FIFA's Cup Check! Part II
In Part I we went on record regarding horrible FIFA officiating and the bias for "Da Boyz" from Brazil. We have been sitting on Part II since last week and now that the whole sporting media has finally followed our lead, i.e. Washington Post, etc. we put the finishing touches on.
In this Cup, there has been an officiating fiasco involving yellow and red cards. After 54 matches: 24 red cards and 298 yellows, a record. The number of penalties and free kicks awarded have also set a record.
German soccer great Franz Beckenbauer went so far as to say that the FIFA officials are ruining the tournament with too many yellow and red cards. Due to the nature of his position Franz probably stopped way short of what he really wanted to say about FIFA's officials... Pure Scheist!!
The officating in the Brazil vs Australia (29 free kicks vs 9!!!) Netherlands vs Portugal (16 yellow, 4 red cards, a new record) and USA vs Italy (4 yellow, 3 red cards) matches were prime examples of a governing body having lost its credibility with players, coaches, fans and whose decision making has become a black eye on the sport.
A prime example of FIFA's lack of integrity is Uruguay's Jorge Larrionda. Thats the official who called the USA - Italy match. Jorge served a six month suspension for "irregularities" in 2002, and subsequently was scratched from working the 2002 World Cup.
According to multiple news reports at the time, Larrionda's suspension came after the Uruguayan soccer authorities conducted a three month investigation into allegations of corruption.
Only 21 officials get to work this event which it takes four years to qualify for. So Larrionda must be one of the best 21 officials in the world, despite being previously suspended for corruption, right???
Its akin to Commissioner Landis putting Shoeless Joe Jackson and the "Eight Men Out" of the 1919 Chicago Black Sox on the Hall of Fame election committee. What would the baseball public have said?
Actually, FIFA should have put recently resigned managing director of Juventus FC, Luciano Moggi, in charge of the officiating at this cup. Moggi resigned amidst an investigation into game fixing by Italian authorities and the sanctioning body of Serie A in Italy.
The investigators have uncovered irrefutable evidence that Moggi and his associates used cash, women, vacations and exotic cars to bribe opposing managers, players and FIFA referees to "swing" games in Juventus favor.
Much like Tricky Dick Nixon's Watergate and Bill Clinton's Oval Office Monica, Moggi is not the only one, nor the first or last, he just had the bad luck to get caught in the act.
Sorry to break it to you like this but, unfortunately, this kind of game fixing activity is present globally to one degree or another (just like steroids and doping are) from high school through professional levels in all sports.
Ever wonder what game those officials were watching?? They weren't, just too busy reading the script they were handed by the league or the betting touts. How bout those boxing judges and their score cards?
The fact is, the only guys in "sport" who are honest about this rouse, are the guys that acknowledge and admit they are in the ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS first and foremost.
That would be the wrestlers, folks. They put on an act, its scripted, they know it, you know it and they know you do, and on questioning, at least they don't deny it.
Back to the subject at hand... FIFA needs to get its act together, as discerning fans and afficionados can plainly tell the difference between an organisation trying to usher in a glorified champion for the organizations "benefit" and a legitimate contest or tournament.
Regarding FIFA's favorite sons, the Brazilians are a good side, despite Cafu & Emerson showing their age, Ronaldinho being severely overrated (I would not pick him for my 3rd team) and Ronaldo being just plain fat, slow and overpaid. Spain, Portugal or England will knock "Da Boyz" from Brazil off.
Maybe FIFA should rename the tournament for what it appears to have become: The WWF or WWE of Brazilian Kickball. More to come in Part 3.
In this Cup, there has been an officiating fiasco involving yellow and red cards. After 54 matches: 24 red cards and 298 yellows, a record. The number of penalties and free kicks awarded have also set a record.
German soccer great Franz Beckenbauer went so far as to say that the FIFA officials are ruining the tournament with too many yellow and red cards. Due to the nature of his position Franz probably stopped way short of what he really wanted to say about FIFA's officials... Pure Scheist!!
The officating in the Brazil vs Australia (29 free kicks vs 9!!!) Netherlands vs Portugal (16 yellow, 4 red cards, a new record) and USA vs Italy (4 yellow, 3 red cards) matches were prime examples of a governing body having lost its credibility with players, coaches, fans and whose decision making has become a black eye on the sport.
A prime example of FIFA's lack of integrity is Uruguay's Jorge Larrionda. Thats the official who called the USA - Italy match. Jorge served a six month suspension for "irregularities" in 2002, and subsequently was scratched from working the 2002 World Cup.
According to multiple news reports at the time, Larrionda's suspension came after the Uruguayan soccer authorities conducted a three month investigation into allegations of corruption.
Only 21 officials get to work this event which it takes four years to qualify for. So Larrionda must be one of the best 21 officials in the world, despite being previously suspended for corruption, right???
Its akin to Commissioner Landis putting Shoeless Joe Jackson and the "Eight Men Out" of the 1919 Chicago Black Sox on the Hall of Fame election committee. What would the baseball public have said?
Actually, FIFA should have put recently resigned managing director of Juventus FC, Luciano Moggi, in charge of the officiating at this cup. Moggi resigned amidst an investigation into game fixing by Italian authorities and the sanctioning body of Serie A in Italy.
The investigators have uncovered irrefutable evidence that Moggi and his associates used cash, women, vacations and exotic cars to bribe opposing managers, players and FIFA referees to "swing" games in Juventus favor.
Much like Tricky Dick Nixon's Watergate and Bill Clinton's Oval Office Monica, Moggi is not the only one, nor the first or last, he just had the bad luck to get caught in the act.
Sorry to break it to you like this but, unfortunately, this kind of game fixing activity is present globally to one degree or another (just like steroids and doping are) from high school through professional levels in all sports.
Ever wonder what game those officials were watching?? They weren't, just too busy reading the script they were handed by the league or the betting touts. How bout those boxing judges and their score cards?
The fact is, the only guys in "sport" who are honest about this rouse, are the guys that acknowledge and admit they are in the ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS first and foremost.
That would be the wrestlers, folks. They put on an act, its scripted, they know it, you know it and they know you do, and on questioning, at least they don't deny it.
Back to the subject at hand... FIFA needs to get its act together, as discerning fans and afficionados can plainly tell the difference between an organisation trying to usher in a glorified champion for the organizations "benefit" and a legitimate contest or tournament.
Regarding FIFA's favorite sons, the Brazilians are a good side, despite Cafu & Emerson showing their age, Ronaldinho being severely overrated (I would not pick him for my 3rd team) and Ronaldo being just plain fat, slow and overpaid. Spain, Portugal or England will knock "Da Boyz" from Brazil off.
Maybe FIFA should rename the tournament for what it appears to have become: The WWF or WWE of Brazilian Kickball. More to come in Part 3.
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