Fifa insult to Africa

[Dirtycheat]

Kanoute: FIFA insult to Africa - Reuters
http://www.theworldgame.com.au/home/index....t&cid=90306

Mali striker Frederic Kanoute said a FIFA decision ordering him to skip international duty so he can play for Sevilla in the final league match of the Spanish season is an insult to African football.

"It shows a lack of respect towards me and Mali," the 29-year-old was quoted as saying in daily Sport on Saturday.

"I'm upset for my country because FIFA is showing no respect for African national sides. We are not important for them."

Kanoute, Sevilla's top scorer this season, arrived back with his club late on Friday after being ordered to return to Spain on the eve of an important African Nations Cup qualifier against Sierra Leone.

Spanish media reported that the FIFA decision came as a result of pressure from Real Madrid, who wanted their Mali international midfielder Mahamadou Diarra to play in their title decider against Real Mallorca.

Real announced they had received authorisation from FIFA and the various national federations so that all their international players would be available for Sunday's (Monday AEST) match at the Bernabeu.

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) announced on Friday they had agreed to allow Robinho to play for Real after the club apologised for not letting him train with his country.

The Brazilian forward remained in Spain to train with Real this week despite Brazilian demands he join them for their training camp ahead of the Copa America in Venezuela.

The Spanish season is the last major European football to finish this year and will not come to a close until June 23 with the final of the King's Cup between Sevilla and Getafe.

Last year the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) had to get special permission from FIFA to extend the season while national sides prepared for the World Cup in order to play a postponed match between Sevilla and Barcelona.

this is rediculous imo, you cant have one rule for one group of people, and another for another group of people


i do asdmit, the quality of the ACN isnt quite as high as european competitions, but it has improved a lot in recent years, you cant deny that.

either way, it is equally important to the african players to play for their NT as it is for other players to play for their NT

Blatter is a nob and doesnt have a clue what he is doing, seriously

[Butterfly]

Indeed this is a shame...
After this happened about an official competition, now before any UCL games all bigs teams around Europe will tell FIFA to go fuck itself for a friendly game...

[Degasiado]

this is rediculous imo, you cant have one rule for one group of people, and another for another group of people.....

True, true !
Iz it coz they iz black :confused:

That's indeed a bit racialist imo...
http://www.leelefever.com/archives/ali%20g%20jewels.jpg


.

[Dogme]

I thought that even Blatter would find it impossible to insult an entire continent. He's really outdone himself this time!

[Splatypus]

Here's the follow up

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has admitted the world governing body was wrong to order Mali to release Mahamadou Diarra and Frédéric Kanouté for yesterday's Spanish league finale.

As a result of the diktat, which was faxed to the Malian Federation last Thursday, both players missed Mali's African Cup of Nations qualifier against Sierra Leone and angrily accused Fifa of "disrespecting" Africa.

According to Fifa regulations competitive internationals take precedence over club matches but when calling on Mali to release the players Fifa said that the June 16-17 round of African qualifiers was not "as compulsory" as usual because they had not been scheduled in the international calendar when it was finalised last November. But Malian officials rejected this logic, arguing that when Fifa's executive committee approved the fixtures last March it did not suggest the provision whereby clubs' must release players was in some way "not as compulsory" as for other competitive internationals.

Rest of the article (http://football.guardian.co.uk/continentalfootball/story/0,,2105711,00.html)

[Dogme]

He always does this!!! He says something that is out of order or does something that is just plain wrong then goes and backtracks when people get pissed off. He tries to please everybody but just ends up alienating everyone!

[Silas]

He once said Kleberson is the best player.

[phat]

Sepp Blatter is a f*cken piece of shit moron. This is another example of how bad he is. I still can't believe he runs FIFA.

[Dogme]

Sepp Blatter is quite clearly a moron, that doesn't know a thing about football, surely one of the easiest sports to understand. Just be glad that he'll one day die/retire. He can't go on forever :)

[Pizziesta]

Why didnt Kanoute speak before the game and play the Mali game.. :confused:

[r7raul]

I think FIFA should ask players for their decision before ordering them to do something. In this case, FIFA should say that they allow the player to skip his international duty if he wishes too!

