MPs launch Sepp Blatter resignation bid

MPs will be invited to condemn FIFA president Sepp Blatter when Parliament returns to work on Monday.

Labour MP for Blaydon, David Anderson, will table an Early Day Motion in Westminster demanding Blatter resign over comments made on racism in football. The plan was backed by the Show Racism the Red Card campaign (SRTRC).

Early Day Motions can be signed by any MP once they are tabled in Parliament and are a common way for parliamentarians to express a view on a subject.

Blatter has issued an apology for his comments - that incidents of racist abuse on the pitch could be settled by a handshake between the players concerned at the end of a match - but refused to quit as boss of football's governing body.

Anderson said: "I have worked with SRTRC for 15 years and seen the great strides they - and football - have made in recent years. I have been privileged to see first hand what a great impact their work with young people is making. It makes a huge contribution in ensuring our next generation doesn't treat racism in the same casual way that mine did.

"It is deplorable that the man who leads world football can be so unaware of the huge responsibility he has and the damage his attitude could do. Fifa, rightly, has zero tolerance of racism and it cannot be led by someone who thinks that it is OK to brush it away with a handshake. He has to go and go now. I am confident that my Early Day Motion will be very well supported by MPs and the public."

SRTRC chief executive Ged Grebby said: "We have decided to take our resignation call to Parliament to step up the pressure on Sepp Blatter to resign.

"For the head of football's world governing body to say that there is no racism in the game is an unbelievably ignorant statement and potentially undermines the progress football has made in tackling racism. We are therefore calling on him to resign as he is out of touch with what is happening in world football."

PA