Open letter to Sepp Blatter - Ghana vs Egypt World Cup Qualifier in Egypt

By Kofi Thompson

Dear Mr. Blatter,

Like many in Ghana, I found it hard to understand why the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA), sanctioned the playing of the return leg, of the World Cup qualifying football match between Ghana and Egypt, on Egyptian soil.

Egypt, as FIFA must be fully aware, is a nation in turmoil. Despite the firm grip exercised by the Egyptian military on the nation, violence still breaks out from time to time in that country.

Furthermore, Egypt is also a nation with a known history of violence occasionally breaking out at local stadia, during and after matches between football teams in the domestic league, with tragic consequences.

The question one often hears football fans in Ghana asking is: Would Sepp Blatter and his FIFA executive colleagues be in the stadium in Egypt, to watch Ghana beat Egypt yet again, on 19/11/2013 - since they apparently believe it is a safe and secure country?

Mr. Blatter, would you be at the stadium in Egypt on the day in question to watch the match - since you say Egypt is a safe country for Ghana's national football team, the Black Stars, to play that of Egypt's, the Pharaohs, in?

And would you have agreed that FIFA sanction a return leg to be played in Egypt, were the Swiss national team playing that of Egypt, in a World Cup qualifying match, at this point in time in Egypt's history?

One also wonders what would have been the reaction of the Swiss Football Association, and the generality of the Swiss media and general public, to such an odd and curious decision by FIFA, were that the case.

Ponder it, Mr. Blatter - and pray that nothing untoward happens to the players and supporters of Ghana's national football team on the day of the match.

Were some tragedy to occur, as a result of the match being played in Egypt, will it not be on the conscience of you and your colleagues at FIFA headquarters, who incredibly sanctioned the playing of that crucial qualifier in Egypt?

Mr. Blatter, it is still not too late to change the match venue from Egypt, to one in a neutral country - if you and your FIFA colleagues place the same value on Ghanaian lives, as you do those of the citizens of nations such as Switzerland, that is. A word to the wise...

Kind regards,

Kofi Thompson.