By Andrew Warshaw
November 7 – The Ghanaian government has urged FIFA to re-examine allowing the country’s forthcoming World Cup playoff second leg against Egypt to be played in Cairo. Earlier this week FIFA president Sepp Blatter admitted in a video interview that the organisation was looking carefully at its decision in the wake of the continuing violence in Egypt.
It is now being reported that Blatter has been personally approached by Ghana legend Abedi Pele on behalf of the country’s President John Mahama and that Ghana’s sports minister has written to FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke.
FIFA has strict rules about government interference in footballing affairs but Ghana sports minister Elvis Afriyie Ankrah was reported as saying that his country still had “genuine security concerns” over the November 19 fixture.
FIFA has already rejected an appeal from Ghana’s FA to move the game to a neutral venue. Egypt are all but eliminated having lost the first leg 6-1 but if the venue stays put, up to 30,000 fans could attend what would be the first international in Cairo in two years.
It would also be the first home international in front of supporters since the Port Said riots last year that led to the deaths of more than 70 people.
“Even though Ghana is ready and willing to play Egypt anywhere, the Ministry of Youth and Sports (would) like to know from FIFA who would be held liable, accountable and responsible in the unfortunate event of any Ghanaian being harmed before, during or after the match,” Ankrah wrote.
“Prevention is better than regret and the concerns being expressed by Ghana are not far-fetched at all.”
The letter has also been sent to the Confederation of African Football, the United Nations Security Council and the Egyptian Football Association but time is clearly running out to switch the potentially volatile fixture.
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