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World soccer roundup Africa says World Cup bids on track
Posted: Tuesday February 08, 2000 07:05 PM
ACCRA, Ghana (AP) -- One of Africa's top soccer officials on Tuesday rejected suggestions that adverse publicity surrounding the African Nations Cup has damaged the continent's bid to host the World Cup. The three-week event has been tarnished by crowd violence, small attendances, organizational problems and the apparent imprisonment of the Ivory Coast team on its return to Abidjan. But Mustapha Fahmy, general secretary of the Confederation of African Football, the continent's governing soccer body, said that Africa's bid to stage the World Cup for the first time is still on track. "We don't think anything that has happened here has affected Africa's bids in any way," Fahmy said. "We are all fighting hard to host the event and other candidates have been putting over their own positive points. But we are extremely satisfied with the organization of the event." Morocco and South Africa are bidding to host the 2006 World Cup, with England, Germany and Brazil also in contention. South Africa is the favorite. But Alec McGivan, the head of England's bid team, which Tuesday flew to Paraguay to lobby South American FIFA members, last week claimed that there had been a "definite shift" toward his own country's candidature. One of the key concerns for FIFA's 24-member executive committee, which will next July decide which country will host 2006 World Cup, is security, an issue under scrutiny following serious disturbances at two Nigeria games. After a match against the Republic of Congo, fans threw stones at the team bus, shattering windows in the process. Worse followed during Monday's quarterfinal against Senegal, when a pitch invasion held up play for more than 15 minutes Rival bidders have pointed to a series of poor turnouts for matches not involving African Nations Cup co-hosts Ghana and Nigeria. Fewer than 400 people turned up for one group match in Accra between the Republic of Congo and Gabon. And FIFA president Sepp Blatter criticized Ivorian authorities after the team was held for two days as an apparent punishment for poor performances. "What happened to Ivory Coast is a local matter," Fahmy said. "We do not see the link between what happened there and the organization of a World Cup in Africa." The African Nations Cup was hit by organizational problems even before the first match when Anthony Williams, head of the Nigerian Football Association and a key figure in the tournament's organizing committee, was dismissed. They continued on Tuesday when Tunisia -- believing inaccurate media reports that its Accra semifinal match had originally been due to take place in Lagos -- complained to CAF. "This kind of thing does harm to African soccer," Fahmy admitted. "It gives a bad image to our organization." Senegalese fans attack Nigerians In Dakar, Senegalese soccer fans went on the rampage, ransacking Nigerian-owned businesses and attacking Nigerians after the Super Eagles beat Senegal in an African Nations Cup quarterfinal. Bands of club- and knife-wielding youths roamed the streets after Monday's 2-1 defeat, injuring at least a dozen Nigerians -- some seriously -- Nigerian embassy officials said. Senegalese fans stormed the Nigerian embassy, smashing windows, tearing up signposts and damaging an official car. They also attacked the Zimbabwean embassy, claiming the game's Zimbabwean referee was biased. Nigerian-owned shops in the heavily populated Medina neighborhood were ransacked, as were several other foreign-owned businesses. Many Nigerians sought refuge at their embassy, which was under heavy police guard Tuesday. "We are afraid for our lives," said one Nigerian, Ifeanyi Obiozor. The violence continued until well after midnight, when the youths gradually dispersed. There were no immediate arrests. UEFA suspends Russian referee until season's end UEFA on Tuesday suspended Russian referee Sergei Khusainov until the end of July over allegations that he and fellow officials got drunk before a UEFA Cup tie in Israel last September. UEFA's control and disciplinary body reconsidered the case following a successful appeal by Khusainov against its original ruling in December, which provisionally suspended him from any European function until disciplinary proceedings concluded. The Russian Football Union in October moved to suspend Khusainov and three other Russian officials for the rest of the season following the incident. They were barred by local soccer officials from refereeing the match between Hapoel Haifa and FC Brugge of Belgium and replaced at short notice by another team of officials. After re-examining the case, the disciplinary body suspended Khusainov "on a definitive basis for a serious breach of duty until 31 July," UEFA said in a statement. "His three assistants are suspended until 30 April." The officials have until Friday to appeal the decision. Brazil coach names players for exhibiion games Brazil coach Wanderley Luxemburgo called up eight Brazilians playing abroad Tuesday for two upcoming exhibition matches against Thailand and Britain. For defense, Luxemburgo called up Cafu of Roma and Evanilson of Borussia Dortmund, Fabio Bilica of Venice. In the midfield, Luxemburo called Emerson and Ze Roberto of Bayer Leverkussen. On the attack, he called on Jardel of Porto, Rivaldo of Barcelon and Elber of Bayer Munich. Luxemburgo will name the players from Brazilian teams next week. Brazil will face Thailand on Feb. 23 and Britain on Feb. 25.
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