Blatter responds to Ferdinand criticism

Sepp Blatter has defended himself following tweets from Rio Ferdinand criticising the FIFA president's stance on racism in football.

The Manchester United player yesterday said that he was "astonished" at Blatter's suggestion that players subjected to racist abuse should shake hands and move on at the end of a match.

"Your comments on racism are so condescending its almost laughable," Ferdinand tweeted at Blatter. "If fans shout racist chants but shake our hands is that ok?"

He then commented: "Fifa clear up the blatter comments with a pic of him posing with a black man..I need the hand covering eyes symbol!!"

This morning Blatter tweeted in response: "The 'black man' as you call him has a name: Tokyo Sexwale. He has done tremendous work against racism and apartheid in Africa...

"We have done several joint activities to raise awareness on the struggle against racism in South Africa...

"FIFA has a long standing and proud record in the area of anti-discrimination which will continue."

Queens Park Rangers player Anton Ferdinand, Rio's brother, is currently the subject of an investigation by the FA and police over alleged racist comments from John Terry.