World Cup organisers in South Africa say they will not to get involved with the decision by the Nigerian government to suspend that country's football team from international football events for two years, following the team's poor showing at the tournament.
"The Nigerian government felt that they need to engage with the team on that matter, so did the French government, following the exit of their team. But, FIFA has made their position very clear on the matter and we will not interfere," said Organising Committee CEO Danny Jordaan.
Speaking at a media breakfast organised by Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane on Thursday, Jordaan said while the LOC regarded the decision and that of the French government to summon football authorities to be "harsh" FIFA was the only relevant body to deal with the cases.
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday shocked the entire football fraternity when he announced the suspension of the national team from international competition for two years following their early departure from South Africa.
He said the suspension will give the team an opportunity to "reorganize". The decision may affect Nigeria's participation in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers ahead of the showpiece in 2012.
After 20 days of World Cup action, players have taken a two-day rest before the start of the highly anticipated quarter final matches from tomorrow. re than 2.6 million fans attended matches at various stadiums throughout the country since the start of the World Cup and Jordaan said the organisers were targeting a three million attendance figure. If they achieve that, South Africa's World Cup could become the most attended in recent history, behind only the 1994 leg of the tournament held in the United States. - BuaNews
