Maradona calls for action against Blatter comments

Dubai: Al Wasl coach Diego Maradona has called for action to be taken against Fifa President Sepp Blatter after his comments this week which appeared to dismiss on-field racism.

Joining a long list of football's elite speaking out against the controversial Blatter, Maradona said at a press conference ahead of his team's Etisalat Cup match away to Al Ain today: "Blatter has made many mistakes before. Whether decisions or the things he's said, it's not the first time.

"Usually the mistakes he makes are not in the favour of the game. It's not surprised me that he's said something like this."

Blatter sparked outrage this week when he told CNN: "There is no racism [in football], there is maybe one of the players to 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. On the field of play sometimes you say something that is not very correct but then at the end of the game you have the next game where you can behave better."

‘Unacceptable'

Blatter then told Al Jazeera: "During a match you may say something to somebody who is not exactly looking like you. But at the end it's forgotten."

Maradona said: "Racism is unacceptable and Sepp Blatter and Fifa have to take action immediately because the effects are very bad on the game and should be dealt with as soon as possible — why don't they take action against him [Blatter]?"

Adding of his experiences of racism in the game throughout his career, Maradona said: "Personally I did not experience it but at Napoli there was a Brazilian player called Junior who was a victim due to the colour of his skin. It really affected him badly and all the players around him got affected. I suggest any match which bears witness to any act of racism should be stopped immediately and not continued."

Blatter's comments come after three high-profile incidences of alleged racism in sport recently. Liverpool's Luis Suarez has been charged by the English FA after an incident with Manchester United's Patrice Evra, while Chelsea's John Terry is being investigated by the police after his words with QPR's Anton Ferdinand.

Meanwhile, in golf, Tiger Woods' former caddie Steve Williams was also at the centre of controversy after disparaging comments about his ex-employer.