Sepp Blatter continues to raise the bar for his critics.
In an interview with CNN World Sport the FIFA president touched on the notion of racism in soccer, saying that not only does racism as a whole not exist in the game, but that any potential moments of racial abuse should be settled with a handshake.
"There is no racism," Blatter said. "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."
Here are some more items from around the soccer world:
EVERTON FANS PLAN PROTEST
Everton fans have had enough of their team not spending money while watching stars leave Goodison Park, and they're not hiding their disapproval.
Fans have planned a protest march ahead of Everton's match with Wolverhampton this weekend to vocalize their anger at the club's failure to spend money on talented players while selling off Mikel Arteta to Arsenal.
In a statement, the Blue Union supporters group said: "The failings of the current board of Everton FC have never been better evidenced for the wider footballing world to see. The further sales of key players during the summer transfer window and subsequent lack of reinvestment have seen manager David Moyes fight bravely to keep an inadequate squad on the parapet of the relegation zone."
BURDISSO EXPECTED TO BE OUT FOR SEASON
AS Roma defender Nicolas Burdisso is expected to miss the rest of the season after suffering a knee injury on international duty.
Burdisso, an Argentine international, was injured in the first half of Tuesday's victory over Colombia. According to reports, the injury will shelve him for the next six or seven months while leaving Roma with a gaping hole in its defense as it challenges to climb the Serie A table.
JOHNSON STAYING WITH CITY
England international winger Adam Johnson has signed a contract extension with Manchester City that will keep him with the club until 2015, according to Sky Sports.
Despite still having two-and-a-half years left on his current deal and not being a full-time starter, Johnson cemented his future at Etihad Stadium for the long haul.
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What do you make of Blatter's remarks? Think Everton's fans have a point? How do you think Burdisso's injury affects Roma's Serie A chances? Think the Johnson deal makes sense for both parties?
Share your thoughts below.
In the USA perhaps … but not Europe. Europeans even discriminate against themselves! Germany thought they were a “master race” and started WWII. Western Europeans and Russians tend to look down on Eastern Europeans. The countries that made up Yugoslavia started fighting amongst themselves and NATO had to get involved. Europe is way less tolerant than the USA.
You’re darn right it does! But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth it. As long as you remain true to yourself and follow your own interests, values, and dreams, you can find success through passion. If you catch yourself working hard and loving every minute of it, don’t stop. You’re onto something big. Because hard work ain’t hard when you concentrate on your passions and dreams.
Word.
The answer is: not very many.
This seems to be what I suggested. Gene pools shared by a group of people, an ethnicity in some cases. Since ethnic communities were often self (or otherwise) contained then their gene pool would effectively become separate and, thus develop slightly differing trait frequencies. Also, it must be said, that the cliche stands that there is more diversity in a “race” than between them. etc.
At his age, he is entering his prime years, and he will leave MC at the end of his peak. Might as well make some money. I mean, soccer is hardly as much fun at the physical peak, when you are playing through injuries and media criticisms. It is a job too.
I bet Stuey is glad he got injured at Bolton and not in Houston. He’ll bounce back, and still have a bank account.
Why don’t you get on wikipedia and tell us.
Much of “racism” is ethnic discrimination, and ethnic genetic markers, such as Y-DNA, mtDNA, and autosomes which produce differences between groups is certainly very real. It’s partially semantics. *shrug* Obviously, any aspect of society that creates unfair conditions for any group, is unfortunate, and part of the social construct you speak of.
Unless you define race as a group that shares a particular gene pool then yes, Race is certainly a social construct.
Not sure if anyone is going to be rushing to transfer to Wigan unless they want to be playing in Championship next year.
I see what you’re saying, but as a City fan, I have a theory that Johnson and Balotelli are Roberto Mancini’s pet projects. He sees a lot of potential in Johnson and wants to draw it out of him. I see Johnson being able to earn more playing time if he continues to work hard and score goals. Not to mention, City are in Europe and may contend for trophies this year. Even if you aren’t starting every game, tough to give up the chance to get minutes in big CL games or the chance to hoist the league championship trophy at end of season.
I assume that you haven’t studied genetics? I could care less what someone’s background is but race is not a social construct.
Western Europeans created race and therefore racism. This is why when people speak of the eradication of racism they begin with “whites” who are largely descended from Western Europeans.
Yeah! Or the Wayans brothers in “Whiteface” for that movie White Chicks? Definitely racism.
And peaceful Occupy U.C. Berkeley protesters were “nudged” by riot police batons. Move away…move away…nothing to see here…listen to your masters.
