Social Change in the Football World

Dear All,

I am sure you have recently seen the draw for the Football World Cup 2006 in Germany. It is evident that FIFA is stifling the footballing development of African nation. Five qualifying slots for the second largest continent on earth is simply not enough. Although the footballing history and heritage of Africa may be relatively new, in recent times, the continent has produced stars at a productivity rate rivalling both Europe and South America, and far exceeding the other continents. Indeed in the last 10 years, 6 players have been awarded the FIFA World Player of The Year Award. Of these 6, 3 have been from South America, 2 from Europe and 1 from Africa. In the shortlist for this year's award, the top 3 nominees include a European, a South American and an African. Players from a variety of different African countries are plying their trade in the most demanding leagues in the world. This is not similar to the case in South America, where the high level of footballing expertise exhibited by two countries, Brazil and Argentina, is the sole rationale for awarding the continent, where there are only ten countries participating, four and a half qualifying spaces. The following countries have multiple players playing at club level equal to those of other European and South American countries- to name but a few, Nigeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Senegal, Morroco, Egypt, Tunisia, South Africa and Liberia.
All along I have been comparing the level of African footballing standards to those of South America and Europe. Because that is where they belong. Africa cannot be compared to Asia, where only Japan, South Korea and Iran have a production line of players capable of playing at a world class level. And yet Asia has only half a slot less than Africa does. Africa cannot be compared to North America, where the United States and Mexico have had a stranglehold on the top two places in the continent in all living memory. Indeed, the reason for Europe holding as many qualifying slots as they do is that FIFA would like to see the best teams in football advance to their showpiece tournament. The only continent where the best teams are failing to qualify is Africa, simply because there are too many good footballing countries in that continent, too many to fit into the measly five slots they have been offered. The evidence is indisputable that Africa indeed needs to be considered a footballing powerhouse. Unfortunately, the improvement in African teams has not been met by a similar increase in World Cup slots.
In addition to qualifying slots, the entire layout of FIFA's seeding for the World Cup draw is an impediment to the progress of countries who have qualified from Continent Federations which were offered fewer spaces. Because of a seeding progress which splits nations by continent, countries from Africa, North America or Asia are almost certain to be grouped together with at least 2 established footballing countries from Europe. No disrespect is intended to nations like Saudi Arabia, Trinidad&Tobago and Australia. They without a doubt have earned their right to participate in the World Cup. But the inability of non-European countries to be grouped with one of these less established countries arbitrarily and unfairly impedes and hinders their chances of qualifying from the group stage of the World Cup to the knockout phase. I cite the case of the United States of America, who were drawn with Italy, the Czech Republic and Ghana in the upcoming world cup. The USA is a non-European side, and as a result they are bound to draw at least 2 well established footballing nations unless they manage to gain a top seed. This naturally places them up against a large obstacle from the very beginning of the world cup, and they are placed at a disadvantage. Which brings me to the system of selecting the nations given top seeding. This system has no transparency, and is far too ambiguous for a selection that will have such a major impact on so great a prize. One single measuring stick should be selected as the determinant of seeding, and this should be kept constant at every ensuing tournament.
Clearly, FIFA has performed with tremendous ineptitude with regards to qualification and seeding. Indeed, while I am not suggesting that they have acted in such a manner, one may mistakenly think they have acted in a very Euro-centric manner. In the interest of fairness and the hopes of a more equal world cup in the future, where every nation, from Hong Kong to Argentina, from Benin to Andorra, is given an equal opportunity for success, please pass this email on. Let us create world awareness, indeed let us be proponents of fairness.

May all the teams be treated fairly, and may the best team win.

Fwd Mail by Kaveh Namazie.