FIFA Fiddle World Cup Qualification Process

[SlavikSvensk]

Well the World Cup can be bought and that's not really kicking the ball.
Some filthy money has already gone into this seeding playoffs stuff, I just wanted to point that out.

for better or for worse, fifa wants all the big guns there--england, france, germany, spain, portugal, italy, argentina and brazil. next they as many of the the medium-sized and the "big but not so rich" markets as possible, e.g. russia, mexico, portugal, netherlands, nigeria, australia, japan, south korea, south africa, etc. then the "potential bonanza, just not there yet" countries like the US, because they want football to be big there, but also know it's possible to wait 4 years to make it happen. don't think they are too bothered about any of the rest.

[C.O.Prodigy]

for better or for worse, fifa wants all the big guns there-- don't think they are too bothered about any of the rest.

You're right. And the tools at Fifa's disposal to achieve said goals are (bookings and red cards, ranking table, referees, phantom penalties, bad offside calls) all of which serve to concoct what Fifa believes to be a draw that the big money spenders are happy with and which they in turn bought.
Capitalism at it's best and very little to do with football.
It's highly hypocritical to promote "my game is fair play" at under 17 and under 21 tournaments and yet when those players grow up they find out that it was all make believe and that the spirit of fair play applys only if you pay for it or if it's worth fifa's while.
In a perfect world, FiFa should stand for footballing excellence and should back those teams which excel in the game.

[C.O.Prodigy]

for better or for worse, fifa wants all the big guns there-- don't think they are too bothered about any of the rest.

You're right. And the tools at Fifa's disposal to achieve said goals are (bookings and red cards, ranking table, referees, phantom penalties, bad offside calls) all of which serve to concoct what Fifa believes to be a draw that the big money spenders are happy with and which they in turn bought.
Capitalism at it's best and very little to do with football.
It's highly hypocritical to promote "my game is fair play" at under 17 and under 21 tournaments and yet when those players grow up they find out that it was all make believe and that the spirit of fair play applys only if you pay for it or if it's worth fifa's while.
In a perfect world, FiFa should stand for footballing excellence and should back those teams which excel in the game.

Phantom penalties indeed!

Not harsh enough I reckon.

It is happening again!



Cheat.

[C.O.Prodigy]

you'd think things would be better at this level

It's looking like a popularity contest, with marketing leading the charge.

The name World Cup is misleading at this point, it's clearly not.

[C.O.Prodigy]

FIFA.com - President: FIFA will consider refereeing questions

Consequently, the principle will not be changed for this competition. But with what we have experienced here, it would be nonsense to not reopen the file on technology at the next business meeting of the IFAB on 20 and 21 July in Wales.

Consider and reopen doesn't sound very promising.





ps.
Ask Yourself


Richie 'mothaf*cking' Hawtin

[C.O.Prodigy]

Check out the FIFA replay logo. The light emanating from beyond the logo.
I imagine, you see they are the enlightened ones. The ones who have the light.

This has nothing to do with tonight's game though and everything to do with this thread.