In our world, introspection is king

'It's not a red card, it's an arrestable offence!'

Webb on De Jong horror tackleThe Netherlands international kicked Xabi Alonso in the chest during the 2010 World Cup final but was not sent off, and the referee has admitted that he made a mistake

Howard Webb admits that he should have sent off Netherlands midfielder Nigel De Jong after his kung-fu kick on Spain counterpart Xabi Alonso in the 2010 World Cup final.

Having been chosen to officiate the showpiece fixture, Webb showed the former Manchester City midfielder a yellow card after a recklessly high tackle on Alonso in the 28th minute of the fixture, which ended 1-0 after Andres Iniesta's extra-time strike.

Webb was subsequently booed when he collected his medal after the final whistle, and he has now conceded that he made a mistake in refusing to dismiss the Dutchman, but has suggested that he did not see the incident clearly enough to take such a decision.

Speaking to BT Sport, Webb said: “I still thought I got it right on the pitch. So I get back into the dressing room and my assistant referee has gone to his pocket and got his phone out, and his face dropped. ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of Goal.com.

Kicking Back Comments: Much has been made about the World Cup Final that Webb oversaw. Some great, some horrible. Here at Kicking Back we did an in depth analysis and contrasted it to an "A" licensed coaches analysis which proved very interesting, and not surprisingly the two entities see the game in the same was in many aspects, but have separate views on others.

This article reaffirmed an old axiom that is true among referees as well as in general for successful people in life in my opinion. Reflect and learn from your mistakes. Take what you can and implement it for next time. Webb obviously has done this.

The real trick is twofold in such cases however.

First, you have to keep going even in the face of a massive screw up. As we and many others have written, missing that send off started to unravel that match. Getting back on track to what got you there is critical in such a case.

Second, when you learn the lesson, you have to let the rest go. Hanging on to all the negative stuff that goes with such an incident is not a good thing and has the potential of dragging you back into that mindset.

Experience, reflect, learn, evolve.

Add murder to the FIFA rapsheet?

The wife of an official murdered by masked gunman as he was about to expose fraud at the 2010 South Africa World Cup has told how the corruption-mired tournament killed her husband.

South African politician Jimmy Mohlala was gunned down as he got ready for church – the day before he was due in court to give evidence of a multimillion pound World Cup stadium construction fraud.

The dad of four – one of three politicians linked to exposing World Cup fraud who died in mysterious circumstances – uncovered forged building contracts at the £80million Mbombela stadium. ...

See the whole story here courtesy of Daily Mail.

Kicking Back Comments:

I was in fact pondering with a co-worker the other day when this shoe would drop (that someone was killed over a bribe). FIFA and its sponsors are turning a blind eye to the deaths in Qatar, so to think that there are other equally nefarious yet direct actors in my opinion, is unsurprising. 

Well that took balls ...

adidas Brazuca Final Rio unveiled

adidas has unveiled the brazuca Final Rio Official Match Ball, the official match ball for the Final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™. The ball will be an integral part of the fixture on 13 July, when two teams will do battle for a place in history.

The design of brazuca Final Rio has been inspired by the green and gold on the FIFA World Cup Trophy and is a variation of the previously released adidas brazuca Official Match Ball, which was launched back in December last year. ...

See the whole article here, courtesy of FIFA.

Kicking Back Comments: I have to say honestly I am fascinated by the choice (i.e. the naming) of the World Cup balls since 1982 with the Tango ...

A complete history can be found here, from Soccer.Com.

When in Doubt, Blame Brazil

World Cup 2014: Brazil putting FIFA ‘through hell,’ official says

With the 2014 FIFA World Cup only five weeks away, one might expect soccer’s global governing organization to be in a festive mood. But that isn’t stopping high-level FIFA officials from complaining about the tournament’s host country.

Jerome Valcke, FIFA’s general secretary, said on Tuesday that FIFA is supporting Brazil to ensure the success of its premier event — the World Cup — but that the road leading up to the World Cup has been rocky, according to an AFP report. ...

See the whole story here, from SI Wire.

Kicking Back Comments: Aside from the whining, the funniest part of the article was Valcke stating that Russia will not be granted such leniency.

That's pretty funny. Russia will take what it wants from FIFA and they will like it.

Another part that struck me was the assertion (with conviction) that 2022 was going to be played in the winter. Did I miss a vote somewhere? How about an announcement from some TV sponsor about how this was going to work?

It continues to amaze me how much FIFA believes their own BS.

Again ... No "plan B" from FIFA

US not approached to host World Cups
The United States has not been approached about hosting the 2014 or 2022 World Cups should concerns about security or weather force them to be moved.

