If you were a parent of an U-20 US National Team member and the tournament in March is held in UAE, would you allow your kid to attend the tournament? Sometimes, we forget that these players are more than midfielders, forwards, defenders and goalies. They are also someone's kid, someone's brother, someone's grandkid, etc. And when I think of it in that perspective and try to place myself in that same situation (as the parent), I wonder if I'd allow my son to play in the WYC if it is held in UAE. I'm not a cautious person but sometimes you have to weigh the risks. With the recent shootings in Kuwait, I'd have to hear a great deal about the security for the team. I remember reading somewhere that US Soccer is keeping the players' parents updated on all of the security issues which is good. But I'm not sure which way I'd decide this one. So, if you took your "soccer fan hat" of for a minute and put on your "concerned parent hat" on for awhile, would you let your son play? Murf
When the national team calls these players and parents drop any and everything to go. A threat of violence is not even a consideration for these people, they are more afraid to say no to a national team coach than to face the unknowns regarding safety. This all starts at the ODP level where the word no is never used for fear a second call won't come. Mark my words, the first 18 called will go without a concern or question.
As someone who has had his share of bad luck, hell no I wouldn't let my kid go if it's in the UAE. I just think that these kids make too much of a target and it would be hugely publicized, which is exactly what those cowards want. The only way I would consider it would be if WE were allowed to have Japorea type security by AMERICANS. Good God even then a rocket launched from a shoulder mount is just too easy to pull off IMHO. My main concern would not be at the stadiums, it's the hotels and traveling conditions(bus bombing) of the team. Perhaps I'm too pessimistic, but Osama and his band of cowards are LOADED with money. You don't think the right pay off gets them the 'in' that they would need? It only takes 1 terrorist to pull off a massive hit. Has the Israeli athlete massacre really faded that far from general conscience? Was that not in Munich? Look at how much closer the U20 situation is to the conflict. I'd tell US soccer to go stuff it up their arse unless the tournament is moved.
Re: Re: If You Were a Parent of an U-20 Team Member... Good job of not really answering the question. As for me, I don't know what my decision as a parent would be because I'm not a parent let alone a parent of a child who could face this kind of possible danger.
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/03/sports/soccer/04SOCC.html Any possibility that FIFA would move the world youth championships from the United Arab Emirates to Japan because of a possible war in the Middle East evaporated last week when FIFA signed Emirates Airlines as an official sponsor for the 2006 World Cup. The tournament for under-20 men's national teams will be played March 25 to April 16. The United States is in a group with Paraguay, Germany and South Korea. ...
Re: Re: Re: If You Were a Parent of an U-20 Team Member... I dont know is a good way of answering the question too Im not a parent either, hell im young enough to be eligible for this U20 pool, but I think that I would trust the United States Security, which should be insane for an event like this in the UAE. Im sure for an event like this every aspect of the trip from the bus to the hotel to the stadium, will have been thought through a hundred times over. There is no way the United States security is going to allow anything to happen to our boys. Plus this would be another way for the US to show no fear in the face of terrorism.
At the Under 17 champiohship in 1997( pretty sure) the threat of war or terrorism was very high and there was also great concern for the Egypt location. I know a number of parents had the same concern as the u-20s do this year. There are other points made in this thread that say to tell the Federation no way and also that if you are called up then you have only one answer and this is " I am going". There is no definite answer. For me I would expect that the security will be very high, the presence of US troops in the area will be a factor as well. I certainly would discuss this with Rongen if you have a son on the team but try not to make it a large issue but more of a clarification issue as to what the security plans and contingency plans are. It is a tough personal decision but, I would send my son after hearing the plans, if I thought they were satisfactory. We now all know that there are no guarantees, either in our own country or while we travel. This chance happens only once to most of these players and it would be a shame to miss the experience.
