FIFA Employs Age-Old Method to Ensure Playoff Fairness
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Egypt’s stunning, hard-fought, last-minute victory over Algeria on Saturday, marred by violence on the eve of the game, forces the North African rivals to face off in another “match of hate” to determine which team will advance to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
More to ensure fairness than to avoid violent attacks on players, the match will be played, under FIFA rules, at a neutral site determined by an oh-so-scientific method that employs scraps of paper and plastic balls.
“Algeria chose neighboring Tunisia as their preferred location and Egypt opted for Sudan,” according to FIFA’s Web site, “with FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke settling the matter by drawing the latter option out of the hat.”
The drawing of lots in Zurich means the Pharaohs and the Desert Foxes will play Wednesday in Sudan, at the Al-Merreikh stadium in Omdurman, a city on the western side of the Nile, across from Khartoum.
Will the neutral site help stem violent outbursts from fans, as was the case Saturday, or from players, as was the case in 1989 when the two teams last faced off for a spot in the World Cup? It remains to be seen, but no doubt emotions on and off the field, in Omdurman as well as Cairo and Algiers, will be running high.
Labels: FIFA 2010
posted @ 9:32 AM,
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