Fifa president Sepp Blatter has finally apologised for causing offence following his comments on racism in football.
But the controversial character has refused to resign from football's top job by saying: "I cannot resign. Why should I?"
In an interview with the BBC on Friday, the 75-year-old said: "It hurts and I am still hurting because I couldn't envisage such a reaction.
"When you are faced with a problem you have to face the problem. To leave would be totally unfair and not compatible with my fighting spirit."
Blatter has faced pressure to resign after an interview with CNN in which he said: "There is no racism [in football]."
"Maybe one of the players has a word or a gesture which is not the correct one, but the one who is affected by that, he should say that 'this is a game'," he said.
"We are in a game, and at the end of the game, we shake hands, and this can happen, because we have worked so hard against racism and discrimination.
Earlier, former England captain David Beckham described Blatter's comments - which sparked the row - as "appalling".
"I don't think the comments were very good for this game. [Racism] can't be swept under the carpet and it can't be sorted out with just a handshake."
Arguing that the president's suggestions undermined the FA's efforts to eradicate racism from the game, he added:
"I have no power over who goes or stays within Fifa and I don't wish to have, but there obviously is racism throughout soccer and life.
"Being around the England team I have seen the FA do a lot of work towards kicking racism out of the game, they have made huge strides in the last 10 or 15 years but it is still there."
On Thursday, Gordon Taylor, the Professional Footballers' Association chief executive told the BBC's Today Programme that the comments were just the latest in a series of gaffes and suggested Blatter should step aside.
"I just feel it's the straw that broke the camel's back," he said.
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