Thinking from a parent's perspective, I'd do more research on the UAE. I'd then find out that although the UAE is an Arab country, it's a relatively wealthy country that depends largely on European tourism. It has some of the world's largest hotels and casinos. I'd discover that the English team spent a couple of weeks prior to the World Cup training in Dubai, UAE without incident. I'd come to the conclusion that if David Beckham et al can visit the UAE and leave unscathed, that depending on US security, I'd allow my child to go. After all, it seems from a lot of UAE PR, that they want more westerners to return and their tourist economy hit a slump after 9/11. Their government would almost bend over backwards to ensure the games and participants are safe. I wouldn't jump to a prejudiced assumption that the UAE is a more dangerous place when one cannot think of a terrorist incident having ever ocurred there. The same cannot be said about Germany, Spain, or even Atlanta. Bad things can happen anywhere at any time, but the UAE is as safe a place as any.
I'm not a parent of one those players, but even I'm worried sick about them. If it was my son, I think I may decline.
www.emirates.org http://www.fifa.com/Service/MR_A/50998_E.html are a couple of places to start researching the United Arab Emirates.
What about the same question if the tournament was scheduled to be played in Zimbabwe or a country in the same situation? Would you consider forfeiting matches or boycotting the tournament like the England, Australian and New Zealand cricket teams are planning on doing in a few weeks? Safety wouldn't be the primary concern, but the notion that you would be giving "aid and comfort" to someone like Mugabe could make it tough. Shoot, the USA could be faced with this type of dilemma if a Northern Africa bid is successful in getting '06 and matches are scheduled for Libya.
Just out of curiosity, what are you talking about if a Northern Africa bid is successful in '06? Not trying to flame just trying to get on your wavelength. The 2006 WC is in Germany.
Re: Re: Re: Re: If You Were a Parent of an U-20 Team Member... You do know that a surface to air missile can hit jet fighter planes at 3 to 4 thousand feet in the air? That means it can be fired from a long(1000 yards + easily)ways away. Is there really any way to protect against that? The only way I see is not letting the man or the equipment in. We've already seen how easy it is to get a falsified UAE passport with the WTC disaster.
I'd tell my son I love him and send him off to play. You can't let fear dictate how you live your life.
The initial question is inherently flawed. It’s not a question of allowing them to go, but condoning their going. The members of the U-20 are (mostly, if not all) aged 18 or 19, right? These men are adults, and I don’t think the parents really can say ‘yea’ or ‘nay’ to their going (assuming the Federation is paying their way, and they’re not looking to Mom & Dad to foot the bill). How many of you, at age 18 or 19, would have obeyed your parents if they tried to say “No, son – you’re not allowed to fly around the world and play for your national team.” Heck, I presume most of those men aren’t even living with their parents anymore.
Quite simply, I think that this is all that you can do, about the role of a parent in a situation like this. I would do the same thing-- and knowing that the moment that my son or daughter would board that plane, whether it's defending your country under the guise of any underage world championship tournament or for a war in the Middle East, all matters are out of my hands. You have to have the trust in your kid to conduct himself or herself in the right manner, and have faith that he or she is doing the right thing. Great post, and a very timely thread. And I hope what I said in my morning haze makes any sense at all. Cheers, William
I think the Fed is watching this one very closely and they will pull out if they need to. One would hope FIFA would see the same danger if it is there. If it is determined that only Americans face a risk there, that might be a bit sticky. But I don't think the Fed will send a team without being able to reasonably reassure parents and players alike that it's safe (and Norsk Troll is correct, these are adults we're talking about). Not sure of flightlines from various airbases, but I just thought about a match going on in Abu Dhabi and a squadron of jets roaring overhead.....never mind, that's just silly.
In the end, it's up to the players. If I were a player, I myself wouldn't go, and especially if I had no vested interest(already pro or wasn't looking to show off for Euro scouts).
sissy id go to UAE and wander the streets with the most patriotic clothes i can buy j/k personnaly i dont know what'd id do
I understand that I'm being conservative, but the U20 WC is not the utmost level of international soccer tournaments.
Re: Re: If You Were a Parent of an U-20 Team Member... You are correct. These guys are beyond the age of parental consent. However, I imagine that a lot of them are still at the point where they would turn to their parents for advice and guidance. And they would be strongly influenced by that guidance and advice. So, while my question may have implied a situation where a parent would prevent a player from going despite the wishes of the player, I was thinking more along the lines of strongly advising your children not to go. Murf