ESPN.com Soccernet Column by Dom Raynor: Update 2002: FIFA's �1.1billion fiasco
Friday, April 20, 2001 Update 2002: FIFA's �1.1billion fiasco
By Dom Raynor
It's a sad day when capitalist greed threatens to overshadow the World Cup, but that's exactly what happened this week when the company responsible for underwriting the tournament virtually collapsed.
ISL, a company created by Adidas supremo Horst Hassler, has owned World Cup marketing rights since 1982. But now it faces liquidation with debts exceeding �300million.
ISL were desperate to land tournament rights ahead of the 2002 World Cup and tabled an unfeasibly large �1.1billion deal to FIFA - who, of course, accepted.
As a result of the bid, TV companies such as the BBC and ITV were asked to pay nearly 40 times what they did for World Cup 98 - �175m compared to �4.5m. They are understandably reluctant to part with the cash.
In their lust for money, ISL overestimated the market - and having failed to recoup enough revenue now face the creditors.
As their antics threatened to undermine the profitability, image and credibility of the event itself, the company sunk into further disarray when they sacked the man in charge of marketing the World Cup, Patrick Magyer.
ISL claim that Magyer had taken part in discussions with FIFA that were not in the company's best interests.
Bonfrere: Frustrated coach blasts bureaucrats
(BenRadford/Allsport)
FIFA have set up an in-house company, FIFA Marketing, as a contingency against ISL's collapse.
Meanwhile back on the pitch, Nigeria's preparations for their vital group B qualifier against Sierra Leone have become farcical, according to manager Jo Bonfrere.
The Dutchman slammed the Nigerian FA after they failed to supply his team with a training bus, a pitch or football kits for their preparations for a must-win away match on April 21.
Bonfrere was also furious at receiving a letter from NFA secretary general Tijani Yusuf ordering him to stop granting press interviews or 'face the music'.
The manager responded by stating, at a press conference, that he would resign if Nigeria lose to Sierra Leone. But if his side wins, Yusuf must quit his job as NFA secretary.
The Super Eagles received another blow last week with the news that goalkeeper Ike Shorounmu has been ruled out of the match because of injury.
Nigeria, third in their five-team group with seven points from four matches, need to beat Sierra Leone - who have lost all their games so far - to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the 2002 World Cup finals.
Liberia and Sudan share the lead with nine points. Ghana are also in the group, from which only the top team will qualify.
Cameroon are expected to continue their 100 percent record in CAF group A , while the Ivory Coast will be looking to catch up on Tunisia at the top of the group D standings.
Morocco and Senegal, who share the lead in group C , both have home matches on Saturday.
Only the winners of the five qualifying groups qualify for the World Cup in Japan and South Korea next year.
PSV striker and Manchester United target Ruud van Nistelrooy has been recalled to the Dutch squad for their vital qualifier against Cyprus next week after an absence of more than a year.
Van Nistelrooy was hit by a major knee injury last April and has not played for the national team since their friendly against Germany in February 2000.
Inter Milan's Clarence Seedorf and Chelsea defender Mario Melchiot will also be making a return to the 20-man Dutch squad, who desperately need a win if their World Cup campaign is to get back on track.
Van Nistelrooy: Back in action for PSV and Holland
(CraigPrentis/Allsport)
They are third in UEFA group two , three points behind Portugal and leaders the Republic of Ireland. Only one team from the group is certain to advance to the finals.
Five of FIFA's six federations will be in qualifying action next week with over 40 fixtures being played.
Oceania are the only federation without any matches, with group two 's qualifying not commencing until June and group one won by Australia earlier this week.
The Socceroos beat their only real group rivals Fiji 2-0 to win the group and two days later crushed Samoa 11-0 to finish with a clean sheet and a total of 66 goals.
During their campaign, the Aussies claimed two world records. They scored the most goals in a competitive international when they beat American Samoa 31-0, and striker Archie Thompson scored the most goals by one individual - 13 - in the same game.
Australia will meet the winner of Oceania group two in a two-leg play-off in June.
The champions will then play the fifth-placed South American team in a two-leg play-off in November for a place at the World Cup finals.
In the other games played this week, Iraq went top of Asian qualifying group six with an 8-0 win over Macao, in which Husham Muhammed scored six, a 9-1 win over Nepal and a 1-1 draw against second place Kazakhstan.
Only one team progress from the group, in which Iraq and Kazakhstan are level on seven points. Macao are bottom, having lost all three games, and Nepal are third in the four-team group having beaten Macao 4-1.
In Asian group eight a 53rd minute goal form India's Bhaichung Bhutia kept his country's qualification hopes alive, earning a 1-1 draw against group leaders Yemen.
Brunei Darrusalam remain bottom of the group after losing their second game 12-0 to the favourites  United Arab Emirates. Yasser Salem Saleh Ali was their leading hit-man with five goals.
And finally.......
Germany may have controversially beaten South Africa to host the 2006 World Cup, but Munich will miss out on staging the finals because of a row over a new stadium.
The Olympic Stadium, home to TSV 1860 and Bayern Munich, was scheduled to stage matches - but after architects withdrew their renovation plans, it will no longer be ready on time.
TSV 1860 Munich president Karl-Heinz Wildmoser said: 'A World Cup stadium is not feasible. We have lost too much time and the problems cannot be solved.'
Upcoming Fixtures:
21-Apr Burkina Faso v Malawi
21-Apr Morocco v Namibia
21-Apr Sierra Leone v Nigeria
21-Apr Zambia v Angola