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Tag: 2010 FIFA World Cup

  • Amnesty International calls for human rights assurances at World Cups

    Amnesty International calls for human rights assurances at World Cups

    Amnesty International has urged FIFA and the countries bidding to host the 2030 and 2034 World Cups to commit to binding agreements and legal reforms to prevent human rights violations related to the tournament.

    In October, FIFA awarded the 2030 World Cup to Morocco, Spain, and Portugal, while Saudi Arabia remains the sole bidder for the 2034 edition.

    Amnesty International emphasised that there are “serious human rights” risks that must be addressed in connection with these events.

    “FIFA should ensure a rigorous and transparent bidding process based on meaningful stakeholder participation, including genuinely independent human rights risk assessments and comprehensive human rights strategies,” human rights organisation Amnesty said.

    “FIFA should be prepared not to award the rights to host the World Cup until such agreements are made and until it is clear that human rights violations can and will be prevented, mitigated and remedied.”

    Amnesty said the commitments must prevent human rights violations in relation to “labour rights, discrimination, housing, freedom of expression, policing and privacy” before finalising a decision to approve any bid.

    FIFA included human rights standards as part of the bidding requirements for the 2030 and 2034 World Cups. However, Amnesty International is concerned that single bids for each tournament reduce FIFA’s leverage to ensure these standards are met.

    The football governing body set a July deadline for submitting bids for the 2034 World Cup, which will be evaluated later this year. The host nation will be officially announced in the fourth quarter of 2024.

    Amnesty International raised concerns about the high accident rates at construction projects in Spain and Portugal, which exceed EU levels.

    They also highlighted ongoing discrimination in Spanish stadiums, citing the racism faced by Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr.

    Additionally, Amnesty called for Morocco and Portugal to increase their number of labor inspectors by over 50% to meet International Labour Organisation (ILO) benchmarks.

    Amnesty has shared its report with FIFA. Reuters has reached out to FIFA and the football associations of the countries bidding for the World Cup for comment.

    Risks associated with hosting the 2034 tournament in Saudi Arabia are of a “different magnitude and severity” that will test FIFA’s commitment to its human rights policies, Amnesty said.

    Amnesty researcher Dana Ahmed said that although they were allowed to do research on migrant workers in Qatar, which hosted the 2022 World Cup, leading to several reforms, they have not had any access in Saudi Arabia.

    “It is extremely difficult to do research from the outside,” she told reporters.

    On Wednesday, a global coalition of trade unions lodged a complaint against Saudi Arabia with a UN-backed labor organization.

    The complaint, filed by Building and Wood Workers’ International, calls on the International Labor Organization to investigate Saudi Arabia for “severe human rights abuses and wage theft.”

    According to the union group, these violations have impacted at least 21,000 workers over the past decade.

    “The complaint emphasises the exploitative living and working conditions among the country’s vast migrant workforce — conditions that BWI notes are akin to forced labour,” the global group of trade unions said in a statement.

    The BWI cited allegations of illegal recruitment fees demanded, wages and passports withheld, limits on workers leaving jobs, plus physical and sexual violence “particularly against female and domestic workers.”

    Reuters has contacted the Saudi Ministry of Sport for comment.

  • CK Akonnor says he has no regrets coaching the Black Stars

    Former Asante Kotoko coach, CK Akonnor, said he has no regrets about serving as the Black Stars‘ head coach.

    Kwesi Appiah was succeeded by Akonnor in January 2020 on a two-year contract.

    After Ghana’s dismal start to the 2022 World Cup qualifications, the former Hearts of Oak and Dreams FC manager was fired.

    Despite describing the environment he worked in as toxic, he insists leading the four times African Cup of Nations champions was a dream fulfilled.

    According to him, he harbors no regrets during his year-and-a-half stay.

    “No, I can’t say that. Working as Black Stars coach? It’s the biggest [for any coach],” he told JoySports Prime Take.

    “It is the environment which was not conducive. I wish it had been better so that I could use my knowledge to help the nation, but I didn’t get it.

    “It didn’t work out doesn’t mean I regret coaching the team,” he said.

     

    When Akonnor was sacked in September last year, pundits said there could be a second tenure just like Kwasi Appiah, and he wouldn’t rule out that, but for now, his focus is to grow his technical skills.

    “I can’t say for now,” he said.

    He continued “I am still a coach and I am working on improving my skills, but I still want to get more knowledge about the game. Now, I am looking at doing the Technical Director thing, in terms of improving, scouting, and all those things, not necessarily the coaching aspect, but I want to improve more and be better,” he stated.

    Akonnor scouted for the Black Stars during the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

  • Asamoah Gyan: I’m going to live with my penalty miss against Uruguay for the rest of my life

    Ghana legend, Asamoah Gyan has disclosed that he still gets flashbacks from his penalty miss against Uruguay at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

    According to the former Black Stars captain, he is going to live with the infamous penalty miss for the rest of his life.

