Blatter: Germany first choice to replace South Africa for 2010 World Cup

To Erwin 70,
‘But still – and that makes me worry – I am frustrated by the reaction of many South Africans once they are confronted with the fact that South Africa has the highest reported rape and murder rates in the world. Instead of acknowledging it and taking the issue as serious as it is, even South African politicians point with their fingers at other countries and say: look they have also got rapes and murders. But if you belittle your own crime rates you will never tackle the problem successfully.’

No, no … I totally disagree, you are making it sound like our country and our people are doing nothing to fight this evil, and that is where you are greatly mistaken. Measures are being taken to get this crime issue under control, you have to be in South Africa to know that and not read it from some journalist who has a duty to write a story that will push papers. No one in South Africa least of all South Africans is trying to belittle the crime element in our country – no, afterall we are the ones MOST affected by it, not the tourists, our government is fighting tooth and nail to counter this problem even the public’s help has been sought and make no mistake we are winning this war, and hosting the world cup has even brought a sense of urgency to the situation.

Posted from  United States

… and to you Bib
‘Yeah, it will be remembered for the same thing that Korea/Japan 2002 was…but I’ll leave that to your imagination.’
What is it you are you trying to say? If you have nothing to contribute I would just advise you to shut up, plain and simple!!!

Posted from  United States

to Kahuru:

I see – we can come to terms with each other. You are right with everything you said. And I wish you all the best for 2010.

And I can assure you: Germany would – under no circumstances – stage the WC 2010.

I would like to say that as a person that lives here in SA, we do have a problem with crime. The problem is more psycological than anything else. In the apartheid years, you had all these freedom fighters who were trying to break the system of white rule. After more than 30 years they got it right. But then suddenly, here they were, no cause to fight anymore and no skills to get a job in the new South Africa because they put all their energy into fighting apartheid. Now in order to survive, they use what they learnt as fighters to get by. Worst of all, their children was taught from young to fight as well, but by the time they got to the age to do something, things had changed. Now they sit with a problem of having this anger and no way of expressing it except what we see in the media. Committing crimes that are followed by violent acts.( example being, breaking and entering to rob a house and then raping and murdering the owners.) What SA has failed to do is to integrate and change the mentality of these people into normal society. In other words, teaching them skills and how to use it to improve their lives. I am not trying to justify the crime rate in this country but we need to find a balance for these type of people and those who commit crimes that are premeditated. It takes time. America itself experienced an increase in crime after blacks were given equal rights during the 1960s. The reason given because those who were fighting for freedom had no way of re-integrating themselves into normal society afterwards. We will succeed and having the world cup here in SA is a positive step because we will improve on many things and therefore will need more people with skills to maintain after the world cup is over. The thing is, is whether politics will be able to keep it hands clean and handle the situation properly.

To Erwin 70,
Thanks. I think we reached a very important milestone in our debate in that we eventhough we may have very opposing views but once communicated in a very civil and respectful way, without insults and emotional tirades (I’ve been guilty of that in that past) an amicable solution can be reached in which both parties see each other’s point of view, and offer practical solutions – that is a positive step in our quest for harmony in all humanity. Keep it up Erwin, we hope to see you in person in 2010!!! And to you Marco thanks for a very insightful point of view.

Posted from  United States

Kahuru,

Last time I checked we lived in a free society, so don’t tell people to shut up. Don’t get so defensive, you automatically asume it’s something bad…Is there something on your mind?

Interesting how an open ended comment like that brings out such negativity. Hmmmm.

I hope SA does host the cup, it will be very entertaining.

Posted from  Canada

And Kahuru, don’t take yourself so seriously. Life’s too short.

Posted from  Canada

Thanks Kahuru. By giving Africa a chance we can catch up to the rest of the world and will be able to be as first world class as them. We need the opportunities ,like the world cup, to help us, just like the rest of the world used them to help improve their countries.

