Togo fined for World Cup strike threat

LONDON, Aug 25 (Reuters) World soccer's governing body FIFA has fined the Togolese FA 100,000 Swiss Francs 80,840 dollars after its players threatened to go on strike during the World Cup finals in Germany.

FIFA announced the decision today, adding that its disciplinary committee described the behaviour of the Togolese delegation as ''unworthy of a participant in the World Cup''.

Togo's first appearance in a World Cup finals tournament became something of a farce with the players and officials involved in a battle over bonus payments even before they had played a match.

Their much-travelled German coach Otto Pfister walked out after players boycotted training sessions while the negotiations continued.

Pfister was then re-instated a day before their first game, a 2-1 defeat by South Korea, although his assistant Kodjovi Mawuena insisted to the media that he was the coach and would be for the entire tournament.

The dispute then escalated after the players threatened go on strike and not play their second match against Switzerland.

After FIFA's intervention they played the match, losing 2-0.

FIFA said in a statement: ''The disciplinary committee deemed the matter to be very serious and noted that the behaviour of the Togolese delegation, which had attracted negative headlines due to its internal disputes ever since its arrival in Germany at the end of May, was unworthy of a participant in the World Cup and jeopardised the smooth running of FIFA's most prestigious competition.'' The committee, said, however, that the Togolese FA's admission of guilt and apology had a mitigating influence on the severity of the punishment.

Pfister remains in charge of Togo and has been told he will lead the team through their 2008 African Nations Cup qualifying campaign.

REUTERS PM RK1905