Asia delegates walk out in World Cup row

Asia delegates walk out in World Cup row

LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters): Asia's entire delegation walked out of a FIFA congress on Friday in protest over the allocation of places for the 2002 World Cup finals and repeated a threat to boycott the qualifying tournament.

Despite an impassioned plea from FIFA president Sepp Blatter, Asian delegates stood up and left the conference room en masse, leaving the remaining national associations in stunned silence.

The move came less than 24 hours after the Asians said they would boycott the 2002 qualifying tournament and go into the World Cup with only two countries -- joint hosts Japan and South Korea.

"This continent has 3.5 billion people and is hosting the World Cup for the first time," Asian Football Confederation (AFC) general secretary Peter Velappan said.

"This matter has been going on for several months, it's no use FIFA waking up to it now. The issue is quite clear: we want three full qualifying berths plus two for the host nations. The ball is now in FIFA's court."

"We will only reconsider if Mr Blatter can come up with an amicable conclusion. There is sufficient time to solve this but it is now FIFA's responsibility."

Blatter was clearly infuriated. "This is a day of shame," he told a news conference later.

"When you're in a family you do not leave the table before dinner is served. We paid for their flights, their hotel and their food. Is it polite to react in this way?"

Last Tuesday, Europe agreed to a play-off with Asia for the final qualifying place in 2002, giving the Asians a minimum four places in 2002, the same as last year, and a maximum of five.

But Velappan said this was not enough and that his continent wanted five to start with, without having to rely on a play-off.

"We want South America to give up half a place as well," he said. "There is no justification for a continent of 10 FIFA nations having a possible five places."

The walk-out was the first in FIFA history and Blatter said he felt betrayed. "I was irritated and shocked. I met the AFC president (Sultan Ahmed Shah) several times yesterday and today and he told me he would play things low key," Blatter said.

"He said he was happy to have been given half a place by the Europeans and that he could not expect to have additional slots just because two Asian nations were staging the World Cup."

Blatter said an inquiry would now be launched to try to find a solution but hinted Asian member countries could be punished.

"I will have to assess the situation regarding the national associations of Asia," he said.

"Meantime let's wait a little. I think and hope that they will eventually come back to the table."

Asked whether he would contemplate moving the World Cup elsewhere, Blatter appeared to rule such a move out. But he repeated his anger at the Asian stance.

"This cannot be accepted -- impossible," he said. "There will definitely be an inquiry. They have been so stubborn and I don't know why."

A South American source who asked not to be identified said earlier his confederation would agree to the Asian request to give up half a place "over our dead bodies".

Unless the issue were resolved by FIFA, said Velappan, the AFC would call an emergency meeting within the next 60 days to endorse the decision, taken by its executive committee on Thursday, to boycott the qualifying tournament.

"This is not a bluff," Velappan insisted.

The Asians, who also boycotted the pre-congress dinner in Los Angeles on Thursday night, were begged by an anxious and clearly embarrassed Blatter not to walk out of Friday's extraordinary congress which, because of FIFA's rules, could not include any discussion of matters not on the agenda.

The FIFA president, trying his hardest to maintain some decorum in the middle of one of the biggest crises to hit the world body in recent times, said earlier he had been "shocked and surprised" both by the Asian boycott announcement and its planned walk-out.

Blatter said he had been let down by the reaction of the Asians.

"I have tried to find a solution to increase Asia's number of spots," he said. "I have negotiated with other continents and UEFA has already, generously, given up half an allocation."

"I agreed privately with the AFC president to take up this further problem outside the confines of this conference. This explains my shock reaction today."

With the whole room looking on, Blatter then pleaded with the Asian delegates to change their minds about walking out. "I appeal to the national associations of Asia not to run out of the congress," said Blatter. "I ask you to reconsider. You are part of a footballing family."

With the draw for the 2002 finals being staged in December, that family is now in grave danger of being irrevocably split.