The NBAs life ban for Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling won swift support in Europe but also produced calls for soccer to show similar resolve against racism. FIFA president Sepp Blatter and UEFA president Michel Platini, via his spokesman, both voiced approval on Wednesday. Blatter tweeted: "Sport says no to racism. I fully support (at)NBAs decision to ban (at)LAClippers owner for life after his racist words." Patrick Vieira, a 1998 World Cup winner with France, also tweeted: "Well done to (at)NBA, another organisation dealing with racism in exactly the right way. I say again - zero tolerance." NBA Commissioner Adam Silver wants Sterling to sell as part of a series of sanctions brought against the leagues longest-tenured owner in response to racist comments in a recorded conversation. Silver banned Sterling for life, fined him $2.5 million, and said he will press the other team owners to support his desire to make Sterling sell. For some in Europe, the NBAs resolve was in stark contrast to soccer leaders failure to eradicate racism that has dogged stadiums and marred matches for decades. Just last weekend, a Villarreal season-ticket holder racially taunted Barcelona defender Dani Alves by throwing a banana at him. Retired British NBA player John Amaechi noted that players, executives and owners in the American league appeared united in their rejection of Sterling. "If they can do that to respond to a hateful private utterance, why the hell cant football do that to respond to repeated instances of hate-mongering?" Amaechi said in a phone interview with The Associated Press. "Its time that we started looking at some of the owners within other parts of sport," outside the NBA, he said. "Theyre exactly the type of plantation mentality people who dont mind having black people working for them ... But God forbid that they want to come up to the big house." Amaechi said he doesnt expect the NBAs exemplary punishment of Sterling will jolt soccer into meaningful change. And Blatters tweet of support for the NBA was "not enough," he added. "If there was a poster-person for the words impotence and apathy, it would have his face on it," Amaechi said. "You know what theyre going to do? Theyre going to produce another pretty poster with platitudes plastered all over it. Theyre going to produce another campaign that has a black player stood next to a white player," he said. "Nothing substantive." FIFA and UEFA, the European authority, have toughened their sanctions for discrimination in the past year and prosecuted cases more quickly. A turning point in awareness of widespread problems with offensive abuse at matches came in January 2013 when Kevin-Prince Boateng, then playing for AC Milan, led teammates walking off the field to protest racist insults during an exhibition against a fourth-tier Italian side. FIFA and UEFA have ordered national and club teams to play matches in empty or partly closed stadiums as punishment for racial abuse incidents, but no World Cup or Champions League team has yet had points deducted or forfeited a match. Among the most severe judgments, FIFA has banned Croatia defender Josip Simunic for 10 matches -- including the 2014 World Cup -- for leading fans in chanting a Nazi-era nationalist slogan after a playoff victory against Iceland last November. Simunic has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Austin Bryant Jersey . 28 with a Vancouver entry for the first time in 10 years and a novel new collective bargaining agreement. Barry Sanders Womens Jersey . Its the second straight year he has decided not to play as he cuts back his schedule. Stricker was replaced in the field by Ryo Ishikawa of Japan. http://www.shopdetroitlionsnfl.com/lions...r-black-jersey/. Needing to bulk up on both sides of the line, the Falcons agreed to terms with guard Jon Asamoah, defensive end Tyson Jackson and defensive tackle Paul Soliai. Asamoah and Jackson played last season with Kansas City, where Asamoah lost his starting job. Kerryon Johnson Lions Jersey .com) - The Atlanta Hawks have stepped up to every challenge during their 14-game winning streak and will face another daunting task Friday with Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder in town. T.J. Hockenson Womens Jersey . -- A lawyer for the fiancee of former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez asked a judge Friday to throw out perjury charges, saying Shayanna Jenkins did not wilfully lie as she was bombarded with 1,630 questions over two days before a grand jury.(SportsNetwork.com) - LeBron James and the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers will resume a five-game road trip Thursday against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center. The Cavaliers have lost six in a row and 10 of the last 12 games, and are coming off Tuesdays 107-100 setback to the Phoenix Suns. James returned from an eight-game absence (1-7) to score 33 points and J.R. Smith added 29. Yesterday at practice my lungs were burning and I guess I was able to get my second wind today, said James. I couldnt make those moves two weeks ago. To come back and feel the way I like to feel was pretty cool. Tristan Thompson scored 10 points off the bench for Cleveland, which shot 43.9 percent and received a combined 18 points from Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving. Cleveland is 8-11 on the road and has lost four straight as the guest. It will play the Clippers Friday night. The Lakers have dropped two in a row and four of their last five games, and suffered a 78-75 loss to the Miami Heat on Tuesday.dddddddddddd Kobe Bryant, Jordan Hill and Ed Davis scored 12 points apiece for Los Angeles, which shot just 31.5 percent and fell to 6-14 at home. The Lakers scored only 12 points in the first quarter and 34 in the first half. We got off to a terrible start, offensively and defensively, Lakers coach Byron Scott said. We dug ourselves a hole. Bryant (rest) is questionable for this matchup versus James and the Cavs. After hosting the Cavs, the Lakers will play four in a row on the road against Utah, Phoenix, New Orleans and San Antonio. Hill (knee) is probable against Cleveland. The Lakers and Cavs will play the first of two meetings this season and are scheduled to tangle Feb. 8 at Quicken Loans Arena. The two teams split a pair of matchups last season and have alternated wins and losses over the past eight encounters. ' ' '