While the 2010 FIFA World Cup is predominantly seen a South African or African affair, FIFA wants the event to be a global party. That is why the international soccer body, for the first time in history will be organising so-called Fan Fests

If local foot ball games in South Africa end up in a massive party, can you imagine what these Fan Fests will do? - PHOTOGRAPH BY MIRIAM MANNAK

around the world.

Fan Fests have been scheduled for Berlin,Germany’s main host city of the 2006  FIFA World Cup in 2006, as well as London, Mexico City, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Rome and Sydney. South Africa’s nine host cities will also be organising Fan fests in 2010.

During these public live viewings of the 2010 Soccer World Cup, soccer fans can view the 62 matches live on massive screens, in the midst of other soccer fans. The entrance to the FFA Fan Fests will be free of charge.

It will be the second time that FIFA gives way to public viewings or Fan Fests as part of the of the official World Cup Soccer programme. During the 2006 FIFA World Cup, which took place in Germany,  more than 18 million fans gathered at the 12 official Fan Fests in Germany and transformed the country into one of the greatest fan parties of all time.

With the 2010 World Cup, it is for the first time Fan Fests will be held around the world

“The FIFA Fan Fest was an important part of the success of the 2006 FIFA World Cup and we believe that the 2010 FIFA Fan Fests, both in South Africa and in the other seven international venues, will bring an unprecedented experience to millions of football fans in South Africa and around the world,” said FIFA President Joseph Blatter.

In South Africa, the FIFA Fan Fest will be a joined effort between the respective Host Cities and the FIFA and the Local Organising Committee. FIFA is taking responsibility for the International FIFA Fan Fests.

“We have always wanted the 2010 FIFA World Cup to touch the lives of as many South Africans as possible. The FIFA Fan Fest will provide an opportunity for millions of our people to watch the matches in a festival environment for free and will also provide an opportunity for small businesses and our musical talents to benefit from this event,” explained Danny Jordaan, CEO of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa at a press conference.

Source: Goal.com

Football is irritating. There are no two ways about it.

Be it the ever-increasing smug-cloud that is the Premier League or Sepp Blatter and his laughable FIFA army, it continues to be an excruciating drug. You know it’s bad for you, you’re painfully aware what it does to you and you hate most of the things about it, but you can’t kick the habit.

This blog is a way of me and a few friends to let off steam. Some entries will be short and sweet, some will be lengthy expletive-laced rants. Even if nobody reads it, it’ll be good for the blood pressure to get it out there.

So enjoy, and let us know if you like or on the rare occasion that you agree.

Dan

Cape Town says it has all its ducks in a row for the 2010 World Cup Soccer Final Draw, which takes place on December 4 2009. Over 3000 international dignitories come to South Africa’s Mother City to be part of the event, including FIFA president Sepp Blatter, heads of state from all corners of the world, as well as soccer legends  such as Ruud Gullit.

With 2010 Final Draw, it is unveiled whom, in which host city and which stadium the 32 qualified national soccer teams will be playing during the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

According to Cape Town’s mayor Dan Plato, the city is ready. More than ready. “The city will be pulling out all the stops to demonstrate its professionalism, creativity and expertise through this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” he said. “Africa’s greatest city is ready to host the world.”

To make residents and visitors feel part of the final draw, the city has organised a one-day festival in Long Street from 2pm to 11pm on December 4, 200, during which artists including Freshlyground, Jimmy Dludlu, TKZee will perform live on stage.

As a result, Long Street and the adjoining streets would be closed to traffic and transformed into a pedestrian zone from Wale Street to the Long Street baths for the day.

Source: Cape Argus

先日18日に行われた2010年ワールドカップ（Ｗ杯）の欧州予選プレーオフ、フランス対アイルランドの第2戦で、フランスが延長戦の末、ティエリ・アンリのハンドで得たゴールで1−1の引き分け、ワールドカップ行きのチケットを手に入れた件で、「正義感の強い」イギリスメディアは連日大騒ぎだ。スポーツ欄だけではなく、ニュース欄でも大きく取り上げている。このハンドはビデオで見ても明らかにハンドなのに、レフェリーが見逃した。アイルランドサッカー協会（IFA）は国際サッカー連盟（FIFA）に抗議、再試合を申請したが、FIFAは却下、フランスサッカー連盟（FFF）も拒否した。全て予想された結果だ。アイルランドも勝ち目なしと、早々に諦めたようだ。試合の後、インタビューを受けたフランス人ジャーナリストは、ワールドカップでは大きなお金が動くし経済効果も大きいので、FFFは絶対再試合を受け入れないと断言していた。その通りだった。これが逆の立場だったら、どうなっていただろうと思う。

当のアンリはハンドは認めてるけど、審判の責任だからと謝ってないし、「再試合がフェア」と言ってるけど、それもFIFAが再試合拒否の裁定を出してからだ。代表辞退も考えたらしいけど、結局辞めないし。自分のイメージ挽回のために、口先だけで適当に言い逃れて、ほとぼりが冷めるのを待ってるんだろう。

