Malawi coach Tom Saintfiet is to
report coach Stephen Keshi to FIFA
after the Nigeria coach reportedly
called him "a white dude who should
go back to Belgium."
Both coaches have been
arguing since Malawi
asked FIFA to move
next month's crucial World Cup qualifier
from Calabar for safety reasons.
Saintfiet told BBC Sport, "It is
unacceptable that any person says these
words - it is clear racism. "It is 100%
sure that my lawyers will lodge a
complaint with FIFA."
The row erupted earlier this month when
the Football Association of Malawi (FAM)
wrote to FIFA, seeking a new venue for
their 7 September, 2013 Group F
qualifier away to the Super Eagles - a
match which Malawi, who trail Nigeria by
two points, must win to progress to the
play-offs.
Belgian Saintfiet told local media at the
time that he was concerned about
security because he claims "the UK's
Foreign & Commonwealth Office says it
is a no-travel area."
Keshi hit back shortly afterwards, saying
"this is where we play our games and
other countries are fine with that."
And the Nigerian Football Federation
complied with FIFA's request for a
written guarantee that the game would
go ahead safely.
Keshi has now followed that up with
comments on UK-based African TV show,
Vox Africa's Sports360, saying: "I think
the coach of Malawi is crazy.
"If he wants to talk to FIFA, he should go
back to Belgium. He is not an African
person, he is a white dude, he should go
back to Belgium."
"I have never used any words like these
to any coach. He has no right, who is he?
"All other countries play in Calabar.
Calabar is one of the safest places in
Nigeria… He is mad. I wish I could say it
to his face."
Saintfiet, who married a Zimbabwean
earlier this year, told BBC Sport he is
"shocked" by Keshi's comments and he
believes the former Nigeria captain's
words could also lead to trouble at the
qualifier.
"These words create hate and
aggression, and creates a risk ahead of
the match in Calabar," Saintfiet added.
"These comments are unacceptable and
I am very sad about them. I will not say
any bad words about Mr Keshi, nor
Nigeria - I only spoke about moving the
game.
"If FIFA takes racism seriously, then you
have to take it seriously in both
directions. If a European said something
of this nature about an African, you
would have a huge problem. "I am
against racism in all directions."
Saintfiet believes Keshi "is angry because
of the request to change the venue," but
the Belgian stands by his feeling that
Calabar is unsafe.
"If FIFA says it's ok (for the match to be
played in Calabar) because Nigeria will
provide anti-bomb squads, then surely
this is a problem at the beginning. If you
need anti-bomb squads, you cannot
consider the area safe. It is designated a
non-travel area, high-risk area. We are
not insulting anyone."
No comments:
Post a Comment