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Thursday, May 29, 2008

South African violence escalates - Blatter's boys ignore it

Sepp Blatter - a man out of touchA United Nations advisor on Sports warned the FIFA should consider moving the 2010 World Cup elsewhere after further outbreaks of violence against foreigners in South Africa this week.

At least 56 people died and up to 100,000 were displaced when mobs armed with clubs, knives and stones rampaged through shantytowns in Johannesburg, Cape Town and other parts of South Africa this month.

"The images from South Africa were horrible. They're putting an enormous strain on the soccer World Cup," Willi Lemke, the U.N. Special Advisor on Sport, told Reuters.

He said he hoped the incidents were a lone outbreak of violence. "But if the scenes repeat themselves, FIFA will rethink its decision in favour of South Africa and, if necessary, pull the plug," Lemke said.

Of course nothing could be further from the truth - as Sepp Blatter won re-election to the FIFA presidency on the strength of an African Bloc vote after ensuring that South Africa won the 2010 World Cup. He will railroad any discussion on fan safety and push ahead.

Blatter, who is currently in Australia lapping up a lifestyle of 5-star hotel luxury with the rest of the FIFA executive board said on Tuesday the violent incidents had been discussed by but they were confident the situation was under control.

They will experience South Africa in air-conditioned Limosine luxury, surrounded by a posse of body guards and declare everything fine and lovely in their secured compound.

Make no mistake - if the 2010 World Cup goes ahead in South Africa as the situation stands - the FIFA executive will have blood of fans on their hands.

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