八百長とまでは言わないけれど、都合のいい結果を正そうとしないその後のFIFAの対応が、やはりスポーツも所詮ビジネス、影響力のあるサッカー強国に有利な世界なのねと思わせる一件だ。The Sunday TImesで、興味深い「陰謀説」記事を見つけた。元フランス代表のミシェル・プラティニ欧州サッカー連盟の会長の手引きによって、今回のプレーオフは、強国に有利になるように、くじ引きではなく、世界ランキングの高い国と弱い国が当たるシード方式を採用したと言われている。強国に有利になるようにしているのには、高額のテレビ契約料やスポンサーの思惑も絡んでいるのかもしれない。また、プラティニ会長もFIFAのジョセフ・ゼップ・ブラッター会長も、ビデオ判定導入には何故か消極的だ。確かに、偶然にしては、なんだかうさんくさい。

フランスとイギリスのメディアの論調の違いも面白い。フランスは自国チームのふがいなさを酷評しつつも、FIFAやFFFの決定には異議はないようだ。かたやイギリスメディアは、「Cheat（いかさま）」「Fallen Idol（堕ちたアイドル）」等と手厳しい。これはアングロサクソンとラテンの価値観の違いか。ルールや公正さを重視するアングロサクソンに比べ、ラテン人は自分が良ければ全て良し、「運も実力のうち」「神様の思し召し」「ラッキー♪」って感じだろう。

またイングランド人には、この1件が、1986年ワールドカップ準々決勝で、マラドーナの「神の手」ゴールで、イングランドがアルゼンチンに敗れた悪夢を思い起こさせる。自国のことでないのに今回の大騒ぎは、このことも多いに関係してるのだと思う。

フランスは、対戦相手が多少なりとも自制心のあるアイルランドで良かったと胸を撫で下ろしてるだろう。これがエジプトやアルジェリアが相手だと大変なことになっていたかもしれない。サッカーの世界での権力のなさでワールドカップ行きを逃した、アイルランドチームが本当に気の毒だ。

There has been a huge media frenzy in UK about the Thierry Henry’s ‘Hand Of God’ during Ireland vs France World Cup 2010 play-off on November 18th and it’s aftermath: since France won a ticket to South Africa with 1-1, thanks to Henry’s ‘cheating’ act. UK media with “strong sense of mission to pursue justice” have been putting up big articles about  this incident, not only in sports sections but also in general sections, everyday since then. You can see clearly that it was handball, but the referee missed to see this crucial foul or chance to correct the mistake. Irish Football Association (IFA) demanded a rematch, but FIFA and the French Football Federation (FFF) said ‘NO’ – but it is all expected. IFA seems to give up already because they know that it is a fight they will never win. After the game, a French journalist who was interviewed by BBC said that FFF would never accept a replay, because big money and industries involved and economic effect would be enormous. He was right. But what it would happen, if France lost with Irish footballer’s  handball – would FIFA give the same judgement?

Henry admitted his handball but never say sorry. He said that replay would be fair for Ireland but AFTER FIFA and FFF refused a rematch. It was reported that he considered quitting “Les Bleus” but he decided to stay anyway – all talks doesn’t convince me if he is truly remorseful, but I believe he is saying whatever to repair his image and just waiting for everyone to forget about his ‘mistake’

I don’t call it setup, but FIFA and FFF’s reluctance  to correct their convenient result is truly disappointing, and now I strengthen my belief that soccer is just another business, and always a stronger with bigger political power wins – fair play is a mere myth for important games like this. I read an interesting article by the Sunday Times “Conspiracy or coque up?” The play-offs were seeded on the basis of world rankings in favour of the bigger nations, and it was reported that the proposal to introduce seeding had come from UEFA (president is former French player Michel Platini). Why? Could it be related to the advance long-term television contracts, or the influence by one of a big sponsor which will possibly gain huge profit if France win? For some reason, Platini and FIFA president Sepp Blatter are said to be reluctant to introduce video technology, which can bring fairer judgement – why? Maybe a coincidence, but all these things sound pretty dubious.

Also it is very interesting to see the different stances between British and French media. Though French media criticizes their team done terrible in the game but they don’t attack the FIFA and the FFF of their judgement. On the other hand, British media is harsh on Henry as ‘cheat’ or “fallen idol,’ as well as on the FIFA. Probably this is due to the difference in Anglo-Saxons and Latins mentality: in compare to Anglo-Saxons’ values in fairness and justice, Latins would just think, “luck is also a part of his ability” “miracle” “godsend” – they would never criticize someone who give them a jackpot, even though from a devil.

In addition, for English, this incident reminds them of the nightmarish Hand of God goal, scored by footballer Diego Maradona during the 1986 FIFA World Cup quarter final Argentina vs England – probably it explains why British media is so obsessed with this incident which is not related to their own team.

French must be happy that the opponent was Ireland – if it was Egypt or Algeria, it would be a huge riot!

I am extremely sorry for Ireland who lost a chance to go to World Cup, due to a lack of political power in football world, rather than their lack of ability. Shame on Henry, shame on France, and shame on FIFA!

