WORLD CUP ’94 : NOTES : Pele Left on the Outside?

The international governing body for soccer, FIFA, found one way to call attention in the United States to today’s 1994 World Cup draw at the Las Vegas Convention Center: Ban Pele.

Unless FIFA President Joao Havelange of Brazil issues a last-minute reprieve, it appears as if Pele, the most recognizable name in soccer in the United States, will not be among luminaries from the sport and other celebrities participating in the draw that determines the 24 teams’ schedules for the June 17-July 17 World Cup in nine U.S. cities.

Pele did not participate in rehearsals Saturday.

“As of now, it looks like a definite no,” FIFA spokesman Guido Tognoni said when asked whether Pele would be invited. “I don’t know what to say. FIFA has to respect the wishes of its president.”

That is a considerably more definitive answer than offered at a news conference Friday by Havelange. He has feuded with Pele because of a legal dispute between Havelange’s son-in-law and the former Brazilian star.

Persistent questioning about Pele failed to elicit direct answers from Havelange. His evasiveness, according to one World Cup organizing committee official who did not want to be identified, was attributable to “arrogance, belligerence or language difficulties.” Havelange, whose native language is Portugese, spoke French during the news conference.

Belligerence would be a good bet. According to Michael Weisman, the organizing committee’s television consultant, a segment of today’s broadcast of the draw featuring Pele was nixed by Havelange.

Responsible for selling soccer to an ambivalent U.S. market, Alan Rothenberg, the organizing committee’s chairman, was not pleased about the situation.

“The notion that you could have a draw in any country in the world without Pele is unthinkable,” Rothenberg told the Associated Press.

Also expressing concern was Franz Beckenbauer, the former West German sweeper and coach who was the second-place finisher behind Pele in voting released Friday for the all-time World Cup team.

“For the good of the sport, I hope they meet and work it out,” Beckenbauer said. “Pele, of course, is the best player in the history of the game. He has to be part of it.”

Pele, who arrived in Las Vegas Friday night, was unavailable for comment, but a spokesman for one company he represents said the former player remained hopeful that he will be asked to participate.

“We don’t think it’s going to happen, but maybe the door is still open,” the spokesman said.

That appeared possible when a list of 23 celebrities who will be involved was released Saturday by FIFA.

At the bottom were the words: “And others.”

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Havelange can provide answers when he wants. Asked Friday whether he was concerned about a recent Harris Poll indicating that only 13% of Americans are aware the World Cup is coming to the United States, he said: “If we have 13%, that means 30 million people. If we start with 30 million people, that’s pretty glorious.”

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Roberto Baggio of the Italian national team and Juventus of Turin in the Italian League, was voted FIFA’s world player of the year.

Sports Editor Bill Dwyre contributed to this story.