The ways in which FIFA are killing football

[SpaceCruiser]

A hell of a lot of goodwill within UEFA was lost by going back on a deal with the DFB to not compete with for WC2006 in exchange for getting Euro 96,

Maybe, just maybe, the FA were pissed off with Germany for winning Euro 96....

What the feck's that got to do with anything? And why should we be pissed off that the best team won the tournament because we choked yet again?

Note I said "FA", not "we".

[papereyes]

A hell of a lot of goodwill within UEFA was lost by going back on a deal with the DFB to not compete with for WC2006 in exchange for getting Euro 96,

Maybe, just maybe, the FA were pissed off with Germany for winning Euro 96....

If we decided to run for 2006 because Germany beat us on the pitch and if you think this is in any way justifiable, then that's MADNESS.

[From Despair To Where?]

The FAran for 2006 because it was blinded by £ signs.

I may be wrong but I seem to remember the general subtext for the 2006 bid process being allong the lines that it was the last World Cup where the hosts wern't largely designated by confederation. South America and Africa were a bit pissed off because they felt they were long overdue a tournament (a fair point methinks not withstanding that of the last 6 tournaments, 3 had gone to Europe, 2 to CONCACAAF and the Asian Confederation had been granted their first tournament) The move by the FA pissed off most of UEFA who feared a split in the vote for Europe would see the World Cup going somewhere else.


Still ,general the point is, you can't renege on a gentleman's agreement because it suits your hidden agenda to do so then bitch and whine when others do it to you.

[swansea jack]

Blatter has just left Zimbabwe where he met Mugabe to talk about corruption in the game

There were a number of games involving Zim teams in Asia between 2007-09 which had 'irregular' betting linked to various Asian syndicates who made lots of cash. Looks like a number of players, staff etc... are facing life bans.

Blatter is now in South Africa to attend an IOC meeting(?).

Bit of pot, kettle & black really.

[Barry the bird boggler]

Given where the money is in the game, 2 out of every 3 World Cup finals should be held in Europe.

[From Despair To Where?]

Maybe they should have the World Cup every 2 years, with every second one in Europe and make it reflect the financial balance of power by barring entry to all non European countries?




Isn't that the big conundrum with all organisations be it FIFA, the UN the EU, whoever, etc, finding a balance between the will of the majority of the members and the will of the majority of the paymasters.

A Nobel prize for the person who solves that one.

[Svlad Cjelli]

But aren't they trying to boost the game in the rest of the world, rather than perpetuate the dominance Europe currently has?

[swansea jack]

Given where the money is in the game, 2 out of every 3 World Cup finals should be held in Europe.

Plenty of non-European countries where they'd make a $$ killing and fit with the 'development of the game' angle.

[papereyes]

But aren't they trying to boost the game in the rest of the world, rather than perpetuate the dominance Europe currently has?

What tends to 'get' me is that there's a real reason for that. It might be something that will change but at the moment, the majority of the Top 32 teams in FIFA are UEFA teams - usually between 2/3 and 3/4 of the 32.

So why force something unrealistic on the game at the expense of countries that deserve to be there?

[papereyes]

Although

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNzN_fXqmX4&sns=em

[Tails]

But aren't they trying to boost the game in the rest of the world, rather than perpetuate the dominance Europe currently has?

I'd have some sympathy for that if there wasn't so many seats for the FIFA 'family'/corporates.

[Mr Angry]

Here is another way; games in the 2022 WC may be changed to 3 periods of 30 mins each if the heat in the Qatari stadiums gets too much, according to a representative of the company who will build the stadiums.