Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has suspended the country’s national team from international competition for two years in response to the Super Eagles‘ disappointing World Cup campaign. And meanwhile, French President Nicolas Sarkozy says his government will investigate Les Bleus‘ performance in South Africa.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter reminded both nations of FIFA rules banning government interference in football federations, but the French government shot back at a press conference: “It is the role of the state to think through, with the federation, a problem that goes beyond simple sport. The French team represents the country, not just the federation.”… Blatter, meanwhile, is under intense pressure regarding goal-line and instant replay technologies that could perhaps have averted several high-profile refereeing mistakes in the last week; I suspect he may actually be shamed into some incremental rule change this time around.
This article appears in June 25 • 2010.