For the country of Canada. The most violent tourist destinations for Canadians per capita are

1) Mexico
2) China
3) Cuba
4) United States

There are many south Africans living in Canada, and many Canadians travel to South Africa. If China can host the Olympics, Brazil the World Cup, Mexico the World Cup twice, The United States a world cup, and many Olympiad, on and on we go. Then I have full confidence in the people of South Africa to host a great and safe World Cup. Relax people, Africa deserves the right that so many of us have taken for granted.

For the country of Canada. The most violent tourist destinations for Canadians per capita are

1) Mexico
2) China
3) Cuba
4) United States

There are many south Africans living in Canada, and many Canadians travel to South Africa. If China can host the Olympics, Brazil the World Cup, Mexico the World Cup twice, The United States a world cup, and many Olympiad, on and on we go. Then I have full confidence in the people of South Africa to host a great and safe World Cup. Relax people, Africa deserves the right that so many of us have taken for granted.

Hey Bib,
What I do with my life is really none of your beeswax, but thanx for supporting SA 2010 though if that was a true statement.

Posted from  United States

I am amazed at the amount of ignorance and denialism about the crime stats in South Africa and the “progress” they are making towards buiding anything for 2010. The facts are that South Africa is the most violent Country on the Planet outside of a War Zone. You are 12 times more likely to be murdered in South Africa than in the US and 50 times more if you live in the UK. A woman gets raped every 23 seconds and a children are sodomised and cut up for their body parts as well as being seen as a cure for HIV/AIDS. All that crap about “freedom fighters” is just that -liberal crap. The ANC are Marxist terrorists whose only interest in 2010 is “making money.” They are not interested in the quality of the Tournament and even less in the security of visitors. All their promises about guaranteeing security are utter rubbish – they cannot even protect their own citizens. Their President Mbeki says crime is a “perception” and the Security Minister told Whites ” to stop whingeing and leave ” if they didnt like it.
Jordaan says they are ahead of schedule but the furthest they have got is site clearing. Why doesnt he show the World pictures of how far they are ahead of progress? Because it is all African lies and they are hoping the 1st World will come in and bail them out again.
Best advice I can give if FIFA proceed with this dreadful mistake is – STAY AWAY because if you dont you will become a crime stastic. Look at this site
http//:www.crimexposouthafrica.net

You sound like one of those white South Africans that enjoyed the gravy train that Apartheid provided, and then woke up on one sunny spring morning of 1994 to the realization that uh oh; all that is gone,and the land is now back to it’s rightful owners (both black and whites, the latter being those who truly feel a sense of belonging to the land as South Africa is a Rainbow nation). So this emotional tirade of yours is not scaring anyone, and just know that you sound like a broken record. You are putting personal feelings first instead of thoughts, in other words thinking with your heart and not your brain; what’s worse is that you are a victim of propaganda and are truly naive into thinking that an organisation like FIFA would bend to the whims of people like you, irregardless to how many websites you and your cronies create to try and paint South Africa in a bad light; do you think rational human are incapable of forming their own opinions that you have to TELL them not to go to South Africa for the 2010 world cup, are you paying for the air fares, accomodation, and livelihood that they have to listen to a faceless internet browser? Get real man.

Posted from  United States

Jordaan says they are ahead of schedule but the furthest they have got is site clearing. Why doesnt he show the World pictures of how far they are ahead of progress? Because it is all African lies and they are hoping the 1st World will come in and bail them out again.

You are a liar man, and a stinking racist … ‘the furtherst the’ve got is site clearing…’ You should have your head examined. It’s bad enough that you are acting on emotions, which tells me that you may be a bit unbalanced, but to try and spread blatant lies like this is simply criminal – more like an anal retentive really – goodness!!!

