Nigerian president suspends football team for 2 years.

[5unny]

CNN said:

Nigeria's president Goodluck Jonathan has suspended the national soccer team from international competition for two years after their dismal performance at the World Cup.

Nigeria came bottom of their group at the tournament in South Africa, losing to Argentina and Greece before drawing with South Korea.

Now president Jonathan has dissolved the Nigerian Football Federation and removed the 'Super Eagles' from the international circuit, meaning sanctions from soccer's governing body, FIFA, could follow.

Nigeria's Sports Minister Ibrahim Isa Bio confirmed the decision in an interview with CNN. He said: "The government has taken a decision we believe is in the interests of Nigeria that we should for now, withdraw from international competition because our football since 1996 seems not to be growing.

"The government spends a lot of money to encourage football in Nigeria and we need to go back to the drawing board the way Ghana did two years ago.

"The president Goodluck Jonathan has endorsed this decision and the Nigerian people are excited about it.

"They are not happy with the performance [in the World Cup] and the Nigerian people believe the right thing to do is start all over again. We have informed FIFA of our intentions."

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/SPORT/football/06/30/world.cup.nigeria.suspended/index.html?hpt=T2&fbid=9ZoCwpW-a5y

[bonsai]

The FA should look at this and take note.

[grumbledoak]

bonsai said:

The French should look at this and take note.

EFA

[ShadownINja]

Woulda thought threatening to kill the players and their families would have worked better. See how the Iraqi team performed under Saddam's reign. Oh...

[Pommygranite]

I think Nigeria are about to get more than 2 years out of International Football if FIFA get involved.

[Eric Mc]

ShadownINja said:

Woulda thought threatening to kill the players and their families would have worked better. See how the Iraqi team performed under Saddam's reign. Oh...

Zaire tried this tacctic in 1974. Zaire lost 9 - 0 to Yugoslavia.

[MPowerMark]

I can't see how this would help? stopping them from playing competitive football for 2 years is hardly going to help in terms of bringing in new players to get competitive international experiance and gelling a new team etc.
Not going to please there fans either.......

[hornetrider]

Pommygranite said:

I think Nigeria are about to get more than 2 years out of International Football if FIFA get involved.

Indeed. There can be no political interference in football.

[rhinochopig]

hornetrider said:

Pommygranite said:

I think Nigeria are about to get more than 2 years out of International Football if FIFA get involved.

Indeed. There can be no political interference in football.

FIFA are one of the most politicised organisations going.

[ShadownINja]

Eric Mc said:

ShadownINja said:

Woulda thought threatening to kill the players and their families would have worked better. See how the Iraqi team performed under Saddam's reign. Oh...

Zaire tried this tacctic in 1974. Zaire lost 9 - 0 to Yugoslavia.

Uh oh! Are the friends, relatives and neighbours of the players still alive?

Edited by ShadownINja on Thursday 1st July 10:20

[The Nur]

bonsai said:

England should look at this and take note.

EFA #2

[Nom de ploom]

If I was a Korean international footballer I might be worried too....

[Cupid Stunt]

If a politician decides the football team aren't playing in any tournaments for 2 years FIFA will make sure they're not playing for a lot longer. If they go through with it (which I really doubt) it'll be an appalling decision that they'll regret