Ferdinand gives Blatter both barrels

Rio FERDINAND launched a direct attack on Sepp Blatter for his comments on racism as the FIFA president desperately tried to backtrack.

In two separate television interviews Blatter said racism on the pitch was not a problem and that racist abuse between players should be settled by a handshake. The 75-year-old later claimed he had been misunderstood but he had already provoked a furious backlash.

Ferdinand contacted Blatter’s Twitter account directly, writing: “@SeppBlatter your comments on racism are so condescending its almost laughable. If fans shout racist chants but shake our hands is that ok?”

He also wrote: “Tell me I have just read Sepp Blatter’s comments on racism in football wrong... if not then I am astonished.

“Just for clarity if a player abuses a referee, does a shake of the hand after the game wipe the slate clean??”

Blatter’s comments came on the same day the Football Association charged Liverpool forward Luis Suarez with racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra. A racism investigation is also ongoing against England captain John Terry, allegations he strenuously denies.

Asked if racism was a problem on the pitch, Blatter had earlier told CNN World Sport: “I would deny it. There is no racism, there is maybe one of the players towards another, 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 that this is a game. We are in a game, and at the end of the game, we shake hands, and this can happen, because we have worked so hard against racism and discrimination.”

He also said on Al Jazeera: “During a match you may say something to someone who’s not looking exactly like you, but at end of match it’s forgotten.”