Sepp Blatter - You are a cheating cunt

[Ryan]

Ireland cry foul over play-off seedings ahead of Italy's visit

• South Africa hopes could be hurt by Fifa U-turn
• Ireland set to miss Damien Duff for Italy match

David Hytner guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 30 September 2009 23.05 BST Article history


Giovanni Trapattoni has begun to prepare for the World Cup qualifying tie against his native Italy on Saturday week without the winger Damien Duff, as he and the rest of the Republic of Ireland set-up absorbed the body blow of Sepp Blatter's apparent U-turn on European play-off seeding.

Ireland, who are unbeaten in competitive matches under Trapattoni, are most likely to finish second to Italy in qualifying Group Eight and so advance into the play-offs in November for a place at the finals in South Africa.

They had been led to believe that the draw for the four two-legged play-off ties would be open and, as such, increase their chances of progress. Yet the Fifa president Blatter has now announced that seeding, based on Fifa rankings, will come into play, raising Irish suspicions of a carve-up for the continent's leading nations.

Ireland would almost certainly be among the four unseeded nations in the draw and with the prospect of Germany or Russia, France, Croatia and Greece reaching the play-offs as seeds, there is no doubt that their hopes would be hurt by Blatter's plan. Ireland would prefer to have the chance to draw Slovenia, Bosnia, Norway or Sweden, although the latter might be pipped to the play-offs by Portugal. The worst second-placed finisher from the nine groups will be squeezed from the play-off picture.

"A year ago, we were told by Fifa that the play-offs would most likely not be seeded," said the Football Association of Ireland's chief executive, John Delaney. "But a couple of weeks ago, they wrote to us to say that it would now most likely be seeded. We'd have been delighted to be in the play-offs at the start of the group and we'll take what we get."

Ireland can still finish on top of Group Eight to qualify automatically but for that to happen, they would have to win their remaining fixtures against Italy and Montenegro on Wednesday week [14 October], which are both at home in Dublin, and also have Italy drop points in their final tie away to Cyprus.

Duff's probable absence against Italy is a setback. The Fulham winger went off against Arsenal last Saturday with a calf strain, although the problem is not as serious as was first feared and he is expected to report to Dublin on Monday. The Fulham manager Roy Hodgson said the player would be "very much touch and go" for Italy.

"We think he will be at least two weeks from the date of the injury," Hodgson said. "If Damien is fit and he has totally recovered, we would not dream of stopping him from playing for his country but I would think for Ireland, they would be on tenterhooks to see whether he would recover for that first game."

 

[Dreambeliever]

Makes sense really.

You want your big nations at the World cup.

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=Dreambeliever link=topic=36197.msg955044#msg955044 date=1254365498]
Makes sense really.

You want your big nations at the World cup.


[/quote]

Stop playing some sort of half-arsed Devil's Advocate.

It makes an absolute mockery of Fair-Play and the qualification process.

 

[gareth_thomas]

Well.. i thought those were the rules anyway..

a bit odd that they ever considered not using the whole 'seeded' set up.

I dont think teams should be seeded because they all finished the same.. 2nd in the group.. but from a business sense having all the bigger 'named' players and teams at the tournament seems logical.

 

[Ryan]

However anyone dresses this up, it's cheating.

 

[Akakabooto]

I agree with Ryan. This is so from the depths of cunt. The bigger nations get enough advantage as it is.

 

[Rosco]

If Germany and France weren't in the qualifiers this wouldn't have happened.

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=Rosco link=topic=36197.msg955066#msg955066 date=1254377610]
If Germany and France weren't in the qualifiers this wouldn't have happened.
[/quote]

And possibly Portugal. The 'Ronaldo factor' is huge here.

 

[Rosco]

I wonder how he'll help Maradona ensure qualification

 

[jexykrodic]

If Ireland were to miss out because of this procedural change it would be a massive loss for the tournament.

 

[Pesam]

That's a fucking joke, if they're not good enough to top their group they don't deserve any "favours". The seeding of the groups makes perfect sense but not the play offs.

 

[Dreambeliever]

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=36197.msg955046#msg955046 date=1254366514]
[quote author=Dreambeliever link=topic=36197.msg955044#msg955044 date=1254365498]
Makes sense really.

You want your big nations at the World cup.


[/quote]

Stop playing some sort of half-arsed Devil's Advocate.

It makes an absolute mockery of Fair-Play and the qualification process.
[/quote]

What? Fifa wants the likes of Portugla there. They already let alot of poorer teams get in with the segmentation of qualifying.

No seeds would be daft.

 

[Farkmaster]

"most likely not" to "likely will be" isn't exactly a rule change, but it is completely arbitrary. Shouldn't this be in stone ages ago?

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=Dreambeliever link=topic=36197.msg955084#msg955084 date=1254381393]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=36197.msg955046#msg955046 date=1254366514]
[quote author=Dreambeliever link=topic=36197.msg955044#msg955044 date=1254365498]
Makes sense really.

You want your big nations at the World cup.


