Well the next stage of the Titi hand ball saga, after FIFA rejected the request of Ireland to be included as the 33rd nation in next year's World Cup, is that Sepp Blatter and FIFA will "investigate" the hand of frog. Huh? Are you serious? So what can come of this? What will the investigation resemble? Something like this -
FIFA: "Monsieur Henry on the evening of the World Cup playoff game, in Paris, between France and the Republic of Ireland, it is contended that you illegally handled the ball after a free kick from your teammate Florent Malouda. The ability for you to then control the ball and provide your teammate William Gallas with the tying goal. How do you respond to these horrid accusations?"
Henry: "Yes I handled the ball, but I am not the referee."
FIFA: "Um okay....uh....we are going to give you a retroactive yellow card, if you get another retroactive yellow card from the remaining time of the France v Ireland game, you will be suspended for the next inter-squad scrimmage at Clairefontaine."
Henry: "Um...okay. Uh that match is over so how could I get another retroactive yellow card?"
FIFA: "Good question, maybe you will get one for allowing Adidas to force you to wear a terrible kit..."
This is getting a little ridiculous. What can FIFA really do without making themselves look silly? They have already bungled this whole situation by allowing the idea of replays, allowing an extra team into the World Cup and now investigating the player. All they had to say was - the ruling on the field made by the official is what we stick by, if we want to discuss video or extra officials we will revisit this post World Cup, but for now we have our 32 teams that will be in South Africa next summer. But instead Blatter babbles on and I think does so in order to keep him in the spotlight. Move on Sepp you are allowing this to extend the 15 minutes it was allocated.
3 comments:
Yes, clearly FIFA is responding poorly and inconsistently to pressure. They refuse to give in on basic structural things that would improve the application of rules during the game (and reduce the impact of the error) and are trying to stick with post-game remedies such as show trials. The whole thing is ridiculous and irrational.
And, I do think that they are using the "investigation" to deflect attention from their refusal to implement such structural changes.
I think that Blatter is a political weasel. I am sure the investigation is to attempt to appease the Irish federation and appear as if FIFA takes what happens seriously. As you stated, rather than address actionable items that will empower the referees Blatter rather discuss investigations...sigh
Well, I agree with you on the 'sigh' part. Sigh!
"under investigation"
Sigh.
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