"Then it shifted to being a slave market ... by buying players and selling them from one state to another and from one club to another. The children of the poor states became slaves of the rich ones.

"FIFA reactivated the system of slavery and enslavement and trading in human beings from Africa to Europe and America; and also from Latin America to Europe."

Today's TV-driven, cash-laden game is often criticized for handing excessive power to Europe's richest clubs and their owners, as well as for the infighting that has characterized the various groups involved in running the sport.

But defenders of the transfer system say that while players signed away from poor countries are indeed lost to their home club teams, they are handsomely rewarded for their service and remain highly popular with fans back home.

Black players have suffered racist abuse during matches in European cities and African visitors to World Cup matches have been warned to be on guard for possible attack.

"FIFA has increased the tendency towards international racism and the extreme right; the proof is that the groups that supported the sport clubs are extreme right and racist groups. Where is the conscience of the world?" Gaddafi asked.