Football: world best scorer decries brazil's withdrawal from world cup race
Morocco, Sports, 7/5/2000

The best scorer in the World Cup history, French Juste Fontaine, on Tuesday decried Brazil's last minute withdrawal from the race to host the 2006 World Cup as "contrary to sports ethics."

"Brazil's withdrawal is like a rear tackle that requires a red card," Fontaine, a fervent defender of Morocco's bid, told MAP news agency.

Such a "machination" deserves sanctions from the World football governing body, FIFA, he said, wondering how Brazil can promise to give South Africa the votes of Latin America. Brazil has its own vote only and has no right to speak on behalf of Latin America, he said.

Juste Fontaine underlined that Morocco has more merit than South Africa in view of the North African nation's laudable efforts for the promotion of African football. He cited in this regard Morocco's three bids to host the World Cup (1994-1998 and 2006), its four-time participation in the World Cup (1970, 1986, 1994 and 1998) and its honor to be the first African nation to make it to the second round of a world cup (1986). Morocco also presents strong guarantees to hold the World Cup "in security and peace," he said.

The 24-member FIFA executive committee will decide on Thursday which of Morocco, South Africa, Germany and England will host the 2006 World Cup.

Morocco will defend its bid this Wednesday after England and South Africa.

Previous Stories:
  2006 world cup bid: Morocco's last presentation wednesday   (7/1/2000)
  Moroccan athletes win rome's 3,000 m steeple chase and the women's 400 m hurdles   (7/1/2000)
  Arab sports ministers meet to support Morocco's 2006 world soccer cup   (6/24/2000)

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