TDIA is gutted to announce that it will not be doing its usual Beaujolais Nouveau tastings this year.  Irish people and partisans of the Aungier Street and Cuffee Street factions across the globe have been celebrating exclusively with Beaujolais nouveau since Thierry Henry won both the coveted Order of the Shiny Tracksuits Sportsman of the Year Award (Aungier Street) and the less coveted but nonetheless prestigious Order of the Shiny Tracksuits Sportsman of the Decade Award (Cuffe Street) for his exemplary showing in the France vs Ireland World Cup qualifier match.  

So we are instead we are doing what many others are and turning out eyes Hungaryward thanks to the pointers of our in-house sommelier Dr. Pol De Paor.

http://www.bluedanubewine.com/wines/hungary/

It has been almost a week since Henry “handed” France a very controversial victory in Paris. Sean St Ledger stated that Ireland was “robbed” following their exit from the World Cup finals. The Preston/Boro central defender said in a post-match interview with Sky Sports, “We got robbed; you can tell by the boys’ reaction it hit his hand blatantly. We feel cheated – we were the better team over the two legs, every football fan in the stadium will say we were the better team tonight.”

It’s difficult to take any positives from this soul crushing event but Ireland can hold their heads up high knowing that they were better side in Paris. Robbie Keane had a number of chances but could only slot away one.

From America to Azerbaijan the general consensus is that a replay is imperative in order to reestablish Fifa’s already deplorable reputation. However, we have to be realistic here folks and a replay just isn’t feasible. Ireland manger Giovanni Trapattoni stated that a replay is “impossible” and he is absolutely correct.

There are a few significant reasons why a replay would be a poor call. First if the replay was to be ordered and if the Irish won, no doubt the French FA would order another replay because Fifa had granted a replay for Ireland. So to be fair Fifa would have to order yet another match. Second, Fifa has never ordered a replay before and this could set a dangerous precedent. Because any match that had the slightest hint controversy would have to be replayed. It would just become too cumbersome on the players. Take for example, in the 2006 World Cup when Fabio Grosso’s controversial penalty was awarded against the Australians. Grosso dove and deceived the referee but the judgment still stood and Italy went on to win the World Cup while the socceroos were left fuming. But if Fifa ordered a replay during the finals it would generate just too much controversy then any match at anytime could be replayed. This would disrupt scheduling, TV slots, and the Clubs of the players.

What can Fifa do to ensure that this type of debacle does not happen again? The answer is simple: video replay. Now before you say that football is a continuous game and video will just slow it down and ruin the integrity of game just humor me for a second.

You take two small cameras and drill them into the underside of the crossbar which would be attached to a light at the top of the goal. When the ball crosses the line the light goes off just like in the NHL. If this happens then we would not have horrible disallowed goals (when Roy Carrol dropped the ball a yard inside the goal against Spurs). Second put a camera behind the goal that monitors the byline. So on penalties the Refs can review it before they make a call. The refs stop the game for the penalties and fouls anyway why can’t the fourth official review the play and relay the information to the Ref?

I am not saying that the game would have to be stopped for every little tackle. Just penalty claims and dubious goal decisions (or lack thereof) or anything controversial in the box. Think about that for a second, we could reduce diving, handballs, and other horrible acts that tarnish the games reputation.

That being said a replay is not the answer and with the two country’s politicians getting involved things are only going to get more complicated. Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen met with French President Nicolas Sarkozy at a european summit in Brussels. Sarkozy was sympathetic to the Irish but he was not going to help Ireland in their claim for a replay. Sarkozy stated, “I told Brian Cowen how sorry I was for them. But don’t ask me to substitute myself for the referee, or the French football authorities, or the European football authorities: leave me right where I am.”

The Irish deserve to go to South Africa and the French do not. Ireland played the better football, France cheated their way in. But that being said the horrible officiating let the Irish down (cough, video replay,cough). But Football is cruel mistress is it not?

From the Fifa.com website earlier this week:

“Fifa President Joseph S. Blatter is using the FIFA World Cup™ qualifying matches to urge footballers around the world to show ‘More fair play, please!’ Blatter said: ‘Fair play should come before anything else … These qualifying matches must epitomise fair play. They should encapsulate the sporting, moral and ethical principles for which Fifa has always stood. And they must leave a lasting impression!”

Ho, ho, ho …

Hat tip: Said & Done, The Observer

COMING SOON: Sieg Heil! FIFA on ‘the Jewish referee problem’.

Well firstly I would like to apologise, due to work, alcohol and quiz based commitments I have not had a chance to post this week.  Not that it really matters however as nothing of note has really happened in the world of Chelsea, yes Ballack, Drogba, Lampard and a litany of others are injured but there has been little activity in the world of Chelsea.

The football news has been dominated by the Ireland/France play off in which France scored a goal with the aid of the hand of Henry, to be honest the Irish reaction has been farcical and whilst I never thought I would agree with Roy Keane the referee did not spot the infringement SO GET OVER IT!

