Egypt must provide FIFA with security guarantees before they will be
allowed to host the World Cup
play-off second leg with Ghana in Cairo.
As political and social unrest continues to destabilise the North
African country, concerns have been raised over the suitability of Cairo
as a venue for the deciding leg of the play-off on November 19 - with
the Ghana FA asking this week for the game to be moved to a neutral
location.
And while they have so far stopped short of taking that action, FIFA
secretary general Jerome Valcke has now set an October 28 deadline for
the Egyptian FA to provide written assurances over safety.
In a letter to both associations released to the media on Saturday,
Valcke wrote: "With regards to the recent security situation prevailing
in Cairo and in some different spots in Egypt, and in order to ensure
that all the parties concerned can organise their matches and play them
in a totally safe and
secure environment, we would like to ask the
Egyptian Football Association to coordinate with the national
authorities by Monday 28th October at the latest, the written security
guarantees as well as the global security plan around this match in
compliance with the FIFA Stadium, Safety and Security Regulations as of
the arrival of the delegations (visiting team and FIFA Match Officials)
up to their departure with all the necessary precisions regarding their
stay and protection in Cairo.
"Although all our hopes and wishes sincerely expect that the security
situation (in Egypt) will go back to normal in a definite manner, we
would need to consider alternatives in the event that this were not the
case in November.
"We will keep monitoring the situation."
The first-leg of the play-off takes place on Tuesday in Kumasi.
Ghana qualified for the play-off after topping CAF Group D with five
wins from their six matches, while Egypt came through Group G with a
perfect six-match winning run.
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Security deadline given to Egypt for World Cup playoff
Labels:
Egypt,
FIFA,
Ghana,
World Cup qualifiers
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