FIFA chief Blatter: Boateng's actions 'not the solution'

FIFA president Sepp Blatter does not believe walking off the pitch like Kevin Prince-Boateng did on Friday is the right way to combat racism in football.

Boateng made international headlines on Friday when he left the field in disgust during AC Milan's friendly clash with minnows Pro Patria after being subjected to racist abuse.

The Ghana international was widely hailed for his actions with both his team-mates and Pro Patria players joining him in walking from the field of play.

While Blatter has commended Boateng for taking a stand, insisting FIFA have a "zero tolerance" policy when it comes to racism, he insists Boateng's actions are not the answer to stamping out the problem for good.

Boateng has already said he would do it again were he to become the victim of abuse. “I don’t care what game it is – a friendly, Serie A or Champions League match, I’d walk off the pitch again and I think everyone would support me,” he said.

But Blatter insists other measures must be taken. "Walk off? No. I don't think that is the solution," Blatter told The National in Dubai on Sunday. "But the Italian federation have yet to provide FIFA with the report detailing what exactly has happened.

"I don't think you can run away, because eventually you can run away if you lose a match. This issue is a very touchy subject, but I repeat there is zero tolerance of racism in the stadium; we have to go against that. 

He added: "The only solution is to be very harsh with the sanctions - and the sanctions must be a deduction of points or something similar."

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