After widespread protests marred last month's Confederations Cup, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said additional unrest during next summer's World Cup could mean that Brazil was the wrong choice for host. FIFA also has had concerns about the pace of construction, fearing that some stadiums won't be ready in time for the tournament. ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of Fox Soccer.

Kicking Back Comments: It's too bad actually, as I think FIFA should, just as part of doing business, have a Plan B for the World Cup. While I am bias and think the US is ready made for the opportunity  there are certainly other countries capable at the drop of a proverbial hat to do this as well.

By there way, in the article it tossed in there that Mr. Gulati sits on FIFA ExComm. While he was not approached to host in lieu of Qatar, he is a very, very skilled politician, and one who I believe has the best interests of The Game at heart.

Keep a sharp eye out there folks ... I think we will see more.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

FIFA now considering November World Cup

FIFA is now planning to host the 2022 World Cup in Qatar in November rather than January, a source at the governing body told kicker. FIFA president Sepp Blatter has confirmed that he intends to ask for the tournament to be held in the winter as temperatures in the Gulf state can reach 50°C during the summer.

Critics of the decision to award Qatar the tournament flagged from the outset that conditions would make hosting the event at the traditional time impossible and have called for the bidding process to be reviewed. ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of ESPN.

Kicking Back Comments: This is going to wreak havoc across the European leagues. I wonder of Qatar still would have won (assuming a fair bid) if this fact would have been disclosed BEFORE the vote was taken.

If I had to guess, I would bet, it would not have.

Can we review this process please? It continues to stink to the heavens.

Where are all the fans?

FIFA Disappointed with Under-20 WCup Attendance

ISTANBUL (AP) -The empty seats that have greeted teams at the Under-20 World Cup in Turkey are a disappointment to FIFA.

Jim Boyce, the chairman of the FIFA Organizing Committee for the tournament, said Monday that he was unhappy with the turnout that has averaged only 4,828 spectators for the first 12 matches at the six sites.

If the trend continues, it would be the lowest attendance ever for an Under-20 World Cup dating back to 1977 - the next lowest being an average of 9,667 in the Netherlands in 2005. Several sites, including Istanbul, were far below the average with the opening France-Ghana match only attracting 2,800 fans in a 50,000-seat stadium. ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of NBC Sports.

Kicking Back Comments: To heck with FIFA's expectations, I do wonder what is driving this behavior. Only about 5000 spectators have turned up for the forst 12 match on average, and the opening match in a 50000 seat stadium did not even have 3000 spectators!

What's going on?

It's too bad too as the U-20 is a great place for players and referees to really sharpen up in preparation for tournaments like the Olympics and World Cup. It often provides glimpses of the future of many stars.

Something smells funny ...

FIFA investigator among Americans barred from Russia in rights dispute

MOSCOW (Reuters) - The chief investigator examining allegations of wrongdoing in soccer including the bidding process for the 2018 World Cup in Russia is one of 18 people on a list of Americans barred from entering Russia over what Moscow says are human rights abuses.

Michael Garcia, a former U.S. federal prosecutor who now works for soccer's world governing body, FIFA, is on the blacklist published by Russia's Foreign Ministry on Saturday after Washington named 18 Russians barred from entering the United States for alleged rights abuses. ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of Reuters.

Kicking Back Comments: In reading this article it would seem that this is a "tit for tat" move by the Russians as once the US named (18) individuals who were barred from entry for rights abuses, Russia did the same and named (18) to a similar list not allowed entry into Russia for rights abuses.

Garcia's ban would seem to stem from his successful prosecution of an arms dealer (Viktor Bout) who is currently being held in the US on a 25 year term.

That aside (and it is a big aside mind you) I don't know if Russia wants to not allow FIFA's current chief investigator into the country. World Cup 2018 may be on the line for them.

Then again ... maybe that's exactly what they want to do.

Stay tuned as politics reigns supreme once again.

Somehow appropriate today ...

Friends,

It is great to be back at home and "back at it" so to speak. My last month has been filled with travel to a variety of spots around the globe. It suffices to say, I am glad to be back and firmly at my keyboard.

In this season of renewal I wanted to start with something that I have written about before, but is best told through the eyes of the person most effected.

In this, the 100th year anniversary for US Soccer, they are running a series of stories called "100 Moments" which detail something extraordinary in our shared history. On a day many celebrate as a resurrection, U.S. Referee Esse Baharmast's 36 Hours of Agony, seems a fitting choice as the man went from local hero, to world villain, to global sensation.

A great story to remind us all what it takes to have the courage to do the right thing.

