Ignoring England’s ridiculous, money-spinning, injury-ravaged jaunt to Brazil; and the baffling decision to put the first friendly anyone might have given a toss about for ages firmly out of physical reach of the average fan, there are some actually important games going on this weekend.
The World Cup 2010 UEFA playoffs start tomorrow, complete with added seeding-system nonsense, as eight European teams fight it out for four of the remaining nine places. Who will take a first leg advantage?
Ireland vs France
Shots have been fired by players and diplomats alike, prior to this weekend’s marquee clash. Raymond Domenech’s job rests on the outcome, which in turn rests the surety of his centre-back pairing - currently Gallas plus ‘whoever wants a go’. This one may be closer than the French team care to admit.
Weeks after The FA was embroiled in a row over appearing to buy off the FIFA’s executive committee (or at least their wives) with designer handbags, in the hope of securing some votes for England’s World Cup 2018 bid, FIFA vice-prez Jack Warner has decided he doesn’t want his anymore.
The £230 Mulberry bag has been sent back, along with a tear-stained letter claiming it’s brought him nothing but bad press:
Had [my wife] or I known then that the acceptance of what we all felt was a kind gesture would have resulted in the tainting of her character and mine together with the untold embarrassment to which we are still being subjected, none of us would have attended the dinner, nor would she have accepted what we thought was a gift in honour of her birthday [We’ll assume she thought it was in honour of the all the other wives’ birthdays as well - The Spoiler]
I have faced and continue to face all kinds of indignities from all manner of persons, but when these insults touch my wife, it represents an all time low.
Here is how the media works. Withdrawn from their regular diet of Premier League football, the football press find themselves with swathes of blank pages to fill on international weeks. To help fill the space, the sports editor will select at random from a top hat containing a bulky collection of ‘old chestnuts.’ These consist of agenda-defining topics such as, ‘The England goalkeeping conundrum’, ‘Fabregas to Barca’, and most tiresome of all, ‘Should the Old Firm desert the SPL?’
Once selected, a journalist is challenged to find a new angle or even better, a new voice, to shed new light on the old chestnut. Hence Michael van Praag’s quotes appearing in the British media this morning, regarding the founding of a North Atlantic League. The Dutch FA chief said:
“There was no way we could push that through because Uefa at that time were conservative and full of fear. Now I am part of Uefa myself and, for this course, I can begin the lobby. It makes sense to start the lobbying now.”
Indeed the lobbying may well start now. And it will be heartily ignored until the next international break.
The governing body’s U-turn could encourage more simulation
Following an appeal by Arsenal, UEFA have back-tracked on their controversial Eduardo ruling, deciding there was not enough evidence to prove simulation. The Arsenal forward - who has insisted he felt contact from extraordinarily aggressive Celtic keeper Artur Boruc on his left foot and “lost balance” - is now free to face Standard Liege in the Champions league tomorrow night.
Some have argued that UEFA caved in because of the far-reaching implications of the ban: Professor Wenger would have lovingly compiled evidence of every single other perceived dive in European competitions, and would have called for similar bans for the rest of eternity. A dangerous precedent for a crime that isn’t always clear cut.
UEFA’s attempt to contain the situation, however, may actually have had the opposite effect. Not only have they undermined their own authority by favouring Arsenal’s appeal, but they have effectively given professional players carte blanche to throw themselves around without concern for punishment. The Telegraph’sHenry Winter makes a point to this effect on Twitter:
Starting tonight, players know they can dive because refs will be too scared to punish them following UEFA’s crazy U-turn on Eduardo.
Where UEFA right to turn over the ban, or have they, as we suspect, opened a big ol’ can of worms. Let us know your thoughts below…
Croat-Brazilian has outraged Scotland with his naughty play acting
Since the days of watching David Ginola throw himself around the pitch as if he only possessed limited command of his limbs, The Spoiler has held a disgust diving, and those who think they can get away with it.
Hence, we weren’t overly pleased last night to see Eduardo’s successful attempt at cheating Arsenal into a lead; something that changed a game in which Celtic were enjoying a reasonable amount of possession and control.
It seems that Celtic were equally displeased, with Massimo Donati calling for a two match ban following the simulation antics. SFA head honcho Gordon Smith has also waded into the argument, suggesting the Arsenal star should be punished:
‘[…] Last night [Eduardo] showed disrespect to the game by his actions in winning a penalty against Celtic.
‘Since I came into this post, I have raised the issue of simulation time and time again - both here in Scotland and with FIFA and UEFA.
‘I don’t think that I have received enough support in my efforts to eradicate what I believe to be one of the most serious threats to the integrity of football. Last night showed exactly why we must take this issue seriously.
The SFA have set a precedent for banning players for play acting in the case of former Hearts forward Saulius Mikoliunas, who missed two matches after he feigned being headbutted by an Aberdeen player in May.
So, should Eduardo be punished, or should we accept that diving is part of the modern game? Votes below, please…
In an interview with Italian left-wing magazine L’Espresso, Michel Platini made his views on Real Madrid’s spending spree clear. “Madrid have ruined the market,” said the UEFA President before explaining that the rise in inflation caused by Florentino Perez’s actions will have a negative impact on the rest of Europe.
After making such damning comments, how odd that the Frenchman should joke about his own value:
“If Cristiano cost 92m, when I was 23 I would have cost 93m.”
After realising the Ronaldo-esque arrogance of his quip, the Frenchman quickly added that he was referring to 93m old French Francs. Priceless stuff.
Although the comments appear to be made in jest, The Spoiler detects a hint of bitterness in his words. Platini was regarded as one of the best players of his era, and in 1982, at the age of 25, he moved to Juventus, the richest club of the time. The Italians paid a ‘nominal fee’ for the French captain, so he was denied the record-breaking transfer fee that would have asserted his status as one of the greatest names in the game.
While the world awaits UEFA’s verdict on Didier Drogba and Michael Ballack’s punishment, the media have been making their own suggestions.
Most agree that Le Drog should receive a minimum ban of six European games, which would see him miss the group stages of the Champions League 2009/10. Ex Premier League ref Jeff Winter concurs, adding that Michael Ballack should be ruled out for four games for his ridiculous non-contact pursuit of Tom Henning Øvrebø. His former colleague Graham Poll has also waded in, suggesting a slightly harsher eight to ten matches for the Ivorian and five to six for the German.
The Guardian’sRichard Williams, however, is calling for much more drastic action:
The withdrawal of their invitation to next season’s Champions League, taking tens of millions of pounds in revenue along with it, would soon persuade them to find a way of curbing their players’ excesses, and others would follow their example. If Chelsea’s players and managerial staff are reluctant to abandon the exaggerated sense of grievance instilled and fostered by Jose Mourinho’s regime, they will have to be taught a lesson.
So, should UEFA make an example of the Blues and give them the harshest punishment of all? Or is a brief player ban and a stern ticking off much more appropriate? Let us know your thoughts below…
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