Blatter had said in interviews earlier this week that incidents of racist abuse on the pitch could be settled by a handshake between the players involved at the end of a match.

His remarks prompted outrage across the UK from both politicians and sportsmen but he has now backtracked and apologised for any offence caused.

"When you have done something which was not totally correct, I can only say I am sorry for all those people affected by my declarations," Blatter told the BBC an in interview that had already been planned in advance.

He was adamant however, that he would not step down over his comments, the latest in a string of controversies to envelop the 75-year-old Swiss during his rollercoaster 13-year reign at the head of world football's governing body.

"I cannot resign," added Blatter, a member of the International Olympic Committee.

"Why should I?

"It hurts and I am still hurting because I couldn't envisage such a reaction."

"When you are faced with a problem you have to face the problem.

"To leave would be totally unfair and not compatible with my fighting spirit, my character, my energy."

Asked if racism was a problem on the pitch, Blatter earlier this week responded: "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 tried to clarify his position in a separate interview later but appeared only to compound the issue with similar language.

This time, however, he acknowledged that what he said originally was wrong, conceding he had used "unfortunate words" which he "deeply regretted".

"This was a good lesson for me as well," said Blatter.

Although there was little criticism of his comments outside Britain, Blatter's apology will have done little to ease the feeling of outrage among many established figures in the game despite his attempts to soften the blow.

The latest was former England captain David Beckham who joined in the condemnation of Blatter's comments before his retraction, calling them "appalling" and adding: "[Racism] can't be swept under the carpet, it can't be sorted out with a handshake.

"That's not the way of the world and that's not how racism should be treated."

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