"Specific assurances" == More Money

U-17 World Cup: FIFA seeks specific assurances from India

New Delhi: FIFA, the governing body of world football, has asked for specific assurances from the Indian government by March on hosting the U-17 World Cup in 2017. All India Football Federation (AIFF) secretary general Kushal Das said that FIFA has rejected the first letter from the government and now want specific assurances.

"FIFA has rejected the government's letter. They want specific assurances from the government in terms of security, tax and foreign exchange inflow," said Das. "The government told us that it was not in a position to give written assurances. But once we told them that FIFA has rejected the letter, the sport ministry is considering it again. ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of IBN Live.

Kicking Back Comments: While some of these measures clearly makes sense, I continue to be astonished at how often FIFA wants to roll over sovereignty of various countries. We saw "Special courts" in South Africa, "beer-gate" and "black eyed peas-gate" in Brazil. We have tax exceptions for India ... I can go on and on ...

With FIFA making all the money ... or I should say, most as I am certain some local government officials do well too ... why host the WC for economic reasons?

I can certainly understand the National Pride aspect of it ... but as I have stated before, these tournaments produce BIG losses (source) ...

... and FIFA is getting richer all the time.

U.S. Defeats Germany

U.S. defeats Germany for FIFA U-20 World Cup title

The United States won the women’s under-20 World Cup for the third time on Saturday after Kealia Ohai scored late in the first half to secure a 1-0 win over defending champion Germany in the final.

Crystal Dunn beat a German defender in the area and squared a pass to Ohai, who sent a right-foot shot over goalkeeper Laura Benkarth in the 44th minute. ...

See the whole story here, from The Globe and Mail.

Kicking Back Comments: Well, this is better than the MNT who lost 2-1 to Jamaica. While still in 2nd place in Group A qualifying ... its far from over.

US stop Falconets from FIFA U-20 World Cup final

US stop Falconets from FIFA U-20 World Cup final

Nigeria’s Falconets on Tuesday failed to qualify for the final of the ongoing FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Japan, after a 2-0 loss to two-time champions, the U.S., at the Tokyo National Stadium. Goals from Morgan Brian and Kealia Ohai halted the ambition of the Nigerian side who were runmners-up at the last edition, two years ago in Germany, and had appeared destined for the 2012 edition’s final match.

The Falconets domintated the game in terms of possession, always keeping the U.S on the retreat, but the failure to take their chances as a result of poor shooting did them in. ...

See the whole story here, from Business Day.

Kicking Back Comments: Anyone hear of Margaret Domka? I hope so, she is representing us well in Japan. Take a look at her blog here for the details.

Qatar in the hot seat

FIFA investigates: World Cup host Qatar in the hot seat

Three major investigations into corruption in global soccer are putting the credibility of major soccer associations and World Cup 2022 host Qatar to the test and could challenge the Gulf state’s successful bid as well as a massive Asian soccer rights contract.

World soccer body FIFA’s newly-appointed corruption investigator Michael Garcia announced this week that he would investigate the controversial awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar as well as the 2018 tournament to Russia. FIFA Independent Governance Committee head Mark Pieth concluded earlier that the awarding of two the events had been “insufficiently investigated." ...

See the whole story here, from playthegame.org.

Kicking Back Comments: Bah. It's not nearly hot enough yet for Qatar, whose average daytime temperature is about 101F this time of year. Great place for a World Cup ...

Uh Oh ...

FIFA to review the awarding of 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar

The new chief of the FIFA Ethics Committee has pledged to put the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar under scrutiny.

The awarding of the 2006 World Cup to Germany will also be thoroughly analyzed as part of the inquiries. The newly-appointed joint chief investigator of FIFA’s ethics committee Michael Garcia, made the comments on German television. ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of RT.com.

Kicking Back Comments: Interesting, but at the end of the day I think the decisions will stand. I believe these have the best hope of a thorough investigation, and no doubt some noise, and maybe even a Blatter "retirement" will come out of it, but little else.

Too much time will have gone by and money changed hands for FIFA to reasonably yank the tournament certainly from Russia, and likely not from Qatar.

Kudos to the ethics committee of FIFA however, for even being willing to open Pandora's Box with regard to this matter.

$32,915,400 to $0

FA reveals true cost of England's failed 2018 World Cup bid

• Total spending was £21m rather than £15m widely reported
• England spent more per vote than any country bar Australia

England's failed 2018 World Cup bid cost £21m – some £6m more than had been widely reported, according to the latest Football Association accounts.

The bid for the tournament ended in disaster last December, attracting only two Fifa members' votes including that of the British Fifa vice-president, Geoff Thompson. ...

See the full article here, courtesy of the Guardian.

Kicking Back Comments: I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Forget THE game, it's big business folks.

