Blatter must go over racism comments

LONDON, Nov 17 (AFP): Britain's sports minister led calls for FIFA president Sepp Blatter to resign Thursday after the global football supremo played down the extent of racism in the sport. Hugh Robertson said Blatter's position as head of world football was no longer tenable after he said in a television interview that disputes on the pitch involving racist abuse should be resolved by a handshake. "This is incredibly serious but it is part of a pattern of behaviour," sports minister Robertson told BBC radio. Asked whether Blatter should resign, Robertson said: "Yes. I can't see there's anything terribly new in this. We've been saying this for some time." The head of England's Professional Footballers Association, Gordon Taylor, also said Blatter should quit over the remarks. "He is the leader of world football, he has to be a leader in anti-racism," Taylor told Sky News.