Blatter's apology

Anthony P. Briguglio, of Qormi writes:

The article 'Blatter apologises to Italy for World Cup snub' (The Times, January 9), is the second apology from the FIFA supremo to Italy in a month.

The first concerned his unwarranted intrusion regarding the penalty award to Italy against Australia in the World Cup.

This time around, Sepp Blatter owned up to his absence from the presentation ceremony after Italy had beaten France in the World Cup final, in Berlin.

In fact, during these last years, it seems that Mr Blatter's presence at important football venues has been far from appreciated and welcomed by the attending thousands. This antagonism towards Mr Blatter (and perhaps FIFA) was evident as far back as 2002. During his opening speech at the World Cup in South Korea, Blatter was subjected to cat-calls mingled with a barrage of abuse.

The FIFA president was again booed and whistled at during a charity match in Basle, Switzerland, in December 2003. In February 2004, the British fans, not to be outdone, 'greeted' Mr Blatter with boos and whistles when he came onto the pitch for the League Cup final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

These embarrassing situations appear to have become a global practice for Mr Blatter as, on his arrival for the opening ceremony of the Asian Cup, at Beijing's Workers Stadium in July 2004, a 70,000 crowd extended a far from an appreciative and cordial 'salute' to the FIFA president.

The opening address of the last World Cup, in Germany, was no exception and it was quite clear that this negative trend of abuse towards Mr Blatter deterred and discouraged him once again from presiding over the presentation ceremony following Italy's victory on penalties against France in the final.

All this confirms Mr Blatter's allergy to boos and whistles.