Alot of black hispanics play in the Mexican league actually, alot of (albeit pretty old)brazilians and a few koreans play in the J- League as well. Since it is a national league it is expected more Japanese are going to be on J-League teams, nevertheless that goes for most nations with the exception of the EPL where foreigners are the majority. I remember a Paraguayan player suffered racism while playing in Argentina I believe a few months ago as well…
This maybe hard to understand but white people aren’t everywhere. Japan is a homogeneous society many kids could be mixed and you’d never know becaus they look pretty Japanese ie mobi fehr secondly look at geovanni dose Santos and tell me darker skinned people aren’t on Mexican teams.
I have experienced living in 3 different countries (not even in the same hemisphere) that all contradict your claim.
+1. You only ever here about racism in countries where “white” people are the majority and the racist acts being committed by “white” people against “non-whites”. I don’t believe anything can be that one-sided.
The issue is that only Western Europeans (and by extension “white” America) are guilty of racism.
When the fact is that these countries by far lead the way in race-blind teams. How many whites are on ANY team in Africa? How many blacks are on Mexico’s teams? How may ‘non-Japanese’ are on Japan’s teams?
Rascism exists, sure, but America and Western Europe are among the most tolerant places in the world and when the rest of the world reaches those standards, then we can talk.
What do you believe when the guy that said FIFA is not corrupt, says there is no racism ?
I am MORE worried about it now.
Batter is an idiot. To suggest there is no racism in soccer is to suggest there is no racism in life. They are not mutually exclusive. He would have been smarter to suggest it does exist and FIFA is taking every measure to eradicate it when found. The problem with this old man is he has no professional PR consultants advising him, so he says the stupidest things possible, whenever he gets the urge. It’s ridiculous.
Not to argue with you (because I know too little about this and I’m not sure how you define “institutional racism”), but how many black managers are there in the EPL? How many North African or black managers in Ligue 1? Or ethnically Turkish in the Bundesliga?
Blatter is trying to sidestep the issue like the corrupt a-hole he is.
You won’t be able to eliminate the racism element 100%, you’ll always have moronic individuals. However, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that some clubs have the tendency to attract those elements more than others. If clubs with overtly racist incidents were force to forfeit matches, then perhaps it would change things.
And Mahmoud Ahmadinejad claims there are no gay people in Iran. Sometimes it’s easier to lie to oneself than recognize the truth.
Agreed. At 24 he’s not that young in football years. He’s a really good player but City is absurdly stacked.
Of course the negative here is that Klinsmann considers those two to be national team caliber players…
lol
why would Johnson sign an extension? it’s clear his best chance with Man City is as a super-sub. he’s a decent player but needs to move to a Wigan or WBA if he wants to start and get caps for England
There aren’t any gays in Iran either. Quit doubting authority.
lol I’m glad he is getting guys good exposure and training opportunities, but Robbie Rogers?
“If they communicate racism, they get a handshake. If they manage to actually hit a player with a banana, they get a treat!”
I didn’t say there was no racism.
Just saw a story that Klinsmann has arranged for both Robbie Rogers and Kyle Beckerman to train with Kaiserslautern. Gotta love Klinsi’s connections!
http://www.smithmediafusion.com/blog/?p=626
Genius….Who knows that we’ll see each year from 2011-2022….Maybe “We don’t need goal line technology! That ball only crossed 3 feet behind the line! Clearly not a goal.”….
Blatter had to say this to justify awarding Russia the 2018 World Cup. Racism among fans is rife in Eastern Europe and the clubs really don’t care, no matter how many dark-skinned Brazilians they sign.
Blatter:
2010 – “There is no corruption”
2011 – “There is no racism”
2022 in Qatar – “There is no air conditioning?!? Get me outta here!”
😉
If Europe falls what happens to these indebted clubs?Maybe the board at everton knows there own situation better than thee fans. What’s the point if all the academies if only 2-3 players every 5 yrs graduate to the 1st team? Lots of issues here. Blatter is right about player to player uefa needs to stamp out racism amongst the fans in the stadium.
It seems Blatter is really ignorant, in denial, etc., over racism in soccer. Of course it isn’t a majority of players and teams, but as stated by others, tell that to the players who’ve heard monkey chants, had bananas thrown at them, and other sorts of low-life racist behavior.
hear no evi, speak no evil see no evil, right? It’s ridiculous to think that racism isn’t alive and well. From spain, to scotland (Mo edu and beasley have some stories) and everywhere in between, racism is a problem and will continue to be a problem as long as people like Blatter sweep it under the rug.
So, there’s no racism, just athletes saying racist things in the heat of battle. mmm… okay, so what about the fans chanting?
Blatter is probably right that there is no institutional racism in soccer, that FIFA has taken steps to combat racism, and that the vast majority of the players are not racist. But tell that to players who have bannans thrown at them or are subjected to monkey chants or similar catcalls. The real problem is in the stands and more of an effort by FIFA and the clubs needs to be made there. If stuff like that went on the US these days, the outcry would be deafening.