JOHANNESBURG,  (Reuters) – FIFA president Sepp  Blatter called for an end to racism and discrimination in soccer  on the eve of the first World Cup finals to be held in Africa at  FIFA’s 60th annual Congress yesterday.

Blatter, 74, who is due to stand for a fourth term of office  next year, did not deliver a passionate, electioneering-style  address to delegates from 207 of FIFA’s 208 member countries.

Instead he concentrated on the aim of world soccer’s  governing body to eradicate society’s vices that blight the  game, especially racism and discrimination.

“Football is a mirror of our society and is touched by its  vices. Violence, cheating, doping, betting, discrimination and  racism, these are all in our game.

“We have started to eliminate them, one is practically  eliminated — this is doping.

“But here in this World Cup in South Africa, and  specifically through this Congress, we declare we are against  discrimination.

“Never, never again should we have any problems on any  football field or in a stadium concerning discrimination or  racism.

“If we are not able to do that through this 60th FIFA  Congress, then we never will. We must end discrimination and  racism.”

The poignancy of his words, delivered in a nation that was  banned from FIFA and world sport for over three decades because  of the racist apartheid policies of the past, was not lost on  delegates who applauded his remarks.

With one day to go before the World Cup kicks off, Blatter  said holding the finals in Africa completed the vision of former  FIFA president Joao Havelange, who wanted to make football the  global game when he became president in 1974.

A number of FIFA’s junior tournaments have already been held  in Africa, and Blatter said this was part of FIFA’s development  programme.

“Up until 2002 the World Cup was only for Europe and the  Americas, north and south, then one day we had to open the game  and went to Asia, but there was still one continent that had not  been touched by FIFA’s number one event and this was Africa.

“It was not easy, much has been said about it. But now the  World Cup is here. This is touching the world.”

Irving Khosa, the chairman of South Africa’s organising  committee, backed Blatter’s words when he said this World Cup  would help bury the stereotypical image of Africa and a  successful World Cup would prove the cynics wrong.

“FIFA has not taken anything, it has given, given, given,”  he added.