Control Yuan members yesterday said that, while they found no flaws in the decision-making process surrounding last month's visit of the Senegalese national soccer team, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) should take partial responsibility for its "imperfect management" of the visit.
Control Yuan members, seeking to clarify officials' responsibilities relating to the event in their ongoing investigation, yesterday questioned Minister of Foreign Affairs Eugene Chien (簡又新). The Control Yuan members asked about the decision-making process and how the event was executed.
The Senegal soccer team came to Taiwan after it finished competing in the World Cup late last month. However, the team's visit disappointed fans when an exhibition match which had been publicized failed to materialize.
Control Yuan members Chao Ron-yaw (趙榮耀), Liao Jiann-nan (廖健男) and Li You-chi (李友吉) reached a consensus yesterday that the decision to invite the team to Taiwan was appropriate given that the team made the final eight in the international competition.
"They could have taught our soccer teams a lot," Chao said.
Chao, however, said the ministry should improve its ability to put decisions into effect.
"The ministry should have spelled out the details of the agreement in the contract. That's why there was a dispute over whether the team was to play an exhibition match on the day they visited Taiwan," Chao said.
"Also, the ministry should have ensured that it had an in-depth understanding of the customs of Senegal in order to brief the team appropriately," he added.
The team showed up at the Chungshan Stadium in flip-flops and casual dress, disappointing fans who were expecting a soccer clinic and some sporting action.
As to media allegations that the players procured sexual services from prostitutes, Chao said that their investigation had uncovered "no proof of that."
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