FIFA Confirms Malawi coach complaints

The world football governing body
Federation of International Football
Associations has confirmed that it had
received an official complaint from the
Football Association of Malawi over
comments made by Nigeria coach Stephen
Keshi.

FIFA however said, "Please understand that
we cannot comment any further at this
stage," to further enquiries from BBC Sport.

The Malawi federation wants action taken
over what it calls 'racist' remarks by Keshi
aimed at their Belgian coach Tom Sainfiet.
"We feel the racist remarks by Mr. Keshi are
not acceptable," Fam's general secretary
Suzgo Nyirenda told BBC Sport.

"We thought it was a personal attack on
our coach and we had to defend him
regardless of skin. We felt we should help
our coach and at the same time put a stop
to the racist remarks from Mr Keshi. We
have sent evidence of what Keshi said and
we hope FIFA will come up with some
measures to control Mr Keshi."

The case concerns comments Keshi made
in reaction to Malawi's calls to have the
2014 World Cup qualifier between the two
nations moved from the city of Calabar on
security grounds.

In the phone interview aired on UK-based
African television show, Keshi said, "I think
the coach of Malawi is crazy. If he wants to
talk to FIFA, he should go back to Belgium.

He is not an African person, he is a white
dude, he should go back to Belgium."
But on Monday, the Super Eagles coach
explained his comment on the Belgian.

He told Supersport, "I was just standing up
for my country when someone tries to
make insinuations that it is not a safe place.
I
have nothing against Sainfelt, he was in
Nigeria recently and we shook hands and
had a few things we discussed. I just was
very unhappy that a man who last year
was prepared to work for and in Nigeria
with a four year contract can all of a
sudden start to describe the place as
'unsafe' so am not having that.

"I am not interested in all those sorts of
things; my first aim is always to defend my
country
on and off the pitch. It was not a
personal attack on the person of Sainfelt, it
is unfortunate that it has come across like
that, but this is my default mode of
defending Nigeria."
The Kenyans who also played a game
against Nigeria in Calabar in April initially
complained and wanted the match moved
to Lagos. Their coach, Adel Amrouche - who
is
incidentally a Belgian also - told The
PUNCH after the game that he enjoyed his
stay in the city and recommended it as a
tourist point to the world. The Nigeria
Football Federation dismissed the
complaints of the Malawians over the
venue.
The World Cup qualifier in Calabar will
decide which of the two countries will
qualify for the final round of play-offs for
Africa. Nigeria need just a draw to progress
while Malawi must win to go through.

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