The protests and politicians, celebrities and every man and his dog taking time to comment has been hilariously unnecessary (yes i am aware of the irony) so I am going to swiftly move on and discuss more important matters such as today’s game versus Wolves.

Chelsea returned to business in style today romping to victory against a Wolves team that would struggle to compete even if Chelsea had double the number of top players missing in a comfortable victory which temporarily allays fears at the impact of our placenta ridden injury list. Although I am sure that you know that comparing Wolves and Arsenal (our next opponents), is like comparing a Lada (Slow lumbering and prone to leaks) to an Alfa Romeo (fast elegant but notriously unreliable).

The most interesting part of the game however was the introduction of Gael Kakuta the player at the heart of the recent transfer ban saga. I am delighted that Ancelotti has taken to fielding the player not only does it aid his develop and stick two fingers up at FIFA, but it will do the young man’s confidence no end which can only be a positive for his future. As is standard when one of your own is under attack you get behind them and Gael Kakuta got a rousing ovation from the fans when replacing Anelka to make his debut.

Another Liverpool draw  (comedy value only) coupled with an Arsenal defeat mean that all in all Chelsea have had a fantastic day of Premier League business.

So let me finish by saying great result, great to see Kakuta, great day! OH AND F*%K YOU FIFA!

A lot said, a lot written but in the end nothing done. No replay, no hope, the Irish nation, and those of us who have moved away, mourn one of the greatest injustices in the history of football.

And how galling to have perhaps the best player to ever play for the country telling us to get over ourselves. Easy for you to say Roy Keane as you earn a comfortable wage for guiding Ipswich to relegation while the millions back home struggle to cope in the worst economic crisis in the history of the republic.

Qualification on Wednesday would have been a boost for a whole football mad nation. Who knows what the knock on effects of reaching the World Cup might have been for the people, for the economy for the future of our struggling nation.

Instead we were robbed at the hands of Thierry Henry’s will to cheat, the incompetence of a referee and linesman and the corruptness of FIFA.

How surprised are we to see no mention of the dubious handball on FIFA’s website and the utter silence of the most powerful man in football, Sepp Blatter who decreed that the World Cup play offs would be seeded just weeks before the draw, an illegal move if ever I saw one.

Now I must admit to being a little embarrassed to see FAI chief executive John Delaney plead for a replay on the basis of some precedent set in some obscure Asian qualifier a few years ago.

A replay was never going to happen but then we are all a bit desperate for something to cling to and the emotion of it all is raw.

But Delaney did make one good point in that this wasn’t a league or group game whereby the situation could have been redressed. This was a one off situation, a winner takes all scenario.

Ireland will not get chance to redress what happened on Wednesday. Instead they’ll spend next summer watching the greatest show on earth on TV.

And I doubt any Irish people, I know I won’t, will take pleasure in watching the World Cup next year, knowing it should have been us and not the French that are competing in South Africa.

Even the French themselves are embarrassed by it all. It is the great shame of a great footballing nation, world champions just over a decade ago, that they have cheated their way to the finals with the help of one of their greatest ever players.

And what gall for him to come out and call for a replay not long after FIFA and his own football association absolutely ruled out the possibility. A cynical PR move from a player once respected throughout the world but who will now be remembered as much for as his talent as for his will to win at all costs, even if it means cheating, handling the ball not once, but twice.

Surely this is a landmark moment in football. The calls for video evidence, extra officials, or something to cut this out are deafening and must be acceded too.

A system whereby a referee can stop the game a limited number of times to look at a 20-30 second play back on a controversial incident might work.

Failure to implement something that will prevent or at least lessen the chances of incidents like Wednesday’s happening again will only tarnish the game further and make a lot of people, me included, lose  faith in a sport that is increasingly allowing cheats to prevail.

The whole Thierry Henry/handball/Irish thing continues to rumble on days after the match finished amid high emotions. The trouble is, everyone is looking to blame somebody. For me, Henry cannot be blamed. Yes, he handled the ball, and if the referee had blown up then he would have been caught and he wouldn’t have made a fuss about it. The handball is within the new spirit of the game, win by any means, even if it means cheating (be that in the form of a dive, a handball or any other means). Henry cannot, in all reality, have been expected to give up the chance of his last World Cup when it was apparent he had got away with his act. Nor would he have been able to show his face in his own country any time soon had France gone on to lose. Henry did what any other player, across the world would have done, he carried on. Neither the English nor the Irish can have any complaints as both know that they would have done the same had the situation so arisen.

The referee is most obviously to blame, both he, and his linesman failed to spot the handball. In their defence, they were both hampered by bodies in the way. Yet they failed to do what they are being paid for, and as a consequence, will probably not go to the finals. Much like Ireland, their opportunity was taken away when the decision was missed.

