Blatter warns players not to simply run away from racism

FIFA President Sepp Blatter has warned players that running away from racism is not the right way to deal with the issue.

AC Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng and his teammates walked off the field after he was subjected to abuse during a recent friendly match with Pro Patria.

Many players, including Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand and former Arsenal star Patrick Vieira, praised Boateng for standing up to the racists, but Blatter responded by insisting players should not leave the pitch.

Blatter is adamant the game should always go on whatever the provocation, but he does think greater sanctions need to be placed on guilty parties if soccer is to effectively combat racism.

"I think we can never do enough to eradicate all the racism in football," Blatter said.

"We have already tried and you have given, in Great Britain, the best example of how to eradicate violence in football with the modern stadia, with the controls and education."

In a bid to give more bite to its anti-racism stance, FIFA last week ordered the Bulgarian and Hungarian soccer associations to play a game behind closed doors in response to racism incidents involving their fans.

But Blatter believes a punishment of point deductions could prove to be even more effective.

"I think a more radical solution would be deduction of points. Deduction of points would have a better impact on that than any other sanction," he said.

(China Daily 01/16/2013 page22)