Dear Editor,
The terrorist attack on the Togo football players in Angola has seen prominent members of the British football community questioning the safety of this year’s World Cup in South Africa.
Even the Daily Mirror reported on “a disaster for the forthcoming first ever World Cup in Africa”.
Phil Brown, the Hull City manager, said, “I am appalled. This puts a question mark against next summer’s World Cup. You simply cannot put the safety of officials and fans at the slightest risk. That is totally unacceptable.”
What nonsense! The two events are on the same continent but Cabinda in Togo is 2,000 miles from Johannesburg.
On the same premise, one would be questioning the safety of the Olympic Games in London in 2012 if there was a terrorist attack in Italy, Spain or even Portugal.
South Africa has successfully staged the Cricket World Cup, the Rugby World Cup and last year’s Confederations Cup.
Let’s keep things in perspective and remember that international sport does much to tie the bonds of friendship throughout the world.
CHRIS WRIGHT
Tavira
