Football colonialism
Spanish referee was not impartial in the international friendly match between Brazil and Austria held on last Tuesday in Vienna. The referee deprived the visiting side of two sure penalties but awarded a controversial one to the hosts, which, however, could not stop Brazil from winning the match 2-1. The five times world champions, thus, recorded six wins in six matches in a row, forgetting the World Cup catastrophe at home in July. Before last Tuesday match, they defeated Ecuador and Columbia by the identical margin of 1-0, Argentina 2-0, Japan 4-0 and Turkey 4-0.
The Europeans are always hostile to the Asians, North and South Americas, Africans and Oceania nations, as evident from the past records. Now the US, Germany and England have threatened of boycotting the 2018 World Cup to be held in Russia. Likewise the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has hinted of staying away from the Qatar World Cup Football to be held in 2022 though both nations won the rights to stage in voting, and not by manipulation.
We are against boycott by any nation, and infiltration of politics in sports. Football being the most popular sport in the world, its universal appeal and image should not be damaged by the colonial attitude. The FIFA took disciplinary action against Uruguayan footballer Suarez who bit an Italian defender but spared the Colombian who kicked in the back of Naymar in a martial art style and almost destroyed his football career. FIFA could not deliver justice equally which is a mystery.
Yet. it is our appeal to the FIFA, UEFA, CONMOBOL, AFC and all other football federations across the globe to save soccer from politic, split and colonial outlook.
Abdullah Akber
Dhaka
