Back on Robben Island — the men who changed the game

December 4, 2009

The year 1964 was a highly significant one in the fight against Apartheid: Nelson Mandela was imprisoned on Robben Island and FIFA suspended South Africa from football because of the legalised racist policies of its Government.

If anyone had suggested then that one day FIFA’s Executive Committee would meet on the outcrop off the coast of Cape Town on the eve of the draw for South Africa’s World Cup, they would have been derided as a fantasist.

But that is exactly what happened on Thursday. FIFA president Sepp Blatter and the 24 most important men in world soccer, plus around 250 members of the media and other helpers, spent a day on the island where Mandela, and current South African President Jacob Zuma were incarcerated for years of their lives.

Thousands of opponents of the Apartheid regime were imprisoned on the island, but for FIFA, and for the world at large, Robben Island is not just a sombre place with a dreadful past, but it is also a symbol of hope.

It is where oppressed and imprisoned men turned to football as a way of regaining their dignity and humanity which the Apartheid regime was determined to deprive them of.

While Blatter and FIFA’s decision-makers were in session, the world’s press were introduced to other men who all did time on Robben Island, and who, in 1967, literally set the ball rolling which eventually gathered enough momentum to bring the World Cup to South Africa — and FIFA to Robben Island.

In 1967, after years of refusal by the authorities, the prisoners were allowed to play football — but they did more than that. Anthony Suze, Lizo Sitoto, Mark Shinners and Sedick Isaacs, who all returned to the former prison on Thursday, formed themselves into a football association, named after an African chief who had also been imprisoned on Robben Island by the British — the Makana Football Association.

Sticking rigidly to FIFA rules, a copy of which was one of the few items in the meagre prison library, the Makana FA ran organised football on the island until it was finally, and happily, disbanded in the early 1990s by Tokyo Sexwale, a former prisoner on the island too and now a minister in Zuma’s government.

Zuma himself was a prisoner on the island, and was one of the Makana FA’s referees. On Thursday FIFA president Blatter “promoted” Zuma to be an honorary FIFA referee.

Blatter was speaking from a top table erected in the former Prison Hall — and the significance was lost on no-one. Sexwale gave a passionate address to the media while Suze recalled their days of imprisonment.

A highly-acclaimed book called More Than Just A Game tells the story of football against Apartheid, and the former prisoners who returned there on Thursday, are living proof that good can overcome evil.

The Makana FA, which now no longer exists, was given honorary membership of FIFA in 2007. It may have passed into history along with the brutal regime that created such hardship on Robben Island, but its legacy lives on and Friday’s World Cup draw in Cape Town, just seven kilometres across Table Bay, proves, as Sexwale said, that the power of the human spirit can conquer all.

It’s a long journey from FIFA House in Zurich to the bleak desolation of Robben Island in more ways than one, but its a journey that football has embraced to its everlasting credit.

PHOTO: Journalists are seen in front of goal posts on Robben Island, December 3, 2009. The winners of next year’s World Cup final in South Africa will collect $30 million in prize money, FIFA said on Thursday after their Executive Committee meeting on Robben Island. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

Source

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

UPDATE: Ireland plead for World Cup slot as the 33rd team

December 1, 2009


Sepp Blatter revealed this morning that Ireland have appealed to FIFA to be allowed to compete as a 33rd team in next year’s World Cup.

“I will bring it to the attention of the Executive Committee,” Blatter told (stunned) journos. “I cannot confirm what will happen, but I will report it.”

I cannot confirm what will happen either, but I have a pretty good idea. In any case, aren’t the referees the 33rd team? Or if not, what about our idea here at Reuters Soccer Blog to put together a squad of players whose teams failed to make it.

We’d give Shay Given and Robbie Keane places…

Here’s Mike Collett’s view having heard Blatter speak in Johannesburg:

FIFA president Sepp Blatter greeted a delegation of very disgruntled Irishmen on Friday. FA of Ireland officials went to Zurich to have a little chat about the upcoming World Cup finals they will not be taking part in.

