2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa

[CielOnTap]

Two days after I was charged, South Africa’s ­controversial chief of police Bheki Cele, gave a press conference in Pretoria and wrongly stated that I had helped Pavlos to get into the dressing room.

He even lied to the world’s media that CCTV showed me and Pavlos together in the ­tunnel before the security breach.

The false claims were reported all over the world and my professional reputation was tarnished.

The truth is that Pavlos’s sister in London rang several newspapers in Britain just a few minutes after he’d rung home to tell her what he’d done after the England-Algeria game.

My news desk woke me at 3am in the morning and gave me Pavlos’s number.

I rang him instantly and we arranged to meet a few hours later, when I was able to persuade him to talk exclusively to me. That was the first time we had ever met. Cele simply lied.

He was desperate to save face for the appalling breach in security.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/latest-news/news/2010/07/18/justice-in-south-africa-it-s-a-sick-joke-115875-22419972/

This story reveals an important element of the court system: be prepared to pay your way out or expect to lose time from your life figuring out why police would lie about your actions if a security breach was exposed. Is President Zuma aware of this problem? Mr. Mandela?

http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/article526453.ece/British-intruder-journalist-in-court

Police arrested Wright, who works for the Sunday Mirror, on Monday in connection with what they said was a security breach in the England soccer team's dressing room.

They said he had been charged with defeating the ends of justice and contravening the Immigration Act.

http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/article543361.ece/Charges-dropped-against-British-journalist

Instead, as had happened earlier to British soccer world cup tourist, Pavlos Joseph, Wright ended up paying a R750 admission of guilt fine for a technical contravention of the Immigration Act.

The Immigration Act violation related to Wright booking Joseph into the Bay Hotel in Camps Bay under an assumed name.

Authorities don't like to lose face with the public. "We made a mistake" and reason for the errors would have more long-term benefit than making up charges and having the police chief lie.

[CielOnTap]

Two days after I was charged, South Africa’s ­controversial chief of police Bheki Cele, gave a press conference in Pretoria and wrongly stated that I had helped Pavlos to get into the dressing room.

He even lied to the world’s media that CCTV showed me and Pavlos together in the ­tunnel before the security breach.

The false claims were reported all over the world and my professional reputation was tarnished.

The truth is that Pavlos’s sister in London rang several newspapers in Britain just a few minutes after he’d rung home to tell her what he’d done after the England-Algeria game.

My news desk woke me at 3am in the morning and gave me Pavlos’s number.

I rang him instantly and we arranged to meet a few hours later, when I was able to persuade him to talk exclusively to me. That was the first time we had ever met. Cele simply lied.

He was desperate to save face for the appalling breach in security.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/latest-news/news/2010/07/18/justice-in-south-africa-it-s-a-sick-joke-115875-22419972/

This story reveals an important element of the court system: be prepared to pay your way out or expect to lose time from your life figuring out why police would lie about your actions if a security breach was exposed. Is President Zuma aware of this problem? Mr. Mandela?

http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/article526453.ece/British-intruder-journalist-in-court

Police arrested Wright, who works for the Sunday Mirror, on Monday in connection with what they said was a security breach in the England soccer team's dressing room.

They said he had been charged with defeating the ends of justice and contravening the Immigration Act.

http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/article543361.ece/Charges-dropped-against-British-journalist

Instead, as had happened earlier to British soccer world cup tourist, Pavlos Joseph, Wright ended up paying a R750 admission of guilt fine for a technical contravention of the Immigration Act.

The Immigration Act violation related to Wright booking Joseph into the Bay Hotel in Camps Bay under an assumed name.

Authorities don't like to lose face with the public. "We made a mistake" and reason for the errors would have more long-term benefit than making up charges and having the police chief lie.

[CielOnTap]

Spain looks to host 2018 World Cup
Jul 20, 2010 5:52 PM | By Sapa-AP

Now that Spain has its first World Cup title, the country's football authorities are focussing on another ambition - winning the right to host a World Cup.
Secretary of state for sport Jaime Lissavetzy says the joint bid with neighbouring Portugal to host either the 2018 or 2022 event is Spain's "next very difficult challenge."

Lissavetzy says the World Cup victory in South Africa this month, when the Netherlands was beaten 1-0 in the final, showed Spain is "an international power" in sports. http://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/soccer/article560917.ece/Spain-looks-to-host-2018-World-Cup

Seville Spain had the World Expo about 2 years ago, so there is still something new to see. Spain, the country, might wish to ensure that the finances are ok because as seen in articles from Spiegel, Spain and Portugal have currency problems at home. Long shadow of Greece to avoid.