Posted from  United States

Harry, why do u think the 1st world doesn’t want Africa to host events like the world cup. They don’t want Africa to benefit from the money that gets made from it. They are greedy just like every human being on this planet. Why the insatiable need to control and own all the mineral wealth in africa. They want to make money and the only way to do this is by keeping Africa destitute. Once it starts making money and knows how to do it, they will no longer need the 1st world to help them out. Oh, by the way, what did the rest of the world think of your freedom fighters who fought for american independence ( if u r american). I bet they thought of them as terrorists even though the phrase didn’t exist in that time.

Oh, and that website you gave was started by a guy who is accused of fraud because he took the money that people donated, through the website, to supposedly help fight crime in South Africa. And he doesn’t exist.

Oh, and that website you gave was started by a guy who is accused of fraud because he took the money that people donated, through the website, to supposedly help fight crime in South Africa. And he doesn’t exist.

Marco, I bet you six pence to a bottle of piss that this Harry fellow was one of the suckers who gave his entire life savings to that moron who built that site and skipped town, and now is venting out because he was fooled by a scam artist who could not scam a nickle from a kid

Posted from  United States

I just wish Blatter would shut up. I am sure if South Africa develops problems getting ready that there are enough countries waiting in the wings to take over. I think it’s too early to start pulling the plug on South Africa. Give them a chance to show they can do it. Let’s not start a bunch of stupid rumors that may have no foundation to it. Give them a chance.

Posted from  United States

I’ll take that bet. South Africa has got alot of negative things going for it compared to the positives but hell, we cannot overcome everything that was wrong overnight. We will have a great world cup and if harry and others like him don’t want to come there are plenty who will snap up those tickets to come here in their place. Harry and co will just be missing out on a great african-style party.

To Marco
“…and if harry and others like him don’t want to come there are plenty who will snap up those tickets to come here in their place. Harry and co will just be missing out on a great african-style party.”

Nay, they can’t afford the ticket prices, hotel accomodation, airfare etc…etc… anyway, thus are already making excuses about not attending the 2010 World Cup in SA when the truth of the matter is that they do not have a pot to piss in nor a window to throw it out of. On the otherhand we will greatly welcome the Claudes, The Erwin 70’s of the world etc..etc.. with open arms, and they will experience the famous African hospitality so much such that they will be sad to leave after the final whistle in 2010!!!!!

Posted from  United States

I am so very excited about 2010, I am in Belgium now, but just for an assignment and will be back in Cape Town in a few months, can’t wait!!

Am thinking about inviting some of my European friends to stay in my house for the 2010 games, I think a lot of Capetonians will do that!!

Missing the mountain like crazy!

Posted from  Belgium

That’s the spirit SQ, let’s show these guys what we can do.

Posted from  United States

South Africa will do a fine job with the World Cup. Honestly, it’s pretty hard to muck up, even with security. Ever been to one? Try to rob someone and the mob will stomp your sorry ass to death.

South Africa’s crime problem is truly sad to see, in part because of the failure of its leaders. I once idolized Nelson Mandela only to see him become a disappointing leader with autocratic tendencies. Mbeki is far worse. We’ll all be better off some day when we evolve beyond “government” as a system of structure. Black, white… all leaders seem to suck. More proof that all people are created equal :-/

Show your support, attend SA 2010 and tell Blatter to stick it.

Posted from  United States

I think it’s folly to blame South Africa’s problems solely on Mandela and Mbeki; if anything Mandela was more of a state’s man during his tenure someone who was the face of South Africa on the international front, and to critisize his presidency after he had lost 27 years of his life to see to it that South Africa becomes a land of all those who live in it is really above me. I am not saying Mandela is perfect, but look first at the situation before you go after the man.

Posted from  United States

To all those of u that are dissing South Africa and its crime rate i bet u dont live in a perfect country!!! Well wake up and smell the coffee, Colombia, Bogata, is the most dangerous and then take a closer look at the ‘developed’ world and Scotland is the most violent! It is now comparable to Rio De Janero and Johannesburg!!! Thailand tops the most homocide with a gun! And the good ‘ol USofA tops the rapes! nuff said!!!

Posted from  United Kingdom