Some have sought to blame FIFA, and personally I think that their late decision to seed the play-offs was a disgrace. Once so called ‘big-guns’ had failed in the qualifying rounds, FIFA acted to ensure that the countries that would bring in the most money from TV rights etc were aided as best they could be. Portugal and France qualified, Russia, despite this help, failed. I cannot help but wonder if the same decision would have been made if it had been, for example, England instead of France. I somehow doubt it. I personally think Sepp Blatter is a fool who is destroying football rather than developing it, and the actions of FIFA in this instance leave a bitter taste in the mouth.

Amidst all this, England are struggling to maintain a serious bid for the 2018 World Cup. With their heirarchy in apparent disarray and the bid still stalling (apparently), I’m not too sure that any British bid is likely to be successful whilst Blatter is at the helm and anglophile Platini is involved in UEFA. Whilst the clowns are in charge of the circus, the show falls to the ground. International footballing bodies need to take a good long look at themselves, and then those in charge do the honourable thing and step down, so that people who understand the sport can save it from sporting ignomy.

So I have new reason for hoping I’m accepted by either Michigan State law or Wayne State law. Acceptance to either means that I would be able to start school no earlier than fall 2010. This would mean that my month of May would be free. Why is this good? My parents are taking a two-week cruise through Southern Europe by way of the Mediterranean Sea and they have asked me if I would want to go.

Would I want to go? Fuck yeah, are you kidding me? Granted, the trip wouldn’t be as cool as backpacking through Europe but I honestly wouldn’t do that anyway. As structured as a cruise vacation may be, it won’t stop me from seeing all there is to see throughout the trip’s many destinations. These include: Barcelona (!), Florence, Venice, Rome, Athens (!), and Istanbul (!) just to name a few of the highlights. The only “foreign” country I have ever visited is Canada and, if you’ve been to Canada, you know that totally doesn’t count. I had a chance to play on a hockey team that travelled to Prague for a tournament, sort of like a Michigan high school “all-star” team, but I decided college was more important (2nd worst decision ever, besides not playing junior hockey). That would have been my first shot at Europe and I even bought a passport before opting out of the tryout.

But this is my 2nd, and possibly only, chance. Entry into either of the aforementioned schools is by no means a sure thing and I won’t be hearing anything until at least the end of December. And if I hear from either school earlier than that, it’s probably not good news. But, good God, do I need this to happen. Thinking about all the pictures I could take and the sites I could see is almost unfair. I can see it now, my mom losing her shit and almost calling the American Embassy in Turkey because I disappeared for hours to find the Sukru Saracoglu. Same thing in Spain to see the Camp Nou. But I must not allow myself to put the cart before the horse. There is a very solid chance that I will only be hearing about these places over a phone call while I take a much needed break from reading.

So I’ll just leave everything up to fate, I guess. If it is going to be so, than it will be so. It’s out of my hands at this point so there’s no reason to worry or get all anxious about it. Like I said, early news is likely bad news so I’ll just have to occupy myself for another five to seven weeks.

I feel it necessary at this point to say that what happened to Ireland on Wednesday is just awful. France’s winning goal 1) was offside, three players in fact, 2) featured a grazing hand ball on the arm of Sebastien Squillaci, 3) featured the now infamous handball (would have been a carry in the NBA) from Thierry Henry before Gallas (of all the players in the world it had to be fucking William Gallas) headed it home. Complete BS. And FIFA just announced today that it has denied the Irish Football Association’s petition for a replay. Gee, I wonder why? Could it be that Sepp Blatter is to FIFA what Bud Selig is to MLB? Probably worse, actually. He knows the star power that the World Cup would be missing if France can’t play in South Africa next summer. Also, the head of UEFA, the governing body of the European WC Qualifiers, is Michel Platini: the French team captain from 1982 to 1986 (at least, I’m not about to fully research the asshole for many, many reasons). There is probably no happier man than Platini now that France have qualified. Do you think he’s going to stick up for Ireland? That’ll happen the day Jim Rome accepts soccer as sport.

(at least Thierry Henry has said that France should force to have the game replayed. I don’t blame Henry. He continued the play. What else was he supposed to do. He didn’t even really celebrate the win, for obvious reasons. He gets a pass in my book.)

Btw fuck you, Jim Rome. I caught your rant (sounded like all the others, actually) on JRIB yesterday. So let me put this simply: IF YOU DON’T LIKE A PARTICULAR SPORT, THAN DON’T EVEN TALK ABOUT IT. If you hate it so much than why do you waste time on your show to make all those “hilarious” quips about juice boxes and minivans? Oh yeah, because you have nothing else to talk about. I would pay just about anything to see a soccer fan go Jim Everett on you. Maybe we can get Martin Taylor to snap your leg in half like he did to Eduardo. Not a man’s sport? Do you realize how many bad leg injuries happen each year? Probably 10-times as many as any NFL season. I’m not just talking about hairline fractures, I’m talking about hangin-by-only-the-skin leg breaks. Happens at least once a month in soccer.

Where am I going with this? I don’t know. I just get so mad when I think about the things that Rome says about soccer. I’d go to jail if it meant I could get in a free shot on the guy. Right to the throat.

Nick angry. Nick need lift heavy weights. Nick smash!

