17/11/2011

Labour Calls For Fifa Chief To Resign

The Labour Party have called for the President of Fifa to resign after he said racist exchanges should be settled with a "hand shake".

Clive Efford MP, Labour's Shadow Sport Minister, said the controversial President, Sepp Blatter, should stand down after speaking about race related incidents on the pitch.

On Wednesday, Blatter told Al Jazerra: "During a match you may say something to someone who's not looking exactly like you, but at end of match it's forgotten."

The Labour MP described the comments as "despicable" and called for the Fifa chief to step down.

“Sepp Blatter’s comments are utterly unacceptable and totally outrageous, and they show how he is deeply rooted in a bygone era.

"Football in Great Britain has made fantastic progress to show racism the red card, but this excellent work is undermined when the President of football’s international governing body makes such despicable comments - he should resign."

Professional Footballers' Association chief Gordon Taylor has also demanded that Sepp Blatter resign as Fifa president over his comments on racism.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today Programme: "When you see the corruption they've had at Fifa, I just feel it's the straw that broke the camel's back.

"The comments he made about homosexuals not going to Qatar; it's time to move over for Michel Platini."

(DW)

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