FF+ petition Britain in 'quota’ saga

The Freedom Front Plus appealed to the British High Commission to take note of alleged political interference in the selection of the Springboks squad. REUTERS/Rogan Ward

The Freedom Front Plus appealed to the British High Commission to take note of alleged political interference in the selection of the Springboks squad. REUTERS/Rogan Ward

Published Sep 1, 2015

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The Freedom Front Plus has appealed to the British High Commission to take note of alleged political interference in the selection of the Springboks squad set to participate in the Rugby World Cup in England later this month.

The FF Plus said they want players to be selected on merit and not the colour of their skin, adding that merit and not quotas should be the only standard applied in the sport.

In its petition, the

party asked the British High Commissioner, Nicola Brewer, British rugby unions and the British government to note that a quota-system based on race is “forced” in the selection of the South African rugby team.

“This is in breach of the golden international sporting code of no political interference in sport.

“The political interference in the selection of the national rugby team may mean that South Africa’s strongest available team will not be competing and/or taking part in the Rugby World-Cup Tournament for 2015.

 

“As a result, the ultimate winner of the tournament will not be able to claim that they are the world champion team as South Africa would have stood a reasonable chance of winning the tournament with a team selected on merit.

“It goes without saying that the quota issue itself has a very negative impact on the individual players and the team, and the government interference causes divisions in South African society on a racial basis.”

The party added that “the political impairment of a potential winner will place the credibility of the whole tournament in jeopardy”.

The party appealed to the High Commission to take the matter up with the South African government and the South African Rugby Union to ensure a fair tournament based on merit.

The FF Plus’s Anton Alberts said there should be no political interference in the selection of the national rugby team.

He said the government needed to develop rugby at schools at an early age and ensure that children in rural and poor communities were developed.

“The quota system is unfair for everyone even the black players because people will question if a black player is selected on merit or skin colour.”

High Commission spokesman Hooman Nouruzi said: “We have to study the letter carefully before we can make any comment.” – Cape Argus

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