[/quote]

Stop playing some sort of half-arsed Devil's Advocate.

It makes an absolute mockery of Fair-Play and the qualification process.
[/quote]

What? Fifa wants the likes of Portugla there. And what, they're prepared to change the system 3/4 of the way through just to accomodate that?

They already let alot of poorer teams get in with the segmentation of qualifying. It's the WORLD CUP that's why.

No seeds would be daft. You're not clever enough to even attempt this argument.
[/quote]

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=36197.msg955085#msg955085 date=1254381460]
"most likely not" to "likely will be" isn't exactly a rule change, but it is completely arbitrary. Shouldn't this be in stone ages ago?
[/quote]

It was, until France, Germany and Portugal's chances of reaching the big dance became under threat.

That's when that turnip-headed fuck Blatter worked out that a World Cup without Ronaldo was a less attractive proposition to sell.

 

[Farkmaster]

Why does the article say "most likely not" then, it sounds like it wasn't in stone, it just was what everyone was lead to believe, leaving room for them to wiggle as they have done (and I agree it is inappropriate).


Oh, and not seing Christie cry its eyes out again would be a loss.

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=36197.msg955090#msg955090 date=1254381783]
Why does the article say "most likely not" then, it sounds like it wasn't in stone, it just was what everyone was lead to believe, leaving room for them to wiggle as they have done (and I agree it is inappropriate).

[/quote]

They've obviously set the 'rule' up like that in the first place, and got away with it.

What are smaller nations gonna go, argue it? You've enough on our plate trying to fucking qualify in the first place without worrying about Fifa shifting the goalposts.

 

[Dreambeliever]

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=36197.msg955087#msg955087 date=1254381550]
[quote author=Dreambeliever link=topic=36197.msg955084#msg955084 date=1254381393]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=36197.msg955046#msg955046 date=1254366514]
[quote author=Dreambeliever link=topic=36197.msg955044#msg955044 date=1254365498]
Makes sense really.

You want your big nations at the World cup.


[/quote]

Stop playing some sort of half-arsed Devil's Advocate.

It makes an absolute mockery of Fair-Play and the qualification process.
[/quote]

What? Fifa wants the likes of Portugla there. And what, they're prepared to change the system 3/4 of the way through just to accomodate that?

They already let alot of poorer teams get in with the segmentation of qualifying. It's the WORLD CUP that's why.

No seeds would be daft. You're not clever enough to even attempt this argument.
[/quote]


[/quote]

Bottom line most fans would prefer the top teams in the comp and would welcome a rule that would insure the likes of Ronaldo are there.

The only teams that will complain will be the unseeded 4 teams in the qualifier knockouts. So thats 4 out of what 36.

And they never committed to either. They said probably not definately.

Thw world cup would be a lot worse off without France or Portugal.

 

[jexykrodic]

Still be a terrible shame missing the tricolor and those funky tall hats at the tournament if Ireland's fate was decided by a late unfavourable rule change.

 

[Farkmaster]

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=36197.msg955091#msg955091 date=1254381953]
[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=36197.msg955090#msg955090 date=1254381783]
Why does the article say "most likely not" then, it sounds like it wasn't in stone, it just was what everyone was lead to believe, leaving room for them to wiggle as they have done (and I agree it is inappropriate).

[/quote]

They've obviously set the 'rule' up like that in the first place, and got away with it.

What are smaller nations gonna go, argue it? You've enough on our plate trying to fucking qualify in the first place without worrying about Fifa shifting the goalposts.
[/quote]

It's all the more disgusting given Sepp Blatter bleating on about sustainable football development across the world, rather than it being centralised around dominant fashionable wealthy leagues.

 

[keniget]

Heh, I know it's really bad and everything, but all I can think about whilst reading this thread is our 2005 CL shennanigans.

 

[Friend no. 2]

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=36197.msg955091#msg955091 date=1254381953]
[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=36197.msg955090#msg955090 date=1254381783]
Why does the article say "most likely not" then, it sounds like it wasn't in stone, it just was what everyone was lead to believe, leaving room for them to wiggle as they have done (and I agree it is inappropriate).

[/quote]

They've obviously set the 'rule' up like that in the first place, and got away with it.

What are smaller nations gonna go, argue it? You've enough on our plate trying to fucking qualify in the first place without worrying about Fifa shifting the goalposts.
[/quote]

Yeah it's horseshit. The groups are seeded so the top teams can go through. If they fuck that up, they shouldn't have seeded play offs

 

[Jack D Rips]

[quote author=Dreambeliever link=topic=36197.msg955092#msg955092 date=1254382034]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=36197.msg955087#msg955087 date=1254381550]
[quote author=Dreambeliever link=topic=36197.msg955084#msg955084 date=1254381393]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=36197.msg955046#msg955046 date=1254366514]
[quote author=Dreambeliever link=topic=36197.msg955044#msg955044 date=1254365498]
Makes sense really.

You want your big nations at the World cup.


[/quote]

Stop playing some sort of half-arsed Devil's Advocate.

