Soccer: Togo bonus tustle a 'national disgrace'

Togolese soccer fans voiced shame on their team's demands for hefty bonus payments at the World Cup, with one newspaper branding the row "a national disgrace".

The ongoing pay dispute threatened to leave the West African debutants without a coach after Otto Pfister walked out last week, but the German announced today he would return for his side's debut match against Group G rivals South Korea tomorrow morning (NZ time).

"Togo's Participation in 2006 World Cup: A National Disgrace," headlined newspaper The People's Struggle, saying the demands of the players were unrealistic given the country's economic plight.

"The Togolese have shown their defects to the whole world," the newspaper wrote, adding they were the only team to have marred the tournament with financial demands.

Togolese players want 155,000 euro ($314,530 each to play in the World Cup plus 30,000 each per win and 15,000 per draw.

Officials from a country with average per capita income well below $1000 ($1600) said that was too much and talks stalled.

"I am indignant and it is regrettable for our country. For the first time, we have the opportunity to participate in the World Cup and we ruin that honour because of personal interests," said Patricia Da, who sells cloth.

Da said the team should be sent home and the players forced to pay a fine to soccer's ruling body Fifa.

Newspaper The Forum of the Week blamed the scandal on "the greed of the heads of the FTF (Togolese Football Federation), the lack of humility of the Hawks who are never satisfied, and a flagrant lack of patriotism on both sides."

- REUTERS