SWEDISH UEFA chief Lennart Johansson has found himself at the centre of a controversy after racist comments about Africans attributed to him were published in the Swedish daily Aftonbladet yesterday.

In the article, Johansson described the situation at a recent meeting in South Africa when the FIFA president, Joao Havelange, wanted to singlehandedly give the 2006 World Cup to Africa, a move the Swede felt should be decided by FIFA's executive committee.

"When I arrived in South Africa, the whole room was full of blackies and it gets damned dark when they're sitting there together. If they're also angry, then it's not so cheery," he said, according to Aftonbiadet.

Johansson yesterday told the Swedish news agency TT he did not recall exactly what he had said and could, therefore, not deny the remark.

"I don't recognise those words. I said that it was dark in the room and that there was an aggressive atmosphere. That was what I wanted to describe. It was a long conversation and I don't remember everything that was said so I can't accuse anyone of lying.

"I can only say that I have never had racist ideas or attitudes. If such an impression was created and if I have offended anyone, then I can only apologise."

Johansson is a candidate to replace Havelange at the FIFA top post. He said he didn't think the latest controversy would affect his chances for the job. "No, I don't think so. Everybody who knows me knows that I don't think that way."