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Beijing demands apology from AFC chief
(chinadaily.com.cn/agencies)
Updated: 2004-07-19 15:22
Furious Beijing football authorities and fans are demanding Asian Football
Confederation chief Peter Velappan retract comments he made accusing fans of
being rude and the city unfit to host major sporting events as the 2008 Olympic
Games.
Asian Football
Confederation chief Peter Velappan gestures during an inspection tour of a
Jinan stadium in Shandong Province, another venue for the 13th Asian Cup
in this May 26, 2004 file photo.
[newsphoto] | Many of Beijing's major newspapers
carried front-page stories quoting Beijing Football Association secretary
general Zhang Heng insisting that Velappan apologise.
A fuming Velappan on Saturday threatened to withdraw Asian football from
Beijing after fans booed speeches by dignitaries and stayed away from the
opening game of the Asian Cup in Beijing's Workers' Stadium, in which China drew
2-2 with Bahrain.
He went as far as suggesting the city was not up to hosting the Olympics in
2008.
"Ever since Beijing got the chance to organise the Asian Cup for 2004, me and
my colleagues have worked hard in the preparations," said Zhang in an open
letter to the media.
"After the opening ceremony, we were very happy. We think we offered a very
good opening ceremony.
"But just at that time, after the match between China and Bahrain, Velappan
spoke some words which went beyond the Asian Cup. They harmed the feelings of
Beijing people," Zhang said in the open letter.
At the press conference after the game, which, as a common practice, should
be the venue for the coaches of the two teams, Velappan made the comments,
uninvited and unexpectedly.
"Surely, even if the opening ceremony and what we have done for the Asian Cup
is not perfect, this is not a reason for Velappan to doubt if Beijing is capable
of holding the Olympic Games .
"Myself, I am a good friend of Velappan but I have to say that his comments
are wrong.
"As the secretary of the Beijing organising committee, I demand Velappan
explain himself and apologise to Beijing football fans and football people."
Enthusiastic fans
wave the Chinese national flag at the opening ceremony of the 13th Asian
Cup in Beijing July 17, 2004. [newsphoto] | Fans
are equally outraged and penned their own letter which three representatives
handed to Velappan at his hotel Sunday evening.
"We cannot understand why you have made such comments," the letter said.
"These words are irresponsible and Beijing football fans were shocked. We are
shocked and indignant.
"Your claim that Beijing is not capable of holding the Olympics harmed,
seriously, our feelings.
"We demand, strongly, that you apologise. If you can't do it, we will
consider you not welcome in Beijing."
The row has rippled throughout Asia with at least one newspaper running an
editorial criticising the Asian soccer supremo.
"These are sweeping statements and not what we expect from the normally
diplomatic Mr Velappan," the South China Morning Post said.
"His scathing attack on the people of Beijing was unjustified. And his
suggestion that the capital city might not be fit to host the 2008 Olympics is
ill-judged and unfair."
A spokeswoman for the Asian Cup local organising committee said fans had not
been booing the opening ceremony guests, who included FIFA President Sepp
Blatter, explaining that a technical glitch was responsible.
"The football fans were warm and polite," said spokeswoman Wang Hui. "The
audio system for the big screen had some technical problems. The sound was
delayed by 10 seconds.
"When Blatter and Velappan and other senior officials entered the stadium,
the hissing and booing that they heard were not aimed at them," she said.
The booing was apparently aimed at unpopular officials of the China Football
Association, the newspapers said.
Velappan was also outraged that the 66,000 capacity Workers Stadium was half
empty for the opening match, but Wang played down his concerns.
"The turn-out was pretty good ... These days, it's very rare to see a full
stadium with all seats occupied," Wang said.
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