World Cup becomes affair of the state (Feature)

By Laszlo Trankovits Jul 3, 2010, 11:39 GMT

Cape Town - Never before has a World Cup brought out more politicians back home calling out for changes or consequences when their football teams return than at South Africa 2010.

The World Cup has turned into an affair of the state.

As usual there is interfering from the governments of nations such as Nigeria. But politicians from powerful nations such as France, Italy and England are getting into the act this time around as well.

Parliament committees are being formed in those countries to analyze the nightmare showings of those national teams in South Africa.

No nation is in more disarray than the Grande Nation France, where even President Nicolas Sarkozy has intervened including talks with French striker Thierry Henry. Football's ruling body FIFA even warned French politicians against meddling in football affairs.

That has not stopped French ministers from voicing their concern about Les Bleus getting bounced in the group stage in an embarrassing manner.

'The players have tarnished the image of France. They can no longer be the heroes of our children,' said French sports minister Roselyn Bachelot.

Politicians from other nations have also been harsh in their criticism.

'There is nothing left of the beauty of football since the pitch has become a battlefield,' said Tyrone August, editor in chief of the Cape Times.

'The World Cup is a key indicator for national fortitude and national self-esteem - a new form of warfare.'

The 2010 World Cup began with lofty expectations as South African President Jacob Zuma promised it as 'an important step in nation building and the overcoming of racial extremes'.

The image of the entire African continent was to profit from the World Cup.

And in Europe, it's a near-miracle that a diplomatic breakdown did not occur between Ireland and France after the handball by Henry which sent the French to the World Cup and eliminated the Irish in the qualifying play-offs.

World Cups have always been more than just the world's largest sporting event.

For Germany, the World Cup title in 1954 was a big step in returning to the community of civilized states after the nightmares from the Nazi period.

Honduras and El Salvador waged war over a World Cup qualifier in 1969 while first World Cup victories for Asian and African nations have been deemed as evidence for their increased meaning.

German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble in 2006 raved that the home World Cup was the 'best integration summit.'

The weight and importance of the football spectacle continue to grow. The tournament serves as an identification factor in the globalised world, helping push their national sense of being.

Millions of fans gather across the globe to follow the games at public viewing events. And it should be of no surprise that heads of state hurry to the 'battlefield' known as the World Cup to announce their moral 'support' of the troops on the pitch.

Or they take drastic action to show their displeasure of a poor showing.

Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan last week suspended all the country's teams from international competitions for the next two years after the Super Eagles exited the World Cup without a victory in the group stage.

When North Korea were hammered 7-0 by Portugal US magazine Newsweek alleged that some delegates and players and even their loved ones may face work camps as a penalty or even worse - just vanishing.

While something as extreme as that would never happen in Europe, politicians have made clear that the young footballers are in serious responsibility.

'This is not just about football, this is about France. Our honour is at stake,' said French politician Jacques Remiller in the Cape Times.