Rio Ferdinand has launched a scathing attack on Fifa for only fining the Croatian FA £15,000 for racial abuse suffered by Emile Heskey from the home fans. The Manchester United defender, who has campaigned against racism in football, feels the punishments need to be much tougher if racism is to be eradicated from the game.

"The football authorities need to look at themselves," Ferdinand Radio Five Live.

"Sepp Blatter likes to speak up about things that are good for Fifa's image. I would love to see them stand up and dish out the right punishments for these incidents.

"They make a lot of comments about what they are going to do but they never back up the words with actions.

"Croatia were fined a few thousand quid. What good is that going to do? That is not going to stop people shouting racist or homophobic abuse.

"If things like this keep happening you have to take points off them. Then the punters will realise the team is going to be punished."

Ferdinand believes it is important to identify the individuals who shout such abuse and deal with them accordingly.

He said: "The high-tech cameras should be able to pick up the people who are doing that kind of stuff and eject them from the ground.

"That is the only way I can see to stop it happening.

"We are talking about a football match. There are young kids present who want to be entertained, not hear someone a couple of rows back slagging players off."