FIFA president Sepp Blatter yesterday apologised for saying that gay fans should "refrain from sexual activity" if they go to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.<br /><br />  <table style="width: 131px; height: 42px" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="131" align="left" border="1">  <tbody>  <tr>  <td><img alt="" src="/imagedata/2010/dec/Sepp-Blatter.jpg" border="0" /></td></tr>  <tr>  <td>  <p align="center"><em><span style="font-size: 8pt">FIFA chief Sepp Blatter</span></em></p></td></tr></tbody></table>Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar and Blatter's original comments provoked anger among gay rights groups who said he should apologise or resign.<br /><br />"I regret my comment, I didn't want to hurt anyone. We are against discrimination. I apologise for that comment," Blatter told a press conference here ahead of Saturday's Club World Cup.<br /><br />Gay rights activists have reacted furiously after Blatter joked that gay football fans should "refrain" from sex during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where homosexuality is illegal. <br /><br />Asked about concerns over the treatment of gay fans at the tournament, Blatter responded: "I would say that they should refrain from any sexual activities."<br /><br />Blatter's remarks are just the latest example of the 74-year-old football chief putting his foot in his mouth.<br />He told women footballers in 2004 that the best way to make their sport more popular would be to wear "tighter shorts." Earlier this year, he suggested that John Terry's alleged affair would have been applauded in Latin countries.

Australia builds big lead

FIFA president Sepp Blatter yesterday apologised for saying that gay fans should "refrain from sexual activity" if they go to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar

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