January 31, 2010
The Togo national team was attacked just before the AFCON started
Togo have been banned from the next two editions of the African Nations Cup because of “governmental interference” in their decision to pull out of the 2010 tournament after the machine-gun attack on the team bus.
The African Football Confederation (CAF) were unhappy that Togolese prime minister Gilbert Huongbo ordered his team to return from Angola, following the attack on their bus by a separatist movement in Cabinda that left two members of the delegation dead.
After initially pulling out of the competition, the Togo players then decided to play before being ordered back to the country by Huongbo. They were then disqualified by CAF for not turning up to their opening match against Ghana.
CAF president Issa Hayatou told AFP the decision to suspend the country from the 2012 and 2014 competitions was based on “governmental interference”, while CAF’s chief press officer Suleiman Habuba said the decision was based on article 78 of CAF regulations.
The football world was left shocked by events in Angola
This states: “A forfeit notified less than 20 days before the start or during the final competition shall entail in addition of the forfeit of the entry fee, a maximum fine stipulated by the regulations as well as the suspension of the concerned national association for the following two editions of the African Cup of Nations.”
“The players publicly expressed their willingness to return to the Nations Cup to compete. But the Togo government decided to call back their national team,” CAF said in a statement. “The decision by political authorities contravenes CAF and African Nations Cup regulations. The executive committee therefore has banned Togo from the next two African Nations Cup and fined the Togo FA 50,000 U.S. dollars.
“The executive committee and CAF repeat their profound sympathy to the families of the victims of the tragic attack. CAF has condemned the attack and denounced the act of terrorism.”
In Lome, Togolese sports minister Christophe Tchao revealed Togo would appeal against the ban. “We shall launch an appeal. We will use all legal means to enforce our rights regarding their decision,” Tchao said.
The families of the assistant coach and the press officer were taking legal action against the CAF and the Angolan state, their lawyer said.
“We are taking legal action because our compatriots were killed because of the mistakes of the Confederation of African Football (and) its president Mr Issa Hayatou,” lawyer Alexis Aquereburu told Reuters Television. “(The legal claim is) also against the Angolan state for putting in danger the life of our compatriots by organising this African Nations Cup in a war zone.”
Nigeria beat Algeria 1-0, to claim third position at the Orange cup of nations. While the final between Ghana and Egypt will played tonight.
The armed wing of the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC), embroiled in a decades-long separatist struggle, claimed responsibility for the attack.
[soccernet.com]
Have your say, is CAF right to ban Togo or it is inhuman?
27 Comments on "Togo handed two-tournament Nations Cup suspension"
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M from France on Sun, 31st Jan 2010 1:50 AM
Those who didnt succeed to protect the Togolese (the CAF has to supervise the organisation of the competition with the host country) are the ones who are now punishing them for something they didnt choose and, worse than that, for something they were victim of !
That’s the first time in history that people are condemned for being attacked !
Triple sanction: they get attacked by armed men and some die and get wounded, then they can’t play the competition because their government preferred them to come back home, and finally they are banned for 4 more years for having reacted in a human way?!?!
Are these guys from CAF crazy?? When it happened they just had a little word to blame the Angolan organization, then no apologies from them, but they are so quick to take sanctions on something that they were more responsible for than the Togolese players, football association or government !
It’s just crazy, if they have a problem with the Togolese government or football association, why punish the players once more, didn’t they suffer enough??
Steven on Sun, 31st Jan 2010 1:54 AM
CAF is ridiculous. Issa Hayatou has been there since 1988, CAF needs some new blood, fresh ideas.
Asilikale on Sun, 31st Jan 2010 7:45 AM
The punishment is too big.
Asilikale on Sun, 31st Jan 2010 7:47 AM
Lol i mean the families that “were not we” deprived of their.Zamfoot take note.
Georgia Russia on Sun, 31st Jan 2010 7:49 AM
they don’t need that punishment,,that’s the best Togolese government would have done,protect their own nationals.caf is rubbish
Awe on Sun, 31st Jan 2010 8:48 AM
@M from France
you are spot on. I think it is also important for the other associations in Africa to also stand against CAF on this issue.. FIFA included
Justice Kafusha on Sun, 31st Jan 2010 9:35 AM
This Issa chipuba, does he not have respect for the dead. 2 people were killed in that ambush and here he is making decisions that even a mad man cannot understand. Issa is a dictator
Justice Kafusha on Sun, 31st Jan 2010 9:37 AM
Amen
Bolla Pansi on Sun, 31st Jan 2010 11:14 AM
Rules are rules.
That was lawlessness at the most senior level in govt.
Play by the rules and things will be fine.
U cant break the rules and expect sympathy.We africans must stop being a laughing stalk.
Man ceasor on Sun, 31st Jan 2010 11:20 AM
honestly i dont ve faith in caf.they took da games 2a place were there r rebels.lass must go.
ba zambia on Sun, 31st Jan 2010 11:23 AM
FELLOW COUNTRY MEN AND WOMEN, THE OTHER TYM I DID SAY THAT, HAYATTOU, HAS BECOME BIG HEADED AS THE BADGGAR HAS OVER STAYED. A WELL THINKING HEAD HOW DO U EXPECT PEOPLE TO PLAY JUST FOOTBALL WHICH IS SIMPLY ENTERTAINMENT, WHEN YOUR FELLOW FRIENDS ARE IN COFFINS AND U ARE LOOKING AT THE COFFINS. GIVE ME THE CONTACT ADRESS FOR CAF, AND MAY WE MIT TO TALK TO THIS NICOMPOOPS AT CAF. THIS IS TOTAL NONSENSE.
jc on Sun, 31st Jan 2010 11:25 AM
Caf are a disgrace. Punishing Togo for what, for losing two of their people in the attack.
