Jordaan slams 2010 double standards

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Johannesburg - Local Organising Committee chairperson Danny Jordaan has lambasted certain foreign media who have called for the 2010 World Cup to be removed from South Africa after the attack on the Togolese national soccer team in Angola.

Jordaan said South Africa should not be condemned for events that happened in a country far away from its shores, adding that the country will host a safe and secure tournament

"We are concerned about the incident... but it has absolutely nothing to do with SA and the World Cup. We are very comfortable that we will deliver a safe and comfortable World Cup," he said.

"In 2005, a bomb went off in London while Germany was due to host a World Cup in 2006 and no questions were asked, why these double standards?" Jordaan asked.

Contrary to media reports, Jordaan said the LOC had not received any concerns relating to security from football federations around the world.

"People understand that Angola and South Africa are two different countries and therefore we should not be expected to answer things that happen to other countries," he said.

On Sunday, President Jacob Zuma also condemned the terrorist incident, adding that it had no bearing on the World Cup.

He said South Africa must be judged on the previous world class events that the country has hosted in recent years including last years' Confederations Cup.