( CNN ) -- FIFA president Sepp Blatter has told CNN he believes there is no on-field racism in football and that players who think they have been abused should simply say `` this is a game . '' The head of world soccer insisted FIFA had been tireless in their efforts to combat the specter of racism in football but suggested any player who is abused during a game should shake hands with their opponent upon the final whistle and move on . The football authorities in England are currently dealing with two high-profile allegations of player-on-player racism , involving Chelsea and England captain John Terry and Liverpool 's Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez . Both players deny the claims . When asked by CNN World Sport anchor Pedro Pinto if racism exists on the field of play Blatter said : `` I would deny it . Blatter comments spark Twitter fury . `` There is no racism , there is maybe one of the players towards the other , he has a word or a gesture which is not the correct one , but also the one who is affected by that , he should say it 's a game , we are in a game . `` At the end of the game , we shake hands , this can happen , because we have worked so hard against racism and discrimination . '' This year has also seen allegations of high-profile racism by fans . Former Brazil defender Robert Carlos walked off the pitch during a Russian league match after a banana was thrown at him from the stands , while the Malaysian Football Association was forced to apologize to Chelsea in July when their Israeli midfielder Yossi Benayoun was subject to racial slurs during a pre-season encounter . CNN Blog : How should football tackle racism ? On Wednesday the English Football Association ( FA ) announced they had charged Liverpool player Suarez over a clash with Manchester United 's Patrice Evra during an English Premier League match in October . Evra alleged the Uruguayan had aimed racial taunts at him -- a claim Suarez denies . In a statement on their official web site the FA said Suarez is alleged to have used abusive language towards his opponent , including `` a reference to the ethnic origin and/or color and/or race '' of Evra . London 's Metropolitan Police is investigating allegations that Terry racially abused Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand during an English Premier League match last month . Terry denies the allegations . In his interview with CNN , Blatter , who was re-elected unopposed as the head of world football despite allegations of corruption surrounding the voting process for the right to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups , championed his organization 's commitment to tackling racism . `` I think the whole world is aware of the efforts we are making against racism and discrimination , '' he added . `` And , on the field of play sometimes you say something that is not very correct , but then at the end of the game , the game is over and you have the next game where you can behave better . '' Blatter 's comments provoked an immediate response within soccer . Manchester United 's Rio Ferdinand , brother of Anton , took to Twitter to say : `` Tell me I have just read Sepp Blatter 's comments on racism in football wrong ... . if not then I am astonished . `` I feel stupid for thinking that football was taking a leading role against racism ... .. it seems it was just on mute for a while . '' The 'Kick It Out ' campaign , who work to eradicate racism from football in England and Europe , said Blatter 's comments were `` worryingly out of touch . '' A statement from Blatter was later posted on FIFA 's official web site , in which he sought to clarify his comments . It read : `` I would like to make it very clear , I am committed to the fight against racism and any type of discrimination in football and in society . `` My comments have been misunderstood . What I wanted to express is that , as football players , during a match , you have `` battles '' with your opponents , and sometimes things are done which are wrong . `` But , normally , at the end of the match , you apologize to your opponent if you had a confrontation during the match , you shake hands , and when the game is over , it is over . Anyone who has played a football match , or a match in any sport , knows that this is the case . `` Having said that , I want to stress again that I do not want to diminish the dimension of the problem of racism in society and in sport . I am committed to fighting this plague and kicking it out of football . ''
Sepp Blatter tells CNN World Sport 's Pedro Pinto there is no on-field racism in football . FIFA president says players who are abused during a match should say `` it 's a game '' Two high-profile cases involving racism allegations being dealt with in English game . Blatter underlines the work his organization has done to combat racism .