DORTMUND, June 18 (Xinhua) -- FIFA has persuaded the Togo squad not to
boycott their World Cup Group G match against Switzerland here on Monday after
the players had refused to depart from their team base Wangen for Dortmund ahead
of the match.
The tournament debutants, who had thrown their preparations for the Finals
into chaos by a dispute over bonuses, didn't leave their base camp following a
planned timetable Sunday morning.
But after being threatened with sanctions by FIFA, the squad are now
thought to be on their way to the hotel where they will stay prior to the match.
It is a precedent in the 76-year history of the World Cup that a team has
withdrawn from a match.
Togolese players, who have been in turmoil ever since they arrived in
Germany and seen their German coach Otto Pfister walking out but returning in
time for the first match, refused to hold their training on Saturday, while
Togo's officials said the training session was cancelled so that the players
could rest.
Togo, who lost their opening match against South Korea 2-1, are due to play
Switzerland, who drew France 0-0 on Wednesday, at 1500 local time on Monday with
both teams still in a position to be able to reach the knock-out stage. Enditem