What does FIFA have against the elderly and students?

Brazil, FIFA fight over 2014 World Cup

RIO DE JANEIRO -- With fewer than a thousand days to go before Brazil 2014, the 20th World Cup, there is a standoff between two heavyweights -- Dilma Rousseff and Sepp Blatter, the presidents, respectively, of Brazil and FIFA.

At the heart of the dispute are the problems of staging the World Cup in a developing economy. For FIFA, the World Cup is low-risk -- it makes its money from the sale of TV rights. Meanwhile, it makes all sorts of demands on the host nation, and in a country such as Brazil there are many competing claims on the public purse. ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of ESPN.

Kicking Back Comments: So where did my lede come from? Well in the article, you can find this:

FIFA has been anxiously waiting for Brazil to pass a law bringing into effect a legislative framework for 2014. Brazil has been in no hurry, and is unwilling to give FIFA all it wants; Brazilian law, for example, decrees that senior citizens should pay half-price for public events. Some of the country's 27 states extend the same right to students. FIFA wants no discounts.

Nice, huh. Arguably, the most vulnerable in a developing economy, and no discounts. This too from the fact that FIFA derives most if its revenue from TV royalties.


A new low? Nah, business as usual.


This one will get interesting as the days click by, and no agreement is reached.

"The World Cup is not a Circus" - Blatter

Blatter: "The World Cup is Not a Circus"; Asks for Time to Rebuild FIFA

(WFI) FIFA president Sepp Blatter is calling for Brazil to accelerate its legacy plans for the 2014 World Cup, claiming the World Cup is not a circus that leaves nothing when the event is over.

"The World Cup is not a circus which arrives, stays for two weeks and is gone. There has to be the legacy," Blatter said in an interview with Sunday's O Globo newspaper.

Blatter said the most pressing problems in Brazil's 2014 preparations were different issues linked to the development of airports - FIFA's biggest concern - hotels and stadia, particularly Corinthians new venue that is being constructed in the eastern part of São Paulo. ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of WFI.

Kicking Back Comments: For a guy who was steadfast there was "nothing to see here", and "we don't have an image problem", he sure seems to have come to grips/can't hide just how corrupt FIFA is, or at least how corrupt FIFA appears to be.

We will see in the next 3 years the ups and downs of how this plays out and if Sepp will set up his heir apparent (Teixeria) ... as a hero to bring the WC back to its full glory ... or a goat who let it fail. 

Billions and Billions Served

Say what you will about FIFA, they are a marketing machine. Just take a look at the recent statistics regarding viewership for the 2010 World Cup Final.

1 Billion people. That's about 1/7th of the Earth's population.

THAT is a good day in the office.

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FIFA: 1 Billion People Saw Part Of World Cup Final

FIFA announced Monday that the 2010 World Cup final was seen by at least 1 billion people.

FIFA research shows that 909.6 million television viewers watched at least one minute of the match between Spain and the Netherlands. ...

See the complete story here, courtesy of mediabistro.

South Africa ... a Year Later

Is the 2010 FIFA World Cup legacy all smoke and mirrors?

One year on - and not a single South African newspaper considered the 2010 FIFA World Cup Anniversary worth mentioning on the front cover (apart from a tiny Zakumi gracing theCity Press banner). Equally disinterested was the national broadcaster, which did not even devote a single show to remembering what once had been billed "South Africa's greatest moment in history" - and even 702 pulled its World Cup Special in favour of a discussion on how holiday homes can be rented at a discount in low season. ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of Bizcommunity.

Kicking Back Comments: Interesting quazi-financial analysis that continues to ask the question, a year later, did South Africa really get something for the World Cup? Granted in the afterglow it is largely on the host country to make something of it with the recognition and monies that are residual, but were all those promises by FIFA fulfilled? Why does it appear that other host countries have done much better at capitalizing on the "afterglow" than South Africa?

The business of sport ... truly fascinating. 

You know it's bad when ...

... The Economist is picking up on how corrupt FIFA is. Check out this article, it is certainly worth the read! Personally, I think they are onto something as it would certainly make the process more transparent.

Time to blow the whistle and put the right to host the World Cup on eBay

May 12th 2011 | from the print edition

WHEN it comes to long, rancorous and pointless rows, few things are in the same league as the world’s favourite sport. (Note to American readers: we speak of the game you call soccer.) Arguments rage for days—decades—after the final whistle. Was the ball over the goal-line? (Note to German readers: maybe not at Wembley in 1966, yes in Bloemfontein in 2010.) Was that sending-off deserved, or a gross miscarriage of justice? Was the referee brilliant, blind or bribed? ...

See the full article here, courtesy of The Economist.