Speaking at a conference in Qatar he said: "England gave the world football.
Then, 50 years later, some guy came along and said, you're liars, and they
actually stole it. It was called Fifa."
Richards later claimed his comments were "light-hearted" and said he would write to Uefa and Fifa.
"I would like to apologise for any offence caused," he added.
Jim Boyce, British vice president of Fifa told BBC Sport: "I have known Sir Dave Richards for the past 15 years and have always held him in the highest regards.
"I was very surprised by his comments, but delighted he has come out and apologised. I hope to try to continue rebuilding bridges at both Uefa and Fifa."
At the conference on Wednesday, Richards suggested that the world had England to thank for football.
"England gave the best legacy anyone could give. We gave them the game," he added.
Richards, who is also a Football Association board member, was speaking in front of Fifa vice-president Prince Ali Bin Hussein of Jordan and International Cricket Council chief executive Haroon Lorgat.
He added: "Fifty years later, another gang came along called Uefa and stole a bit more."
When suggestions were made that the game could have originated in China, Richards replied in a raised voice: "It started in Sheffield 150 years ago. We started the game and wrote the rules and took it to the world. The Chinese may say they own it but the British own it and we gave it to the rest of the world."
Richards later claimed his comments were "light-hearted" and said he would write to Uefa and Fifa.
"I would like to apologise for any offence caused," he added.
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“We started the game and wrote the rules and took it the world”Sir Dave Richards
"It is important to clarify that I was expressing my
personal views and not those of any organisation I represent.
"My comments on the heritage of the game were intended to be light-hearted.
They clearly have not come across in that way and I sincerely regret making them
and any resulting negativity that may have been interpreted towards Fifa and
Uefa. I will be writing to both organisations in these terms." Jim Boyce, British vice president of Fifa told BBC Sport: "I have known Sir Dave Richards for the past 15 years and have always held him in the highest regards.
"I was very surprised by his comments, but delighted he has come out and apologised. I hope to try to continue rebuilding bridges at both Uefa and Fifa."
At the conference on Wednesday, Richards suggested that the world had England to thank for football.
"England gave the best legacy anyone could give. We gave them the game," he added.
Richards, who is also a Football Association board member, was speaking in front of Fifa vice-president Prince Ali Bin Hussein of Jordan and International Cricket Council chief executive Haroon Lorgat.
He added: "Fifty years later, another gang came along called Uefa and stole a bit more."
When suggestions were made that the game could have originated in China, Richards replied in a raised voice: "It started in Sheffield 150 years ago. We started the game and wrote the rules and took it to the world. The Chinese may say they own it but the British own it and we gave it to the rest of the world."
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