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Soccer

Blatter slams Cape academy

2009-09-10 13:04

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Sepp Blatter (File)

Cape Town - FIFA president Sepp Blatter is going to war with Arsenal legend Ian Wright over his stake in a Cape Town football academy.
The South African soccer school boasts Wright and six Premier League stars among its investors.

Blatter confirmed that FIFA are investigating the Africa Soccer Developments academy, from which Wright, Mart Poom, Danny Collins, Stephen Warnock, Alex Song, Julio Arca and Mamady Sidibe will receive 40 percent of any transfer when players are sold to a club in Europe at the age of 18.

The academy does not have the approval of the South African FA.

Asked about Wright’s academy and the issue of ‘child-trafficking’ in football, Blatter said: “This is one of the items we have just discussed with (Uefa president) Michel Platini, because all development programmes must be co-ordinated through FIFA and the national association.”

Your Comments

James10/14/2009 7:51 PM: JAMES IS MY NAME, AM 20 OF AGE, AM FROM GHANA IN THE WEST AFRICA, AM I FOOTBALLER IN GHANA I PLAY MANY TEAM IN GHANA HER, SOME LIKE LIMO /F/C THREE STAR /F/C IN EST AFRICA, I PLAY FOR SOME TEAM,S IN THE U,K LIKE EAST ROMAN,S F/C, FREE SKILL BOYS IN CANADA, AND A,S MAIN IN TOGO,, BUT NOW AM IN BACK IN GHANA PLAYING FOR A TEAM CALLED SOCCER BABY IN GHANA WE ARE NOW PLAYING THE D1 CAP IN GHANA NOW, I MAKE 31 GOALS IN 21 MACH,S AND HAD THE BEST PLAYER OF YER 2007,2008, AND I KNOW I WILL MAKE IT THIS YER TOO, AND WILL TRY MY BEST TO MAKE, AM LOOKING FOR NEW TEAM TO PLAY FOR FROM ALL THE WORLD,I CAN PLAY ANY ANGLE, I CAN RUN AS LONG I CAN IN THE MACH, AND NO PLAY PAST ME WHEN AM ON BALL, I CAN DEFEND, PLAY MIDFIELD, AND FORWARD LINES,,, THANK FOR AND GOD BE WITH U AND YOUR TEAM, HAVE A NICE DAY,,

Micheal9/17/2009 4:30 PM: i wish to join by being a member because am good at football...

gbenga9/17/2009 3:20 PM: i love the academy and i wishy to be a member by joining because i am a footballer

Peter9/10/2009 8:56 PM: Mr Blatter please come and live with these young footballers in the townships they come from. Let's see if you would then like the chance to excell in something you both love and enjoy. These youngsters are a very priviledged few and deserve all the help they can get. Wake up and smell the roses!! Whe nthey are 18 they can do what they want anyhow!!

Grigso9/10/2009 4:10 PM: Greedy FIFA terrified of losing any of it's control over all aspects of football as usual

Anton9/10/2009 3:52 PM: Sepp must get a life and find something else to do, we're all sick of him here in SA! He forces us to make decisions we tell him are bad and then blames us for the outcome (tickets, stadiums, etc, etc). What an arrogant joke.

PJ9/10/2009 3:44 PM: WOW, 40%?! Think I need to get involved in one of these academies....

Paul9/10/2009 3:21 PM: Soccer is a business, they invest thus they need returns. Its not like they steeling. South Africa is very short on quality football academies this will be great for us and any other african nation.

Soccer Guru9/10/2009 3:15 PM: So FIFA are saying that they and SAFA must make money out of trafficking kids to Europe and not other people? But have you heard anything in the last 13 years since Afcon 1996 about SAFA's development academies? Do you know that a total of 60 local coaches have gone through the SAFA coaching programme in the last few years? Compared to 3 000 in Germany in the same time!!!! Let the kids and their parents decide where they want to learn the game!

TS9/10/2009 3:07 PM: Its obvious, Fifa wants a piece of the pie...

Paul9/10/2009 3:06 PM: Soccer is a business, they invest thus they need returns. Its not like they steeling. South Africa is very short on quality football academies this will be great for us and any other african nation.

lawless9/10/2009 2:38 PM: Why shut these types of academies? Look at the state of football in our country. Has SAFA managed to show profit yet, yes they have thanks to the 2010 Soccer World Cup and sponsorships? Soccer is a professional sport, let players ply their trade where they get paid market related compensation. Our friend Mr Sep Blatter and SAFA are not in on the money that is why we have the outcry……..

Joe9/10/2009 2:38 PM: So ask Sepp what kind of money they will give to set up an academy here. Lets talk money here ! All Fifa cares about is moving the money thru their accounts !

Ex Player9/10/2009 2:33 PM: It is only at age 18. There is nothing wrong - they are giving the kids a chance they probally would never have recieved. Only reason FIFA is upset - is because they do not cash in - or have no control over the institusion. I was 18 when I started playing profesional rugby - in another country - and then you are old enough to know what you do. First come live in SA Sepp - then you'll understand how many kids will get exposure (through profesional people) rather than some of the scum that is only in this for quick buck - and imagine they are Saints to get kids of the street.

Onele9/10/2009 2:32 PM: & really it is about money

TheGreenMan9/10/2009 2:27 PM: All these sports governing bodies think they can control the world. Whilst there needs to be some sort of regulation I see no problem with this commercial agreement. If they are investing money in an academy of this kind and developing talent then they have every right to profit. These young footballers will not get shipped off to some prison people. They will get shipped off to Europe where they will be paid salaries and live a life far grander that what might have been the case on the Cape Flats. Everyone always seems to have a problem with those that activate good ideas to make good money. The difference is, the implications here are all positive for all stakeholders!

Robbing9/10/2009 2:25 PM: I reckon FIFA want control of every aspect of the sport so that they can make even more money from any transfers. This smells strongly of an autocratic organization. How bad can it be to give youngsters a chance at glory? They won't lose out - the clubs will pay the transfer fees.

AL9/10/2009 2:20 PM: Surely this is a business and these guys have the right to claim what they want?? If they were`nt there, there would be no academy and nowhere for these kids to play i.e. everybody looses. They`re investing their time and money into these kids who will go on and become financially secure for the rest of their lives. You cant call it "child-trafficking" if these kids are chosen because they`ve got the skills to be great players and will be financially rewarded. I`m sure they also have a choice if they want to stay in SA and maybe play for the PSL one day or go to Europe and play in Spain or England.

DISKI9/10/2009 2:20 PM: i personally think Blatter's comparison between youth academy's and child slave trade is ridiculous ... i mean honestly if the academy gets a cut its no different from the agents and family members who do exactly the same thing.looking at the exposure/training these kids will be getting it seems like all parties involved benefit from the arrangement and as investors are they not entitled to a bit profit?

The Voice of Reason9/10/2009 1:42 PM: Shut these type of 'academies down! They serve only to ship young children off to Europe, and make the agents money. Once the kids are transfered, no one cares about them. This is not about football, it is about money.

Amos Lence9/10/2009 1:09 PM: Now this is hectic - but looking at it in a brighter side the academy is of great help to aspiring kid football players. I guess Fifa should just excercise caution when dealing with the matter...

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