"Football is not in a crisis, only some difficulties," says Sepp Blatter

Oh dear, as usual FIFA's President Sepp Blatter cannot see the wood for the trees.

This Wednesday FIFA will select its new President, however, there is now only one candidate, that is the current controversial President, one Joseph Sepp Blatter.

His opponent and the only rival candidate - Mohamed Bin Hammam, president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) - pulled out having been suspended by Fifa's own ethics committee over allegations that financial incentives were offered to Caribbean Football Union members.

So, on Saturday there was a Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) press conference in Zurich, but only one person was present, El Presidente Blatter himself - you can see it here.

From BBC Sport:

"Football is not in a crisis, only some difficulties," said the Fifa president.

President Blatter brushed off suggestions, from the British government among others, that Wednesday's presidential election - for which he is the only candidate - should be suspended.

"If governments try to intervene then something is wrong," he said.

"I think Fifa is strong enough that we can deal with our problems inside Fifa."

Blatter then went on to discuss Saturday's Champions League final between Barcelona and Manchester United, played at Wembley stadium as an example of the sport's strength and insisted there would be no re-run of the controversial vote for the 2022 World Cup.

"If you see the final match of the Champions League you must applaud," he said.

"We are not in a crisis. We are only in some difficulties and these will be solved inside our family."

I am really sorry but this guy is on another planet, he also thinks that Wednesday's Presidential election should proceed despite the fact that he is now the only candidate, and is covered in controversy himself.
As well as Governments around the world getting involved, now the sponsors are wading in on the accusations and arguments that are surrounding FIFA, earlier today, two of Fifa's largest sponsors - Coca-Cola and Adidas - expressed concern at the widely publicised in-fighting.

"The current allegations being raised are distressing and bad for the sport," said a Coca-Cola spokesperson.

"We have every expectation that Fifa will resolve this situation in an expedient and thorough manner."

An Adidas spokesman said: "The negative tenor of the public debate around Fifa at the moment is neither good for football nor for Fifa and its partners."

FIFAs Vice President, Jack Warner is now mired in controversy himself.

This constant stream of rows, accusations of fraud, corruption and controversy divert away from what FIFA should be representing, grassroots football.

One line of their mission statement did make me laugh - Our core values of authenticity, unity, performance and integrity are at the very heart of who we are.


If Sepp Blatter believed any of the words above then he would suspend the Presidential election immediately, resign, ensure the Executive Committee also resigned to clear all of the allegations and then run new elections for President and Executive Committee - where no-one accused of any corruption or wrong doing should re-stand.

To read an alternative view, read G's spot - FIFA’s mafia family goes to war.

President of FIFA, Sebb Blatter says gay football fans should have no sex during world cup

Sepp Blatter, the controversial president of FIFA, has once again dismissed concerns that Qatar is unsuitable to host the 2022 World Cup because of its attitude to homosexuality.  He went on to say that gay football fans should refrain from having homosexual sex while in the country.

The small country punishes homosexuality with up to five years in prison or lashes.

Last week, gay football groups said gay fans would be unable to travel to the Qatar for the games because of its oppressive laws.

Sebb Blatter speaking in Johannesburg at a post-2010 World Cup legacy project launch also said;

“We are definitely living in a world of freedom and I’m sure when the World Cup will be in Qatar in 2022, there will be no problems.

“You see in the Middle East the opening of this culture, it’s another culture because it’s another religion, but in football we have no boundaries.

“We open everything to everybody and I think there shall not be any discrimination against any human beings be it on this side or that side, be it left, right or whatever.”

This shows how naive Blatter is, as LGBT website Queeried put it;

In other words Blatter seems to believe that the arrival of a football World Cup to the country will suddenly make Qatar forget it doesn’t like gay people and becoming a YMCA loving country.

The Gay Football Supporters’ Network said it would boycott all activities related to the 2022 World Cup and have issued a demand that Sebb Blatter should apologise for his comments.

I'm sorry but in this day and age, an apology is nowhere near enough, it is time for Sebb Blatter to resign and for the President of FIFA to go to someone who doesn't think homophobia is funny.

