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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As Mary would say : I did not watch the match.
Unlike her, this means that I feel unable to comment thereon.
But anyway, hey, who’s watching the football when there’s an episode of The Good Wife to watch??
Jaysus H…..
“…why not skip the next month and just give the cup to Brazil now?”
Where’s the money in that?
what do you think about Brazils role as regional power? As far as i grasp the situation, USA and probably EU as well, would have wanted to see Brazil to take a stand against Maduro with economic sanctions and instead Dilma declared that Brazil traditionally stays neutral in external conflicts and on twitter right now the situations seems to be that Chavistas worship Dilma and the Anonymous Venezuela movement condemns her, claiming Brazil sold the tear gas to Venezuelan police which they would need now at home. This is kind of paradox since the entire european left wing hates the brazilian government because of the coverage in the media and their lack of investments in infrastructure, health and education. Venezuela generally is friends with any country who has a tense relationship with the US, no matter if it is Russia, Belarus, Gaddhafi Libya, Iran, Assad etc.
But seems to me Brazils protest have certain similarities with Venezuelas since both countries are corrupt, which no one can deny, and in Brazil the middle class is generally the spearhead of the anti-corruption movement, although protests spread into the favelas because of the gentrification and many goals of protesters in Brazil are more welfare state oriented, whereas in Venezuela poor residents are still loyal to Maduro and protesters would likely remain close to imf agenda in economics once they are victorious. Other paradox thing is many european media claimed in past years Brazil should be role model for Venezuela cause they had programs like bolsa familia and economic growth which enabled many people to leave favelas and reach middle class and did this without socialism. That was before the landscape changed obviously. Still my impression is USA and EU would be fine with regime change in Brazil since chances are next government would be less inclined to continue strong cooperation within south america or with other emerging countries. But i could be mistaken.
I’ve seen many refereeing decisions like that, Craig. The fans scream to the referee, and the referee for some reason loses objectivity. I’ll probably be harangued for this but Manchester United fans were particularly adept at this (when Fergie was in charge). Imagine all those Brazilian fans screaming at you! The fans are some distance away from the action, and if one of their heroes goes down in the box, they scream penalty.
Why whoever trains referees hasn’t done something to make referees resistant to “fan pressure” I really don’t know.
FIFA,Sepp Blatter,Platini etc….
Corrupt to the core.
FIFA need to be dismantled and Blatter and his grubby grifters should be in jail.
Peacewisher,
“Why whoever trains referees hasn’t done something to make referees resistant to “fan pressure” I really don’t know.”
I suspect the real pressures referees in this level of the beautiful money game are of a far more shadowy and scary kind.
They probably get made offers they cant refuse.
How’s this for playing the long game…
Can there be any truth that in December 1997 at the 10 Day Confederations Cup held in Saudi Arabia,Sepp Blatter disappeared to Qatar for a day to meet Sheik Hamad.Blatter allegedly returned with £1 million in cash and permanent use of one of the Sheik’s private jets.Apparently the cash enabled Blatter’s fixers and his own rise.
One wonders what the Sheik received in return?
Qatar are due to host the 2022 World Cup.
Now that is most definitely a long game…
http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/11/16/and-world-cup-2022-goes-to-qatar/
Craig,
Even if the penalty call was questionable – what of this:-
1. An own goal.
2. Two other goals by Brazil.
So – although in terms of argument ( I see and understand where you wanted to head) – but honestly – who should have won the match.
Mate – you are not the only soccer fan in the world – and I know the game.
Cheers.
CB
You need an on-field conspiracy of exactly one — the referee — to do that kind of match-fixing. How hard can that be? This might be the first time I ever felt bad for Croatia.
Croatian football has a long history of corruption, violence, racism, fascism and general thuggery. Very recently some top officials, including an ex-international referee, were jailed for match-fixing and bribery.
Even so, that call tonight was terrible. FIFA’s reluctance to use video replay, claiming it will cause delays and break the flow of the game, is laughable. By the time play resumes, that bad call has already been posted on YouTube.
Reliability,
You said:-
” Croatian football has a long history of corruption, violence, racism, fascism and general thuggery. Very recently some top officials, including an ex-international referee, were jailed for match-fixing and bribery.
Even so, that call tonight was terrible.”
Yes – you are absolutely right about Croatian corruption. But – if you read my post preceding yours – then you would have to accept that with three goals scored – you really have to twist, turn, duck and fabricate to explain the other two.
Brazil won!
CB ^
Most match fixers have admitted they prefer when they buy the ref AND 2,or ideally 3,players on one team to rig the game.
It’s often almost impossible to spot-even by fellow pro players.
But i cant comment on this match as i didnt see it.
A fairer, more transparent, solution would be to award the host nation with a one goal starter for each match until the semi-finals. Never mind the jeers for the handicap, it’s better than shonky refereeing.
Charlie Miller, the Englishman who took football to Brazil from Southampton. He played for St Mary’s which became the Saints.
Charles Miller: Patron Saint of Brazil
http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/11062014-charles-miller-patron-saint-of-brazil-1632776.aspx
Spot on Jives.
I think of the downtrodden poor in the favelas but they are rising up.
PS What happened to Blatter’s best mate Mr Garcia from NY on the Qatar corruption? Has he submitted his report to his Capo yet?