In a shocking new twist to the Thierry Henry handball conroversy, the Order of the Shiny Tracksuit (Cuffe  Street), the mostly Thomist rival to the Cartesian Order of the Shiny Tracksuit (Aungier Street) has awarded Thierry Henry its Sportsman of the Decade award.  Said Damien Scully, a spokesman for the Cuffe Street branch: “We think that the Aungier Street award was really a back-handed insult.  An achievement like Henry’s only comes along maybe once in a lifetime andshould be honoured lke that.  There is no sign of the FAI honouring him any time soon,” he added in reference to the Football Association of Ireland’s puzzling stance on the controversy.

Cheat Thiery Henry and co will be smiling after this one and for sure France can count themselves lucky. Senile Blatter cant think this one out nor will his Sargent in arms, Platini.

Fifa has ruled that the controversial World Cup qualifying match between Ireland and France will not be replayed, despite outrage over Thierry Henry’s handball.

Responding to demands made by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) for the match to be restaged, football’s world governing body said that it was unable to sanction a replay, stating that under Law 5 of the Laws of the Game the decisions of the referee are final.

“Fifa has today replied to the request made by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) to replay the 2010 Fifa World Cup South Africa play-off match held on November 18, 2009 between France and the Republic of Ireland in Paris,” a statement read.

“In the reply, Fifa states that the result of the match cannot be changed and the match cannot be replayed. As is clearly mentioned in the Laws of the Game, during matches, decisions are taken by the referee and these decisions are final”.

Last night, the French football authorities defied calls to replay the match, despite expressing regret at the controversial nature of their qualification for the World Cup. A senior official at the French federation confirmed they had not held discussions over a possible replay and were instead celebrating the goal that secured their place in the finals in South Africa next year.

Wenn Ihr dieses Gesuch unterstützen möchtet, dann schreibt doch bitte auch eine persönliche Botschaft an Sepp Blatter / die Fifa. Hier ist die Adresse: http://de.fifa.com/contact/form.html (FIFA, Sepp Blatter)

Gesuch an die FIFA / Sepp Blatter

Bitte lassen Sie IRLAND als 33. Teilnehmer an der Fußball-WM 2010 in Südafrika teilnehmen! Machen Sie bei der WM doch einfach eine Fünfergruppe, das sind auch zwei Spiele mehr. Organisatorisch ist das doch kein Problem.

Dieses Gesuch unterstützen ringelnitz, ringelnitz (der andere) und wahrscheinlich auch Herr Teddy, immerhin drei wichtige Persönlichkeiten der Blog-Cyber-Welt.

PS: Bitte bestrafen Sie Herrn Henry und den Schiedsrichter Martin Hansson aus Schweden nicht, denn Irren ist menschlich.

PS2: Für Uneingweihte: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGB5BsJN5gI (der “Hand”-Spieler – das ist im FUSSBALL nicht erlaubt – ist Thierry Henry. Bis zu diesem Zeitpunkt war absoluter Gleichstand zwischen Frankreich und Irland. Dieses ungültige Tor “bescherte” Frankreich die WM-Teilnahme.)

FIFA got its way last night as France and Portgual both progressed through the play-offs and into next year’s World Cup.

Although Russia succumbed to Slovenia, leaving Guus Hiddink questioning if it was really worth leaving Chelsea, seeding the play-offs worked out for FIFA’s bean counters, as the two heavyweights made it through.

Portugal negotiated their way past Bosnia with surprising ease, even without Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo’s status as the world’s best player has resulted in many saying the World Cup would be significantly worse without him in it and I agree, but not for this reason.

I am in favour Portugal’s qualification, as it will surely reduce the chance of Ronaldo being photographed in his tighty-whiteys next summer.

France’s victory over Ireland was infinitely more controversial, as Thierry Henry’s juggling allowed William Gallas to grab the crucial equaliser, proving that the “luck of the Irish” is an urban myth like Saddam Hussein’s gay porn career.

Today the FAI called on FIFA to replay the match, which could be staged in Sudan for no known reason, as with the Algeria v Egypt play-off.

There is more chance of Sepp Blatter impregnating Giovanni Trapattoni than there is of him agreeing to replay the match.

There will no World Cup newbies appearing in South Africa, but New Zealand only having to defeat New Caledonia, Fiji, Vanuatu and Bahrain to claim a place shows that there will be much weaker sides than Ireland at the tournament.

Ireland claimed two draws against reigning champions Italy in qualifying, whereas New Zealand were defeated 2-0 by Fiji.

Greece and Ukraine competed for Europe’s final qualifying slot, with Greece sneaking through 1-0 on aggregate.

Greece, as Euro 2004 champions, were the seeded side, but in Andriy Shevchenko Ukraine had the only past or present superstar in either team.

Greece has never produced a footballing superstar and after a history of producing superstar mathematicians, philosophers and scientists to begin doing so now would take dumbing down to a new extreme.

Regardless they will take their place in South Africa, along with France, Portugal, New Zealand, North Korea and Honduras, but alas not Ireland.

TDIA: In honour of this fantastic double-handball we are posting this twice.

