FIFA president Sepp Blatter considers the race row he sparked to be 'over' and insists he maintains a 'zero tolerance' policy towards racism.
FIFA president keen to draw a line under controversy he caused
FIFA president Sepp Blatter considers the race row he sparked to be 'over' and insists he maintains a 'zero tolerance' policy towards racism.
The head of world football's governing body caused outrage when he suggested that racist feuds on the field should be settled with a handshake.
He was quick to backtrack on those comments, claiming that he never meant to undermine the fight against racism in sport.
Blatter has since apologised, with leading figures in the world of sport and politics having spoken out against him.
He has played down any suggestion that he could be forced to quit his post in the wake of the furore he has caused, with it his intention to remain as FIFA supremo.
The Swiss insists that he remains fully committed to the issues football still has to tackle and hopes a line can be drawn under the recent controversy regarding his actions and words.
Determination
Speaking at the Asian Football Confederation's headquarters in Malaysia on Wednesday, Blatter said: "I have made my apologies and I cannot say more. Anybody still thinking that I am a racist, I am sorry to hear that.
"I have been working now for 37 years in Fifa and I started working in Africa. There is no discrimination in my feeling and there is no racism, nothing at all.
"This matter, for me, is over. I cannot say more than that.
"We go forward and there is zero tolerance in racism and in discrimination and zero tolerance in all activities on the field of play and outside the field of play.
"During my activities as Fifa president nothing surprises me, but I was very much hurt by these comments because it touched my conscience and in my conscience is the determination I have to go against any discrimination."
