FIFA Fiddle World Cup Qualification Process

[C.O.Prodigy]

http://bocktherobber.com/2009/10/fif...cation-process

The only link about this story I could find.

Soccer’s governing body this week made a dramatic U-turn and announced that they were introducing a seeding system for the European play offs for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.

FIFA will deny it, but their decision to introduce seeding for the play offs is in response to the prospect of a World Cup minus commercial heavyweights Germany, France and Portugal, all of whom have big TV audiences. The trio are not guaranteed outright qualification from their groups.The sponsors are getting nervy, the TV CEOs are on the line.

Germany and France could of course qualify outright, negating the need for any of the above. However, FIFA are making sure that if both countries do get dragged into the play offs along with those filthy little urchins from the rest of Europe that they have the best possible chance getting back out clutching a plane ticket for South Africa.

It's totally understandable to announce rules like this one before the start of qualification, but it's not ok to do so just before the end. That makes rules useless and open to change at any time. The only FA to protest against this, to my knowledge, is the Irish FA and they have full right to do so cause it's just not fair and it's condescending. We all know what 'seeding system' is a euphemism for.

Football stops being football if it's ruled by TV ratings and sponsors. The people get screwed. Screwed out of the best football, the best games, the best matchups, dramatic finishes and the best team. A seeding system in the qualification playoffs is illogical since all of the teams placed 2nd, they are all equal in that respect. And that's the only respect that should count in regard to qualification.

I think the decision is dubious.

[djfase]

Totally wrong.

Theyve done this as france portugal and argentina look like finishing in play off places.

The wanna protect the big boys from playing eachother.

Disgrace

[C.O.Prodigy]

Totally wrong.

Theyve done this as france portugal and argentina look like finishing in play off places.

The wanna protect the big boys from playing eachother.

Disgrace

Ok, there are many possible reasons for why they have done this.

I understand that Fifa would like to protect teams against playing each other, I just think that if they finished 2nd that they are not really the "big boys" and that they don't deserve any protection. The real "big boys" can take care of themselves, so to speak ;). Anyway I have no problem about Fifa protecting teams with rules, since it has been happening for years, I just think that any rule changes which are made during one competition are ill advise, condescending and unfair.

Anyway, I'm supporting Rep. of Ireland and Bosnia in the WC playoffs and I hope they don't end up playing each other, but now I guess there is no chance of that. My point is that there should be, cause it's a competition to find the worlds best football team.

[SlavikSvensk]

if they are seeding the playoffs, why don't they seed the groups?! we (sweden) got stuck in the group of death and are in serious danger of missing the 2nd place cutoff, though we would get at least #2 in every single other group.

[djfase]

See the qualifying groups by all means, but there should be no seeding during the tournament at all.

Every team for themselves.

And i mean this in the Euros, CL & Europa leagues aswell

[C.O.Prodigy]

if they are seeding the playoffs, why don't they seed the groups?! we (sweden) got stuck in the group of death and are in serious danger of missing the 2nd place cutoff, though we would get at least #2 in every single other group.

I think, if you're talking about the qualifying groups, that they were seeded fo'sho. What do you think of changing rules mid competition?

See the qualifying groups by all means, but there should be no seeding during the tournament at all.

Every team for themselves.

And i mean this in the Euros, CL & Europa leagues aswell

Agreed. Makes it all the more exciting. Although they will seed the WC draw as always.

[SlavikSvensk]

I think, if you're talking about the qualifying groups, that they were seeded fo'sho. What do you think of changing rules mid competition?

maybe you're right, i did find this for 2014

http://www.football-rankings.info/20...r-uefa_21.html

[DarkYoung]

as long as the USA, Israel, Germany, Brazil, France get through, they couldn't give a ****. Serbia has qualified so why should you care?

at least FIFA don't grant footballing rights to phoney states like Kosovo, eh C.O?

[C.O.Prodigy]

DY, that's the whole point.
FiFa represents itself as a football governing body but in fact is unveiled as the very poison which is bringing politics into football. Sport and politics do not mix well together and imo shouldn't be associated with each other. By this despicable act of politicizing football FiFa is showing that it doesn't really know footy and worse doesn't care for it. All football teams should get equal treatment so that footballing styles have space to evolve and the fans have the opportunity to see the best, "eco" football.

Changing rules in the middle of the competition seems rather desperate and against the rules. Stand up and be counted, what do you say?

[basslinejunkie]

blatant plot to get all of the big boys over to s.a. i feel sorry for the irish.

[Insomnia]

Complete joke to be honest, Fifa like to take the piss!

[C.O.Prodigy]

Complete joke to be honest, Fifa like to take the piss!

Interesting. You reckon fifa's got a sense of humor?

[Insomnia]

Interesting. You reckon fifa's got a sense of humor?

They just like to change the rules when things dont go there way, also the anti English situation with picking on certain club teams.

Ie Eduardo getting slatted for his dive againt Celtic, the guy just had his leg broken in two places the season before, so when when a big guy like Arthur Boric is coming full speed towards you i know i'd get out his way but i wouldn't say it's a dive.

[C.O.Prodigy]

They just like to change the rules when things dont go there way

I've noticed the same thing, and that's something that shouldn't be tolerated. Fifa should represent every team. They have become so transparent.

[SlavikSvensk]

why would they care if israel gets in? as far as i know, israel has never qualified for the world cup and has such a tiny population that there's no ratings or licensing issue. FIFA could give two sh*ts about a country like that. seriously, guys, it's about money. FIFA wants big and famous footballing countries in because they potentially make big money off of it. they therefore give way more of a sh*t if england gets through, given that english love football and loads of people all over the world buy england jerseys, than, say, the USA, where relatively fewer people care about football, the WC is shown on second rate cable networks, no one buys any jerseys, and has a team full of players no one outside its borders gives a **** about. or bulgaria, where few people live, no tv station can fork over the big bucks for the rights to show the world cup and fewer buy licensed jerseys. etc.

[force]

Slightly of topic but can anyone tell me why the fck israeli teams play in the champions league and their national team plays in the euros????

Is Israel a country in europe now?

[C.O.Prodigy]

Israel also played in the Eurobasket 2009.
It has always been part of sporting europe, like Turkey who is also half european half asian but plays in the european football championships and at eurobasket.

[SlavikSvensk]

+1 to C.O. turkey has always been in UEFA.

plus there are more teams in UEFA that are not technically in europe: armenia, azerbaijan, georgia, etc.

you enter UEFA if you apply and are deemed acceptable for membership. in israel's case, this happened in the 1990s, several years after UEFA admitted the post-soviet caucasian teams.

[DarkYoung]

i reckon Israel will get through to the semis.

[C.O.Prodigy]

This fiasco of handball goals and the Irish going out happend because of the fixed draw. France played the second game at home because of the fixed draw.
France and Slovenia were the only 2 countries to play the 2nd leg at home and go through.

Fifa changed the method of qualification process and Henry's handball is a direct result of their cheating. Everyone could see it happening and still it happened and now the French football federation won't offer the Irish a 3rd game even though they deserve it.

The fact is that it will be a much stronger French squad next year. With Ribery and Benzema fit for action. But this isn't football anymore and the Irish FA should at least get a monetary compensation for the highway robbery if not a 3rd match.

France are off my fair play list.