Written by: Chris Higham

The inevitable became a reality down in South Africa this afternoon when FIFA, via Sepp Blatter, finally decided that video technology would not be used at the World Cup next June and to make matters worse , they also decided that expanding the 4th officials’ duties or putting a linesman behind each goal would not be utilized.

To sum up , Sepp Blatter’s Bunch are doing nothing to prevent another France Ireland debacle. They have dragged Michel Platini (UEFA President ) into this mess as he share’s the same view as Blatter in that “we must maintain as close a relationship between the professional game and the game played by the fans in the park every Sunday”

sepp blatter

Michel Platini UEFA President

Take a look at the video below and get some appreciation of how bad this issue can get . It highlights more the issue of diving ( or simulation ) but it still illustrates the point that officials need support in making the tough calls . Actually , I think the referee in this game was either bribed or was legally blind to give this one. The fact that it is a Columbian league game probably explains it but I’m using this to make a point

Now , Michel Platini is already not the best partner in crime to have at this point . He’s already running around like a chicken with its head cut off to try to quell the anger created by his own National Team ( Yes folks , he’s French ) , during the Playoff game against Ireland . To his credit , he did initiate the idea of two extra linesman behind the goals in the 2009-2010 Europa Group games , but privately , he craves the FIFA presidency , so he won’t do anything to rock the boat at this stage.

To pick up on an earlier point about “keeping the pro game as close to the fan playing in the park” is just about the most single-minded ridiculous thing I’ve heard this week and that’s a pretty tough award to win . The fan who goes to watch his team every week could care less about that game reflecting how he plays his soccer on Sunday . I’m sure the Nou Camp stadium bears a real close resemblance to the bone hard fields with no grass that populate the inner city areas of our major cities . I will tell you what the average fan wants . He wants to go watch his team play in a Cup Final or a Championship match where his team isn’t going lose because of the errors of the officials. He wants to feel comfortable that the powers that be care about the sport he pays so much money to follow , more than they do about preserving their livelihood up in the ivory towers.

I have been a fan of this sport for over 40 years , and I never thought i would say this , but I hope that there is an another issue like the France Ireland game in the World Cup next year . I hope it comes in the late stages of the tournament and I hope that it is easily resolvable correctly on video . The firestorm that will come down on FIFA will be enough to unseat Sepp Blatter and finally bring this thing to its rightful conclusion.

Then we can call this group of idiots Platini’s Bunch………………………………………

Tomorrow , I’ll take a look at the seeding process for the Finals next year as I’m hearing some rumblings about unfairness and discrimination with the whole process . And yes , there’s a Frenchman in there complaining about favoritism . Hard to believe , isn’t it……………………………………..

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