New Delhi: FIFA Chief Joesph Sepp Blatter, on his first official visit to Kolkata, has said that football doesn't need to fight cricket for popularity, but should bank on its existing culture to flourish in the country.
"We are here not to fight against an established sport. I admire the game called cricket. And I also admire young people playing any game," FIFA President Joseph Sepp Blatter said at a press conference in Kolkata.
Blatter, however, still insisted on football's influence over world culture to appeal to the Indian fans to take up the sport.
"I always campaign for soccer because it is this game where there is no difference of caste, culture and creed, rich and poor. It is the fascination of this game that attracts people all over the world," he said.
"We don't to want to change the most established sport in your country now. But I want to say that it is football which started here much before FIFA originated. This shows how much football has penetrated in your country," he added.
Blatter attended the historic Kolkata derby between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan on Sunday, where he was greeted by 70,000 fans at the Salt Lake stadium. He was mighty impressed with the reception he got during the game.
"I had been to many countries but the enthusiasm I noticed among the boys and girls when I was passing through the streets of Kolkata yesterday was very genuine. This is good for you, as well as for us, and also for football," he said.
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