Good and bad money matters, for Swansea and FIFA
Prior to the continuing debacle that is FIFA, this article was originally going to solely concentrate on me having been at Wembley on Monday afternoon/evening. Instead I'll reflect upon what was an entertaining, and at times pulsating Championship play-off final, before looking at the elephant in the room that is Sepp Blatter.
So, we begin with Swansea and Reading; who produced a classic example of 'a game of two halves'. Swansea rode their luck after an inconspicuous opening, before they capitalised upon a despondent Reading, as they established a 3-0 half-time lead. A Scott Sinclair brace and Stephen Dobbie's pounce on a defensive half-clearance set the scene.
To their credit, Reading spent the opening twenty minutes of the second half laying siege to the Swansea goal. The Berkshire club clearly believed that they could emulate Liverpool's 2005 Champions League final comeback against AC Milan. And they were only to be denied by half the width of a post, when Jem Karacan's deflected strike swiftly followed a Joe Allen own goal and a Matt Mills header, which had brought the score back to 3-2.
This was the key moment of the game, for if Reading had managed to overturn a 3-0 deficit, Swansea's spirit may well have been broken. But even though Reading stayed on top as the half developed, their momentum and energy began to sag. With ten minutes to go Brian McDermott's side conceded a second soft penalty, and with it Sinclair completed his hat-trick and Swansea's rise to the top tier of English football.
The Swans fans had been nervously quiet since the first half, but the fourth goal transformed their end of Wembley into a playground of excitable, bouncing white shirts. All in all it was a great advert for the Championship and for Wembley, which continues to establish itself amongst the world's best stadiums.
As for next season, Swansea look like they will entertain the top level in the same fashion as Blackpool and Burnley have in recent times. Although they may also struggle to avoid relegation, something that followed both teams' good starts. Reading meanwhile must be among the firm favourites to go up in 2011-12, if of course they hold on to the likes of Shane Long.
Now, on to FIFA and more pertinently Sepp Blatter. The question remains as to why and how this man is allowed to treat football as if it is the sporting equivalent of Silvio Berlusconi, namely corrupt and embarrassing.
Whether Blatter likes it or not, FIFA is in a crisis that is slowly coming to some sort of head. Sponsors such as Emirates have voiced their concern, and ironically it may be the threat of financial losses that could spur the organisation into acting.
However, after today's actions, this looks very far from happening. At a press conference, Blatter and 172 delegates demonstrated their lack of contact with reality. The English FA, represented by David Bernstein, had presented a joint motion with the Scottish FA to postpone the election for the FIFA presidency. Their reasoning is that FIFA should really be investigating the corruption allegations against Mohamed Bin Hammam and Jack Warner, rather than giving Blatter another unopposed mandate as President.
And so instead, FIFA's overwhelming majority has endorsed a one-man election, reminiscent of a totalitarian, one-party state. Blatter has said that in future all delegates should be involved in the World Cup bidding process, but there has been little recognition of the wider concerns involving the accused members of his executive committee.
In fact many delegates chose to stand up for Blatter in the most unashamed manner today. In response to Bernstein's proposal, the FA was subjected to wild name-calling and general nit-picking to the extent of frustrating hilarity. Many implied that the FA is simply stirring-up trouble and that they are retaliating to the failed 2018 World Cup bid.
This is simply a blatant attempt to discredit and then shoot the messenger. The Panorama programme that helped to spur several corruption allegations has some very pressing and real questions for FIFA, Blatter and his executive committee to answer. However, in response they are waging a PR war against those that disparage them, in a crass attempt to distract from and bury the issue.
And now, football fans around the world have another four years to enjoy of an institution that is led by a man who is increasingly painting himself into a corner. Blatter may be right to value the independent status and power that FIFA has, but if he is to allow this prestige to be abused, football may be better off if it has to answer to the politicians. Otherwise the fear is that football will continue to be ruled by an ageing old boy’s network intent on scratching each other’s backs...
So, we begin with Swansea and Reading; who produced a classic example of 'a game of two halves'. Swansea rode their luck after an inconspicuous opening, before they capitalised upon a despondent Reading, as they established a 3-0 half-time lead. A Scott Sinclair brace and Stephen Dobbie's pounce on a defensive half-clearance set the scene.
To their credit, Reading spent the opening twenty minutes of the second half laying siege to the Swansea goal. The Berkshire club clearly believed that they could emulate Liverpool's 2005 Champions League final comeback against AC Milan. And they were only to be denied by half the width of a post, when Jem Karacan's deflected strike swiftly followed a Joe Allen own goal and a Matt Mills header, which had brought the score back to 3-2.
This was the key moment of the game, for if Reading had managed to overturn a 3-0 deficit, Swansea's spirit may well have been broken. But even though Reading stayed on top as the half developed, their momentum and energy began to sag. With ten minutes to go Brian McDermott's side conceded a second soft penalty, and with it Sinclair completed his hat-trick and Swansea's rise to the top tier of English football.
The Swans fans had been nervously quiet since the first half, but the fourth goal transformed their end of Wembley into a playground of excitable, bouncing white shirts. All in all it was a great advert for the Championship and for Wembley, which continues to establish itself amongst the world's best stadiums.
As for next season, Swansea look like they will entertain the top level in the same fashion as Blackpool and Burnley have in recent times. Although they may also struggle to avoid relegation, something that followed both teams' good starts. Reading meanwhile must be among the firm favourites to go up in 2011-12, if of course they hold on to the likes of Shane Long.
Now, on to FIFA and more pertinently Sepp Blatter. The question remains as to why and how this man is allowed to treat football as if it is the sporting equivalent of Silvio Berlusconi, namely corrupt and embarrassing.
Whether Blatter likes it or not, FIFA is in a crisis that is slowly coming to some sort of head. Sponsors such as Emirates have voiced their concern, and ironically it may be the threat of financial losses that could spur the organisation into acting.
However, after today's actions, this looks very far from happening. At a press conference, Blatter and 172 delegates demonstrated their lack of contact with reality. The English FA, represented by David Bernstein, had presented a joint motion with the Scottish FA to postpone the election for the FIFA presidency. Their reasoning is that FIFA should really be investigating the corruption allegations against Mohamed Bin Hammam and Jack Warner, rather than giving Blatter another unopposed mandate as President.
And so instead, FIFA's overwhelming majority has endorsed a one-man election, reminiscent of a totalitarian, one-party state. Blatter has said that in future all delegates should be involved in the World Cup bidding process, but there has been little recognition of the wider concerns involving the accused members of his executive committee.
In fact many delegates chose to stand up for Blatter in the most unashamed manner today. In response to Bernstein's proposal, the FA was subjected to wild name-calling and general nit-picking to the extent of frustrating hilarity. Many implied that the FA is simply stirring-up trouble and that they are retaliating to the failed 2018 World Cup bid.
This is simply a blatant attempt to discredit and then shoot the messenger. The Panorama programme that helped to spur several corruption allegations has some very pressing and real questions for FIFA, Blatter and his executive committee to answer. However, in response they are waging a PR war against those that disparage them, in a crass attempt to distract from and bury the issue.
And now, football fans around the world have another four years to enjoy of an institution that is led by a man who is increasingly painting himself into a corner. Blatter may be right to value the independent status and power that FIFA has, but if he is to allow this prestige to be abused, football may be better off if it has to answer to the politicians. Otherwise the fear is that football will continue to be ruled by an ageing old boy’s network intent on scratching each other’s backs...
Comments