Sepp Blatter has had one hell of a busy week, and I'm not talking about the FIFA conference at Gleneagles in Scotland.
I'm talking about him weighing into every current football debate with a pair of size 10 army boots.
Yes he is the President of FIFA, but no, he is not a one man fighting machine!
This week alone Blatter has attacked Martin Taylor (albeit in a roundabout way), ended investigations into goalline technology, and has decided Britain should be represented by England at the 2012 Olympics!
Not bad for a weeks worth of sticking his nose in!
Let's start with the Martin Taylor issue.
Blatter wants bad tacklers banned for life, but I feel this will put serious doubts into players minds when playing the game. It's simply too much.
- B/R Ticket Guide
His hinting that the Premier league and the FA should hand such cases (Taylor/Eduardo) over to FIFA, as they can't seem to deal with them, is simply unprofessional on the president's part.
The FIFA summit at Gleneagles was also used to announce that FIFA was ending all investigations into goalline technology, as it was too expensive and not foolproof.
Surely this is why one would keep on investigating.
What if Alexander Fleming had given up on penicillin, would half of us be alive today?
I'm not saying this is a life or death matter, but it's certainly the difference between winning and losing!
FIFA are now investigating the idea of having two extra officials behind the nets, but I can't see this helping or being much cheaper in the long run.
Lastly, Sepp Blatter has again threatened the four British football associations if they try to field a combined team at the 2012 Olympics. The threat is simple—field a combined team and lose your individual associations.
I have no problem with this. It just means forget the Olympics and let's move on.
Well not according to Mr Blatter, who suggests we just enter England instead!
It's almost funny, but I'm not laughing!
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8 months ago
Everything that Mr. Blatter is doing is good for football at many levels locally and worldwide.
The improvement of the sport and also the level worldwide ultimately improves FIFA's bottom line as well.
I agree with every move especially regarding foreign players which is a temporary cash cow but which is also doing more damage than benefit to Europes leagues.....and indirectly sponsoring corruption and mismanagement in South American and African leagues.
The last bit about the whole Britain England Scotland whatever should be decided by those countries not only regarding sport but in general. Get your own currency, adopt the Euro or become one country.....this one foot in one foot out thing leads to these confusions. Republic of Ireland is the best example in that part of the world. This last paragraph is pure opinion by someone who knows very little about the details. Don't nail me to a cross for thinking outside the box.
from 8 months ago
I'm also very happy with the foreign player idea. As I've said a few times, it doesn't effect my local club and I believe it will help my country.
I've agreed with Mr Blatter nearly always previously, but this week we just aren't on the same wave length.
I'm perfectly happy with staying out the Olympics and we shall see what happens in the next few years when it comes to the future of the United Kingdom.
Thanks for an interesting response Darlon
8 months ago
I actually agree about limiting the number of foreign players in the league but only to a certain extent.
If a player is good enough then he will come through, no matter how many foreigners are in the league.
The negative about this foreighn player thing is the corruption and Human trafficking issue down here in Africa but in football terms only, i actually believe foreighners really help, up the standards of European leagues.
What way for a young player to learn than facing Torres, Ronaldo, Kaka, Fabregas, Robinho, Ibrahimovich and Ronaldinho e t c. week-in week-out.
Italy won the world cup, yet it has a vast number of foreigners in there League. Brazil finds it hard to win against European teams these days because players know all about the qualities of Ronaldinho, Kaka and Company, thru playing with and against them weekly.
But its unacceptable for Arsene wenger to assemble a line up without an English man, yet arsenal is an english team. so i think just a limit on the number who play at a given time is more appropriate than completely discarding them.
from 8 months ago
I agree Yahya. Thanks for your response.
from 8 months ago
"Brazil finds it hard to win against European teams these days" is a strange statement since in the last 10years Brazil has lost only 6 times to European teams with a few draws and all the rest victories some of them ample and repeated like Germany for example 12 goals in five matches conceeding four. Four victories in five encounters with one draw.
Brazil has lost repeatedly and strangely to France and is now negative in the back to back stat comparison by one game. Something which is unique to France being the only country in the world with a clear plus. Norway also has a plus but on goal difference but almost all the games were friendlies played in Norway.
Brazil has 10 victories 9 draws and 3 losses to England in all history with the last loss to England happening 18years ago.
I won't mention Scotland out of respect for my collegue Andrew....snicker.
Ronaldinho and Kaka are yesterday's news...yesterday's deals ...new names are constantly appearing.
I agree there should be limits but there are limits now and all players do is naturalize.
I also agree that it is absurd for an English team to have not one English player.
8 months ago
There is no point discussing the foreign player issue because it is never going to happen. EU law protects freedom of movement and employment, FIFA can moan all it likes, it won't beat the EU.
Blatter usually talks drivel in my opinion, Michel Platini is more sensible, but even he occasionally says something a bit 'out there'.
I am not surprised they have abandoned Goal Technology, I would expect nothing less from the fools at FIFA. They are quite happy for decisions to carry on being wrong because it keeps football in the papers and controversy helps make more money for them and their associations.
On the Olympics matter, I don't see why it threatens the individual associations by having a proper British team (The British Lions play in Rugby with no issues, why should football be any different?) but again, its FIFA, what do we expect?
Same goes for the Taylor issue, the FA should tell FIFA where to go (they have made their decision, what has it got to do with FIFA?), but of course they won't and Taylor will either have his ban increased, or nothing will come of it at all, because Blatter has a tendency to mouth of in public about issues but not actually do anything about them.
8 months ago
Hate to do this ....but I agree with Simon on FIFA wishing to keep things grey as much as possible.
They always seem to be against everything which may lead to clean decisions.
But I disagree that they are "fools" ...they know exactly what they are doing...and it has nothing to do with the sport football....and everything to do with the business football.
8 months ago
The best answer for the Olympics issue is pretty simple: just have a tournament between the home nations and whoever wins represents the UK.
from 8 months ago
The tournament would have to be an under 21 tournnament, so I suppose that could work . I can't see the nations going for it though.
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