I was shocked to read that the President of Nigeria has banned the Nigerian national football team from playing in international tournaments for two years because of their dismal performance in the 2010 Fifa World Cup. This reminded me of an engineering college administrator who used to threaten to debar students with many arrears from appearing for next semester's exams! Reward failure with no-return-from-failure!
But then, a bit of googling pointed me to worse consequences that other footballing nations have faced in the past:
* The Ivory Coast team was held for three days in a military camp after being eliminated in the first round of the African Cup of Nations.
* North Korean footballers were allegedly sent to labour camps after on-field debacles, and are likely to come under fire from their "Dear Leader" for their huge-margin losses in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
* And the most draconian of them all - Iraqi players' punishments included flogging (with electric cables), baths in raw sewage, feet whipping (with thorns), and more.
Qualifying for the World Cup finals is no mean task, especially for the weaker footballing nations. Players struggle in difficult social and economic conditions to rise and perform at the international level. Instead of encouraging their team's achievements and providing them the support they need, ruthless governments shame and humiliate them. On the other hand, I also read that the English footballers are vacationing with their families and girlfriends after their humiliating first-round exit from the 2010 FIFA World Cup!
Whose fault for being born in the wrong country?
But then, a bit of googling pointed me to worse consequences that other footballing nations have faced in the past:
* The Ivory Coast team was held for three days in a military camp after being eliminated in the first round of the African Cup of Nations.
* North Korean footballers were allegedly sent to labour camps after on-field debacles, and are likely to come under fire from their "Dear Leader" for their huge-margin losses in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
* And the most draconian of them all - Iraqi players' punishments included flogging (with electric cables), baths in raw sewage, feet whipping (with thorns), and more.
Qualifying for the World Cup finals is no mean task, especially for the weaker footballing nations. Players struggle in difficult social and economic conditions to rise and perform at the international level. Instead of encouraging their team's achievements and providing them the support they need, ruthless governments shame and humiliate them. On the other hand, I also read that the English footballers are vacationing with their families and girlfriends after their humiliating first-round exit from the 2010 FIFA World Cup!
Whose fault for being born in the wrong country?
