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Johannesburg – FIFA president Sepp Blatter called for an end to racism and discrimination in soccer on the eve of the first World Cup to be held in Africa at FIFA's 60th annual congress on Thursday.
Blatter, 74, who is due to stand for a fourth term of office next year, did not deliver a passionate, electioneering-style address to delegates from 207 of FIFA's 208 member countries.
Instead he concentrated on the aim of world soccer's governing body to eradicate society's vices that blight the game, especially racism and discrimination.
"Football is a mirror of our society and is touched by its vices. Violence, cheating, doping, betting, discrimination and racism, these are all in our game.
"We have started to eliminate them, one is practically eliminated – this is doping.
Against discrimination
"But here in this World Cup in South Africa, and specifically through this congress, we declare we are against discrimination.
"Never, never again should we have any problems on any football field or in a stadium concerning discrimination or racism.
"If we are not able to do that through this 60th FIFA congress, then we never will. We must end discrimination and racism."
The poignancy of his words, delivered in a nation that was banned from FIFA and world sport for over three decades because of the apartheid policies of the past, was not lost on delegates who applauded his remarks.
Havelange’s vision
With one day to go before the World Cup kicks off, Blatter said holding the finals in Africa completed the vision of former FIFA president João Havelange, who wanted to make football the global game when he became president in 1974.
A number of FIFA's junior tournaments have already been held in Africa, and Blatter said this was part of FIFA's development programme.
"Up until 2002 the World Cup was only for Europe and the Americas, north and south, then one day we had to open the game and went to Asia, but there was still one continent that had not been touched by FIFA's number one event and this was Africa.
"It was not easy, much has been said about it. But now the World Cup is here. This is touching the world."
Irvin Khoza, the chairperson of South Africa's organising committee, backed Blatter's words when he said this World Cup would help bury the stereotypical image of Africa and a successful World Cup would prove the cynics wrong.
FIFA has given
"FIFA has not taken anything, it has given, given, given," he added.
Blatter said FIFA's finances had been affected by the worldwide economic downturn in 2008 but, with a turnover of more than $1bn a year, it was "comfortable" unlike the day he joined in 1971 when there was not enough money in the bank to pay the salary of the 11 employees at the time.
As a result, Blatter confirmed each association would get a once-off bonus payment of an additional $250 000 next year, on top of their annual grant of the same amount from FIFA.
That decision was taken last month by FIFA's executive committee, which also agreed each of the six confederations should be given a once-off payment of $2.5m next year.
Blatter also reminded delegates of his opposition to technology in the game.
"Society is not perfect, football is not perfect, it must retain its human face," he said.
Blatter, 74, who is due to stand for a fourth term of office next year, did not deliver a passionate, electioneering-style address to delegates from 207 of FIFA's 208 member countries.
Instead he concentrated on the aim of world soccer's governing body to eradicate society's vices that blight the game, especially racism and discrimination.
"Football is a mirror of our society and is touched by its vices. Violence, cheating, doping, betting, discrimination and racism, these are all in our game.
"We have started to eliminate them, one is practically eliminated – this is doping.
Against discrimination
"But here in this World Cup in South Africa, and specifically through this congress, we declare we are against discrimination.
"Never, never again should we have any problems on any football field or in a stadium concerning discrimination or racism.
"If we are not able to do that through this 60th FIFA congress, then we never will. We must end discrimination and racism."
The poignancy of his words, delivered in a nation that was banned from FIFA and world sport for over three decades because of the apartheid policies of the past, was not lost on delegates who applauded his remarks.
Havelange’s vision
With one day to go before the World Cup kicks off, Blatter said holding the finals in Africa completed the vision of former FIFA president João Havelange, who wanted to make football the global game when he became president in 1974.
A number of FIFA's junior tournaments have already been held in Africa, and Blatter said this was part of FIFA's development programme.
"Up until 2002 the World Cup was only for Europe and the Americas, north and south, then one day we had to open the game and went to Asia, but there was still one continent that had not been touched by FIFA's number one event and this was Africa.
"It was not easy, much has been said about it. But now the World Cup is here. This is touching the world."
Irvin Khoza, the chairperson of South Africa's organising committee, backed Blatter's words when he said this World Cup would help bury the stereotypical image of Africa and a successful World Cup would prove the cynics wrong.
FIFA has given
"FIFA has not taken anything, it has given, given, given," he added.
Blatter said FIFA's finances had been affected by the worldwide economic downturn in 2008 but, with a turnover of more than $1bn a year, it was "comfortable" unlike the day he joined in 1971 when there was not enough money in the bank to pay the salary of the 11 employees at the time.
As a result, Blatter confirmed each association would get a once-off bonus payment of an additional $250 000 next year, on top of their annual grant of the same amount from FIFA.
That decision was taken last month by FIFA's executive committee, which also agreed each of the six confederations should be given a once-off payment of $2.5m next year.
Blatter also reminded delegates of his opposition to technology in the game.
"Society is not perfect, football is not perfect, it must retain its human face," he said.
