WORLD CUP USA ’94 / THE FIRST ROUND : Spotlight : BOSTON TV CHIEFS VOW TO IGNORE A PRO SOCCER TEAM
FIFA, soccer’s governing body, has spread bad will among some United States journalists, damaging professional soccer’s chances of surviving here once the World Cup has concluded.
Executives at Boston-area television stations publicly vowed to ignore the proposed Major Soccer League team there next year because of what they claim is FIFA’s arrogant treatment of local broadcast journalists.
FIFA officials also nearly caused a disturbance Thursday after the scoreless tie between South Korea and Bolivia by refusing to allow reporters to question the coaches during the press conference.
Officials were the only ones who could ask questions. While they offered to accept handwritten questions from the media, apparently none of those were used.
With several dozen Bolivian journalists pushing and shouting while security officers nervously watched, Bolivian Coach Xavier Azkargorta agreed to take
questions at a different location
to avoid trouble.
Additionally, there have been occasions when FIFA officials made announcements in French or Spanish without offering translation.
