FIFA president Joseph Sepp Blatter talks to journalists during a meeting with the foreign press, in Rome, Friday, Nov. 22, 2013. Blatter, who earlier Friday met Pope Francis during a private audience at the Vatican, said "We spoke the same language and it was language of football, It was really a meeting between two sportsmen and two football fans."(AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) (The Associated Press)
MADRID – FIFA president Sepp Blatter says he was "sickened" to hear supporters of Spanish club Real Betis racially abuse their own player.
TV footage shows Betis fans appearing to make racist gestures and noises at defender Paulo, a Brazilian player who is black, as he left the field after being sent off in a 4-0 loss to city rival Sevilla.
Blatter wrote on Twitter that he was "sickened to learn of 'fans' racially abusing a Real Betis player. I condemn their actions."
Blatter adds it was "nonsense to fight racism with fines. This has to be tackled by ALL competition organizers."
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