Pele's stunning claim: There is no racism in Europe because the teams are full of blacks



By Ashley Gray for MailOnline

Pele has made the extraordinary suggestion that racism does not exist in European football because 'the teams are full of blacks'.



The world's most celebrated player of all time claimed that allegations such as those made against John Terry and Luis Suarez were exaggerated.



And the 71-year-old Brazil legend even contradicted his autobiography by insisting he had never suffered racism as a footballer.

The greatest: Brazil legend Pele is the most celebrated player of all time

Not going by the book: Pele's racism claim contradicts his autobiography

FIFA president Sepp Blatter was forced to apologise this week after initially claiming there was 'no racism' in football, comparing insults to other foul language, which could be settled at the end of the match with a handshake.



And Pele seemed to support Blatter's original view by saying: 'When I played, opponents in the domestic league would grab my ass, they cursed my mother and my wife, but I didn't have racism.



'I never had this problem. Now, any little thing is racism. It's absurd.



'When I arrived in Sweden (to play the World Cup in 1958) only Brazil had black players. Today, with the advent of technology, this fuss about racism has expanded.



'I guess that it is necessary for the player to speak, for the press to report. Now any little thing is racism. They put much emphasis on this.

Accused: Luis Suarez (left) and John Terry (right) are embroiled in race rows

'The European teams are full of blacks. How can there be racism?'



However, Tokyo Sexwale, the former anti-apartheid activist who was dragged into the racism row when FIFA's PR machine released photographs of Blatter embracing him, suggested Pele had told him of different experiences.



'Great players like Pele and (Cameroon striker Samuel) Eto'o have suffered racism in football,' said Sexwale in the aftermath of the Blatter row.



'I have had conversations with both players in my capacity as member of the (FIFA) anti-racism committee and they told me painful stories.'



Centre of the storm: FIFA president Sepp Blatter was forced to apologise last week after suggesting that on-pitch racism should be solved by a handshake



And in his autobiography, Pele, the three-time World Cup winner recalls an occasion when Argentina supporters abused the Brazil team he was part of.



'They chanted "Macaquitos de Brasil" (Brazilian monkeys) at us. It got our adrenaline going but I was never really that bothered by this sort of racist chanting.'



Liverpool striker Suarez is expected to deny charges brought by the FA over allegedly racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra.



Chelsea and England captain Terry remains under investigation by the police and the FA over allegations he racially abused Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand.