AN EXCLUSIVE REPORT FROM OUR ROVING REPORTER THE SPORTING READER

For this fantastic display of sportsmanship, integrity, honesty and sheer Tai Chi-like fluidity of hand movement, the Order of the Shiny Tracksuit (Aungier Street) awarded its Sportsman of the Year award to Thierry Henry.  The award comes with a full year’s subscription to Cheating Bollocks magazine and a large bronze plaque that says “Ta mere!”

At least by this “leger de main” if you will, the world was spared the embarrassing spectacle of FIFI President Sepp Blatter walking onto the field to hand the referee an envelope stuffed with Euros to make sure that France qualified at all costs as many feared would happen when the game went into extra time.  Why FIFA (Federation for the Insertion of France into Africa) would be prepared to go to such extremes to get this mediocre team to South Africa is anyone’s guess.  Cynics might say it is all about TV rights but we all know it is all for the sport, right?

De penalty. De pingel. De penantie. Het is het moment bij uitstek waar de teamsport voor even een individuele sport wordt. Wedstrijden worden er door gewonnen en verloren. We laten de vraag of je er op kan trainen even in het midden (ja dat kan!!!). Er lijkt namelijk, in navolging van Cruijff en Panenka, een nieuwe manier te zijn gevonden om de elf meters succesvol af te leggen.  Dames en heren, mogen wij even introduceren vanuit het land der Ronaldo’s en Romario’s: De Paradinha.

Inmiddels houdt het de gemoederen flink bezig. Sepp heeft zelf al harde maatregelen aangekondigd wanneer De Paradinha de Europese velden aandoet. Hij vindt ‘hem’ zelfs verwerpelijker dan de schwalbe. Wat houdt de Paradinha in? Voor degenen die het filmpje nog niet gezien hebben, hierbij de uitleg. Bij het nemen van de strafschop loopt de speler in één vloeiende beweging richting de bal en zet zijn standbeen ernaast. In plaats van de bal te nemen, wacht hij een seconde waardoor de keeper automatisch een hoek kiest. Vervolgens is het een eitje om de bal in de andere hoek te plaatsen.

In principe dus conform de regels. Je mag immers maar een keer stoppen tijdens je aanloop en dat is pal naast de bal. En het lijkt ons sterk dat er ergens in de regels staat vermeld binnen hoeveel seconden de bal moet worden geraakt na het plaatsen van het standbeen. Ondanks dat zal Blatter ongetwijfeld door gaan voeren dat er niet geparadinhaat mag worden. Of dat inmiddels ook is doorgedrongen tot de Nederlandse amateurvelden, valt te betwijfelen. Dus bij deze. Mocht u binnenkort een keer achter de bal plaatsnemen, parandinhaat u er dan rustig op los. De Panenka is namelijk zo jaren zeventig.

AN EXCLUSIVE REPORT FROM OUR ROVING REPORTER THE SPORTING READER

For this fantastic display of sportsmanship, integrity, honesty and sheer Tai Chi-like fluidity of hand movement, the Order of the Shiny Tracksuit (Aungier Street) awarded its Sportsman of the Year award to Thierry Henry.  The award comes with a full year’s subscription to Cheating Bollocks magazine and a large bronze plaque that says “Ta mere!”

At least by this “leger de main” if you will, the world was spared the embarrassing spectacle of FIFI President Sepp Blatter walking onto the field to hand the referee an envelope stuffed with Euros to make sure that France qualified at all costs as many feared would happen when the game went into extra time.  Why FIFA (Federation for the Insertion of France into Africa) would be prepared to go to such extremes to get this mediocre team to South Africa is anyone’s guess.  Cynics might say it is all about TV rights but we all know it is all for the sport, right?

A Heartfelt Embrace

Mr. Blatter, your results are served. How do you think your little scheme has fared? Quite well if you ask me, after all, the top two reasons (Portugal and France) this abominable seeding system was adopted in such a hasty last minute fashion have secured their tickets to the big dance in South Africa, while bumping their (equally) deserving ‘minnow’ nation counterparts from proving just how advanced the beautiful game has become in the oft neglected corners of the European football universe. Everybody at FIFA headquarters in Zurich surely winced when it became obvious the tournament would loose star Russian forward Andrei Arshavin, but were quickly relieved when Portugal and France qualified ensuring appearances from top draw players like Christiano Ronaldo, Raul Miereles, Deco, Thierry Henry, Nicolas Anelka and Franck Ribery. Read on for a breakdown of today’s results.

THE BREAKDOWN:

Ireland v France: Les Blues, Les Blues, I suppose, that for the time being at least, the bell does not toll pour vous. After suffering drive after drive by the Irish squad, France managed to win the match  by playing very well for only 30 minutes of the match… in extra time (to be fair… the loss was more than partly due to a piss-poor officiating – See Hand of God). Kudos to an Irish team that should be proud to have put on the performance they did. I realize that it will offer little consolation to players like Robbie Keane or Damian Duff who will likely never see a World Cup Final again.. but take solace in the fact that France will struggle to advance past the group stage when it comes time for them to put-up or shut-ip.

