BIG ROW BETWEEN BLATTER AND HAYATOU

Club versus Country Feud Rages on As Blatter Switches Sides
Just before the 26th edition of the Cup of African Nations took off; the age old biennial Club v Country row which has become as much a feature of the tournament as the excitement it generates on the African Continent, flared up again. This year, the cacophony was deafening and it provided ample fodder for the chattering class in Europe especially England.
CAF has always insisted it will not move the tournament to June as has been demanded by European Clubs and has always had the backing of Sepp Blatter who considers himself as a friend of African football. This year’s noise was usual in all its forms until CAF and FIFA organized a press briefing prior to the opening ceremony on Saturday 14th January 2008. At that pres conference there was a significant change in the stance of the influential and all powerful FIFA presidents. He stated categorically that it will be better if the Nations Cup was shifted from January to July. This was the first time that Mr. Blatter, who is considered as a friend of Africa in Football circles, has openly called for the change in the timing of the African Football Fiesta.
This proposition was promptly and angrily rejected by the CAF president Issah Hayatou at the same platform. Mr. Hayatou made it plain and simple without any diplomatic nicecities that are mostly associated with such issues and personalities.