacking of John Steele as chief executive, has also been a significant influence.

In an interview last week Mallett hinted at criticism of Rob Andrew, the current director of elite rugby who is due to produce a report on England’s World Cup campaign to the professional game board today.

“It’s not only the performance of the team on the field that needs freshening up, it also the performance of the guys off the pitch,” Mallett said. “There is a lot to do and it’s a real challenge.

“But first of all you have to sort out what’s happening at the Union and who you phone to pitch for the job. I don’t know who that person would be in the England set-up.

“In 2006 I was asked to apply for the head coach job with England and I had my views on the director-of-rugby role at the RFU.

“My view is fairly simple; the head coach should answer to the management board, not to a director of rugby who may have less experience.”

Sepp Blatter's 'condescending' comments on racism blasted by Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand

In two separate television interviews Blatter said racism on the pitch was not a problem and that racist abuse between players should be settled by a handshake.

The 75-year-old later claimed he had been misunderstood but he had already provoked a furious backlash.

Ferdinand contacted Blatter's Twitter account directly, writing: ''@SeppBlatter your comments on racism are so condescending its almost laughable. If fans shout racist chants but shake our hands is that ok?''

He also wrote: ''Tell me I have just read Sepp Blatter's comments on racism in football wrong... if not then I am astonished.

''I feel stupid for thinking that football was taking a leading role against racism.....it seems it was just on mute for a while.

''Just for clarity if a player abuses a referee, does a shake of the hand after the game wipe the slate clean??''

Blatter's comments came on the same day that the Football Association charged Liverpool forward Luis Suarez with racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra.

A racism investigation is also ongoing against England captain John Terry, allegations he strenuously denies.

Asked if racism was a problem on the pitch, Blatter had earlier told CNN World Sport: ''I would deny it. There is no racism, 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.''

He also said on Al Jazeera: ''During a match you may say something to someone who's not looking exactly like you, but at end of match it's forgotten.''

Piara Powar, executive director of FARE, European football's anti-discrimination and exclusion campaign, was scathing about Blatter's remarks.

Powar said: ''Sepp Blatter's comments about player-on-player racism are at best naive, and at worst, ignorant.

"They undermine the good work of both Fifa and a global movement against discrimination in football and in society.''

Blatter attempted to douse the controversy by issuing a statement on Fifa's official website, where he pledged his commitment to stamping out racism from football.

He said: ''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.

''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.''

England v Sweden: Fabio Capello hails performances of Jack Rodwell, Phil Jones and Kyle Walker

“It’s important to win, always,” he said. “It’s important to beat Sweden after 43 years [England's last victory over the same opponents was in 1968].

“But, for me, it was more important to see Jones, Walker, Rodwell, to play against a team which is really organised on the pitch and difficult to play against. The answer that I received from the performance is really, really important. These three players played really, really well.”

Jones, just 19, and making his third consecutive start for England in yet another role for the team, was particularly impressive according to Capello.

“For me, it was important to see the players. I changed the system and played with three midfielders and three forwards, and it was important to see Jones in the position where Scott Parker usually plays,” he said.

“It’s different to the back four. He played really well. It was also also important to see Rodwell as a midfielder, to see these players against a team who are difficult to beat.”

Asked whether 20-year-old Rodwell, after making his first start for his country, was a contender for Euro 2012, Capello added: “At the end of the season I will decide. I hope that all the midfield will be fit. Rodwell is a really interesting player, a young player. I think the competition to play for the Euros will be really, really strong. I hope it will be strong for all the players.”

England’s goal was their 2,000th scored in all competition but Capello said: “I read all the statistics but, for me, it’s not so important. It’s important, probably, after 10 years: people will say ‘this player scored the 2,000th goal’. But during these games I’m looking for something new, and I found it.

“I found three really interesting players. These three players are really good technically, really good ­physically, and all three are fast. That is important in modern football.”

The young players who featured at Wembley also performed “without fear”, Capello said.

The England manager added: “I’m happy but we need to improve. When you have the ball you have to move it quicker. I learned a lot [about playing without Wayne Rooney] and that was important. I’m happy for the experiments.

“Without Rooney we changed the style and played with three midfielders, we won two games [against Spain and Sweden] and we created a lot of chances. I know that Rooney is a ­fantastic player but I saw during these two games really good spirit.”

The back-to-back friendly victories over Spain and Sweden meant England finished the calendar year unbeaten. “I’ve been really interested in the last two games we’ve played, against Spain and Sweden – difficult games.

“We’re unbeaten in 2011, but those are just statistics. It will be important what we do in the Euros, not what we’ve done in this year.”

There was some dispute over England’s goal but Gareth Barry, whose header deflected off defender Daniel Majstorovic, later revealed it had been attributed to the Swede.

“I just got told it’s going down as an own goal,” the midfielder said. “I got a touch on it and it skimmed off the defender.

“It would have been great to score the 2,000th goal and I’m a bit disappointed but I’m not a goalscorer and I won’t be crying too much.”

Wayne Rooney’s appeal against the three-match ban which is threatening his participation at Euro 2012 will be heard on Dec 9.

Uefa’s appeals body will deal with the case of the England striker a week after the draw for the tournament is made. Rooney was shown a red card for violent conduct in England’s final qualifier against Montenegro last month.

The victim of Rooney’s challenge, defender Miodrag Dzudovic, has already written to Uefa to lend his support to the Manchester United striker.