Togo Football team Shot

[Langers]

Unfortunatly Adebayor was unharmed 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8449319.stm

[JB_Swindon]

  In all seriousness though , i wish the team well

[Langers]

Yeh, horrible thing to happen, makes you wonder why?

[Nemo]

With this and the Sri Lankan Cricket team attack, it's worrying to think that Sports teams are becoming a legitimate target.

[Reg Smeeton]

With this and the Sri Lankan Cricket team attack, it's worrying to think that Sports teams are becoming a legitimate target.

I'd have thought the massacre of Israeli sportspersons at the 1972 Olympics by Black September, set a bit of a precedent here.

[Nemo]

I'd have thought the massacre of Israeli sportspersons at the 1972 Olympics by Black September, set a bit of a precedent here.

Slightly different in that they were targeted precisely because they were Israeli. The Sri Lankans and, as it seems, the Togolese were attacked not because of who they were but for the attention it would recieve.

[pauld]

Slightly different in that they were targeted precisely because they were Israeli. The Sri Lankans and, as it seems, the Togolese were attacked not because of who they were but for the attention it would recieve.

Possibly not in this case - the area where the attack happened apparently has known issues with insurrectionists/bandits. So it may have been a random attack and just bad luck. Although it does beg the question why they were travelling that way without an armed escort

[reeves4england]

Crazy, can only hope they recover quickly. Such a shame about the driver. I'd be amazed if they don't pull out of the tournament now.

[jonny72]

Although it does beg the question why they were travelling that way without an armed escort

Worrying that the tournament officials didn't actually have their correct travel plans. I know South Africa is a different country and no doubt things will be manager better, but it doesn't exactly fill you with confidence for the World Cup. You'd have thought they'd be making sure it ran like clock work.

[Nemo]

A few cruel jokesters are suggesting it was orchestrated by Avram Grant trying to prevent the Tournament going ahead so he gets his players back.

I feel bad for laughing, but I did. I did notice that a lot of Premiership teams have already called for all their players to come home. You hope that's motivated purely by concern for their own safety, but my cynicism thinks not.

[reeves4england]

A few cruel jokesters are suggesting it was orchestrated by Avram Grant trying to prevent the Tournament going ahead so he gets his players back.

I feel bad for laughing, but I did. I did notice that a lot of Premiership teams have already called for all their players to come home. You hope that's motivated purely by concern for their own safety, but my cynicism thinks not.

As has been said, it seems this was more to do with the territory they were travelling through, rather than there being any suggestion that other teams will be in danger at the event.

[pauld]

Possibly not in this case - the area where the attack happened apparently has known issues with insurrectionists/bandits. So it may have been a random attack and just bad luck. Although it does beg the question why they were travelling that way without an armed escort

Actually, it turns out they did have an armed escort from the Angolan armed forces who engaged the gunmen in a half hour gunfight. So scrap that point, I guess

[Bennett]

i thought this was going to be a team lineup with someone pulling a funny face...

[Spencer_White]

One of the team has just died!

This has to put the whole competition in serious doubt.

[Batch]

Togo have unsuprisingly withdrawn

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/8449611.stm