PARAGUAY-CONMEBOL/BLATTER Fifa's Blatter takes a hard line against racial incidents

Record ID: 451041

  • Title: PARAGUAY-CONMEBOL/BLATTER Fifa's Blatter takes a hard line against racial incidents
  • Date: 4th March 2015
  • Summary: ASUNCION, PARAGUAY (MARCH 04, 2015) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF THE CONMEBOL HEADQUARTERS VARIOUS OF PEOPLE TAKING PART IN THE CONMEBOL CONGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FIFA PRESIDENT JOSEPH 'SEPP' BLATTER, SAYING: "The biggest problem we've had in recent days here in this continent is racism, discrimination. It does not respect the human beings through these demonstrations which are discriminatory." BLATTER SEATED LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FIFA PRESIDENT JOSEPH 'SEPP' BLATTER, SAYING: "And one day we should be an example. Being an example doesn't mean just shutting down a stadium or issuing a fine, a financial penalty, no. It means deducting points, relegating a team. The moment we have the courage to do that, discrimination will stop." VARIOUS OF MEMBERS OF DELEGATIONS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FIFA PRESIDENT JOSEPH 'SEPP' BLATTER, SAYING: "As far as the question about the a fourth substitution; the International Football Association Board, which met last week, three days ago exactly, last Saturday in Belfast, this question, which was proposed by the CONMEBOL and some national federations was talked about, but all the participants. There are eight votes in this union; four British and four from FIFA. There was no need to vote because it wasn't discussed and it is not opportune at the moment to get into the issue." VARIOUS OF BLATTER POSING FOR PICTURES (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FIFA PRESIDENT JOSEPH 'SEPP' BLATTER, SAYING: "We're going to fight, to help the associations keep the autonomy of football, This means we should fight against political interference in football. On this continent over the years we've had, or continue to (have), two big issues; one in Peru and the other in Bolivia. Naturally, we should keep the autonomy, not the independence, because every country depends on the national laws, but the autonomy of the sport. When it has to do with international sport, in this case FIFA, we should help them and intervene according to our bylaws." VARIOUS OF BLATTER ALONG WITH CONMEBOL PRESIDENT JUAN ANGEL NAPOUT AND PRESIDENT OF THE PARAGUAYAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION, ALEJANDRO DOMINGUEZ (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FIFA PRESIDENT JOSEPH 'SEPP' BLATTER, SAYING: "During the last Olympic Games, the British federations, who have four votes which are independent, decided to play, there is no other solution, that they should play under the designation, "Great Britain," because there is just one national Olympic committee. During the International Football Association Board in Belfast I spoke with the four presidents and they are probably going to have the same solution for the 2016 Olympics in Rio, because they want to take part in the football and if they want to take part in the football, they have to abandon the national identities of the four associations." VARIOUS OF BLATTER, NAPOUT AND DOMINGUEZ POSING FOR PICTURES
  • Embargoed: 19th March 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Paraguay
  • Country: Paraguay
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA9L83JDSWJT9VZD6Z2VHU0TJK6
  • Story Text: FIFA President Joseph "Sepp" Blatter has been taking part in the 65th Congress South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) in Luque, Paraguay where on Wednesday (March 4) he weighed in on several topics including racism, the Copa America and Team GB.
    The president of soccer's governing body drew a hard-line when it comes to racism saying there should be more severe punishments for incidents of racism in football including the docking of league points.
    "The biggest problem we've had in recent days here in this continent is racism, discrimination. It does not respect the human beings through these demonstrations which are discriminatory," Blatter said.
    The most recent case of racism in South America involved Panama striker Luis Tejada of Peruvian side Juan Aurich who walked off the pitch during a match after being racially insulted by fans of Cienciano.
    There have been frequent cases of racial abuse of players in Europe and South America in recent years but Blatter said fines or the closing of stadiums were not enough punishment.
    "And one day we should be an example. Being an example doesn't mean just shutting down a stadium or issuing a fine, a financial penalty, no. It means deducting points, relegating a team. The moment we have the courage to do that, discrimination will end," he told the presidents of the South American football confederations and other officials at the start of CONMEBOL's Congress at its Paraguayan headquarters.
    Blatter, who will be seeking a fifth term at the FIFA presidential election on May 29, also said a CONMEBOL request to include a fourth players' change during the Copa America in Chile, would not be allowed for in the South American championship.
    The CONMEBOL had petitioned to have a game extension if there was a draw after 90 minutes and a fourth opportunity to change players due to the toll of the game.
    Currently the tournament goes directly to a shootout if there is a tie after the 90 minute regulation time.
    "As far as the question about the a fourth substitution; the International Football Association Board, which met last week, three days ago exactly, last Saturday in Belfast, this question, which was proposed by the CONMEBOL and some national federations was talked about, but all the participants. There are eight votes in this union; four British and four from FIFA. There was no need to vote because it wasn't discussed and it is not opportune at the moment to get into the issue," Blatter said referring to a the IFAB meeting which is made up of the England's Football Association, the Scottish Football Association, the Football Association of Wales, Northern Ireland's Irish Football Association and FIFA.
    The 2015 Copa America will be played in Chile this June and July.
    Blatter also advocated for autonomy for South American football associations while mentioning cases of governmental interference in Peru and Bolivia.
    "We're going to fight, to help the associations keep the autonomy of football, This means we should fight against political interference in football. On this continent over the years we've had, or continue to (have), two big issues; one in Peru and the other in Bolivia. Naturally, we should keep the autonomy, not the independence, because every country depends on the national laws, but the autonomy of the sport. When it has to do with international sport, in this case FIFA, we should help them and intervene according to our bylaws," Blatter said.
    The Bolivian Football Federation recently said it had received a warning from FIFA over the possibility that a proposed sports bill would infringe on a state non-interference measure on football.
    Peru, whose football federation was suspended in 2008, received a similar warning at the end of 2014 over the government's participation in the election of its federation's leaders.
    Blatter also said he expects the four British football federations to play in the 2016 Olympics under the unified banner of Great Britain.
    There is no United Kingdom national football team as each of the four countries that make up the UK; England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, all have their own international football teams that compete in FIFA competitions.
    However, the Olympics recognize the Great Britain and Northern Ireland Olympic team.
    "During the last Olympic Games, the British federations, who have four votes which are independent, decided to play, there is no other solution, that they should play under the designation, "Great Britain," because there is just one national Olympic committee. During the International Football Association Board in Belfast I spoke with the four presidents and they are probably going to have the same solution for the 2016 Olympics in Rio, because they want to take part in the football and if they want to take part in the football, they have to abandon the national identities of the four associations," said Blatter.
    CONMEBOL's congress will ratify Paraguayan Juan Angel Napout as its president for a new four-year term and reiterate its support for Blatter in the FIFA election.
    The Swiss is running against Michael van Praag of the Netherlands, former Portugal great Luis Figo and FIFA vice president Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, who are also attending the congress.
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