Dubai airline Emirates said Sunday it “completely abhors racism” and supports efforts to abolish “all forms of discrimination in football.”

Emirates says it’s watching developments within football’s governing body closely, and notes it has “no role in the management of the organisation.”

The area’s biggest carrier stopped short of criticizing Blatter. The FIFA boss expressed regret Friday for saying that racist abuse does not exist in football and that racial incidents could be settled by a handshake.

Emirates’ eight-year, $195 million sponsorship deal expires in 2014.

The latest controversy surrounding the long-standing FIFA president erupted on Wednesday when in two separate television interviews he suggested racism in football was not a problem.

Asked by CNN if there was racism in the game, Blatter said: "I would deny it. There is no racism, there is maybe one of the players towards another, he has a word or a gesture which is not the correct one.

"But also the one who is affected by that, he should say that this is a game. We are in a game, and at the end of the game, we shake hands."