Comments on: How to Justify Banning Togo from the Next Two Africa Cup of Nations?

By: CAF Chief Issa Hayatou Should Resign | Pitch Invasion

CAF Chief Issa Hayatou Should Resign | Pitch Invasion — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:17:19 +0000

[...] post last week condemning CAF’s decision to ban Togo for two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments for withdrawing from this year’s event following [...]

By: Neeskens13

Neeskens13 — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:33:53 +0000

To Micah’s point — Adebayor should convince Essien, Drogba, Kalou, Mikel, Eto’o and other influential African footballers to boycott any matches connected with the 2012 edition of the Cup of Nations until CAF reverses this ridiculous ban. CAF’s finances would surely be affected by the lack of star power in future matches. As Tom so correctly stated, even the timing of this decision is laughable and overtly vindictive.

By: The Sweeper: Where’s Your Wad Gone, Premier League? | Pitch Invasion

The Sweeper: Where’s Your Wad Gone, Premier League? | Pitch Invasion — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:24:02 +0000

[...] We asked on Saturday if anyone could offer us any reasonable defense for the decision of CAF to ban Togo from the next two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments. Nobody did, but in a bizarrely short and weakly argued piece in the Times, the usually thoughtful Gabriele Marcotti spits out the following: “CAF’s announcement that Togo would not be allowed to enter the next two continental tournaments met howls of outrage. And, indeed, it is shocking, until you read CAF’s justification. Togo were banned not for withdrawing from the competition — given the circumstances, it would have been more than understandable — but because the decision to pull out was taken by the Togolese Government, which apparently overruled the players, who reportedly wanted to play. And CAF, like Fifa and Uefa, has strict rules about government interference in sporting matters: the decision should have been made by Togo’s football association and it should have been final.” Not a word about the unusual circumstances to the “interference” in this case, nor the bizarre timing of CAF’s announcement. [...]

By: Mike Geary

Mike Geary — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:54:18 +0000

1. Terrorists tried to kill players. 2. Trying to protect their player’s lives, they took the most natural and understandable decision, to keep away from danger. 3. They interpreted this as in irregularity and penalize the team.

Did I get this right?

By: The Sweeper: Togo Ban Fallout Continues | Pitch Invasion

The Sweeper: Togo Ban Fallout Continues | Pitch Invasion — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 15:50:50 +0000

[...] so badly misjudged the mood of the public”), he does capture a bit of the public mood following Caf’s decision to fine Togo $50 000 and ban them from the next two Africa Cup of Nations [...]

By: Barry

Barry — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 09:49:46 +0000

If there is no real justification for the suspension, then can someone suggest the CAF’s motivation in doing this, aside from wishing to uphold a simple law which has been applied a number of times before? That is, what does the CAF have to actually gain from “unfairly” suspending Togo aside from, like I said, upholding a rule?

By: ursus arctos

ursus arctos — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 21:55:43 +0000

It’s the single most outrageous decision in the history of football administration and should not be allowed to stand.

Even CAF’s pretense is highly questionable as the “government intervention” only occurred after CAF and the Angolan organizers put very significant pressure on the Togolese delegation in Cabinda to change their original decision not to compete. That pressure has been reported to have included a visit by Hayatou himself, and this ruling provides an indication of the kind of “persuasion” he may well have engaged in the immediate aftermath of the incident.

By: Elliott

Elliott — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 18:59:16 +0000

Well, it has generated some serious media attention. Any press is good press?

But seriously, this is a similar pattern of poor governance – lack of foresight, coordination, and communication leads to major problem. Everyone points fingers, and those in authority burn an effigy. Repeat. Recycle. Rinse.

By: Micah

Micah — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 17:23:57 +0000

The lives and emotions of the players conflict with CAF’s finances. I’d be curious to see if the CAF would have reached the same decision had Ghana, Cameroon, Ivory Coast or Egypt had been attacked and withdrew.