FIFA World Cup 2010

[//\/\/]

Originally Posted by Jason Roth

Mali. They need refs for the biggest sporting event in the world and corrupt-as-hell FIFA look to Mali.

not at all bitter, then?

jason; this is football - its beauty and its pain are that it's like life - sometimes it really JUST ISN'T FAIR, and sometimes you get the breaks - but it's only the JUST NOT FAIR bits that stick in the craw and you don't realise that, over a lifetime, there's generally a balance. this isn't a time to chuck your toys out of your pram and start getting into conspiracy and xenophobia. were that so, then sepp (german) blatter would have made damn sure that no german player got sent off for petty fouls, such as we saw today. it's a WORLD cup - that also means that officials from The World are selected to take part. that does mean that officials with less experience of major tournaments may be present; but part of the point is that they gain experience and can pass that on, making The Game stronger - fifa are very concerned with this sort of thing. it's also why they resist taking power away from officials on the field - the beauty of the game is that it's the same, be it the world cup final, or my son's sunday team.

hard to take now, and i understand. as an england fan i've had big decisions go terribly in bigger matches than this. it's shit; but you deal with it. i think it's called 'character-building'.

[Jason Roth]

Originally Posted by //\/\/

not at all bitter, then?

jason; this is football - its beauty and its pain are that it's like life - sometimes it really JUST ISN'T FAIR, and sometimes you get the breaks - but it's only the JUST NOT FAIR bits that stick in the craw and you don't realise that, over a lifetime, there's generally a balance. this isn't a time to chuck your toys out of your pram and start getting into conspiracy and xenophobia. were that so, then sepp (german) blatter would have made damn sure that no german player got sent off for petty fouls, such as we saw today. it's a WORLD cup - that also means that officials from The World are selected to take part. that does mean that officials with less experience of major tournaments may be present; but part of the point is that they gain experience and can pass that on, making The Game stronger - fifa are very concerned with this sort of thing. it's also why they resist taking power away from officials on the field - the beauty of the game is that it's the same, be it the world cup final, or my son's sunday team.

hard to take now, and i understand. as an england fan i've had big decisions go terribly in bigger matches than this. it's shit; but you deal with it. i think it's called 'character-building'.

This wasn't a bad break. This was a straight up robbery.

[//\/\/]

this is why we invented the phrase 'we wuz robbed' it might be the first time it's happened to you; but it's by no means the first time it's happened.

[Jason Roth]

The only invention I care about right now is whiskey.

[potatobroth]

Originally Posted by //\/\/

this is why we invented the phrase 'we wuz robbed' it might be the first time it's happened to you; but it's by no means the first time it's happened.

hardly the first time for the US. from recent memory:

2002: uncalled handball v. Germany in the quarters. clear handball on teh line stopped the ball from goin in the net.

2006: phantom red card to onyewu after he was dragged to the carpet allowing italy keep a tie

2010: phantom penalty on a player who was being bear-hugged.

I watch SO much soccer that it does roll off me now, but... FUCK THIS. I'm so sick of it (and not just because its the US.) I rarely see this in the 50+ EPL games I see each year. Always in the WC though.

US was robbed of the winning goal. It doesnt change anything after the fact, but for fuck's sake, FIFA/ref just has to admit it.

And Mali? Are you serious?

[Jason Roth]

Originally Posted by potatobroth

2002: uncalled handball v. Germany in the quarters. clear handball on teh line stopped the ball from goin in the net.

Torsten Frings! I remember this one. The ref let Germany use 2 keepers that game. No big deal right?

Yes, we've been fucked on a consistent basis, but I take it as a compliment. They fear us bro, that's why they don't want us in their little football tournament.

USA RESPECT!

edit: Gee, I hope I don't run into that Malian ref in South Africa

[Dunwho]

Originally Posted by potatobroth

And Mali? Are you serious?

I am not liking the way people are so quick to presume a referee would be less proficient because he is from Mali. All the referees have reached a certain level of ability at their job, they know the rules and do the best they can in the unique situation that is presented at every match.

They are only human, and just like players they can have bad days, even the "best" referees!

In fact the "best" are often just the least controversial who have pissed off the least amount of people.


I think the best way to approach a bad call like what happened today against the USA is to accept that nothing you can do will change anything, the past is the past... but what you can do is use it to create that unique rivalry and desire to "put things right" that makes football a proper experience for so many people.

To really understand you have to invest yourself in the game, follow a team for a season... for a lifetime... with your parents... grandparents... family... son... - also following a team that is a bitter rival to those family members favourite team is good fun too....

...and then... after years of watching players grow and develop... have marriage breakdowns and drink driving offences... broken legs and arms... disappointing music careers and embaresing adverts... that player breaks through and beats a ragged offside trap at the world cup finals.. your off your seat with your heart in your mouth... you think about all the times he has skipped so easily past the goalkeeper and slotted it in the back of the net like a piece of cake on a cold winter's Saturday morning.... you grab the arm of the closest family member - united by an indescribable pride for your common nationality - for fear of falling over in excitement.....



..... and the ref fucks up.


.... shit happens.. we'll do it next time.



I have taken my utter disgust at Henry's handball against us (Ireland) in the playoffs and have turned it into a competitive desire to see them lose at all costs... but i have accepted that there is nothing i can do about it and nobody wants to hear me moan about it.

Shit happens.... move on....

Perhaps MLB, NFL, NBA etc are over controlled and slaves to television evidence... and there is a lot of benefits for TV evidence, but football has been preserved because it is essentially the same game whether you are playing with your mates with jumper goalposts... or in the Champions League Final.

[BrotherLovesDub]

Originally Posted by Dunwho

but football has been preserved because it is essentially the same game whether you are playing with your mates with jumper goalposts... or in the Champions League Final.

Wow, you guys really think Football is superior because a Champions League game where millions of pounds/dollars/duckets are at stake is indistinguishable from a pickup game on the weekend with your overweight, talentless mates? Seriously? These games actually mean something. Peoples careers, livelihoods, futures are at stake. There is a lot of money on the line. I'm baffled at the attitudes of the English/Scottish/Irish fans. You like games that end in a tie because at least you get a point and you think your beloved football is superior because an actual meaningful match is not officiated any differently than a casual game with friends. I think we're getting to the heart of why Americans are hesitant to embrace soccer. We actually play our sports to win. We actually want the right call to be made, regardless of whether our amateur sports have replays. We actually care about a game deciding goal being properly called. In the British Isles, close is good enough.

[Eikman]

Originally Posted by //\/\/

sepp (german) blatter would have made damn sure that no german player got sent off for petty fouls, such as we saw today.

except that Blatter is Swiss, which brings us back to another conspiracy theory, right Spain?

[//\/\/]

Originally Posted by Eikman

except that Blatter is Swiss, which brings us back to another conspiracy theory, right Spain?

sorry etc!