Egypt and 13 Nations Reject UEFA President’s Comments on World Cup Matches

Football associations from 14 nations, including Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan, Uzbekistan, Congo, Haiti, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast, and South Africa, have expressed their strong disapproval and outright rejection of recent comments made by UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin. He described some matches in the expanded World Cup as “uninteresting.”.

The associations issued a joint statement with the presence of Dr. Mustafa Azam, Secretary General of the Egyptian Football Association. They emphasized that no match in a World Cup can be deemed unimportant. Such remarks overlook the sacrifices made by players and the aspirations of fans and the football community worldwide.

The statement highlighted that qualifying for the World Cup is a historic achievement and a long-awaited dream for countries like Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan. Additionally, returning to the tournament after a long absence holds special significance for millions of fans in Congo and Haiti.

The federations underscored that the strength of football lies in its global nature and not limited to a select group of countries. Participation in the tournament serves as an inspiration for new generations and contributes to the development of the sport while symbolizing pride and unity for communities.

In conclusion, they affirmed that all teams qualifying for the World Cup did so through merit and deserve full respect. Every match in the tournament carries value and meaning for millions of followers around the globe.

The signing federations reiterated their rejection of UEFA President’s statements and stressed the need to support continued growth in football to enhance opportunities, inspire generations, and maintain the true global nature of the game.

The statement was signed by football associations from Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan, Uzbekistan, Congo, Haiti, along with solidarity from Algeria’s federation, Tunisia’s federation, Morocco’s Royal Federation, Egypt’s federation, Ghana’s federation, Senegal’s federation, Ivory Coast’s federation, and South Africa’s football association.