Comments on: FIFA Ensure World Cup Play-offs System Favours the Big Fish http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/09/30/fifa-ensure-world-cup-play-offs-system-favours-the-big-fish/ Exploring football culture around the world Sat, 13 Mar 2010 17:25:57 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: FIFA’s casual approach to the rules demeans the World Cup draw http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/09/30/fifa-ensure-world-cup-play-offs-system-favours-the-big-fish/comment-page-1/#comment-17200 FIFA’s casual approach to the rules demeans the World Cup draw Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:21:00 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=3362#comment-17200 [...] the French. The Irish were less than happy, of course, that the play-offs were seeded, when it had appeared throughout most of qualification that they would not be. It was an argument perhaps lost in the rancour at the actions of Thierry Henry, but it was [...] [...] the French. The Irish were less than happy, of course, that the play-offs were seeded, when it had appeared throughout most of qualification that they would not be. It was an argument perhaps lost in the rancour at the actions of Thierry Henry, but it was [...]

]]> By: The Sweeper: World Cup Seeding Controversy | Pitch Invasion http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/09/30/fifa-ensure-world-cup-play-offs-system-favours-the-big-fish/comment-page-1/#comment-9965 The Sweeper: World Cup Seeding Controversy | Pitch Invasion Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:46:59 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=3362#comment-9965 [...] we reported here initially, FIFA’s decision to announce the seedings was poorly timed in the extreme. It should have [...] [...] we reported here initially, FIFA’s decision to announce the seedings was poorly timed in the extreme. It should have [...]

]]> By: This week’s sporting links « Wait until next year http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/09/30/fifa-ensure-world-cup-play-offs-system-favours-the-big-fish/comment-page-1/#comment-9603 This week’s sporting links « Wait until next year Sun, 04 Oct 2009 12:03:57 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=3362#comment-9603 [...] Pitch Invasion looks at FIFA and potential bias towards larger countries. [...] [...] Pitch Invasion looks at FIFA and potential bias towards larger countries. [...]

]]> By: GFC http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/09/30/fifa-ensure-world-cup-play-offs-system-favours-the-big-fish/comment-page-1/#comment-9490 GFC Fri, 02 Oct 2009 05:27:01 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=3362#comment-9490 Is it really any surprise that Blatter has zero sense of how to communicate with the general public? Overall the system is fair, the main issue is that it was just revealed now rather than before the qualifiers. Once again Blatter demonstrates that while his ideas and direction are usually for the good, he lacks any sense of communication. Is it really any surprise that Blatter has zero sense of how to communicate with the general public? Overall the system is fair, the main issue is that it was just revealed now rather than before the qualifiers. Once again Blatter demonstrates that while his ideas and direction are usually for the good, he lacks any sense of communication.

]]> By: philipslattery http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/09/30/fifa-ensure-world-cup-play-offs-system-favours-the-big-fish/comment-page-1/#comment-9470 philipslattery Thu, 01 Oct 2009 19:08:45 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=3362#comment-9470 I am sickened by the lack of “fair play” in the corridors of FIFA. I’m horrified but sadly not surprised, we are talking about Sepp Blatter here. But I have to give it to the chap on this one! The hypocrisy of this announcement takes it to another level. Since he came to power in 1998 he saw himself as the Robin Hood of the footballing world, well kind of. In fairness to him and FIFA, they have given millions to small, poorer nations to improve their facilities and help them to get their act together. I think it’s no surprise that under Blatter’s time, teams like Honduras, El Salvador, Bosnia to name a few have come on leaps from where they were 7 or 8 years ago. It’s not a coincidence that with the help of FIFA’s money and support that Venezuela has gone from being the laughing stock of South American football to a well respected team in the space of 3 years and could even qualify for the world cup!!! This is why I am so dumbfounded on the play-off announcement. FIFA preach that football is for “everybody” but we now know it’s for “everybody” with a big powerful nation with lots of money and lots of friends in FIFA! To be honest I would prefer to see Russia, France, Germany and Portugal in the world cup then Bosnia, Hungary, Latvia and Northern Ireland. But that’s not the point it’s all about fairness and a “big” team finishing 2nd should be treated the same as a “small” team who finished 2nd as well. What’s the point on helping the small nations out and when their on the verge of something great pulling the rug underneath them. Why punish Bosnia and Rep of Ireland for being professional and consistent and reward France and Portugal for having a “car crash” of a campaign. An open draw would be the democratic thing to do but this football and sadly football is a democracy. A world cup without France, Germany and Argentina would be a disaster for FIFA but if the don’t qualify for the finals they don’t deserve to go it’s crazy I even have to say that. Look at England in 2008 and 1994, Holland in 2002 and France in 1994. Fair enough if Ireland gets France and Bosnia draws Russia then ok because that’s fair and everyone can live with that. But to change the system solely to help undeserving, sluggish big teams that’s not on Mr. Blatter. Shame on you !!! I am sickened by the lack of “fair play” in the corridors of FIFA. I’m horrified but sadly not surprised, we are talking about Sepp Blatter here. But I have to give it to the chap on this one! The hypocrisy of this announcement takes it to another level. Since he came to power in 1998 he saw himself as the Robin Hood of the footballing world, well kind of. In fairness to him and FIFA, they have given millions to small, poorer nations to improve their facilities and help them to get their act together. I think it’s no surprise that under Blatter’s time, teams like Honduras, El Salvador, Bosnia to name a few have come on leaps from where they were 7 or 8 years ago. It’s not a coincidence that with the help of FIFA’s money and support that Venezuela has gone from being the laughing stock of South American football to a well respected team in the space of 3 years and could even qualify for the world cup!!!

This is why I am so dumbfounded on the play-off announcement. FIFA preach that football is for “everybody” but we now know it’s for “everybody” with a big powerful nation with lots of money and lots of friends in FIFA! To be honest I would prefer to see Russia, France, Germany and Portugal in the world cup then Bosnia, Hungary, Latvia and Northern Ireland. But that’s not the point it’s all about fairness and a “big” team finishing 2nd should be treated the same as a “small” team who finished 2nd as well. What’s the point on helping the small nations out and when their on the verge of something great pulling the rug underneath them. Why punish Bosnia and Rep of Ireland for being professional and consistent and reward France and Portugal for having a “car crash” of a campaign.

An open draw would be the democratic thing to do but this football and sadly football is a democracy. A world cup without France, Germany and Argentina would be a disaster for FIFA but if the don’t qualify for the finals they don’t deserve to go it’s crazy I even have to say that. Look at England in 2008 and 1994, Holland in 2002 and France in 1994.

Fair enough if Ireland gets France and Bosnia draws Russia then ok because that’s fair and everyone can live with that. But to change the system solely to help undeserving, sluggish big teams that’s not on Mr. Blatter.

Shame on you !!!

]]> By: Steve http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/09/30/fifa-ensure-world-cup-play-offs-system-favours-the-big-fish/comment-page-1/#comment-9429 Steve Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:15:46 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=3362#comment-9429 A completely shambolic way of dealing with things. Sadly, from FIFA, this is no surprise. It's a scandal that the world's most popular sport is administered so badly, particularly at the highest level. A completely shambolic way of dealing with things. Sadly, from FIFA, this is no surprise. It’s a scandal that the world’s most popular sport is administered so badly, particularly at the highest level.

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