Togo banned from next 2 ACN!!!

[xavi6]

Unbelievable stuff.

Togo have been banned from the next two Africa Cup of Nations. Fuckin disgrace of a decision.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story ... al&cc=3436

Togo have been banned from the next two editions of the African Nations Cup because of "governmental interference" in their decision to pull out of the 2010 tournament after the machine-gun attack on the team bus.

The African Football Confederation (CAF) were unhappy that Togolese prime minister Gilbert Huongbo ordered his team to return from Angola, following the attack on their bus by a separatist movement in Cabinda that left two members of the delegation dead.

After initially pulling out of the competition, the Togo players then decided to play before being ordered back to the country by Huongbo. They were then disqualified by CAF for not turning up to their opening match against Ghana.

CAF president Issa Hayatou told AFP the decision to suspend the country from the 2012 and 2014 competitions was based on "governmental interference", while CAF's chief press officer Suleiman Habuba said the decision was based on article 78 of CAF regulations.

This states: "A forfeit notified less than 20 days before the start or during the final competition shall entail in addition of the forfeit of the entry fee, a maximum fine stipulated by the regulations as well as the suspension of the concerned national association for the following two editions of the African Cup of Nations."

"The players publicly expressed their willingness to return to the Nations Cup to compete. But the Togo government decided to call back their national team," CAF said in a statement. "The decision by political authorities contravenes CAF and African Nations Cup regulations. The executive committee therefore has banned Togo from the next two African Nations Cup and fined the Togo FA 50,000 U.S. dollars.

"The executive committee and CAF repeat their profound sympathy to the families of the victims of the tragic attack. CAF has condemned the attack and denounced the act of terrorism."

Togo midfielder Thomas Dossevi, who was on the bus when it came under fire minutes after it crossed the Angolan border from Pointe Noire, Congo, said Togo should appeal against the ban.

"We are a group of footballers who came under fire and now we can't play football any more. They are crushing us," he told Reuters. "Togo should appeal the suspension. When we said we were going home for a three-day mourning they said they were with us in this ordeal and now they punish us."

The armed wing of the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC), embroiled in a decades-long separatist struggle, claimed responsibility for the attack.

[Blue Blood]

Rubbish that they have been banned given what happened but great news for city and adebayor.

The mickey mouse cup of nations is a total waste of time and big disruption. I for one am glad he won't have to go.

[Beeks]

Thats fucking disgusting

[ronk]

Don't expect this one to stick. It would be a big set-back for the ACN.

Be a great opportunity for prem clubs to threaten a boycott.

[Wooders]

Don't expect this one to stick. It would be a big set-back for the ACN.

Be a great opportunity for prem clubs to threaten a boycott.

Great minds think alike - no way will this one hold water

[ashton287]

awww now who will shoot at our players, fucking guutted

better for ade and city that he doesnt go what happened was a fucking disgrace

[Ted Hughes]

All the African players should get together & refuse to play another game in that competition until everyone involved in this decision resigns.

What an inhuman bunch of self important twats they must be.

[Moonchesteri]

Everything about this cup is a joke. It's all going downhill at the moment as well

[Haz]

Absolutely ridiculous. Doubt it'll hold, but if it does, at least we'll have Ade whilst other lose their African players.

[LookMumImOnMCF.net]

Great minds

Let's not get carried away now ; )

[Goataldo]

Would've thought 'terrorist interference' would be more significant than 'governmental interference'.

Farcical decision. Would expect Togo to win an appeal.

[fees]

The cup of nations is a joke. And the fact that it is played every 2 years is more of a joke! This decision does not suprise me, TIA (This Is Africa) We get stupid things happening on this continent on a daily basis.

[Fish111]

Are the dickheads in charge of African football not answerable to FIFA? If so then i can see Togo winning any appeal because the decision to ban them is just a feckin joke.

[craigmcfc]

CAF are clearly a joke and if Fifa go along with the ban then it also shows how out of touch with reality most of the governing bodies are

Appalling decision. The only thing that needs looking at is how the hell the CAF agreed to hold it there in the first place

[Vhero]

They should just fucking pull out and stick 2 fingers up at the ACN.

[CityFanFromRome]

Shocking, and completely wrong, decision.

[irblinx]

Inhuman idiots

[Im_Spartacus]

Thats fucking disgusting

Incredible. Jack Fucking Warner will be all for the ban though, he will have had a financial interest, as will all the other cunts. Its beyond belief, read the book.

Football is so disgustingly corrupt, the worst thing is that in Europe they have found ways for it to become corrupt without anyon noticing = FIFA

http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews ... ewpoints=1

[pears12]

Disgraceful decision I hope Togo wins an appeal to suspend for 2 tournaments cos their bus got shot up and government pulled them home is really quite poor form on behalf of CAF.. Fifa will prolly support this because oh the government got involved in football of a non power can't allow that sort of thing to happen.