Togo insanity.
The aims of punishment are said to be fivefold.
It is difficult to see how the decision of the Confederation of African Football to fine the Togo national football team $50,000 and ban them from the next two Africa Cup of Nations for quitting the competition following a deadly gun attack on their coach whilst they were driving to the current match, will meet any of those aims. Three people on that coach died.
Retribution – did society need to have retribution against the Togolese for getting themselves shot up?
Deterrence – getting shot at will probably act as sufficient deterrence in itself, I doubt that the $50,000 fine will make them any less likely to get themselves shot in future.
Protection – Does society need protection from people who go around getting themselves shot at?
Reformation – Will the fine and the ban make the team reform their ‘getting shot at’ ways in future?
Vindication – Admittedly it was a dastardly deed on their part, getting yourself ambushed and shot at is not to be encouraged, but the experience has probably taught them a lesson and they are unlikely to re-offend.
There is no word yet on compensation or medals awarded to the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda who claimed to have shot at the Togo team……
It’s not April 1st is it?
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1
January 30, 2010 at 16:15 -
The ban is supposedly because of “interference” by the Togolese government following the attack, and the fact that the team ignored the travel stipulation i.e. they went by bus as opposed to flying.
I mean, no blame whatsoever should attach to CAF for choosing to stage part of the competition in a disputed part of the host nation which resembles a violent near-anarchic hellhole, should it?
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2
January 30, 2010 at 16:24 -
You’re talking about football, normal rules do not apply.
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3
January 31, 2010 at 14:08 -
True to form, the silence from FIFA is deafening. Fast forward to S Africa and the summer world cup. Heaven forbid a similar tragedy, what would happen then?
This smacks of African political manoevering.
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