Wales: Language plea to football chiefs

[Harold F. Schiffman]

Language plea to football chiefs Apr 5 2006

Daily Post

FOOTBALL chiefs in Wales were urged yesterday to re-think their language
policy. Caernarfon AM Alun Ffred Jones called for the Football Association
of Wales (FAW) to "join the 21st century" in a row over the use of the
Welsh language in its business. The secretary of the Caernarfon and
District League, John Pritchard, protested to soccer's ruling body FIFA
after the FAW said all communications with it had to be in English. He
said that the FAW general secretary, David Collins, refused to respond to
letters in Welsh or to conduct official meetings in Welsh.

Plaid AM Mr Jones said yesterday: "This is very disappointing because the
FAW is a body which receives support from thousands of Welsh speakers. "To
deny individuals the right to use their first language is wrong. "I urge
the FAW to change its current policy so that it reflects the policy used
by public bodies." He said that it was further evidence for the need to
strengthen language laws.

"David Collins and the FAW need to join the 21st century," Mr Jones said.
"You'd think the FAW would do their best to provide their members with a
service. To arrange for a translator to be present is not difficult." FAW
general secretary David Collins told the Daily Post that the language
policy had been set by the FAW Council. "If the council adopted a
different decision then we would act upon it,"  he said..


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