Blatter Won't Apologise for 'slavery' Comment

Sepp Blatter has no plans to apologize for claiming that Manchester United's desire to hold on to Cristiano Ronaldo is tantamount to "modern slavery", despite attracting widespread criticism for his remarks. The Fifa president, who also suggested clubs should not keep contracted players against their wishes, has been urged to retract his comments by senior figures in football, but last night there was no indication that he would bow to outside pressure.

"Not at the moment," said a Fifa spokesperson when asked whether Blatter planned to clarify his comments or issue an apology. "For the moment we are not commenting on what he said. We never comment on interviews that have been done. What he has said is obviously on the record. He has no plans to follow up on that. For the time being, we have not heard or seen that he is planning to make additional comments."

Premier League managers were not slow to add their own thoughts today. Steve Bruce and Harry Redknapp both condemned Blatter for his remarks, insisting he had overstepped the mark and demonstrated a complete lack of understanding over the transfer system. "I don't agree with Sepp Blatter's comments on them being slaves because I believe they have the best job in the world," said Bruce, Wigan's manager. "If they are slaves, what the hell are the rest of us? They have got a good job."

"It's rubbish, isn't it," added Redknapp in response to Blatter's comments. "You can sign somebody at a football club who turns out to be a disaster. He might not be playing, might be no good, but you have to pay him for four years. So when somebody does fantastically, you're supposed to just let them go? It doesn't work like that. You sign a contract and it has to be mutual agreement, if the club receives a good offer, that's how it works. It's not slavery, is it? That's absolute nonsense."