Algeria Coach Halilhodzic Blasts Fifa Over Mali Venue

Algeria football coach Vahid Halilhodzic has severely criticised FIFA for holding back the venue of the Mali-Algeria 2014 World Cup qualifying clash set for June 9th 2012, after the Algerian national team requested for relocation from Mali where political violence left delegations of two foreign football clubs stranded there several weeks ago.

• “I can’t still understand FIFA’s attitude on the matter. We’re preparing for a match and we don’t even know the venue,” Halilhodzic said.

• “Our request for a change of venue from Bamako due to the obvious security problems in Mali has fallen on deaf ears. I keep asking myself why FIFA has refused to announce the venue of the match with days away,” the Algeria coach added.

• The Malian football federation for its part argues normality has returned to the capital Bamako and that the planned fixture can be held there without issues. Observers believe FIFA’s baffling silence could mean that the upcoming Mali-Algeria 2014 World Cup qualifier will be played at its initial venue of Bamako.