FIFA vice president Jeffrey Webb has called on officials at the 2014 World Cup to punish racism offences from players or fans by expelling the respective team from the tournament.
Webb, who is also head of FIFA's anti-discrimination taskforce, feels that the governing body have no choice but to match the hard stance taken on racism by the NBA.
Earlier this year, LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling was kicked out of the professional basketball league for making racist remarks, and Webb believes that FIFA have a responsibility to be equally strong should such incidents mar this summer's spectacle in Brazil.
"They have to. The NBA has set a new standard and I applaud them for it," Webb told reporters, when asked if teams or individuals could be banned from the World Cup.
"They made a swift and concise decision - they've taken appropriate actions and we need to do the same thing in football. We must have a zero tolerance."
The World Cup begins tonight when hosts and pre-tournament favourites Brazil face Croatia.
Joe Fish
