His suggested solution was for a handshake to settle any issue – provoking Rio Ferdinand to express his “astonishment”.

Asked if he thought there was racism on the pitch, the FIFA president told CNN World Sport: “I would deny it. There is no racism, there is maybe one of the players towards another, he has a word or a gesture which is not the correct one, but also the one who is affected by that.

“He should say that this is a game. We are in a game, and at the end of the game, we shake hands, and this can happen, because we have worked so hard against racism and discrimination.

“I think the whole world is aware of the efforts we are making against racism and discrimination. And, on the field of play sometimes you say something that is not very correct, but then at the end of the game, the game is over and you have the next game where you can behave better.”

He also said on Al Jazeera: “During a match you may say something to someone who’s not looking exactly like you, but at end of match it’s forgotten.”

Manchester United and England defender Ferdinand said on his Twitter account: “Tell me I have just read Sepp Blatter’s comments on racism in football wrong... if not then I am astonished.

“I feel stupid for thinking that football was taking a leading role against racism.....it seems it was just on mute for a while.

“Just for clarity if a player abuses a referee, does a shake of the hand after the game wipe the slate clean??”

Players chief Gordon Taylor told BBC Radio Five Live: “It’s ironic that Sepp Blatter should come out and talk like that because we’ve worked hard to get FIFA to have anti-racism on the agenda.

“It’s very insensitive and inappropriate at this time.

“When as the president of FIFA he’s got to be shouting from the top of the hills that it’s unacceptable on the pitch. We want players to set an example to the rest of the world and particularly the supporters.”

A FIFA statement after the interviews read: “Sepp Blatter has been campaigning against racism in football for many, many years.

“His comments today in no way reflect that passionate stance.”

Blatter released a statement on www.fifa.com to clarify his stance on fighting racism, claiming his comments had been misunderstood.

The statement said: “I would like to make it very clear, I am committed to the fight against racism and any type of discrimination in football and in society.

“I have been personally leading this battle against racism in football, which FIFA has been fighting against throughout the past years through campaigns in all of our competitions such as the ’Say no to racism’ campaign.

“I also know that racism unfortunately continues to exist in football, and I have never denied this. I know that it is a big problem in society, and that it also affects sport.

“I strongly believe that we should continue to fight all together against racism on and off the field of play, in order to eradicate this plague.

“My comments have been misunderstood. What I wanted to express is that, as football players, during a match, you have ’battles’ with your opponents, and sometimes things are done which are wrong. But, normally, at the end of the match, you apologise to your opponent if you had a confrontation during the match, you shake hands, and when the game is over, it is over.

“Anyone who has played a football match, or a match in any sport, knows that this is the case.

“Having said that, I want to stress again that I do not want to diminish the dimension of the problem of racism in society and in sport.

“I am committed to fighting this plague and kicking it out of football.”