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GV Africa Hall
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SV INTERIOR delegates seated (3 shots) (MUTE)
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SCU m. Ato Kidnakechew Tessema speaking in French.
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SV African delegates listening to Brazilian FIFA President Joae Havelanga speaking in French.
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Initials RH/TA/1720


SPORT: SOCCER

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: African Football Confederation President Ato Kidnekachew Tessema of Ethiopia told the confederation's annual congress in Addis Ababa on Thursday (26 February) that South African should now be expelled from the International Football Federation (FIFA).

Mr. Ato Kidnakkachew said South africa were suspended at the FIFA congress in Tokyo, Japan in 1964 because of racial discrimination. A FIFA investigation commission had confirmed that racial discrimination in sport was practiced in South Africa but now FIFA had decided to hold another commission.

Mr. Ato Kidnekachew added that the world press and all important men who have visited the country, including whites, had expressed indignation and embarrassment because of the shameful discrimination practiced in South Africa.

In his speech FIFA President Dr. Joao Havelange of Brazil thanked the African Football Confederation for the work it had done for football in the area.

FIFA's Director of Programmes Mr. Sepp Blatter from Switzerland later put forward Mr. Havelange's idea of a 1,400,000 US dollar (about 700,000 pound sterling) project to offer the expertise of soccer associations in developed nations to those of the third world through a teaching and promotional campaign. Mr. Blatter said the response was generally enthusiastic. Some delegates expressed reservations because they were afraid of "something imposed" but after repeatedly stressing that national differences would have to be taken into account they agreed to cooperate.

During the meeting Mr. Abraham Ordia, President of the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa, called for at least three African nations to be included in the 1978 World Cup soccer finals in Argentina. He asked Mr. Havelange to look into the matter urgently "so that Africa with some 40 football federations will have at least three teams in the next finals."