Battered Blatter hurt by racism fallout

FIFA President Sepp Blatter snapped at colleagues and looked beset by nerves on Wednesday

FIFA President Sepp Blatter snapped at colleagues and looked beset by nerves on Wednesday as he described the hurt he felt after being criticised for his comments about racism in soccer.

The usually slick Blatter addressed the media after opening the Asian Football Confederation AFC executive committee meeting in Kuala Lumpur,but when invited to speak to the small crowd he knocked a microphone off the table in front of him and shuffled uncomfortably in his seat.

The 75-year-old struggled through the media conference in Malaysia and offered long,rambling answers about topics such as the strength of Asian economies,while officials tried to limit tricky questions. He later released a statement to clarify his comments and has been on a charm offensive after conducting a number of interviews in Europe to stress his commitment to eradicating racism from soccer.

I can only say this item for me is closed. I have made my apologies,I cannot say more, Blatter told reporters,eyes shifting around the room as he looked for the right words. If somebody is still thinking I am a racist,sorry to say that I am working now practically 37 years in FIFA 8230; there is no racism,nothing at all,and this matter for me is over and over. We go forward.

Askedif he had been surprised by the reaction to his comments and calls for him to resign from the post he has held since 1998,the Swiss said he had been upset by the criticism.

Kubica to miss start of 2012 F1 season

F1 team Renault has confirmed Robert Kubica will miss at least the early part of the 2012 season as he struggles to recover from serious injuries sustained in a rally crash this year.

Everybody in the team is,of course,very disappointed, Renault team principal Eric Boullier said. Robert not driving in Australia at the start of next season is not what we were all hoping for. However,he has taken a very mature decision,acting in the best interests of Lotus Renault GP.