FIFA 71


A Brazilian defeat would have been a disaster for FIFA, sharpening the Brazilian anti-corruption, anti-FIFA protest movement. A conspiracy theorist might say that explains the appalling refereeing decisions. Others might say that is nonsense and the referee was just honestly incompetent. As a complete neutral who loves football, my evening’s enjoyment was ruined either way. If the officials are going to behave like this, why not skip the next month and just give the cup to Brazil now?


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71 thoughts on “FIFA

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  • Ba'al Zevul (Ah Shaddupa Your Face!)

    Gordon Bennet*…more agonising about kickball.

    My preferred scenario:
    1. England out early and we all say farewell to the arseholes who have to show they’re In-ger-lish by covering everything in sight with red crosses (I assume Scotland aren’t involved, refuse to demean myself by looking, but ditto saltires if they are. And leeks.).
    2. Honduras win the trophy.
    3. Football banned in the UK. Would immensely improve the quality and fun of the -illicit – game.

    *Either for Henry Gordon Bennett, an Australian lieutenant general who deserted his command and fled to safety during the Japanese invasion of Singapore, leaving his unfortunate troops behind to be captured, or for James Gordon Bennett, Jr., a New York newspaper proprietor and playboy during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries who became widely known for his extravagant lifestyle and shocking behaviour. (Wiki)

    I didn’t know that.

  • A Node

    Ba’al Zevul (Ah Shaddupa Your Face!) 16 Jun, 2014 – 12:42 pm

    “….. I assume Scotland aren’t involved, refuse to demean myself by looking, ….”

    Bloody cheek. If you would just climb down from your ivory tower for a moment and check the BBC sport website ….
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/scotland-humiliate-argentina-in-five-nil-drubbing…..
    you would see that not only are Scotland in the World Cup, Gordon Strachan’s inspired choice of Ross County midfield duo Richard Brittain and Rocco Quinn has led to them being installed as bookies favourites.
    More background here:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/mourinio-names-scotland-the-special-ones
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/archie-mcpherson-tipped-for-golden-boot
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/inclusion-of-a-node-in-squad-hailed-a-stroke-of-genius

  • Ba'al Zevul ( Kickball - pffft!)

    Bloody cheek. If you would just climb down from your ivory tower for a moment and check the BBC sport website ….

    No. Under no circumstances. This month I’ll mostly be watching paint dry.

  • Ba'al Zevul (The Tea's Great!)

    I doubt it. It’s almost certainly a link to 22 grown men kicking a ball around in a field. Genuinely not fooled- you’ll have to do better than that.

  • A Node

    It is paint drying. Come back and check it next month when the World Cup’s over.

    You are right to fear the addictive qualities of football. One glimpse of the beautiful game and you’re hooked for life.

  • Ba'al Zevul (Armageddon My Gun)

    Bless. I can offer counselling in a kickball-free environment for those weak enough to succumb to its invisible charms.

    Even you could turn your life around, A Node. Begin by acknowledging that you really have nothing in common with 11 not-very-bright men paid unimaginable sums to run around for less than two hours at the centre of an uncomfortable auditorium largely populated by aggressive morons.

    Then reflect on how well the nexus of advertising, ticket sales and betting serves the globalist agenda, and on its parallel with Roman bread and circuses (though I am not sure if the Romans had food banks.

    Ask yourself whether your attendance – or Sky subscription – actually demonstrates solidarity with the toiling masses, as it does for so many Islington socialists, or whether you might be better occupied starting a WEA course in critical thinking.

    The longest journey satrts with a single step. Just say NO. (etc)

  • A Node

    I’ve got 15 minutes. First I’ll deal with your “11 not-very-bright men” claim, then I’ll address your counselling regarding my football addiction.

    “11 not-very-bright men”

    Not too sure about that. Badly educated? Probably – football has traditionally recruited its stars from disadvantaged backgrounds, it’s a route out of poverty when there are no others. But unintelligent? There is evidence to suggest that intelligence is linked to fast reactions, a pre-requisite for top footballers. Those 11 are probably brighter than your average 11.

    Now for my football addiction.

    Well, first of all ….
    …. sorry, the second half is beginning, I’ve got to go.

  • Ba'al Zevul ('Ere We Go (Back Home))

    “Those 11 are probably brighter than your average 11.”

    And look at the average 11. But I grant you they’re better at kicking things.

    When Costa Rica finally send our lot home by beating whoever it is, I hope you will at least considering treating your withdrawal symptoms by watching Rugby League, a far more interesting game and at least as demanding of fast reactions.

    And take the 104 St. George flags off your house, car, wife and dog. We KNOW you’re Eng-er-lish.

  • Mary

    Ghana Sends Plane Full Of Dollars To Brazil As ‘Black Stars’ Demand “Physical Cash”
    06/25/2014

    Ahead of tomorrow’s make-or-break FIFA World Cup game against Portugal, the Ghana “Black Stars” are not happy. Amid controversy over match-fixing, the players have demanded that the World Cup appearance fees they are owed be paid; and as Bloomberg reports, “The players insisted that they will want physical cash.” The Ghanaian government has chartered a plane and the dollars are on their way to Brazil. Perhaps the players want to invest it in the latest grand idea – Ghana’s first hedge fund has just been launched (prepare for more emails).

    As Bloomberg reports, Ghana has sent a plane carrying more than $3 million in cash to Brazil to pay the World Cup appearance fees owed to the national soccer team, known as the Black Stars.

    “The players insisted that they will want physical cash,” Deputy Sports Minister Joseph Yammin said in comments broadcast by Accra-based Citi FM. “Government had to mobilize the money and a chartered flight to Brazil. The money is in excess of $3 million.”

    /..
    http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-06-25/ghana-sends-plane-full-dollars-brazil-black-stars-demand-physical-cash

    Apparently FIFA pay each national federation $8m dollars.

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