Rio Ferdinand Believes Sepp Blatter's Comments On Racism Show

Rio Ferdinand believes Sepp Blatter's comments on racism show the Fifa president's ignorance about the issue.

The England defender and Blatter have been involved in a row on Twitter after the Swiss's claim that football does not have on-field problems with racism.

Ferdinand, 33, tweeted: "What you said about racism in football spoke volumes of your ignorance.

"If we want 2 (sic) stamp out racism in society a football pitch is a good place to start - loved by billions."

Blatter's comments, made in two television interviews on Wednesday, have attracted widespread condemnation in England, although reaction across continental Europe has been reasonably muted.

Numerous English politicians and football administrators have called for Blatter to resign, while Birmingham manager Chris Hughton has expressed his concern.

Hughton is one of two black managers in the English professional game, along with Charlton's Chris Powell.

"The massive concern is that one person who heads the world's governing body firstly is allowed to make the comments that he made and secondly has made the comments that he's made," said Hughton, who was appointed to the management committee of the League Managers' Association on Thursday.

"They are totally unacceptable and at a time where things have improved dramatically, if I look at the sterling work clubs have done up and down the country, the great work by the campaigns 'Kick It Out' and 'Show Racism the Red Card' which have made massive strides.

"For the top person in world football to make the comments that he has done is totally unacceptable.

"You have the head of our [world governing] organisation who has probably had to make apologies on four, five or six occasions.

"Of course, he almost seems untouchable. So I think that is a big concern for me, that someone in such a massively important position is able to [make such comments] and with almost no recourse."

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