The most insensitive decision from a sporting body I have ever seen

The CAF (African Football Federation) have banned Togo for to African Nations Cups and fined their Football Association - This is for bowing to their governments pressure and withdrawing from the recent tournement. Gvernment intervention is against FIFA rules... OK, but come on guys. This team were a VICTIM of an attack. EVEN if one of your rules was broken, the circumstances are very exceptional.

I propose a petition to be signed by as many football supporters accross the world to request in the following terms that the CAF reconsider this decision.

If this is a petition you stand behind, please copyy it into an e-mail and mail with your comments to

ReverseTogoBan@Googlemail.com

If anyone lauches a better circulated petition of similar sentiment I would add my name to it.


****

We, the undersigned, believe that the decision to punish the Togo Football Team for withdrawing from the recent Cup of Nations to be a highly insensitive one that shows no respect to natural justice.

We understand that the reason for the ban and fine is the interference of the Togo government which did breach CAF regulations, but we believe that given the exceptional circumstances of the attack on the Togo Team bus, and the responsibility of the Togo government to the safety of its people, that the breach of the regulations on this occasion was wholly understandable.

We also note the failure of the CAF to provide adequate security to a team partaking in their tournament.

We call on the CAF to reverse this decision immediately, with a statement apologising to the dead and Injured for the insensitivity shown in making this ruling in the first place.