[TheLionLyon]

Eto'o supports African aces

By ANDREW HAIGH
June 19, 2007

BARCELONA star Samuel Eto'o has backed the Premier League's African aces in their club v country row.

Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, Kolo Toure and a host of players will miss part of next season as they head home for the African Nations Cup.

And that is sure to infuriate club bosses such as Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger.

Although Eto'o, 26, believes they should play for their countries, he has slammed the competition's organisers for arranging the tournament during the season.

Eto'o said: "This is a huge problem.

"I don't think the problem is between the national team and the club, but rather it belongs to the people who plan the calendar.

"They have to make it smoother and plan it in such a way that both parties are satisfied.

"I feel though that every match is important, even if it is a friendly, and you have to always be focused on winning.

"Playing for my national team is hugely important to me, in both competitive and friendly matches.

"Top-level football is a game that basically consists of the best players playing.

"In other words, the best should always be on the pitch to play an important role in the team.

"Football is all about tough competition, which is why the best have to play.

"It is pointless to limit the possibilities of the best players so that others can play."

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002390000-2007280026,00.html

I agree with Eto'o

[dcarson7]

IMO, the African players should play in the tournament.

It is something that further ignites the passion for football in African youths and also to a lesser degree many clubs have benefitted from this.

Examples.. Essien, Toure & Drogba are immense.

I agree with Eto's highlighted comment.. rather ignorant and pretentious of Fifa to overlook that. Although this does mean an extended season for all European based African players.. not many would appreciate that.

Plus as an additional (although unintentional) benefit, United can capitalise on the fact that Chelsea and Arsenal are missing their defense and Chelsea are missing their attack. mwah ha ha ha !!

[Dirtycheat]

I think FIFA should ask players for their decision before ordering them to do something. In this case, FIFA should say that they allow the player to skip his international duty if he wishes too!

that could potentially cause more conflict imo

it would mean some clubs may pressure players that are important \ expensive not to play for their NT in favour of playing for the domestic club.

[aminoacid]

I agree with Eto'o

So what does Eto'o want, for the tournament to be scheduled in the summer like the others? I'd rather the tournament be hosted in January instead of having all the players die of heat in July - Africa can get pretty HOT in the summer , last time i checked. And all of it gets hot.

[xbobbites]

So what does Eto'o want, for the tournament to be scheduled in the summer like the others? I'd rather the tournament be hosted in January instead of having all the players die of heat in July - Africa can get pretty HOT in the summer , last time i checked. And all of it gets hot.

Btw our summer's not in July like here. ours ( East africa) its a fucking oven during Nov Dec and Jan. and its raining like shit in July

*on topic* Blatter u piece of shit, fuck ass mofo. I wouldnt even play well if i were Kanoute. Just walk around the field or something

[Dogme]

Btw our summer's not in July like here. ours ( East africa) its a fucking oven during Nov Dec and Jan. and its raining like shit in July

*on topic* Blatter u piece of shit, fuck ass mofo. I wouldnt even play well if i were Kanoute. Just walk around the field or something

Kanoute has now played in the African Nations Cup, the Primera Liga, the Premier League and in the french first division. He has also won two UEFA Cups in a row and is extremely rich. He's also getting on a bit now as well :D Why should he care what FIFA thinks. What are FIFA going to do to him if he doesn't play, ban him from all football?!! Go on then, try :D I agree with what someone else here said, when Kanoute takes the pitch in his next international match, he should stroll around not doing much :P

[deathcab]

The Spanish season should end in late May, not late June.

The clashes of match dates between club and country is ridicilous, certain players are unfairly put before a choice while others are benefitting just because they're Europeans. In this sense, FIFA does not seem to be working in unity towards the more organised and better future of the game.

Bad thing about Sepp Blabla is that he only recently was re-elected, wasn't he? And nobody, iirc, stood up against him as he ran for presidency on his own. FIFA needs changes and Blatter needs to go away somewhere, far away.

[sanmarcos]

Blatter is a motherf*ucker, first the high-altitude bullshit, now this?

He is like Grondona in Argentina, a mafioso who never dies.