FIFA president Blatter clarifies Australia 'apology'

LONDON, Oct 30 (Reuters) FIFA president Sepp Blatter has denied making disparaging comments about world champions Italy in an interview with Australia's SBS television.

Blatter told the channel last weekend that he wanted to apologise to soccer fans in Australia and that ''the Socceroos should have gone into the quarter-finals in place of Italy...because they were up to beating Italy''.

Australia lost 1-0 to the Italians after Spanish referee Luis Medina Cantalejo awarded a hotly-disputed last-minute penalty for what appeared to be a dive by Italy's Fabio Grosso.

World governing body FIFA said in a statement that Blatter had criticised the culture of diving and foul play at the tournament but had made no disrespectful comments about Italy.

''The Italian team proved that, despite serious pressures at home, they stuck together as a team and delivered exceptional football,'' it quoted Blatter as saying.

''The Italian team proved that superior skills, team work and individual determination are the ingredients that lead to World Cup glory,'' he added.

''With my statement I simply wanted to pay credit to the Socceroos as well because they played a great match and their lack of experience did not permit them to go to extra time.' ' REUTERS PDS VC2107