Taylor tackle on Eduardo 'an attack' claims Fifa chief Blatter

Fifa president Sepp Blatter yesterday described the tackle by Martin Taylor which left Eduardo with a broken leg as an "attack" which has "nothing to do with football".

Blatter anticipates new regulations which will allow the world governing to review decisions such as the Football Association's mandatory three-match ban for Birmingham defender Taylor, with a view to imposing their own more substantial punishments.

Taylor's challenge on Arsenal striker Eduardo – in a Premier League match last month – came in for especially outspoken criticism from Blatter, who added Fifa will ask the FA for its report on this specific incident so that they can consider whether further action can or should be taken.

"It is shocking when you see how this player was attacked. It is not football," he said. "Football is a contact game, but it is a game with rules. "You have to have respect – and what we witnessed there has nothing to do with football. This is to destroy another player, and that is not the aim of our game."

Blatter clearly believes more stringent penalties are required for certain instances of foul play. The Fifa president insisted: "Such players should not only be suspended for a certain time – they should be banned until they have realised they have done something absolutely wrong. How can you imagine in any other profession – that a dentist would try to demolish a dentist, or a painter a painter?"

Blatter's remarks are unlikely to find favour in English football, judging by reaction to his earlier remarks that players who "intentionally" commit dangerous tackles should be "banned from the game".

Birmingham co-owner David Gold made it clear last night that he has little regard for Blatter's remarks. "This is a domestic issue which should be left in the hands of the Premier League and the FA," he said. "It is extremely over the top, and I am disappointed in his involvement.

"Not only will Martin Taylor have a three-match ban, this is something he will carry with him for the rest of his life in football.

"Blatter is out of order. He is saying that the Premier League and the FA are incapable of dealing with their own issues."