But hey! it’s all a nice diversion from Messrs Bush and BLiar’s legacy in Iraq, ie the real world.
The troll at 11.51pm last night just can’t help himself can he?
Lot of issues Kicking around…
But there is some amazing talent too
SAMURAI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gk4vnVsx2wc
Why did The Palestinian Football Association not put its call to EXPEL Apartheid Israel?
This result at the FIFA Congress is surprising and in a way disappointing but at least Sepp Blatter identified the Israeli government as the key player. He said that “its co-operation is crucial” and that FIFA itself would make a direct appeal to the government to ease restrictions. Blatter is taking more responsibility on FIFA, so if the strategy fails it will be clear who’s responsible.
The good thing was that Jibril Rajoub addressed the Congress and in particular that he listed recent violations. For all our emails, this may have been the first time that many participants had heard of the human rights violations and the recent killing.
We can only hope that in FIFA’s formal approach to the Israeli government there will be some real threats of sanctions. This makes it very important that we keep up the pressure with our campaigns. Next deadline is the Dec FIFA Exco meeting, but we’ll need to do more before then.
We will continue the petition calling for suspension of the IFA from FIFA. We will also continue to pressure UEFA, particularly with respect to EURO 2020.
A youtube video is available of this agenda item, 11.3, with this topic being addressed starting minute 3.30 with Rajoub talking from minute 19:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZVvHyl0I-E
A Reuters report of the Congress is being widely syndicated, for example: http://www.haaretz.com/life/sports/1.598312
Red Card Israeli Racism
http://rcir.org.uk/
@ Courtenay Barnett
A faked foul to gain a penalty, a faked foul (or bought linesman) to deny a Croatian equaliser. As with England’s disallowed goal in SA, who knows how the game would have changed if the Croats had evened the score?
Jives
“I suspect the real pressures referees in this level of the beautiful money game are of a far more shadowy and scary kind.”
___________________
Or even – to use one of your favourite words – sinister.
You really have something of the night about you.
Jives, having “replied” to CB’s eminently sensible point with the following slimy insinuation:
“Most match fixers have admitted they prefer when they buy the ref AND 2,or ideally 3,players on one team to rig the game.”
then goes on to admit:
“But i cant comment on this match as i didnt see it.”
No sense of irony, no sense of self-awareness!
Mary and Jives are comforting one another through the wee hours:
“Spot on Jives.
I think of the downtrodden poor in the favelas but they are rising up.”
______________________
And when you’re doing that, Mary, I hope you’re thinking of the poor kids there as well. Used as target practice by Brazilian cops, apparently.
Think as well of the kids of 14 in China, executed and banged away as from the age of 14 (yup, that’s the age in China). And you could also think of the kids made to work 12 hours a day in dangerous factories, or sold into prostitution, in India and Pakistan.
Think about ALL OF THEM – and tell us your thoughts on this blog – next time you think of the Palestinian children in the Occupied territories, Mary.
The bitch at 06h46 this morning just can’t help herself can she?
“Why did The Palestinian Football Association not put its call to EXPEL Apartheid Israel?”
_________________________
Shocking that the PFA might not come up to the bitch’s high standards. A curse on moderation!
For the troll and supporters.
http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2014/jun/09/let-them-eat-football-rio-de-janeiro-sao-paulo-anti-world-cup-graffiti
The hungry child worldwide only has football to eat.
You silly man! as the little girl in the Vonage ad says.
I didn’r say “Why did The Palestinian Football Association not put its call to EXPEL Apartheid Israel?” It was the title of the piece on Red Card Israel’s site.
Plenty more on the website from where that came.
http://rcir.org.uk/
Mary
Are you suffering from memory loss in your old age?
Whenever you refer to me as the “troll”, I shall refer to you as the “bitch”.
That’s fair, isn’t it. 🙂
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And now express some pity for the kids in India, China, Pakistan, Africa, Brazil, you b—h.
Carry on leaving your trail of slime and fouling up this blog.
Courtenay
If you really are a fan of football, you will understand that the penalty completely changed the dynamic of the game and the way Croatia had to play. Hence the third goal. There is also the question of the disallowed Croatian goal, where the keeper most certainly was not fouled – having flapped at the ball he bundled into the attacker (not the other way round) only after the ball was gone.
Habbabkuk,
Yes indeed i have something of the night about me.
It’s called being on night shift you rancid oaf.
Now go and change your string vest,it’s honking.
Interesting you seem so unconcerned at rampant corruption in football.
But,then again,youre so unconcerned at rampant corruption in all walks of life none of us should be surprised at your lack of integrity.
Youre a staunch supporter of most things thst are wrong,if not evil and corrupt.
Now go and ask your line manager what you ought reply.
Bawbag.
For the record I get here this morning to find I was trolled by Habbakuk at 11.51pm last night.
On the previous thread. Blair’s Legacy, the same thing.
Habbabkuk 9.52pm last night
Jemand 2.23am this morning
Jemand 2.49am ditto
On the Israeli Abuse of Palestinian Children thread
Habbakuk 11.58pm which is a repeat of one earlier by the same author @ 4.18pm yesterday.
Dreadful old sourpuss, bitch, old girl, are some of their epithets.
plus several more posts today where even my occupation and the source of my income is discussed by them. Unbelievable that they have nothing better to occupy themselves. Perhaps they really are mad.