Open Letter To Sepp Blatter

Dear Mr Sepp Blatter,

I have had the occasion to write in response to an article in the LA Times of Wednesday June 28, 2006 on the subject of the controversial (offside goals, to be precise) goals scored against Ghana, a match the author described as "fault-free". I bet, the writer may have confused our beautiful game of football for "American football".

I would not do another write-up on this very painful issue of disdain for budding African teams and disregard of the rules of the game at the current tournament all in a bid to keep Brazil afloat in order for FIFA to continue milking its most favoured cash-cow. The whole world saw the flagrant abuse suffered by and the intimidation of the poor Ghanaians lads in the hands of Slovakian referee and his assistants in aid of "Mighty" Brazil. What is the standard of football (not just their FIFA ranking) in Slovakia to the extent that FIFA deemed it necessary to haul in those bunch of crooks to officiate that all-important match!

I hereby propose that FIFA incorporate the phrase "FAIR OFFICIATING" into their corporate slogan. You asked teams and players for FAIR PLAY, anybody remembered to ask the referees for FAIR OFFICIATING? Either way I believe it ought to be incorporated prominently for all to read and note.

It's very saddening that African teams, try as they always do, are not deemed suitable to be allowed past round two or quarter finals. The whole world is watching the game loose its lustre owing to bad and utterly unjust officiating all for marketing purposes.

It is my belief that a copy of this email will be made available to Mr. Sepp Blatter and the requisite committee(s).

Brazil are a great team but that notwithstanding it was painful to watch Ghana being punished unjustifiably by Lubos and his henchmen even when they simply out-classed the Brazilians in their own game, albeit the lack of goals. In exacerbating the already shameful disregard of the rules of the game, the referee had the audacity to dismiss Ghana's coach Ratomir Dujkovic for speaking out against his bad decisions on the turf.

It has been said elsewhere about Ghana: " They proudly call themselves the Black Stars and every move they made was a celebration of the beautiful game ... "

Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)

Best Regards and I certainly hope someone is listening at FIFA.
Abdul-Rahman Alhassan-Abu
a.rahman@alumni.uOttawa.ca