Sepp Blatter has always been a bit of a knob. That’s by no means the most eloquent opening sentence I’ve ever used, but I don’t think there’s any need to be more whimsical and articulate about it. Sepp Blatter is a knob, and an impressively persistent one at that. Blatter has made a game out of being a walking, talking disaster, and his career has revolved around outdoing his previous stupidity.
Now he’s gone and said something a fair bit more idiotic than usual. Yes, even crazier than his comments about how women’s football should introduce hot pants to make it more popular. Even more ill-judged than his comparison of footballers to slaves. Even more bizarre than his idea of scrapping the offside rule. Even more insensitive than his comments that homosexual supporters should “refrain from sexual activity” in Qatar. If they gave awards for foolish statements, Sepp Blatter would have a trophy cabinet the size of London. This week, Blatter accomplished his pièce de résistance.
“There is no racism” Blatter remarked, adding “The one affected by this should say this is a game and shake hands”.
“Congratulations Blatter” cried football. “What awesome timing and understanding”.
It’s not difficult to see where the controversy is coming from. To even suggest that a victim of racial abuse should shake his perpetrators hand is an inexplicable point to make. There’s a reason Wayne Bridge doesn’t shake John Terry’s hand anymore – Because when someone else has done something wrong, it’s their obligation to appease the situation, not the victim’s. Blatter’s comments, though I’m sure he didn’t quite mean it as strongly as this, suggest a ‘get over it attitude’.
It’s difficult to know what Blatter was really thinking when he made these comments, but I’ll give it a shot. I believe that Blatter was getting fed up with the alleged racism on the pitch, didn’t see it as a problem and wanted to deny it outright in order to squash the situation entirely. However, it’s backfired spectacularly because if anything, the head of football’s governing body showing a lack of compassion for victims of racial abuse on the pitch is only going to add a ton of coal to the fire.
It’s usually important not to overreact to these statements, especially considering the obstacle of the antagonist having to break through the language barrier. Often I think it’s worth giving the benefit of the doubt in these situations, because things can so easily be misconstrued and the media can make more of certain comments that were perhaps unintended.
For example, a few weeks ago Man United ‘keeper Tomasz Kuszczak was vilified for using the term ‘slave’ in describing his situation at the club. Whilst the comparison is senseless, nobody can claim that they have never hyperbolised a bit. I think Kuszczak’s faux pas was just a small misunderstanding, but all it took was one of these instances and the press could paint it as an indictment of the ‘out-of-touch’ footballers.
However, I don’t think we can give Blatter any leeway here. He not only made some very clear statements (“There is no racism… shake hands”), but he is the head of FIFA. That shouldn’t be a position you attain if you can’t say what you mean, and you make comments contrary to your intentions. Sepp Blatter is not someone who is constantly misunderstood. Like I said, he’s a knob.
FIFA image has collapsed more dramatically than the Berlin Wall. They have totally lost the confidence of the fans thanks to repeated poor decisions and allegations of corruption. They desperately need a change, and I think it’s about time that the master of the gaffe himself stepped down. Like a true artist, Blatter has finished with his final flourish – a beautifully crass comment about racial abuse. Now he must step down.
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