England beaten by the Germans - cheats, better players and goal line technology

So, England is out of the 2010 World Cup, some may say just a few days after they should have been.

However, before everyone turns on Fabio Capello we have to remember that this is a team game and every single player on the squad has to take their share of the responsibility as does the FA and I really hope they all do so.

Despite being completely out played in the first twenty minutes we have to ask what would have happened if the German goalkeeper had been honest in the 39th minute when Frank Lampard's chip beat the goalie but was never given?

How did the Referee, two linesmen and the fourth official miss it when everyone else in the stadium saw it, including the German goalie who obviously is not an honest player, in fact he is a cheat?

See below for yourselves.

What would have happened if that goal had been given when the teams had come back out in the second half, would England have been rejuvenated?

To be perfectly honest, probably not, they were out played and out classed today and really did not deserve to win.

One question for Fabio though, why on earth did you bring on Shaun Wright-Phillips in the 87th minute?  What did you really think he could add or alter at that extremely late stage?

So, ignoring the result now back to the goal that wasn't.

The Mirror put it like this:

It is frankly ludicrous that Sepp Blatter and his FIFA mandarins continue to shrug their shoulders at such injustices as the one Lampard suffered when the entire stadium, through all manner of new technology, knew within minutes the ball had crashed off Neuer's bar and bounced at least two feet over the line.

It has brought the discussions of goal line technology, back in 2005 FIFA had agreed to a ball with a chip, at the International Football Association Board (IFAB) at its 119th Annual General Meeting near Cardiff, Wales, on 26 February 2005, whatever happened to that?

Unfortunately some five years later at the 124th Annual General Meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB), chaired by FIFA as is traditional in a FIFA World Cup year, the meeting was marked by the major decision to no longer pursue the development of goal-line technology.

“The IFAB has decided not to pursue goal-line technology and to no longer continue experiments in that area,” explained the FIFA Secretary General, Jerome Valcke, in his opening statement. “The question posed to the members of the IFAB was simple: should we introduce technology in football or not? The answer from the majority of members was no, even if was not unanimous.”

The meeting went on and comments were then made by Jonathan Ford, Football Association of Wales and Patrick Nelson, Irish Football Association;

A significant decision, it was arrived at for a number of reasons, with the most important undoubtedly revolving around the philosophy of the game. “The human aspect of football is essential to this sport,” said Jonathan Ford of the Football Association of Wales. “The big moments in this sport – whatever they are – get supporters talking and go down in history. That’s what makes this sport so vibrant.”

“We were all agreed that technology shouldn’t enter football because we want football to remain human, which is what makes it great,” added Patrick Nelson of the Irish Football Association. “The fans keep talking about these matches again and again, and relive them.”

What a load of crap, has rugby been ruined? No.

Has tennis been ruined? No.

This continued head in the sand approach by FIFA and especially Sepp Blatter is just showing him and FIFA as being out of touch and arrogant on this key topic.

Chelsea blues after FIFA decision

Although we have an amazing squad, the decision by Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) today banning Chelsea FC from signing any new players for the next two transfer windows up until 2010 is not great.

The ban from FIFA is resulting from Jose Mourhino's days when French star Gael Kakuta was persuaded to break his contract with Lens back in 2007. Lens claimed it was a breach of contract and as you can imagine a row ensued.

FIFA's Dispute Resolution Chamber ruled that there had been a contractual breach and has ordered Gael Kakuta to pay £682,000 in compensation, although he and the club are liable plus Chelsea FC has been fined £113,000 in addition. Read the details in full.

Kakuta has also got in effect a four month ban on playing in official matches.

I am sure there will be smiles on some managers faces within the Premier League especially in Liverpool, Norf' London and Manchester as they know if the appeal by Chelsea isn't successful that this could mean easier games for them next season - but my advice to them is don't smile too much!

Chelsea Football Club has issued the following statement:

Chelsea will mount the strongest appeal possible following the decision of FIFA's Dispute Resolution Chamber over Gaël Kakuta.

The sanctions are without precedent to this level and totally disproportionate to the alleged offence and the financial penalty imposed.

We cannot comment further until we receive the full written rationale for this extraordinarily arbitrary decision.