Shameful stance on Welsh is slammed

[Harold F. Schiffman]

Shameful stance on Welsh is slammed Apr 20 2006


By Hywel Trewyn, Daily Post

THE Football Association of Wales' attitude towards the Welsh language was
slammed as "completely shameful" by a Plaid AM.. Shadow minister for
sport, Owen John Thomas AM, has written a stern letter to FAW Secretary
General David Collins, asking the Association to reconsider its language
policy. At present, the FAW refuses to communicate in Welsh.  Mr Thomas
said: "The FAW's attitude towards the Welsh language is completely
shameful. I've already written to Mr Collins once, but his answer was not
adequate." "The current policy is insulting and it is doing considerable
harm to the FAW's reputation among Wales supporters and further afield."

The South Wales Central AM added: "The FAW exists because the people of
Wales want to compete as a nation on the international stage. "The
importance of the Welsh language to this nation is reflected by the FAW's
slogan: 'Gorau Chwarae, Cyd Chwarae' roughly, 'The best play is team
play'. "It is high time the FAW Council started to 'cyd chwarae' by
changing the insulting policy of refusing to communicate in both of Wales'
languages."


The row was revealed by the Daily Post when secretary of the local
Caernarfon league John Pritchard protested to Fifa claiming the FAW was
flouting international rules against language discrimination. Chairman of
the Gwynedd Football League Dafydd Owen is urging FAW council members to
reconsider their stance. Mr Owen said he copied his letter to North Wales
Coast FA secretary and FAW council member Trefor Lloyd Jones hoping the
issue would be discussed at a future meeting of the governing body. "We
are supporting the Caernarfon area league because we feel that the
governing body of Welsh football should have a bilingual policy."

Mr Pritchard complained the FAW refused to reply to his letters in Welsh
and then refused to allow Welsh to be used in meetings. Mid and West Wales
AM Nick Bourne, the Conservative leader in the Assembly, has also
criticised the FAW's inability to answer correspondence in Welsh. The AM
wrote to express his concern but in reply the FAW said: "Until the council
takes a different decision, that will remain our policy." FAW spokesman
Ceri Stennett said last night he believed Mr Collins' position remained
the same.

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