SWITZERLAND: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Algeria's national football team trains in Swiss Alps before the World Cup

Record ID: 573948

  • Title: SWITZERLAND: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Algeria's national football team trains in Swiss Alps before the World Cup
  • Date: 21st May 2010
  • Summary: CRANS-MONTANA, SWITZERLAND (19 MAY 2010) (REUTERS) PAN OF SWISS VALLEY VIEW WITH THE ALPS IN BACKGROUND ALGERIAN FOOTBALL TEAM PLAYERS GETTING READY FOR TRAINING ON PITCH VARIOUS OF PLAYERS ON THE PITCH ZOOM OUT TO PLAYERS ON THE PITCH ZOOM OUT TO DEFENDER DJAMEL MESBAH WARMING UP ON THE PITCH ALGERIA COACH RABAH SAADANE WITH JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (French) ALGERIA COACH RABAH SAADANE TALKING ABOUT THE SANCTION IMPOSED BY FIFA ON EGYPT: "There was a sanction by FIFA, we respect that, it's FIFA. But of course, considering what we've been through over there, I don't think it takes into account what we've experienced over there, such as the attack on our bus. Certainly, the sanction is not satisfactory." COACH SAADANE WITH JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (French) ALGERIA COACH RABAH SAADANE SAYING: "We've had a few concerns with some injuries, but the majority were light injuries who will heal in the coming days." SUPPORTERS WATCHING THE TRAINING ON THE SIDE OF THE PITCH MIDFIELDER KARIM ZIANI ON THE PITCH PLAYERS ON THE PITCH
  • Embargoed: 5th June 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Switzerland
  • Country: Switzerland
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA2VA17869FGGRVQE7OL3PB1NBZ
  • Story Text: Algeria coach vents his frustration at FIFA over sanctions handed to Egypt as his team builds up to the World Cup.
    Algeria coach Rabah Saadane criticised FIFA on Wednesday (May 19) describing the punishment handed out to Egypt after an attack on his team's bus before November's World Cup qualifier in Cairo as inadequate.
    "There was a sanction by FIFA, we respect that, it's FIFA," Saadane said.
    "But of course, considering what we've been through over there, I don't think it takes into account what we've experienced over there, such as the attack on our bus. Certainly, the sanction is not satisfactory."
    Egypt were fined nearly 90 thousand dollars after incidents before and after their match at home to Algeria on November 14. They were also ordered to play the first two matches of their 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign at least 100 kilometres outside Cairo.
    FIFA said the Egyptians had failed to put in place proper security measures and also found them guilty of overcrowding at the Cairo International Stadium and detaining the Algerian bus for over 45 minutes after the end.
    It was the latest twist to a long-running soccer feud between the two nations, which stretches back to a World Cup qualifier 20 years ago in Cairo, when Egypt won 1-0 to guarantee a place at the 1990 finals in Italy.
    Players clashed on the field after the game with the Egyptian team doctor was left partially blind.
    Algeria's World Cup team have been preparing for the World Cup in the Swiss Alps since the beginning of this week. They are heading to Dublin for a friendly match against Ireland next Thursday (May 28).
    "We've had a few concerns with some injuries, but the majority were light injuries who will heal in the coming days", Saadane told Reuters Television before a training session in Montreux.
    Algeria will also play the United Arab Emirates on June 5 in Germany as part of a final tune-up in Nuremburg, starting on May 31.
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