ETHIOPIA: FOOTBALL: Ethiopian soccer officials and fans react to FIFA's decision to throw Ethiopia out of 2010 World Cup

Record ID: 452569

  • Title: ETHIOPIA: FOOTBALL: Ethiopian soccer officials and fans react to FIFA's decision to throw Ethiopia out of 2010 World Cup
  • Date: 19th September 2008
  • Summary: (AD1) ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA (SEPTEMBER 17, 2008) (REUTERS) CARS DRIVING DOWN ROAD PEOPLE WALKING OUT OF ETHIOPIAN FOOTBALL FEDERATION HEADQUARTERS ETHIOPIAN FOOTBALL FEDERATION (EFF) LOGO (SOUNDBITE) (English) PR OFFICER, ETHIOPIAN FOOTBALL FEDERATION (EFF), YIBELTAL GETAHUN, SAYING: "We are going to handle the situation through diplomatic way and we already employed international lawyers those who have experience, similar experience regarding this court of sports for arbitration or case. So we are on the way to handle this issue through our international lawyers." FOOTBALLERS WARMING UP FOOTBALLERS WALKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRESIDENT, ETHIOPIAN FOOTBALL FEDERATION (EFF), DR. ASHEBIR WOLDEGIORGIS, SAYING: "It was our problem. It is not FIFA's problem. It is our resistance not to abide to international and national regulations and normative. That was our problem. The so called new executive committee it was them who brought this country to suspension to humiliation." VARIOUS OF YOUTH PLAYING SOCCER (SOUNDBITE) (Amharic) FOOTBALLER, ASHENAFI ALEMAYEHU, SAYING: "Ethiopia was recently suspended. We are so annoyed. I did not expect that Ethiopia would be suspended out of the World Cup, it is FIFA's decision but they are killing Ethiopia's hopes." MORE OF FOOTBALLERS TRAINING (SOUND BITE) (Amharic) ADDIS ABABA RESIDENT, GIZACHEW LEGESSE, SAYING: "I am so saddened about FIFA's decision. FIFA has ignored the voice of over 80 million people for the benefit of a few individuals." VARIOUS OF NATIONAL TEAM TRAINING AT MESKEL SQUARE
  • Embargoed: 4th October 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ethiopia
  • Country: Ethiopia
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA335LNQDM2ZN7YOTBLRV7VZ2WJ
  • Story Text: Fan in Addis Ababa react with dismay at FIFA's decision to throw Ethiopia out of the 2010 World Cup following a long-running row over the leadership of the country's football federation with Ethiopian soccer officials saying lawyers have been hired to pursue the case.
    Ethiopian soccer fans and officials reacted on Wednesday (September 17) to FIFA's decision to throw the country out of the 2010 World Cup following a long-running row over the leadership of the country's football federation.
    The Ethiopia Football Federation (EFF) said they were prepared to take court action against FIFA.

    "We are going to handle the situation through diplomatic way and we already employed international lawyers those who have experience, similar experience regarding this court of sports for arbitration or case. So we are on the way to handle this issue through our international lawyers,"
    Yibeltal Getahun, EFF's PR Officer said.
    FIFA announced on Friday (September 12) that Ethiopia would be immediately removed from the tournament's qualifying competition after refusing to honour an agreement reached by with FIFA in February 2008.
    Ethiopia were suspended from international competition in July after failing to reinstate the federation leaders officially recognised by FIFA.
    EFF President, Dr. Ashebir Woldegiorgis said FIFA was interfering in their local administration and would not abide by the world body's regulations.

    "It was our problem. It is not FIFA's problem. It is our resistance not to abide to international and national regulations and normative. That was our problem. The so called new executive committee it was them who brought this country to suspension to humiliation," he said.
    Soccer fans in the capital Addis Ababa said they were disappointed at the loss of watching their team compete in the World Cup.

    "Ethiopia was recently suspended. We are so annoyed. I did not expect that Ethiopia would be suspended out of the World Cup, it is FIFA's decision but they are killing Ethiopia's hopes," Ashenafi Alemayehu, a local footballer said.

    "I am so saddened about FIFA's decision. FIFA has ignored the voice of over 80 million people for the benefit of a few individuals,"
    Gizachew Legesse, an Addis Ababa resident said.
    Before Friday's decision, Ethiopia had been third in their four-team qualifying group behind Rwanda and Morocco and ahead of Mauritania.
    FIFA said the group table would now be amended with all the matches played by Ethiopia wiped from the standings.
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