FIFA has swollen ''head'' and it's time it's bloated ego is punctured to set it down to size, if NOT Soccer would be lost for us.Today two personalities are engrossed in this tale of ''handball'' difficulty of FIFA.
The Player of France and President of FIFA.
The player is of course, the ''suddenly'' contraversial figure of the French Captain, Henry Theiry, and his ''hand-ball'' that knocked out Ireland.
Why ''suddenly'' ?
Why not, indeed !
Take a glance at the record, that shows no negatives, except for this ''handball'', and plenty of positives.
The other personality is the ''controversial'' Joseph S. Blatter, commonly known as Sepp Blatter, the 73 year old, Swede, the 8th president of FIFA.
We will discuss, in our next post, this man against whom several accusations were made but investigations were halted halfway.
Now for Henry Theiry of France:
1... a prolific striker and Arsenal's all-time leading scorer with 226 goals
2... won two league titles and three FA Cups
3... twice nominated for the FIFA World Player of the Year
4... named the PFA Players' Player of the Year twice
5... the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year three times
6... final two seasons with Arsenal as club captain, leading them to the UEFA Champions League final in 2006.
All these laurels despite his unfortunate beginnings in a poor and tough neighbourhood of Paris. And no infamous reputation for bad behaviour on or off the football field.
In fact, Henry was considered an iconic figure.
That calls for sound ''up bringing''; the credit goes to his parents, especially his mother.
In that fateful match against Ireland, Henry Thiery did handle the ball. Twice he did so. The TV shows it.
The Referee didn't see it. But, please note, the Referee ''DID NOT'' question/ask the player, when comotion erupted, ''Was there a hand ball ?'' !
A Soccer match refree has the ''right'' to question a player, when in doubt, and the player is obliged to answer truthfully.
But the Referee of the Match did not ask Henry Thiery.
And Henry ''DID NOT'' own up to the hand ball immediately, during the game, or even just after the final whistle went.
Henry was seen racing about celebrating the pseudo-victory.
Did not the gravity of 'hand ball' sink in him ? So he cheated. Guilty by subsequent behaviour. QED.
The whole of Soccer World has watched and seen the shameful scenes.
Ireland requested a replay of the game.
FIFA refused to consider TV evidence and rejected the appeal of the victim-team outright; on its stubborn rules: ''play to the whistle'' and ''referee's ruling is final''.
Not knowing this intransigence ruling of FIFA the pressurized Henry owns up to the press, the following day, ''Yes, I handled the ball as an automatic reaction and definitely not to cheat - - - in all fairness the game should be replayed''.
Next the all-powerful, FIFA lambasts Henry Thiery for his ''owning up'' statement to the press after the omnipotent, FIFA has ruled out re-play of the match.
Did anyone of FIFA officials, leave alone the ''Creepy'' President, contact Henry Thiery and advise him of their ''no replay'' decision and advice him ''not to issue press statements''.
Does FIFA treats players with humane respect ?
Did FIFA show respect to the feelings of the player mired in a controversy, for the moment ?
2 comments:
This is a simple fix or consequences (depending on how you look at it).
1) Do not let the referee and two linemen officiate any other World Cup matches until next World Cup.
2) For the coming games: Allow each coach the opportunity to challenge a play/call (only one per game, regular game and overtime) through “instant replay” and they can only call it when the ball is “out of play” or their own team has possession of the ball (this way you can’t call it when your opponent has possession).
Its pretty lousy moving forward this way and since FIFA does not want to fix this injustice they might as well makes changes so this does not happen again.
May be your suggestion would work.
Our wish is that FIFA uses modern day technology as in other games.
Soccer is controlled by a set of goons.
See how Blatter was elected !
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