It makes an absolute mockery of Fair-Play and the qualification process.
[/quote]

What? Fifa wants the likes of Portugla there. And what, they're prepared to change the system 3/4 of the way through just to accomodate that?

They already let alot of poorer teams get in with the segmentation of qualifying. It's the WORLD CUP that's why.

No seeds would be daft. You're not clever enough to even attempt this argument.
[/quote]


[/quote]

Bottom line most fans would prefer the top teams in the comp and would welcome a rule that would insure the likes of Ronaldo are there.

The only teams that will complain will be the unseeded 4 teams in the qualifier knockouts. So thats 4 out of what 36.

And they never committed to either. They said probably not definately.

Thw world cup would be a lot worse off without France or Portugal.
[/quote]

What a load of bollox.

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=Dreambeliever link=topic=36197.msg955092#msg955092 date=1254382034]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=36197.msg955087#msg955087 date=1254381550]
[quote author=Dreambeliever link=topic=36197.msg955084#msg955084 date=1254381393]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=36197.msg955046#msg955046 date=1254366514]
[quote author=Dreambeliever link=topic=36197.msg955044#msg955044 date=1254365498]
Makes sense really.

You want your big nations at the World cup.


[/quote]

Stop playing some sort of half-arsed Devil's Advocate.

It makes an absolute mockery of Fair-Play and the qualification process.
[/quote]

What? Fifa wants the likes of Portugla there. And what, they're prepared to change the system 3/4 of the way through just to accomodate that?

They already let alot of poorer teams get in with the segmentation of qualifying. It's the WORLD CUP that's why.

No seeds would be daft. You're not clever enough to even attempt this argument.
[/quote]


[/quote]

Bottom line most fans would prefer the top teams in the comp and would welcome a rule that would insure the likes of Ronaldo are there.

The only teams that will complain will be the unseeded 4 teams in the qualifier knockouts. So thats 4 out of what 36.

And they never committed to either. They said probably not definately.

Thw world cup would be a lot worse off without France or Portugal.
[/quote]

As expected, not clever enough.

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=Jack D Rips link=topic=36197.msg955105#msg955105 date=1254384127]
[quote author=Dreambeliever link=topic=36197.msg955092#msg955092 date=1254382034]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=36197.msg955087#msg955087 date=1254381550]
[quote author=Dreambeliever link=topic=36197.msg955084#msg955084 date=1254381393]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=36197.msg955046#msg955046 date=1254366514]
[quote author=Dreambeliever link=topic=36197.msg955044#msg955044 date=1254365498]
Makes sense really.

You want your big nations at the World cup.


[/quote]

Stop playing some sort of half-arsed Devil's Advocate.

It makes an absolute mockery of Fair-Play and the qualification process.
[/quote]

What? Fifa wants the likes of Portugla there. And what, they're prepared to change the system 3/4 of the way through just to accomodate that?

They already let alot of poorer teams get in with the segmentation of qualifying. It's the WORLD CUP that's why.

No seeds would be daft. You're not clever enough to even attempt this argument.
[/quote]


[/quote]

Bottom line most fans would prefer the top teams in the comp and would welcome a rule that would insure the likes of Ronaldo are there.

The only teams that will complain will be the unseeded 4 teams in the qualifier knockouts. So thats 4 out of what 36.

And they never committed to either. They said probably not definately.

Thw world cup would be a lot worse off without France or Portugal.
[/quote]

What a load of bollox.
[/quote]

he is staggeringly stupid.

 

[Fabio]

Amazing to think that a team who isn't good enough to qualify will immediately be good in the tournament. France didn't get past the groups last tournament did they? At least Ireland et al have the unpredictability factor and will increase excitement that way.

Blatter you ponce

 

[gkmacca]

He's such an infuriating mixture of the devious and the incompetant. I saw him last week announcing, quite cheerfully, that there's still a logistics problem with the tournament 'because the place is so big' but he's confident they'll have it sorted out on time 'because that's what always happens'. Brilliant.

 

[Mors]

Who gives a fuck about Ireland qualifying? They'll get banged out early doors if they ever did make the world cup so they're only making up the numbers.

 

[Squiggles]

[quote author=Mors link=topic=36197.msg955150#msg955150 date=1254386763]
Who gives a fuck about Ireland qualifying? They'll get banged out early doors if they ever did make the world cup so they're only making up the numbers.
[/quote]

For some perspective, look at the despair when England didn't qualify for Euro 2008.

 

[Mors]

[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=36197.msg955159#msg955159 date=1254387144]
[quote author=Mors link=topic=36197.msg955150#msg955150 date=1254386763]
Who gives a fuck about Ireland qualifying? They'll get banged out early doors if they ever did make the world cup so they're only making up the numbers.
[/quote]

For some perspective, look at the despair when England didn't qualify for Euro 2008.
[/quote]

Yes, but England are a top team and are expected to qualify for all major competitions so it's a bit of a shock when we don't.

No one is surprised when the Tongo or Ireland don't qualify.