In Munich the name of Franz Beckenbauer will forever be associated with three consecutive European Cups, numerous Bundesliga titles and two European Footballer of the Year awards. 'Der Kaiser' was the driving force behind Bayern Munich's ascent to the top of European club football in the 1970's. But for the rest of Germany, and the rest of the world, the name Franz Beckenbauer is synonymous with the World Cup.
Losing finalist in 1966, winning captain in 1974, and winning manager in 1990 was impressive enough but Beckenbauer wasn't finished, and in 2006 he chaired the organising committee for the 2006 World Cup held in Germany, having led the bid to secure the tournament in the first place.
The World Cup defined the legacy of Franz Beckenbauer and so one might assume that this tournament and its journey into Africa in 2010 could rely on his influential support.
Not so. Instead 'Der Kaiser' has criticised the cost of World Cup ticket prices and said fans in Germany are put off by the travel costs to South Africa as well as security risks in the Republic.
“Not only are there doubts by those thinking of travelling there, because of security, but the tickets are too expensive,” Beckenbauer, who is on FIFA’s executive committee, told German broadcaster Sky. (soccernews.com) “What normal person can afford 5,000 to 6,000 euros for one week?” he added without specifying how he reached the figure.
Beckenbauer seems to have since got back on the 2010 bus, being quoted yesterday as saying “It was totally correct to give the World Cup to South Africa, because they can do it.” (WORLD-TRACK Global)
Hosting any major global sports event is fraught with risk and Beckenbauer should know this better than most. He seems to have forgotten that, as captain of the victorious West German team, he lifted the World Cup in Munich in 1974, less than 2 years after 11 Israelis were killed at the 1972 Olympics, held in the very same city. 11 Jews murdered in Germany, less than 2 weeks after they had laid a wreath at Dachau. Now that was a monumental security disaster and it effectively ruined the Olympics for Germany. I don't know whether warnings were issued to fans about security for the 1974 World Cup, but I somehow doubt it.
These Germans do seem to be a forgetful lot. Uli Hoeness, a member of that 1974 World Cup winning West German team, and now president of Bayern Munich is "convinced that deep down Mr Blatter has realised that giving the World Cup to South Africa was one of the biggest wrong decisions he ever made." (Sport24.co.za) This follows the murder of 3 Togolese team members in an attack by a separatist group in Cabinda during the African Cup of Nations. Cabinda is some 3500 kms away from Johannesburg, which is slightly further than Munich Olympic Stadium was from the Olympic village in Munich.
Uli won't be travelling to South Africa in June. Shame.
I suppose you can almost forgive the Germans. Their World Cup was held nearly 4 years ago, and for them that's clearly a long time. They have nothing to lose by voicing concerns over security at SA 2010.
You can't really say the same for Pele. According to the greatest soccer legend of them all, the attack on the Togo team at Cabinda "will have an effect on the World Cup organisation." (Yahoosports)
Pele's genius with his feet is clearly not matched by that of his mouth.
In the next 6 years Brazil will host not only the World Cup but also the Olympic games. The 2 biggest global sporting events in the space of 2 years. The world's image of Brazil can be summed up as follows; crime-ridden, beautiful country with a dodgy political history. Sound familiar?
The whole of Brazil, Pele included, should be wishing for a problem-free SA 2010. Anything less and they'll spend the next 6 years struggling to convince the world that Uli Hoeness didn't have a point. That developing countries should not be entrusted with the biggest sporting events.
If the hysterical views of Pele and Beckenbauer around SA 2010 gain any traction then it's going to be very difficult for any developing country, with their inherent social problems, to ever again host a major sporting event with the full confidence of the rest of the world.
As for the Germans, well, sorry, I've forgotten....what was the point again ?
0 comments:
Post a Comment