As the whole of the soccer world knows, Thierry Henry’s infamous handball in the build-up to France’s goal meant the French drew 1-1 with Ireland on the night and sealed a 2-1 aggregate playoff victory earlier this month. France in. Ireland out. Fair Play kicked into touch.

The Irish delegation came up with the intriguing notion of being admitted to the finals in South Africa as the 33rd team — and even more intriguingly, Blatter will put the idea forward to the FIFA Executive Committee when they meet in Cape Town on Wednesday.

The Irish, and everyone else, know full well that their audacious suggestion has no real hope of being accepted. For a start extra matches would have to be organised, one group would consist of five teams not four — but more importantly it would set a precedent that would leave the world of soccer in some considerable confusion.

But the Irish delegation also discussed some other issues with FIFA — including additional officials to help the referee, use of video technology for matches at the highest level and stronger punishments for cheats among them.

Not much good came out of Henry’s handball for the Irish — but something good might have come out of it for the game at large.

If FIFA does sanction extra officials for the World Cup to help the referee make the right call, if players think twice about their behaviour in the penalty area, the game can only benefit.

A UEFA experiment with additional officials has been conducted in the Europa League this season — if Henry’s handball and the efforts of the Irish delegation can persuade FIFA to now introduce the idea on a permanent basis, then the type of defeat Ireland suffered may become far rarer in the future.

That would be one small step for soccer, even though, unfortunately for the Irish, there will surely still only be 32 teams in South Arica next year.

PHOTO: FIFA president Sepp Blatter arrives at a news conference in Mexico City November 9, 2009. REUTERS/Daniel Aguilar

Source

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

FIFA call crisis talks after qualifiers, betting scandal

November 24, 2009


FIFA president Sepp Blatter has called an extraordinary general meeting for December 2 following the Thierry Henry handball incident and an ongoing investigation into match-fixing in Europe.

A FIFA statement released by world football’s ruling body said Monday: “Due to recent events in the world of football, namely incidents at the play-offs for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, match control (refereeing) and irregularities in the football betting market, the FIFA President has called an extraordinary meeting of the Executive Committee.

“The extraordinary meeting of the Executive Committee will take place in Cape Town on 2 December 2009, starting at 15.00.”

The Henry handball incident left football’s reputation – at least as regards the standards of refereeing – in tatters after it effectively cheated the Republic of Ireland out of a possible place at the World Cup.

France beat the Republic of Ireland 2-1 on aggregate over two legs of a qualifying playoff last Wednesday however Henry’s blatant double handball, which led to their equaliser on the night, proved decisive for France.

Since then the use of video technology at football matches, which FIFA is fundamentally against, is an issue which appears to be gaining support throughout the game.

FIFA last week however ruled they would not bow to the Republic’s formal request for a replay of the second leg.

The cash-rich world of European football meanwhile is reportedly harbouring an organised criminal gang that has made millions of euros by betting in Asian markets on the outcomes of matches they helped to decide.

On Thursday, police raided addresses across Europe, smashing what they believe is a 200-strong band that has bribed players, referees and coaches in nine countries.

The German Football Federation (DFB) and the German Football League (DFL) announced on Monday the creation of a task force to probe the betting scandal, which has rocked European football.

European football’s governing body UEFA called a crisis meeting at their base in Nyon, Switzerland, for this Wednesday and the DFB and DFL will join forces to probe 32 German games out of some 200 which are under suspicion.

Around 200 games played this season in Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Croatia, Slovenia, Turkey, Hungary, Bosnia-Hercegovina and Austria are now under suspicion.

None of the 200 suspected matches were in top flight European leagues like England’s Premier League, Italy’s Serie A, Spain’s La Liga or Germany’s Bundesliga.

In Italy on Monday police said they had arrested nine people whom they suspect of illegal betting in Italian football.

Amongst those arrested was the president of third division team Potenza, Giuseppe Postiglione and Pro Vastese sports director Luca Evangelista.

