A EUROPEAN UNION LAWMAKER HAS ACCUSED FIFA PRESIDENT SEPP BLATTER OF MAKING A U-TURN ON HIS PROMISES TO KICK RACISM OUT OF THIS YEAR'S WORLD CUP, ACCORDING TO REUTERS. "MR BLATTER HAS FAILED TO LIVE UP TO HIS EARLIER PROMISES," DUTCH MEP EMINE BOZKURT SAID ON FRIDAY. LAST MONTH WORLD SOCCER'S GOVERNING BODY ANNOUNCED DRACONIAN PUNISHMENTS TO TACKLE RACISM RANGING FROM MATCH SUSPENSIONS TO POINTS DEDUCTIONS AND BLATTER SAID THE SANCTIONS WOULD BE USED AGAINST OFFENDING NATIONS AT THE WORLD CUP IN GERMANY. HOWEVER, FIFA SAID ON TUESDAY THAT TEAMS AT THE WORLD CUP WILL NOT BE DOCKED POINTS FOR RACISM BY FANS AND THE SANCTIONS WOULD ONLY APPLY TO PLAYERS, COACHES OR TEAM OFFICIALS. "YES, (THE SANCTION APPLIES) IF IT (RACISM) IS ON THE FIELD OF PLAY, YES IF IT IS ON THE TECHNICAL BENCH OR IDENTIFIED AROUND THE FOOTBALL PITCH," SAID BLATTER. "BUT, WHEN IT COMES TO THE WORLD CUP PUBLIC, YOU HAVE AN INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE SITTING. HOW DO YOU THEN IDENTIFY IF SOMEONE WILL BE OR WON'T BE IN FAVOUR OR AGAINST (A TEAM)?" THE MONTH-LONG WORLD CUP FINALS KICK OFF ON JUNE 9. TOO DIFFICULT "MR BLATTER NOW REGARDS THE NEW MEASURES AS TOO DIFFICULT TO IMPLEMENT BEFORE THE WORLD CUP, BUT I APPEAL TO FIFA TO LIVE UP TO ITS EARLIER PROMISES," SAID BOZKURT. "RACISM IS A CRIME. RACISM DURING WORLD CUP MATCHES IS A CRIME WITH MILLIONS OF WITNESSES. THIS SHOULD BE PUNISHED," ADDED BOZKURT. THE DUTCH POLITICIAN WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION LAST MONTH PROVIDING EXTRA SANCTIONS TO TACKLE RACIST BEHAVIOUR IN THE GAME. AS PART OF THOSE SANCTIONS, AGREED WITH EUROPEAN SOCCER'S GOVERNING BODY UEFA, A REFEREE COULD ABANDON A MATCH WHILE COUNTRIES OR CLUBS WHOSE FANS OR PLAYERS PERSISTENTLY COMMIT RACIST OFFENCES RISK BEING THROWN OUT OF COMPETITIONS. ON THE DAY THE EU RESOLUTION WAS PASSED MANCHESTER UNITED'S ENGLAND DEFENDER RIO FERDINAND ACCUSED THOSE RUNNING THE GAME OF NOT DOING ENOUGH TO COMBAT RACISM. HE SAID THE AUTHORITIES WERE "PAYING LIP SERVICE" AND CALLED FOR TOUGHER ACTION.
