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FIFA's executive to consider SA's arbitration demand

Paul Martin Cainer in Zurich

Federation of International Football Association's executive committee has begun meeting on Friday to consider South Africa's demand for arbitration over the 2006 World Cup decision.

We can reveal that South Africa now has no chance of getting a re-vote as a result of this meeting.

A FIFA official close to its president Sepp Blatter says the executive will reject any call by South Africa for a re-vote but it will set up the machinery for an arbitration hearing. This is likely to be held in Lausanne but not within the next month.

The South Africans want FIFA to set a deadline by which time a decision must be made. FIFA is likely to promise speed but no actual timetable.

The official says the best South Africa can hope for is a decision to award the 2010 World Cup to the continent of Africa, but even this step will only happen in 2004.

Paul Martin is editor-in-chief of Sport Africa Broadcasting and southern Africa correspondent for rediff.com

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