Goodbye to FIFA?

[abacus9900]

In view of last week's humiliating snub to the English World Cup bid, is it not time to make a stand and leave FIFA once and for all and go our own way? How on earth could Qatar qualify as a realistic venue for the World Cup?

[jonjel]

I would agree, but seriously, what is the alternative to FIFA, which is obviously endemically corrupt?

We tried to influence them with designer handbags while others decided that bank accounts in Lichtenstein might be more effective.

Unless and until you have every country who is a member having an equal and transparent vote I see little chance of anything changing. Then we could well be in the Eurovision Song Contest clearly rigged scenario as an alternative to what we have now. Different, but not a lot better.

Big money in most cases means some people will put their bank balances ahead of anything else.

Ask yourself the question, would a top tennis player throw a match because you gave his wife or girlfriend a nice handbag? No. Would the same player throw a match if you gave him £3million? You be the judge of that.

[abacus9900]

Dec 8, 2010 11:53:42 GMT 1 jonjel said:

I would agree, but seriously, what is the alternative to FIFA, which is obviously endemically corrupt?

We tried to influence them with designer handbags while others decided that bank accounts in Lichtenstein might be more effective.

Unless and until you have every country who is a member having an equal and transparent vote I see little chance of anything changing. Then we could well be in the Eurovision Song Contest clearly rigged scenario as an alternative to what we have now. Different, but not a lot better.

Big money in most cases means some people will put their bank balances ahead of anything else.

Ask yourself the question, would a top tennis player throw a match because you gave his wife or girlfriend a nice handbag? No. Would the same player throw a match if you gave him £3million? You be the judge of that.

I agree, but I don't see any prospect of FIFA changing unless someone is prepared to make a stand and challenge their autocratic hold on world football. It would mean being in the football 'wilderness' for a time but we could perhaps arrange our own football tournaments with anyone else who is prepared to participate. We could introduce goal line technology as well which would be a definite improvement to what exists now. As it stands, the earliest we might host the World Cup is in 2026, which is probably an over-optimistic estimate anyway, and I think for a very strong footballing nation like ours to have to wait decades for a sniff at another chance to stage this competition is outrageous. Is it simply a case of the rest of the world not liking us, and if so, why not?

[jonjel]

Abacus.

I realise that the football fans (I am not one) are up in arms, but I think any change for the better will take time.

I guess that all that might be possible is for England to invent a new competition and invite other nations to participate. Once it gets as big as the World Cup then maybe that one will die the death. That could be well after 2026 though.

Perhaps too idealistic, but who knows.

[Mr Red]

And this is scientific in what way?

Football is pervasive, the majority of the public are not fans, they just can't agree on what is important! Soccer does not have a place here.

Largest minority does not qualify as justification.

[jonjel]

Psst.

Mr Red. If you read the title of the section you are in.

Non scientific friendly chat room?

Does that sort of give you a clue?

[abacus9900]

Dec 9, 2010 18:24:31 GMT 1 Mr Red said:

And this is scientific in what way?

Football is pervasive, the majority of the public are not fans, they just can't agree on what is important! Soccer does not have a place here.

Largest minority does not qualify as justification.

You are obviously not aware that this is a new, non-scientific sub-board.