Ok on Sun, 31st Jan 2010 11:34 AM
Issa Hayatou is a criminal. He must face justice instead! Where on Earth, AFCON 2010 is still in play. Us Africans mourn for along time. Icililo pabala pasa he brings in his own confusion. What a man!
Now I agree with Abedi Pele when he says CAF does not listen to demands opf stakeholders. Let FAs boycott 2012 AFCON.
Please assist me with Hayatou`s email address. I want to write to him and advise him to leave before June 11.
Jojo on Sun, 31st Jan 2010 11:49 AM
CAF are a disgrace,they are holding meetings to discuss the wrong issue’s,they should to talking about the poor refereing decisions that we’ve seen at the africa cup,egypt scored a goal that never was against cameroon,ivory coast had a clear goal disalowed against algeria,the first red card given to the algerian defender was extremely harsh,a nigerian defender handled in the box against zambia,2 seconds after jacob mulenga was wrestled to the ground,these are the things they should be concentrating on including poor playing surfaces,low attendance rate etc
What the togo govt did was what most govts would have done,they were just protecting their people,there is no way they would have allowed them to play on after being shot at like that,2 lives were lost,their goalkeeper who was shot will probably never play football again,i think the best issa hayatou and his team should do is reverse this decision because this will cost them their jobs,
Jojo on Sun, 31st Jan 2010 11:58 AM
Yes rules are rules,but look at the circumstances which led to those rules being broken,people were shot at,people died,
Man ceasor on Sun, 31st Jan 2010 12:04 PM
life is more important than footbal hw do u play while yo friends r dead.cn u be free?i doubt.
Sibs on Sun, 31st Jan 2010 12:31 PM
This is scadalous takwaba. Isa Hayatou and his hechmen should think of retiring and let others with fresh ideas run Caf especially after the World Cup .
Bigge on Sun, 31st Jan 2010 1:54 PM
Power has gone to Ayatou’s head. He can no longer think straight. The problem with African leaders is that they are too obscessed with sangoma’s. They never know when its time to quit! I am sure Togo is shocked.
Justice Kafusha on Sun, 31st Jan 2010 2:37 PM
Can the rest of the African countries withdraw from AFCON in support of Togo. This is time to show this Isaa the way forward. I think he is bitter Cameroon lost. This is the same man who gave money to the family of a Cameroon player who died in during a game in France while he gave nothing to the families of those Zambian players who died in Gabon. Shame on this useless man
Asilikale on Sun, 31st Jan 2010 3:01 PM
@zamfoot
how long does moderation take.
And wht attract moderation.
kayula on Sun, 31st Jan 2010 9:39 PM
Is CAF serious, what interference are they talking about, those guys were trumatised, how did they expect them to play? Does CAF realise the all Togolese team would have probably been gunned down?. In Africa we have a problem, how can one man be at the top of an international organisation for over 20 years, I suppose this is what you get when power gets to one’s head, total rubbish
Myck1 on Mon, 1st Feb 2010 8:03 AM
Togo deserve to be punished!! They took an unneccessary risk.They should only blame themselves. Two AFCONs might look too long.But thats the idea behind punishment.They must feel the pinch.With Due respect to those who died in the attack!!!!
Kashman on Mon, 1st Feb 2010 8:40 AM
Caf is setting a very Bad Precedent, they are giving room to future attacks of Football teams, knowing that when they pull out they will be suspended for next 2 tournaments, thugs will deliberately aim attacks on strong teams in order to have them disqualified.
I think a fine would have been okay since CAF is saying it is doing so because on Govt interference in the matter but what did they expect the togolese govt to do sit back as if nothing happened, am disappointed.
chris on Mon, 1st Feb 2010 10:02 AM
Rule are put in place to be followed not compromised.yes there is death,were these guys told to go by road?lets not condemn for the sake of,governments like to politisise every thing and want political rule to rule over other laws.did the withdrawal solve anything.say in football if the player commiting the faul in the penalt area badily injures him self,should the referee forgo the penalt?thosev are rules bane and they are quating the section to which was violeted.lets not express ignorance.
Thato K on Mon, 1st Feb 2010 1:31 PM
Its inhuman for CAF to do this to the Togolese.I do not expect that a parent can just feel so fine when their child are attacked.Togo government acted like a true parent.CAF commitee should be overhauled.They should all resign.
Ndine on Mon, 1st Feb 2010 4:47 PM
Its sad that Togo lost its nationals in that terrible attack. However CAF is right in punishing the Togolese for GOVT INTERFERENCE. Mark the term Govt Inteference. Remember the players (and i guess their football association) had wanted to proceed with the games, however the GOVT directed the Team to withdraw. Had it been the Togo FA that had asked CAF for a withdrawal in view of the circumstances, am sure this ban issue would not have arisen. The Prime Minister should have used the Togo FA for the withdrawal. The punishment might look harsh but we all know that FIFA does not allow Govt interference. However am sure the sentence will be reduced upon the appeal.
Brave Rangers for life on Mon, 1st Feb 2010 5:49 PM
Decision is too harsh bane what happens to the budding stars of Togo, yes its wrong for the Govn, to interfere but CAF should have found another way of punishing Togo. The timing of the whole thing is so wrong these guys are in mourning for God’s sake!!! indeed Isaa has outlived his term time to give way to others to rule. On this one alone other countries have to voice out their concerns or are all the associations chickens and are afraid of the dictator called Issa Haytoo, God forbid if thats the case.