 The decision to play in the former Spanish colony has drawn the ire
of the country's opposition in exile group in Madrid, and raised
questions about what benefit the World Cup champions expect to get
from playing a team ranked 119th in the world.
The federation said it will not be paid any extra fees to play. When
directly asked why the game is being played, federation president
Angel Maria Villar refused to answer.
"I won't answer this question," Villar said Thursday. "Ask anything
else, but I won't respond to this one."
Spanish players have reportedly refused to pose for photographs with
President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, who is Africa's longest serving
strongman and accused of human rights violations and corruption.
Spain will become the first nation from outside Africa to play in
Malabo since Obiang took power in 1979. Equatorial Guinea is coached
by former Spain international Andoni Goikoetxea.
More than 14,000 people have joined the opposition group in calling
for the match to be halted by signing a petition on change.org.
"The adequate decision for everyone, in our opinion, would be that
the game is not celebrated," the group said Thursday in a statement.
"If not, Spain will pay a hefty bill for falling into this trap, and
not just from an economic standpoint."
Amnesty International, EG Justice and Human Rights Watch are among
those who have criticized Obiang's government over issues such as
politically motivated arrests and lack of freedom of speech. Obiang,
who seized power in a coup, has managed to be photographed alongside
United States President Barack Obama while at the same time be
accused of draining his nation's oil wealth to fabulously enrich
family and cronies while his people suffer in slums.
Equatorial Guinea has Africa's highest per capita gross national
income of nearly $18,000 a year, but more than 60 percent of the
population living on less than $1 per day, according to the U.N.
Development Assistance Framework. The country of about 700,000
people gained independence from Spain in 1968.
[to top of second column] |
Spain striker Fernando Llorente was asked his
opinion of the situation, but team spokeswoman Paloma Antoranz
interjected and said the players would not answer questions on
the topic.
That set off a tense back-and-forth between Antoranz and the
journalist, as the Spanish federation spokeswoman made it clear
that questions about the trip had already been addressed before
the journalist asked if they did not live in a "free" country
where such questions could be delivered.
After Antoranz finally relented, gazes shifted to Llorente who
said: "I only want to talk about sport, everything else I don't
want to talk about it."
Marc Bartra, who has been called up for the first time and has
yet to play a game for Spain, and Raul Albiol also avoided
talking about the situation in detail.
"We try to stay out of all this and to focus on the football.
The country, its government, that is something apart," Albiol
said. "We're here to play a friendly and nothing more."
Spain defender Sergio Ramos was critical of another extended
travel plan that will see the team return to South Africa for a
friendly on Tuesday, its first trip to the country since it won
the World Cup there in 2010.
"It's clear that these long trips are not enjoyable for
anybody," Ramos said. "We can try new tactics heading into the
World Cup which is always something positive."
___
Online:
http://www.change.org/es/peticiones/
que-la-selecci%C3%B3n-espa%C3%B1ola-de-
f%C3%BAtbol-no-juegue-en-guinea-ecuatorial
[Associated
Press; PAUL LOGOTHETIS, AP Sports Writer]
Follow Paul Logothetis
on Twitter @PaulLogoAP
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