They are accused of being involved in organised crime and of sporting fraud relating to a number of bets placed on matches in the second and third divisions from 2007 to 2009.

One match under investigation is the Serie B encounter between Ravenna and Lecce on April 26, 2008, won 3-1 by the away side, on which Postiglione allegedly placed a bet that won him 86,000 euros.

Giovanni Colangelo, the public prosecutor in Potenza, claimed match-fixing had been taking place.

The 2006 ‘Calciopoli’ match-fixing scandal involved high-profile Serie A teams and resulted in Juventus being relegated to Serie B and stripped of their last two league titles.

AC Milan, Lazio, Fiorentina and Reggina were also punished for their roles in the match-fixing.

PARIS (AFP)

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

Hand of Henry goal makes strong case for video evidence

November 19, 2009

France’s decisive goal against Ireland in their World Cup play-off will only add further weight to the case for using a video ref, or extra goal-line officials, at least in the biggest matches.

The controversial extra-time strike from William Gallas took France through to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, while leaving the Irish barely able to contain a sense of frustration and injustice.

It was goal which should not have stood, as TV pictures made plain. French captain Thierry Henry clearly handled the ball, not once, but twice before crossing for Gallas to score from close range.

Once again, fans are wondering how a mistake of such magnitude, in such a high-stakes game,  could be allowed to happen.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter and UEFA chief Michel Platini both disagree with the use of video referees but their case would have been a hard one to make in front of Irish fans on Wednesday. Soccer’s top officials say a video referee will only slow down the game. True enough, but would it not be better to stop the game and get the right decision rather than continue and see a faulty decision stand?

Platini, for his part, has managed to push through the idea of an extra official behind both goals with an eye on spotting such infringements. Currently the idea is being piloted in UEFA’s second-tier Europa League, but it may now be time to take the brave decision to introduce this across the board.

If we see another “Hand of God” moment in South Africa, perhaps one that decides the final, will football’s reputation survive it?

TO: France’s team captain Thierry Henry reacts in their World Cup qualifying playoff return leg match against Ireland at the Stade de France stadium in Saint Denis near Paris November 18, 2009. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

Source

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

Blatter says Russian World Cup bid has ´good chance´

October 16, 2009


FIFA president Sepp Blatter on Thursday said he thought that Russia had “a good chance” of winning the right to host the 2018 World Cup.

“You have a good chance,” Blatter said in a meeting with Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin here, according to Russian news agency RIA Novosti.

“Russia made a very attractive bid.”

Blatter said that the Eastern European country had never hosted the World Cup before adding that this fact may become an additional forcible argument in the favour of Russia’s bid.

“Competitions of such a high rank should be hosted by countries that have never staged a World Cup before,” Blatter added.

“I had a chance to become acquainted with your plan of preparations for the hosting of the World Cup,” Blatter told Putin. “All of the documents that I have seen looked very impressive.”

Putin, whose support was key to Sochi winning the right to host the 2014 Winter Olympics, replied: “I think that organising a tournament of such prestige would without doubt provide a catalyst for the development of football in the whole of Eastern Europe and particularly in the former Soviet Union.”

On October 9 Russia presented their candidature for the right to organise the World Cup in either 2018 or 2022.

The executive committee of world football’s governing body FIFA will announce the hosts of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups at the end of 2010.

England, Australia, the United States, Indonesia, Japan and joint bids from Spain and Portugal and Belgium and the Netherlands are the other candidates for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, while South Korea and Qatar have bid only for the 2022 edition.

The 2010 World Cup will take place in South Africa, with five-time world champions Brazil hosting the tournament four years later.

MOSCOW (AFP)

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

Warner adds voice to call for salary cap

October 9, 2009


FIFA Vice President and CONCACAF President Jack Warner added his voice to those calling for a salary cap in club soccer and a requirement that teams field players from their native country, noting that emergence of the European “mega clubs” have left others behind.

