Gaddafi hits at FIFA for "slave market" soccer

TRIPOLI, June 12 (Reuters) Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi hit out at world governing body FIFA for operating what he called a soccer ''slave market'' that deprived poor nations of talented players and fostered racism among supporters.

In a message on his personal Web site, Gaddafi said if FIFA could not run its operations in ways more favourable to the world's poor then it should be abolished.

Instead of promoting international friendship, ''what happened is the spread and deepening of hatred'', he said.

''Then it shifted to being a slave market ... by buying players and selling them from one state to another and from one club to another. The children of the poor states became slaves of the rich ones.'' ''FIFA reactivated the system of slavery and enslavement and trading in human beings from Africa to Europe and America; and also from Latin America to Europe.'' A FIFA spokesman declined to comment.

Today's TV-driven, cash-laden game is often criticised for handing excessive power to Europe's richest clubs and their owners, as well as for the infighting that has characterised the various groups involved in running the sport.

But defenders of the transfer system say that while players signed away from poor countries are indeed lost to their home club teams, they are handsomely rewarded for their service and remain highly popular with fans back home.

FIFA has asked every World Cup player, referee and official to sign a pledge against racism but Gaddafi criticised the governing body for not doing enough.

Black players have suffered racist abuse during matches in European cities and African visitors to World Cup matches in Germany have been warned to be on guard for possible attack.

''FIFA has increased the tendency towards international racism and the extreme right; the proof is that the groups that supported the sport clubs are extreme right and racist groups. Where is the conscience of the world?'' Gaddafi said.

Gaddafi said the billions spent on the World Cup would be better spent lifting poor countries out of poverty. And instead of hosting the World Cup finals in the country judged most able to accommodate it, the games should go to the winner of the previous tournament, he said.

''This is the solution; otherwise FIFA should be cancelled because it is a material and moral danger,'' Gaddafi said.

Gaddafi added that he respected FIFA President Sepp Blatter as a wise and decent man but, he added, it was not clear whether Blatter had the ability to change FIFA.

Libya's most famous footballer is Al Saad Gaddafi, a son of the Libyan leader. He signed at Italian teams Perugia and then Udinese.

Reuters PDS GC1910