ALTHOUGH FIFA President Sepp Blater appears to have got away with yet another instance of sticking his foot in his mouth, his latest public comment on a subject of racism affecting such a global game as football, is disappointing. His statement portrays a lack of insensitivity on a highly volatile matter.Racism is a grave offence any day, and it should not be accorded a kid's glove treatment or a slap on the wrist when it obviously deserves a stiffer punishment. When a man who heads or supervises the world governing body of football publicly reduces a grave offence such as racism on the football field, not by fans, but by footballers on the field of play, as a rift which could be settled by a mere handshake at the end of the game, he betrays himself as a hypocrite. More so, Blatter's FIFA spends a lot of money in sloganeering around the world a so-called 'say no to racism in football,' which by his comment is at best, a pretext against racism in sport.With Blatter treating an alleged exhibition of racism as if it were a trivial issue to joke about or settle by a handshake, what is the FIFA president's moral right to continue in his position as one of the world's most powerful and most influential leaders' A FIFA president is very powerful, perhaps more so than many sovereign heads of government, because the whole world is his constituency, and he cannot be easily voted out of office.Blatter's comments, made to a global audience through an interview with CNN's Portuguese-born Pedro Pinto, is considered by many around the world as an insult to the general psyche of sportsmen and women, as well as all lovers of sports worldwide.Anton Ferdinand of the Queens Park Rangers, an English Premiership clubside, was involved in an on-field tackle against Chelsea's John Terry, who doubles as England captain. Ferdinand, a younger brother of former England captain and Manchester United's defensive strongman Rio Ferdinand, accused Terry of making racial abuse on his person.Although Terry promptly denied, the English Football Association thought it necessary to thoroughly investigate the incident. This investigation was still on-going when FIFA president spoke to CNN on the issue, not realising the impact his remark would have on FIFA's journey so far on the much-touted fight against racism.Of course, global criticism of his comment was high and not unexpected, prompting his grudging apology. It is worth recalling that Blatter has been accused of being arrogant in attitude, and dictatorial in his running of FIFA. He should be mindful of such criticism and be seen to show remorse, rather than make aggravating statements. He should show respect to legitimate laws of sovereign countries, whom he threatens with bans, at the slightest perceived infringement of his seemingly self-serving 'FIFA Regulations.'Blatter may have apologised, but he needs to review his controversial tendencies to issues which affect the game, such as the much-sought-for technological Video Review of controversial off-side and goal-line decisions, many of which have opened up the so-called 'beautiful game' to ridicule and even disrepute.A leader, whether in football or in other spheres, cannot be wiser than the people he is supposed to lead. It does not matter whether Blatter or FIFA allowed South Africa to host the World Cup.If Blatter cannot re-align himself with current realities concerning football administration, he should leave the position of FIFA president for brighter minds with fresh ideas to develop the game, and not take the world back to the ugly and ancient days of racism in sport. What FIFA represents is a lot more than what Blatter is offering. A body as big and significant as FIFA ought not to be administered as a dictatorship. FIFA and Blatter must be reminded that football remains the most followed sport in mankind. Its administrators should stand up, not only for race, but to defend mankind.
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