Slovenia v Russia: Perhaps the most stunning match of the evening. Guus Hidink has failed to qualify his Russian squad through to the finals, a happenstance that has never occurred! Arshavin and company were no match for a clearly determined and salivatingly hungry Slovenian squad. While not the end of Arshavin’s international career, you dont get many chances to play on the world’s biggest stage, and don’t think that this loss doesn’t sting the diminutive forward in the worst way.

Andrei Loses His Shirt...

Portugal v Bosnia-Herzegovina: An unfortunate end to the Cinderella-like run put on by the Bosnians. Edin Dzeko and his crew are now forced to watch from the sidelines as Portugal moves through to one of the coveted final berths. Take comfort in this Edin, your time will come.

Portugal Edges Bosnia

Greece v Ukraine: One goal to win it all, one goal to bind them. Greece has secured a trip to world cup after a decent showing in the qualifiers against the Ukraine. A match that was touted as the most even among the European Qualifiers did not disappoint as the ball was constantly hunkered down in the midfield. Nevertheless, an early goal from Salpingidos sealed the deal, and bumped Ukraine from a second straight appearance in the finals.

ROBERT GRECO’S PREDICTION RATING:

1 for 4: A disappointing run for me personally today. I was shocked to see some of the final results, though as I mentioned, many of them were tough matches, and all of them were in fact decided in truth on the return leg. Keep checking cheddarbomb.wordpress.com for more football crystal ball.

Next Up: Champions League Match Day 5.

The Draw

FIFA should be ashamed. Period. For the first time in the history of World Cup Qualification, teams relegated to a playoff situation to ensure qualification have been seeded in order to avoid traditionally ‘top’ squads from eliminating each other, prospectively avoiding revenue losses in the tens of millions of Euros. FIFA’s reasoning?  Well, to be honest, we haven’t been given any official reasoning regarding this decision, other than it was deemed to be for the good of the sport and that it was agreed to (hastily) nearly unanimously by the football’s governing body. So much for FIFA’s FAIR PLAY programme I suppose.

Ireland’s response was perhaps the most irate with Manager Giovanni Trapattoni claiming that a decision such as this strikes at the pureness that lies at the heart of the beautiful game. Keeper Shay Given offered a more succinct, yet equally eloquent description of his feelings regarding the seeding system: “Disgusting”. It begs the question that had teams like Portugal, France and even Russia been more successful in their qualification attempt, and smaller nations such as Serbia, Denmark or Switzerland been swapped into their position, would FIFA have adopted a similar stance?

Ireland’s contempt for the system has gained further validation when they were informed that they had drawn a sleeping giant in the form of Raymond Domenech’s France. France will have to take the field without inspirational midfield maestro Franck Ribery but will not be shy of firepower as Thierry Henry, Karim Benzema and Nicolas Anelka are all available for the first leg of the play-off.

The aforementioned match will be joined at the weekend by ties between Bosnia-Herzegovina and a Ronaldo-less Portugal,  a fairly even  matchup between Greece and Ukraine and lastly, Euro Cup surprise Russia and the mighty minnows from Slovenia. For FIFA, the best case scenario from both a monetary and reputation standpoint would be uncontested victories on the part of Portugal, France, Greece and Russia. However, these are all clashes that can very easily finish in favour of either opponent… and in this writer’s opinion, none of which will be decided until the return leg of the respective play-offs.

Predictions:

Portugal v Bosnia-Herzegovina : Even without Ronaldo, and despite a complacency surpassed only by the Italian team, Portugal has the skill, training and wherewithal to dump BH out of the competition. Despite this I believe the Balkan country will give their Iberian counterpart a run for their money… It is because of this that I will be sad to see them go. Portugal to win.

Ireland vs France: This will spell the end of Raymond Domenech. Too many times has he scraped through by the skin of his teeth and avoided a right and proper sacking. Unfortunately this play-off may also be the end of Thierry Henry’s international career which is undoubtedly depressing for a French squad in dire need of direction and leadership for the future. Trapattoni and his determined Irish squad led by the lionhearted Robbie Keane and stellar goal keeping from Shay Given should rule the day. Ireland to win.

Greece vs Ukraine: Andriy Shevchenko has returned to form at Dynamo Kiev and honestly, what has Greece accomplished since winning the Euro competition five years ago. Ukraine is strong!!… stronger than the Greeks anyways. Ukraine to win.

Russia vs Slovenia: It is hard to believe that Russia is even in this position following such a dominant showing at Euro in 2008. Despite their difficulties, and of course the valiant effort put forth by their opponents Slovenia in their qualifying group, it is difficult to see how a team with Andrei Arshavin, Igor Akinfeev and Roman Pavlyuchenko leading the way will not be able to see their cause through to the big dance in South Africa. Russia to win.

Only time will tell whether FIFA’s unorthodox, and greatly unpopular, decision to seed these playoffs will pay off in the form of more coinage in the coffers. Sit tight Mr. Blatter, you will know soon enough.