Arias keeping football, politics separate against Honduras

Aug 7, 2009, 0:03 GMT

   San Jose - Costa Rican President Oscar Arias, who has so far failed in his mediation efforts to restore ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya to power, said Thursday that politics and football should be kept separate.

Honduras and Costa Rica are set to play in the qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa Wednesday in the Honduran city of San Pedro Sula, but Arias had no concerns about the ramifications of the match.

'I am not so scared,' he said. 'I am sure that you cannot mix sport, football, with the regrettable events that happened in Honduras.'

Zelaya was ousted on June 28 in a bloodless coup. He was exiled by the Honduran military but has sought to return to power, without success despite the backing of the international community.

Arias, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987, was designated to head mediation efforts toward Zelay's restoration.

The Honduran government set up after the coup and led by Roberto Micheletti has refused to allow Zelaya's return to power.

Arias stressed that he expects Micheletti to ensure that 'nothing abnormal' happens to Costa Rican players and fans who travel to Honduras for the game.

'Sport, football, unite societies,' Arias said.

He expressed the hope that 'political problems will be set aside' for the match, though he wants Costa Rica to win.