Wednesday, May 12, 2004
If World Cups were awarded for sheer persistence, Morocco would win hands down when football's governing body decides where to stage the 2010 finals. After three unsuccessful bids, the north African nation believes it has every chance to upset favourites South Africa when the 24 members of Fifa's executive committee vote in Zurich on Saturday.
Fifa is breaking new ground by awarding the finals to the African continent for the first time as part of a rotation policy ushered in after the awarding of the 2006 tournament was marred by controversy and heaped embarrassment on Sepp Blatter, Fifa president, who had endorsed the South African bid over eventual winners Germany.
Morocco has the powerful backing of Michel Platini, the former French World Cup star and one of football's most influential ambassadors, and is convinced it has garnered enough votes to win.
This is despite being placed third below both South Africa and Egypt in the official report of Fifa's technical inspectors. Morocco has cried foul at the suggestion that stadium development is behind schedule and that medical facilities are below par. A whirlwind tour of facilities appears to justify such disenchantment. There are three stadiums at Fes, Casablanca and Rabat, three others are under construction and another three will be built if the country is successful. Even Germany, Moroccan officials stress, is still building some of its venues for 2006.
Yet despite unbending determination and an improved and compact infrastructure, doubts remain. There is concern at the general perception - misperception according to the Moroccans - about the country's lack of international exposure. Then there is the threat of terrorism. By coincidence, the May 15 vote comes exactly a year after suicide bombers struck at the heart of Casablanca causing a number of fatalities. Moroccan citizens have also been linked to the recent Madrid bombings.
"In the modern world terrorism can strike anywhere," said Saad Kettani, head of his country's bid committee. "I don't see why Morocco should be singled out."
Alan Rothenberg, the US football administrator acting as a consultant to the Morocco bid, said sections of the Fifa report were "glaringly inconsistent" but Morocco had done enough to win anyway. "If the vote were taken now, we would win," said Rothenberg. "We feel really good about Asia (four members), Africa (four) and (the North, Central American and Caribbean zone) Concacaf (three)."
That leaves the nine European members, the main battleground in the build-up to Saturday and where most of the lobbying will be done. "A lot can happen in a few days but I honestly believe we should get the 13 votes needed," said Rothenberg. "It's possible we could even get up to 15."
Crucially, Morocco's bid has been hugely bankrolled by the Moroccan royal family, with much emphasis on the fact that a substantial donation will go to the development of football in Africa as a whole, should it win.
"In the past, our economy, infrastructure, attitudes and football were not sufficiently developed," said Kettani of previous bids. "Now they are." He has a healthy respect for his rivals but believes Morocco's time has come. "I can't get inside individual heads but what I do know is that they will surely take account of our rapid evolution," said Kettani.
By ANDREW WARSHAW
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