OPEN LETTER TO FIFA PRESIDENT SEPP BLATTER

Ordinarily,the blue and yellow FIFA Fairplay flag straining against the grip of four ball boys would not elicit any emotion in me.However,these are not ordinary days and so my emotions are aroused if just because I do not want it to be only a media showpiece.A media showpiece for the Fifa World Cup in South Africa 2010.
Indeed, Mr Blatter your time in Fifa presidency has brought a lot of smiles to all the federations and especially when you historically helped in making Africa's hosting not only an idea but a reality, the melodic refrain of justice and fair play was chorused around the globe. For Egypt had first represented the continent in the 1934 World Cup and it took another thirty-six years before Africa was given a spot in the Finals.Then another forty years to be able to host the mundial.Hmmm,Mr. Blatter the walk has not been easy.But anyway forgive me, I digress!
Mr.Blatter,I know the FIFA Fairplay idea is to ensure that play and officiating on the field is fair.And everyone plays by the FIFA book and has access to the proverbial even playing field.
However a series of events in this World Cup have contrived to make a tragedy of fairplay.
The USA v Slovenia Group C match provided an insight to what must not be at the World Cup. After falling behind 2-0 in the first half,the Red,White and Blue Stripes got even in one of their gutsiest performances ever,only to be denied a game winning Maurice Edu strike in the dying embers of the match.Fair?Definitely not!Yet Malian referee Coman Koulibaly waved off the goal.A simple playback would have clarified the situation and prevented heart troubles!
Mr Blatter,I am sure you also familiar with the England- Germany second round match in which the English were denied a perfect goal scored by Frank Lampard was ignored by referee Jorge Larrionda of Uruguay. Indeed ,it goes without saying that this goal could either have been potentially the game-turning goal for the Three Lions or could have further inspired die Nationalelf to a much better performance.However, we will never know because fairplay was denied.
Also the Argentina-Mexico match in the second round in which Argentina went ahead in a clearly offside position through forward CarlosTevez.Argentina went on to win 3-1,but we would not truly know what would have been if the goal had rightly been ruled off-side. What we know is that fairplay was denied the El Tri of Mexico,with the attendant painful frustrations etc.
Again,Mr Blatter, in that stunner of a match where La Cote D'Ivoire dominated Brazil for 20 minutes before falling to a Luis Fabiano goal which had foul written all lover it. We can say that was a tide-turner for the Samba Boys of Brazil who went on to win 3-1. But what would have happened if that infringement had been penalized and the Fabiano goal annulled?But then again fairplay was denied.French referee Stephane Lannoy saw to that.
Mr. Blatter, I am sure you get the picture,but this is the last one I am going to talk about.Ghana was heading towards [in fact had it sewn up]victory late in the final period of extra time when an headed Dominic Adiyiah effort was clawed out by Luis Suarez. Referee Olegario Benquerenca of Portugal sent him off and awarded Ghana the penalty.But then again fair play was denied.Why?Because the ball crossed the line first ,so a goal should have been awarded. Second, a penalty which has a 50-50 chance of being converted is not enough or rather not the enough compensation.The Black Stars of Ghana should have been in the semis by now, if play had been fair. A video playback would have assisted the referee in coming to the right decision to ward off controversy.
Indeed,Luis Suarez even celebrated his paid-off gamble proving that a red card was not sufficient punishment.Thus to serve as deterrent in the future any goal bound shot handled by a player other than a goalkeeper must be awarded as goal to the shooter and the offender suspended for five competitive FIFA-sanctioned matches.
Mr. Blatter, your tenure has seen Africa awarded 5 places at the World Cup and its hosting the globe's most watched event for the first time ever and a host of changes that have made the World Cup a truly global affair.If change had been effected before this World Cup in terms of using technology to ensure fairplay,Ghana would have been in the semi-finals thus making history and that, sir,would have sealed your contribution to African football and fairplay in the World Cup as a whole.We look forward to another tenure for you as you stand again for the FIFA Presidency.