    “I had to cry because I felt like I came from hero to zero. I let the whole continent, my country down. Anytime I’m in a room it just pops up in my mind. I’m going to live it with for the rest of my life,” Asamoah Gyan told FIFA during a sit-down interview.

    Opening up on the penalty miss, the former Sunderland FC striker says he applied the wrong technique.

    “I was one of the top 3 best players In the world at that time. I was on top of the world, I was confident. A day before the Uruguay game I shot 20 penalties against our goalkeeper at training, I scored all 20. I was going to my left side of the goalkeeper.

    “I saw him going to the left. And then I saw him going to my right where I was shooting the bad. He feinted me and then went to where the ball was going. I didn’t know how the ball went up. Technically there was something wrong. I didn’t have the right technique,” Asamoah Gyan explained.

    Although Gyan is not actively playing football, he dreams of one last dance with the Ghana national team.

    🇬🇭 “I let the whole continent, my country down”

    That #FIFAWorldCup moment against Uruguay still haunts @ASAMOAH_GYAN3 to this day

    — FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 1, 2022

    Source: Footballghana

  • Ghana defender Tariq Lamptey cameos as Brighton thrash Chelsea

    Ghana right-back Tariq Lamptey was in action for Brighton and Hove Albion as they thrashed Chelsea 4-1 in the English Premier League on Saturday.

    Lamptey climbed off the bench to replace Kaoru Mitoma in the 76th minute at Amex Stadium.

    Leandro Trossard opened the scoring for Brighton with a calm finish put the home side in front before two own goals extended Brighton’s lead before the break, Ruben Loftus-Cheek putting through his own net from a Solly March corner before Trevoh Chalobah slid Pervis Estupinan’s low cross past Kepa Arrizabalaga.

    After the recess, Germany international Kai Havertz nodded in Conor Gallagher’s cross to give the visitors hope in the 48t minute but a second-half Chelsea recovery failed to materialise.

    Pascal Gross capped a miserable afternoon for Potter and his players with a close-range finish in second-half stoppage time.

    Lamptey has made 11 appearances for Brighton this season across all competitions.

    He is expected to be named in Ghana’s squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

    Source: Footballghana

  • No injuries, more glories: Asamoah Gyan opens up about his best year in football

    Former Black Stars captain, Asamoah Gyan has opened up about the best year in his footballing career that has spanned over two decades.

    Asamoah Gyan who made his professional debut for Liberty Professionals in 2003 and enjoyed active football till the end of the 2020/2021 season has named 2010 as his best year in his career.

    According to him, 2010 was his best year not only because of the World Cup but it was the only year that he played the entire season without any injury in his career.

    “I will say 2010 was the best year in my career and it is not only because I excelled in the World Cup with Ghana. 2010 was also the only year in my career that I was never injured.”

    He added that everything that he touched in 2010 turned into gold and it even paved way for him in the music industry.

    “Everything worked for me in that year and even when I decided to venture into music, my first song was a big hit but the World Cup is a big factor.”

    Asamoah Gyan scored three goals in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa which made him secure a move for a record fee to join English Premier League side, Sunderland.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Ghana leader Akufo Addo credits Ghana FA boss Kurt Okraku for dual-nationals’ injection into Black Stars

    Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo has commended the Ghana Football Association President, Kurt Okraku for dual-nationals’ injection into the Black Stars ahead of the World Cup.

    Six players switched nationalities to represent Ghana at international level in June. Brighton’s Tariq Lamptey, Inaki Williams of Athletic Club and German-born trio Stephan Ambrosius, Ransford Konigsdorffer and Patric Pfeiffer have all agreed to play for Ghana.

    Southampton star Mohammed Salisu also confirmed his decision to represent Ghana last month.

    Addressing the Ghana FA delegation led by Kurt Okraku at the office of the Presidency, Nana Akufo-Addo credited the leadership of the Ghana FA for the role played in getting diaspora players to join the national team.

    “We should have no grounds for complains, the important thing is that, all of us as a nation, that we give maximum support to our young people to go and give of their best and if they able to give off their best they will far because Ghanaian football is among the best in the World”

    “Of course, with the usual luck that you need in football, instead of the thing hitting the bar, it goes in. so we have to pray that the good Lord favours us on such occasions and if it does, I have a lot of confidence about the quality of the people that has been selected”

    “I’m happy that many of the diaspora players under your leadership are being brought in as much as possible those who have the heart for the country are being brought to come and play. I think you’ve done well and going on, go out to search for those interested to play for the country. Our bid is to create the condition for them to excel and that’s what we have to do”

    The Black Stars will begin preparations in the first week of November, but a full house is expected in the second week, when all leagues will draw to a halt.

    Ghana is scheduled to play one pre-World Cup match, against Switzerland, on November 17.

    The West African powerhouse will kick off on November 24 with a crucial match against Group H favourites Portugal.