Speaking Wednesday at the Chelsea Football Club  for the second annual Leaders in Football conference – a gathering of about 1,000 soccer executives and officials – Warner noted the influx of wealthy owners such as Roman Abramovich at Chelsea, Malcom Glazer at Manchester United and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan at Manchester City in Europe, and especially England, has created excitement, but also concerns.

As one of 14 featured speakers at the conference, which also included the likes of English Premier League chairman David Richards, EA Sports President Peter Moore, Spanish Football Association President Angel Maria Villa Llona, Warner said the salary cap – mainly in European soccer — had become a necessity.

“This is necessary because poorer clubs will never, ever be able to compete with high spending ones,” he said. “I wish to argue that salary caps will allow clubs a more equal access to good players and will level the playing field when it comes to the opportunity to win.”

Without mandating a specific requirement, Warner also sought a quota system of local players, referencing FIFA President Sepp Blatter’s “six plus five” proposal which would require club teams to field at least six players eligible for their country’s national team.

“Ethics require a number of local players being selected and fielded for each club,” Warner said.  “Clubs must come to the table and for the good of football agree to a plan.  Am I hearing six plus five? Seven plus four? Eight plus three or the reverse?”

Warner also proposed a no-play moratorium, saying that for as little as six weeks and possibly as much as eight weeks, no professional soccer be played – either at the club or national team level.

“None. Anywhere, for any reason,” he said “This will allow players to recover and to give some breathing space from the pressures of club versus country, if only for a short while.

“I know that many of these ideas are not new and they will meet much resistance from clubs across Europe today and tomorrow as they did yesterday but the truth is while I understand the implications both legal and social of some of the suggestions I have raised, I am of the view that we must sit and talk to ensure that football is the winner not only for the now but also for the future.”

Read the full text of Jack Warner’s speech to the Leaders in Football conference here.

LONDON

Source

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

Blatter slams European clubs for under-20 World Cup no-shows

September 24, 2009


FIFA president Sepp Blatter on Thursday slammed Europe’s top clubs for refusing to free their young players to compete in the under-20 World Cup in Egypt.

“It’s not right that the big European clubs don’t free up their young players for the World Cup, when they don’t have any obligations and are not first team. When they aren’t playing they can’t gain experience,” said Blatter.

“It’s better for them to enjoy the second major world competition than to stay at home warming the substitutes bench.”

The under-20 World Cup event, which takes place from September 24 to October 16, will be without many up-and-coming stars as European clubs have been reluctant to let their players leave for nearly a month at the height of the season.

Favourites Germany and Italy arrived in Egypt without most of their stars.

The German clubs in August refused to release their players after a meeting with the German football Federation (DFB), while the Football Association (FA) was similarly understanding with English clubs.

Italy are without the likes of Roma’s Stefano Okaka Chuka, who scored a Serie A goal at just 16, as well as Genoa’s Silvano Raggio Garibaldi and Inter Milan’s Davide Santon.

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt (AFP)

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

Blatter praises South Africa, challenges remain

June 30, 2009


JOHANNESBURG (AFP) – FIFA president Sepp Blatter gave South Africa a 7.5 out of ten for its hosting of the Confederations Cup adding he hoped that mark would rise to a perfect ten by next year’s World Cup.

“If you get a five mark you have to repeat class, a six and you go to middle school,” Blatter told a post-Confed Cup press conference.

“South Africa are definitely in college and on their way to university. They’re just missing half a point which they may pick up by the time of the World Cup draw in December.

“I want to give you a ten by the World Cup and then you are in masters.”

Blatter identified transport and accommodation as areas that needed improvement before 450,000 fans descend on the country for the 2010 World Cup.

“One item in question beforehand was security but the organising committee headed by Danny Jordaan have done a very good job – the hospitality and reception by the (local) population has been really remarkable.

“So I am satisfied with the way the competition went but there are still challenges which will have to be dealt with in terms of transport and accommodation.

“Next year there will be 450,000 fans for the World Cup and they need to get to and from matches and back to where they are staying. Camps are not really an option as it will be winter here.”

