David Beckham: "The comments were appalling. A lot people have said that.
"I don't think that the comments were very good for this game.
"There obviously is, and has been, racism throughout soccer and in life over the last few years.
"I do think, especially being around the England team and being around the FA - the FA do a lot of work in kicking racism out of the game.
"They've have made huge strides in the past 10-15 years - but it is still there.
"It can't be swept under the carpet, it can't be sorted out with a handshake.
"That's not the way of the world and that's not how racism should be treated.
"It's out there and we have to keep working hard to keep in out of the game and life in general.
"Racism is something we want to keep out of sport but also life in general."
Blatter remained defiant in the face of criticism as even Prime Minister David Cameron attacked him over his remarks about racism.
David Cameron: "It's appalling to suggest that racism in any way should be accepted as part of the game.
"A lot of work has gone into ridding racism from all aspects of our society, including football. As many of our top sports stars have rightly pointed out, now is not the time for complacency."
Sepp Blatter: "But if you also be a little bit in a sporting spirit when there is something happening on the field of play, during a match between two players - I call it foul language. I'm not saying about discrimination, but it's foul language, it's a foul play.
"At the end of the match, if you have foul play (when) the match is over you shake hands... and therefore also forget what has been on the field of play."