    The Black Stars will then play South Korea on November 28 and Uruguay in their final group match on December 2.

    Source: Footballghana

  • Ghana forward Bernard Tekpetey makes history at Ludogorets

    Ghana international Bernard Tekpetey secured his legendary status with Bulgarian side Ludogorets following his brace against Beroe last Monday.

    Tekpetey scored twice as Ludogorets dominated Beroe away from home. His goals helped Ludogorets to win 4-0 and move closer to the top spot.

    With 19 goals since joining the club, the in-form Ghana striker has entered the history books of the club.

    Tekpetey now found himself among the top ten highest scorers for the club in history.

    He is tied on 19 goals with Emil Gurgorov and Pieros Sotiriu.

    The 25-year-old is having a good season but has been overlooked by the Black Stars. He was not invited last month for the pre-World Cup friendlies against Brazil and Nicaragua.

    He has seven league goals in 10 appearances, which is more than any other Ghanaian striker in Europe.

    Tekpetey won the league last season with 10 goals in 24 games, and he looks set to improve on that total this season.

    The former Schalke 04 man is hoping to be included in Ghana’s squad for the upcoming World Cup in Qatar.

    Below is the top ten all-time tops scorers for Ludogorets:

    113 – Claudio CASHERU

    76 – Marcelo MARCELLINO

    53 – VANDERSON Farias

    35 – Virgil MISSIGAN

    33 – Junior KISHADA

    26 – Kozmin MOCI

    25 – Ivan STOYANOV

    24 – Jakub SCHWIERCHOK

    20 – Roman BEZYAK

    19 – Emil GRGOROV

    19- Pieros SOTIRIOU

    19- Bernard TEKPETAY

  • 2022 World Cup: Otto Addo needs the support of Ghanaians to succeed – Elvis Afriyie Ankrah

    Former Youth and Sports Minister, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah has called on Ghanaians to support Otto Addo ahead of the 2022 World Cup.

    The Black Stars will be hoping to make an impact in Qatar later in November.

    Otto Addo as part of the team’s preparations lost to Brazil but recorded a 1-0 win over Nicaragua in the September friendly games.

    Ghana will take on Switzerland in their final game in November before the team fly to the Gulf country for the global showpiece.

    But Mr Ankrah has called on football fans to stick behind the gaffer.

    “It’s not about Black or White Coach, it’s about capacity. I think Coach Kwesi Appiah with the Black Stars at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil was decent, but he showed some weakness. I kept on saying that he needed to be a bit stronger with the squad,” Mr Ankrah revealed to Class Sports.

    “So far, I think Otto Addo has done well since his appointment and Ghanaians need to give him the support he deserves going into the FIFA World Cup in QATAR 2022.”

    Ghana’s biggest record at the mundial is a quarterfinal finish at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa losing to Uruguay on penalties.

    The four-time African Champions missed out on the last edition in Russia 2018 and now set to make a 4th appearance when the competition commences on November 20.

     

    The NDC General Secretary Aspirant further revealed “Let’s encourage the players and ensure that government does its part, the technical team does same, the Football Association also plays its part and the players must be focused.

    “Playing at the World Cup is huge opportunity for every player to prove to the whole world, billions of people will be watching.

    “Some of the players, if they perform well that will be the next level of their career, they shouldn’t be focused on appearance fees and want more cash to themselves,” he added.

    Ghana who have been housed in Group H will open their campaign against Portugal on November 24 at Stadium 974 in Doha.

    Four days later, the Black Stars return to action with a clash with South Korea at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan.

    Ghana will wrap up their group stage adventure with their much-anticipated encounter with Uruguay at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah.

    Source: Footballghana

  • 2022 World Cup: Ghana v Uruguay is not about revenge – Captain Andre Ayew

    Black Stars captain, Andre Ayew says the team is not aiming at seeking revenge against Uruguay but to go all out for all the points against the South American side.

    The Black Stars face the ‘La Celeste’ in their Group H game on 2nd December 2022.

    Ghana have the opportunity to make amends after Uruguay inflicted pain on Ghanaians during the 2010 FIFA World Cup where Ghana was eliminated on penalties by the Sky Blue team during the quarterfinal game.

    With less than two months to the start of the 22nd edition of the Mundial, Ayew does not see it as prudent and rather wants his teammates to fight for points.

    “As a team leader, I don’t believe we should view this game as revenge. Instead, we must be smart enough to recognize that it is a match we need points from,” he said in an interview with Al Jazeera.

    “We just want to win against Uruguay after everything that has been said in the media. As a player, if you go into a game with the intent of retaliation, you can make a lot of mistakes and be hyper.”

    “We just need to stay calm, follow the plan and try to win the game, or do whatever we can to advance to the next stage,” he added.

    Ghana will open their campaign against Portugal in the opener on 24th November before facing South Korea four days later.