On the pitch Blatter said he had been impressed with the level of play climaxing with an exciting final day’s action which saw Spain overcome hosts South Africa 3-2 in the third place play-off and Brazil beating the United States by the same scoreline in the final.

“We have seen good football, specifically on the last day when the third place play-off and final produced very attractive and passionate football.

“This shows the teams enjoyed playing in the ambiance of Africa. The football was faster too as the games were played at altitude with less air resistance.”

He had little time for those like Brazil who had complained of playing matches in the chill winter evenings.

“We’ve seen that football can be played here, even if it’s a little bit cold.

“Most Brazilians play in Europe with sub zero temperatures, it’s never been below zero here and don’t forget they ended up the winners. Why are they afraid of the cold, you run faster!”

He praised the performance of the South Africa team in going so far in the competition, suggesting Bafana Bafana’s progress augured well for 2010.

“South Africa have improved, they have good qualities, technically they are brilliant, they are very athletic.

“They run and run and run, they are well prepared physically, they’re not tall, what they need now is to bring all these qualities into a tactic that goes for goal.

“South Africa President Jacob Zuma said to me yesterday ‘if we are in the same position next year I will be the happiest man around’.”

In conclusion he said: “I am happy with what we and Danny Jordaan’s organising committee have realised and we’re looking forward to an exciting World Cup next year.”

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

FIFA working to fill Confed Cup stadiums

June 16, 2009


OHANNESBURG, South Africa (AFP) – South Africa’s football organisers are being put under pressure to generate more public enthusiasm for the Confederations Cup tournament, a spokesman for FIFA said here on Tuesday.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter on Monday criticised organisers of the Confed Cup for not doing enough to fill stadiums.

His comments came after the second match of the tournament of continental champions, featuring the world’s number one team Spain against New Zealand, which was played in front of a half-empty stadium in Rustenburg.

“We are really focused on working with our colleagues in the LOC (local organising committee) to invite people to go out and buy tickets and follow this tournament, which is a major competition in the footballing calendar,” FIFA spokesman Nicolas Maingot told AFP.

“For the first time in the history of the Confederations Cup, you have three teams participating which are in the top five of the FIFA rankings (Brazil, Italy and Spain): we can only urge people to go and buy tickets and support this tournament,” he added.

However, Maingot refused to confirm reports that free tickets might be distributed to fill the grounds. “Concrete measures will not be communicated at this stage,” he said.

Blatter held a meeting with organisers Monday to address the issue. FIFA had previously said it was confident it would witness sell-out stadiums at an event that is the traditional dress rehearsal for the World Cup.

There has been criticism of the lack of advertising of the Confederations Cup within the country, as well as dissatisfaction with the ticketing policy which is not suited to the pockets of South African soccer fans. The average match ticket costs 70 Rand (six euros, nine dollars) in a country where 43 percent of the population lives on two dollars a day.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

Blatter defends record Ronaldo move

June 13, 2009


JOHANNESBURG (AFP) – FIFA president Sepp Blatter on Friday defended Real Madrid’s world record 80 million pound swoop for Manchester United’s Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo.

Blatter, speaking in the build-up to the Confederations Cup which gets underway on Sunday, said the huge fee proved that football was still an attractive business despite the global financial turndown.

“If we have a good market in football, it means we have a good product. But it is not only a product to sell or to buy, it gives people what they want; and that is emotions and entertainment,” said Blatter.

“At the same time as Ronaldo’s transfer ten years ago, there was a Picasso painting sold at Sotherby’s in London for over 100 million pounds and what happened to it?

“They put it somewhere where no-one could see it or on display at a museum for a short period, but with a football player, you can see him once or twice a week.

“I heard yesterday that you could buy millions of pieces of bread to give to the people for that amount, but entertainment is also food for the people.”

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

Next Page »

 



Calendar

Related Sites

Free Page Rank Tool

eXTReMe Tracker


TinyPic Image and Video Hosting

Categories

.