[deja vu]

First, they were made to listen to a public airing of their faults. Then they had to turn around en masse and do the same thing to their disgraced coach, who may not be long for this world. New reports are leaking out of North Korea about the national soccer team’s humiliating return home after losing all three of their matches at the recent World Cup.


http://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/ar ... -life?bn=1


I think the world knew this would probably happen. Why is N. Korea allowed to participate in any world sporting event? You lose you die is their motto and the world should shut them out, if only to try and preserve the life of the coaches/players.

They should be banned immediately on all levels. Any arguement of trying to show them how to deal with loss and be good sports has never worked. You would have better luck talking to a brick wall. All of their teams are tied to the leadership so any loss is a slap in the face to the dictators running the country. Other countries reacted badly to losing at the World Cup but N. Korea is only one of 2 countries I can think of that actually kill you for it. The other being Iraq when Saddam was still in charge.

This man did nothing wrong, yet it will cost him his life and his family will probably be punished for the rest of theirs.

[Speak-Ez]

.

I feel sort of ashamed to admit that I didn't pay much attention to the losses the DPRK's team suffered during the tournament. I'm sure I noted the losses as I would go over the scores at the end of each day of play, but alarm bells should have gone off in my head at the 7-0 loss to Portugal for the very reason that one should have immediately realized that loss might very well mean horrible retribution upon the team's return to their country.

What I'm wondering right now, though, is which soccer players around the world will stand up and tell the world how much they deplore such actions by that country's leaders. How about some protest from the two teams that were in the final match? How about a petition to the United Nations by every team that participated? Maybe a petition to FIFA to ask that sports body to petition the United nations? A petition that demands some sort of accountablity.

How about sanctions placed upon the future participation of the DPRK in any FIFA sanctioned event unless the well-being of each and every member of that team from the DPRK is documented and verified in some way?

Didn't someone once write that if you are not part of the solution, you might be part of the problem. Given that there were sanctions placed upon South African teams in years past because of apartheid it wouldn't be the first time events within a nation's borders provided reason for other nations to make clear their distaste of those events through mandates upon that nation's international sports activities.

We should draft a letter from the Speak-Ez Community asking for some action from FIFA. Sports can also build better international understanding.

.

[CielOnTap]

Just what is Sepp Blatter doing to bring the wrath of FIFA to bear upon the goings on with the North Korean team? He managed to use the FIFA rules to shame Nigeria's government to retract a 2-year ban on its soccer athletes from international competition.

So Mr. Blatter, remind North Korea of why it cannot go its usual political route with team members. Something about sportsmanship and the country having to adhere to FIFA's rules? FIFA had an inspection team for the 2018 event in South Korea just last weekend-total miss to not say anything about the neighbour to the north.

Article 3n to 3q (Contents of Application) of the Regulations Governing the Admission of Associations to FIFA:

o) A report on the coaches and instructors registered with the applicant.
This report shall also contain information on the type of basic
training and further education provided for coaches.
p) A report on the representative teams that could represent the applicant
in offi cial tournaments organised by FIFA and the applicant’s
Confederation.
q) A declaration that the applicant’s bodies will comply fully with the
Statutes, regulations, provisions and decisions of FIFA bodies at all
times.

Regulations-Club Licensing-I hope there is something that FIFA can determine about the national sanctions and logic thereof with regards to reports of what is alleged to have occurred to the North Korean team and coach.

2.2.5 Implementation at national level
2.2.5.1 The implementation of the club licensing system at national level
includes the following steps and processes:
a) existence of a legal basis within the statutes;
b) establishment of rules regarding sanctions under the national club
licensing system;
c) integration of the minimum criteria defi ned in the confederation
regulations into national regulations, including the exception and
accreditation processes;
d) decision on the applicability of the licensing system to licence
applicants;
e) option for the member association to delegate club licensing
responsibilities to an affi liated league.
2.2.6 Existence of a legal basis within the statutes of the member
association
2.2.6.1 For the implementation of the club licensing system, each member
association must have a legal basis within its statutes that describes
the objective of the system and the relevant authority and contains a
reference to further, more detailed regulations.2.2.8.3 The member association is free to increase the minimum requirements
or to upgrade the criteria established in the confederation regulations
for the purpose of entering confederation and/or national club
competitions. The member association may also introduce additional
criteria not included in the confederation regulations. Where introduced
by the member association in its national regulations, any increased
minimum requirements, upgraded or additional criteria shall apply
mutatis mutandis to entry for confederation club competitions. The
member association may also adapt the wording of their regulations
according to:
a) member associations’ objectives and priorities;
b) the statutes and regulations of the member association;
c) national law;
d) fl exibility given by the confederation.
2.2.9 Applicability of the system
2.2.9.1 The member association must decide to which clubs the system applies.
As a minimum, the club licensing system must be implemented in respect
of top-division clubs which qualify for confederation club competitions
on sporting merit. It is best practice to implement the club licensing
system in respect of all top-division clubs of the member association.
2.2.9.2 The member association may also decide to implement the system
in respect of participation in both confederation competitions and
national competitions (top division and lower divisions). The quality
standards would thereby be improved on a broader basis in the
national championship as well as in confederation club competitions,
and clubs of the same division would be treated equally.

