FIFA president Sepp Blatter has attempted to prove his critics wrong by insisting that he has been fighting 'all his life' against discrimination and racism.

The 75-year-old landed in hot water on Wednesday after claiming that a racist remark during a match between players can be resolved with a handshake.

"In all my life in football now, it has been accompanied by fighting discrimination and racism," said Blatter.

"I thought and I'm still an optimist, that after the World Cup in South Africa, that was connecting all the different cultures and races that [racism] is over. But still where human beings are there are some problems.

"We should be a little bit, in a sporting spirit when there is something during a match between two players. I call it foul language, I'm not calling it discrimination. I go on with all my determination to go against all discrimination and racism."

Blatter got into a Twitter row with Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand over his initial comments.