The United Nations' top human rights official has hailed Pescara's Ghanaian midfielder Sulley Muntari as an 'inspiration' for leaving the pitch in protest after the player said he was booked for complaining about racist chanting.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein said FIFA needed to pay greater attention to the persistent problem of racism at games - and that his office had been in touch with soccer's governing body.