[Smitty]

South Korea did not win either, but their people cheered them on like winners which so such a difference between North & South Korea.

[CielOnTap]

Found this item from the start of the World Cup:
06-12-2010 19:37

N. Korea’s heir promises gifts to football players

The widely believed heir designate of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il visited the North Korean World Cup soccer team twice in April and May in an unofficial "site inspection," and allegedly promised to shower them with gifts, in case they play well in the games, a local daily said.

With the pledge, Jong-un also coached them how to play. "In both defense and offense, every player should work in an organic fashion," the Open Radio for North Korea Friday cited the heir, Kim Jong-il's third son, Jong-un, as saying, quoting an internal source in North Korea, according to the Chosun Ilbo newspaper.

Kim Jong-un also instructed the coach to make the team "undefeatable."http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2010/06/113_67529.html
In the FIFA regulations, the head coach is to do the coaching of the team. The hierarchy of the member association is show transparency. So this promise seems inappropriate, as well as the coaching instruction and the instruction for the coach to the make the team undefeatable.

The reason why Switzerland was the training ground for the North Korean team--it is about what the country gave the leader's family-opportunities. One man was basically the country's ambassador just for ensuring said opportunities.

As a neutral country, Switzerland has special significance for North Korea.

It has provided the family of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il with education opportunities, and has also been one of few vacation places for Kim's family.

Lee Chul, known as a member of Kim Jong-il's inner-circle, had spent nearly 30 years in Switzerland as North Korean ambassador, having taken care of the "leader's" family members.

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/special/2010/04/176_64815.html

The ambassador is supposed to represent the whole country, not just the leader. Some North Koreans probably realize the truth of the position for what it is-pure patronage.

Here's an astonishing story about whose strategy was used during a World Cup match-the dear Leader's:
How Kim Jong-il Ruined World Cup Propaganda Push for Heir

The North Korean regime has been thwarted in apparent plans to use the World Cup as a means to boost the image of leader Kim Jong-il's heir apparent Kim Jong-un. Radio Free Asia on Tuesday claimed the plans were scuppered when what seem to have been muddle-headed instructions from Kim senior himself to the national team lead to a devastating rout in South Africa.

Quoting a source, RFA reported that after watching the match against powerhouse Brazil, in which North Korea recorded a respectable 1-2 loss with a tight defense strategy, Kim Jong-il said that although the team played the first half well, it lost because it only focused on defense in the second half. He then gave orders for the team's defenders to be positioned forward and even specified where each defender should be standing in the field.

According to the source, Kim "gave orders twice" to a responsible official dispatched to South Africa during the game against Portugal on June 21. The orders were delivered to North Korea manager Kim Jong-hun and implemented in the game. Despite the widening gap in the score, the North Koreans team stuck to their hopeless strategy and lost 0-7. http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/07/08/2010070801134.html

Another account of the public criticism faced by the North Korean team by other athletes and government bodies:
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/07/28/2010072800601.html

[deja vu]

According to TV news, past coaches were sent to hard labor prison camps if their life was spared. They lose the jobs they held outside of coaching and given the lowest jobs on the totem pole when released.

It's too bad some or all didn't have a chance to defect. They must have known they would be punished when they returned.

[CielOnTap]

FIFA probe claims that North Korea World Cup failure was punished with hard labour and interrogations
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 11:41 AM on 11th August 2010
Sepp Blatter has confirmed FIFA will look into claims of mistreatment of North Korea's players and coach following their poor World Cup campaign in South Africa.

Reports claim North Korea manager Kim Jong-Hun was sentenced to hard labour and his squad were subjected to a six-hour interrogation by government officials after their tournament ended with three straight defeats.

That included a 7-0 thrashing at the hands of Portugal in their second group game.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1302094/FIFA-investigate-North-Korea-mistreatment-claims.html

Since the women's soccer tournament ended 11 days ago, Mr. Blatter certainly could have been more active on this story, even right after the World Cup. The federation ought to have been put on the pitch in front of Mr. Blatter to explain what happened.