Edibi denies slamming FIFA over World Cup list
Nigerian FIFA referee, Peter Egan Edibi has expressed shock over a recent report in a national daily stating that he slammed world football governing body, FIFA, for dropping him from the list of referees to officiate at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
In his reaction to the report which he described as a figment of the writer’s imagination, the FIFA assistant referee said he was shocked by the report without a byline which claimed that he accused FIFA of nepotism and favouritism.
Edibi said as one of the most successful African referees and one who has benefitted immensely from FIFA and CAF, there was no way he would go to the press with such despicable and condemnable allegations.
The referee maintained that although he granted a brief interview to a sports correspondent with an Abuja based radio station, he only expressed hope that he would still make it to Brazil.
“I remember granting a brief interview to a radio station in Abuja after officiating a Flying Eagles training session. All I told the reporter was that I had not given up on Brazil 2014. I said until the curtains fall on the World Cup, I will keep hope alive.
“I am therefore shocked at what has been written and credited to me. I never discussed politics in either FIFA or CAF with him. I have benefitted immensely from FIFA and CAF and there is no way I would come out with such a scathing attack on the two credible bodies”.
FIFA Edibi said it has never crossed his mind that he was dropped from FIFA’s list of referees for the World Cup because he does not have a godfather so there was no way he would have made such serious allegations.
He, therefore, called on those behind such damaging report to desist from further attempts to bring him at loggerheads with the leadership of FIFA and CAF saying he is not ready to have his hard earned reputation tarnished for no just cause.
“I am appealing to those who are behind the damaging report not to use my name to fight any cause. If such people have issues with anyone in FIFA or CAF, I don’t want to be the medium through which such grievances would be conveyed.
“I want to use this medium to reiterate my unflinching loyalty to the presidents of FIFA and CAF. I don’t believe there is godfatherism at the level of FIFA and CAF where merit is never compromised.
“I reached my present level in world football on merit and I cannot turn round to show ingratitude by making such spurious allegations”, he said.