06 July 2010 | Author: J. Morton News Editor
The president of the African nation of Nigeria has recanted his promise to bar the country's 2010 World Cup team from playing for two years, citing fan protests on Facebook as a major factor in his decision.
"I have listened to your voices," said President Goodluck Jonathan in a Facebook post.
After what he deemed a sub-par attempt to capture the crown of the football world, the ongoing FIFA World Cup in South Africa, the president issued the ban against the national team. However, a further decision was demanded by FIFA, which disallows governmental interference in football matters.
Jonathan reviewed the decision and repealed it on Monday, before the FIFA deadline, issuing a statement proclaiming that the Nigerian Football Federation would "grow a new senior national team that will bring glory rather than consistent embarrassment to Nigeria on the world stage."
The president attributed his turnaround of opinion to outcry from the Nigerian public, including former leaders of the African nation, as well as the growing number of protesters on Facebook.
"I read your comments and took them into account in the government's decision to rescind the suspension of Nigeria from international football," Mr Jonathan told users of the social networking site on Tuesday.
Though new to the website - his account was created only last week - President Jonathan explained that he had used the opinions of his contacts on the site to work positive changes in the NFF.
"I had a meeting with the NFF today and conveyed my disappointment and those of Nigerians on this page and received assurances that there will be positive changes," he wrote.
In a related Facebook and football news story, the BBC has reported that the social networking giant has outright denied its supposed bid to be the England team's corporate sponsor. Listed alongside companies such as Orange, O2 and Santander, Facebook released a statement to The Sport Briefing saying it is "not in talks with the England football team regarding sponsorship."
Facebook fan page saves Nigerian football team
The president of the African nation of Nigeria has recanted his promise to bar the country's 2010 World Cup team from playing for two years, citing fan protests on Facebook as a major factor in his decision."I have listened to your voices," said President Goodluck Jonathan in a Facebook post.
After what he deemed a sub-par attempt to capture the crown of the football world, the ongoing FIFA World Cup in South Africa, the president issued the ban against the national team. However, a further decision was demanded by FIFA, which disallows governmental interference in football matters.
Jonathan reviewed the decision and repealed it on Monday, before the FIFA deadline, issuing a statement proclaiming that the Nigerian Football Federation would "grow a new senior national team that will bring glory rather than consistent embarrassment to Nigeria on the world stage."
The president attributed his turnaround of opinion to outcry from the Nigerian public, including former leaders of the African nation, as well as the growing number of protesters on Facebook.
"I read your comments and took them into account in the government's decision to rescind the suspension of Nigeria from international football," Mr Jonathan told users of the social networking site on Tuesday.
Though new to the website - his account was created only last week - President Jonathan explained that he had used the opinions of his contacts on the site to work positive changes in the NFF.
"I had a meeting with the NFF today and conveyed my disappointment and those of Nigerians on this page and received assurances that there will be positive changes," he wrote.
In a related Facebook and football news story, the BBC has reported that the social networking giant has outright denied its supposed bid to be the England team's corporate sponsor. Listed alongside companies such as Orange, O2 and Santander, Facebook released a statement to The Sport Briefing saying it is "not in talks with the England football team regarding sponsorship."
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