| On Thursday November 12th, the Algerian Team bus was attacked (stoned with rocks and bricks) by Egyptian fans on its way from the Cairo Airport to the Hotel. 4 players were injured, 1 of them was sent to the hospital. The Egyptian Authorities failed to insure the safety of the Away Team on a 1km distance from the Cairo International Airport to the Hotel. The FIFA maintained the game and imposed no sanctions. |
The whole world witnessed:
BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8358365.stm
Reuters: http://www.reuters.com/article/hotStocksNews/idUSLC7252320091112
USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2009-11-17-645324319_x.htm
Radio-Canada: http://www.radio-canada.ca/sports/soccer/2009/11/12/002-tensions-algerie-egypte.shtml
AlJazeera: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/11/20091114223043978828.html
Soccer America: http://www.socceramerica.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.showArticleHomePage&art_aid=35164
The Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/13/algerian-soccer-team-atta_n_356735.html
The New York Times: http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/13/egypt-and-algeria-brace-for-match-of-hate-sequel/
“the events in Cairo make us fear for law and order around the sport.”
Rob Hughes, The New York Times
“As host, Egypt was responsible for the Algerians’ security. FIFA rules are clear: << Match organizers must guarantee, in cooperation with the local police authorities, the safety of the participating teams and their officials as well as the FIFA match officials during their whole stay, from arrival to departure.>>”
John Leicester,USA Today
Fifa’s Answer to these attacks:
- No Sanctions for the Egyptian Federation (Despite the fact that FIFA already sent them a Warning a week before the match to ask them to tighten their security measures)
- No Postponement of the Game (Despite the fact that the players had stitches in their head that needed time to heal!)
- No Relocation of the Game (Despite the fact that Egyptian fans were not only attacking players but also attacked supporters outside the Cairo Stadium: http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/breves2009/20091114_235843_bus-caillasse-au-caire.html )
- 1 Written Warning to the Egyptian Federation asking them to tighten their security measures again (basically a repeat of the previous Warning!)
Questions for FIFA:
Is that what you call “Fairplay”? What Message are you sending to the World?
What will Hooligans all over the World deduct from this lack of firm sanctions? It is OKAY to attack and injure the players and supporters of the Adverse Team, because the Worst that can happen is a Written Warning from the FIFA. No Big Deal!
Fifa, why have you Breached the policies of your OWN Safety Regulations (See Articles #10 and #28 http://fr.fifa.com/mm/51/53/98/fifa_safety_regulations_fr.pdf)
Sepp, would your institution have reacted the same way if it was a European team who was attacked? (Is African Blood worth less than European Blood?)
Video from French Television France2, in which Emmanuel Petit, ex-World Champion with France in 1998, states: “I would like to see FIFA react to those events as firmly and quickly as they reacted to suspend Diego Maradona after what he said.”:
Video from AlJazeera TV summarizing the events :
Video from French Television M6 where Guests are compeltely mesmerized at FIFA’s lack of firm sanctions against the Egyptian Federation after what happened in Cairo
Video from French Television Direct8 where, once again, people are wondering what FIFA is doing!
