Ireland ask FIFA to be 33rd team in WC [Archive] - Page 4

endabob1

01/12/2009, 5:43 AM

Nothing will come of the 33rd team except to make us look cheap and needy, like an ugly girl close to prom/graduation/debs night.
Henry will get a slap on the wrist and a cheeky smile from his mate Blatter, probably make a speech at the openeing ceremony about fair play to show the world that he really is a fair player and that it was all just a misunderstanding.
UEFA will lob us in with Spain, Holland, Real Madrid, Brazil's 1970 team & the Harlem Globetrotters in the European Qualifiers with all our games to be reffed by Hanson to show us who's really in charge.

macdermesser

01/12/2009, 7:46 AM

How to fit 33 teams into a 32 team tournament?

Simple solution - stick us in the French group. That way .. we get our replay in South Africa and France get the chance to put the record straight.

FIFA changed the rules to suit the big teams for the playoffs ... so there is a precedent for changing things at the last minute.

don't know what to think about the whole shenanigans ... but might as well see where this is going to take us at this stage.

Pauro 76

01/12/2009, 8:34 AM

http://www.rte.ie/arts/2009/1201/bono.html

It gets better. Guess who's hopped on to the bandwagon now...

Murfinator

01/12/2009, 8:42 AM

Don't like where this is going, it makes us look like we're begging for a place at the cup regardless of how ridiculous the reasoning is.

Nobody wants that, we want our fair chance to compete for a place and earn our place.

tiktok

01/12/2009, 8:45 AM

http://www.rte.ie/arts/2009/1201/bono.html

It gets better. Guess who's hopped on to the bandwagon now...

I'm withdrawing from the debate until Dana Rosemary Scanlon makes her position clear.

elroy

01/12/2009, 9:06 AM

As the bold young Maurice from Cork once said "You can shove your World Cup up your arse"

Gather round

01/12/2009, 9:12 AM

I'm withdrawing from the debate until Dana Rosemary Scanlon makes her position clear

Missionary, but only in the context of holy, sacred and apostolic matrimony. I do believe in fairytales and all kinds of everything while there's something cooking in the kitchen.

OwlsFan

01/12/2009, 9:18 AM

OneRedArmy

01/12/2009, 9:26 AM

Wouldn't FIFA be "cheating" by changing their rules to accomodate Ireland, regardless of how noble the cause?

Lets see how all you hypocrites riddle your way out of that one....

Den Perry

01/12/2009, 9:40 AM

Make Emmet7 a mascot at next year's World Cup

We could drape him in the Fair Play flag and dress him up in Irish kit?

anyone....?

Absinthe

01/12/2009, 9:53 AM

I saw the statement for the first time this am. In fact the more I think about it, the angrier I get.

No doubt he had a few cronies set up to giggle. Happy to get sympathy are we but you know what sympathy gets us....nothing but sympathy and yesterday's news like a bereavement. The family continues to feel the pain but everyone else moves on. "Poor Mick. He was unlucky to be knocked down. Now what's for breakfast, Maud?".

Any journalist worth his salt should have asked the following questions/statements:

(a) So Mr. Blabber, you find it amusing that Ireland should dare ask to be included in the WC when they were cheated out of a potential place?
(b) You think it funny that Ireland should ask to change the rules when you changed the rules for the play offs?
(c) You think it funny that you say the referee is to blame when you repeatedly have refused to have video technology?
(d)You think it funny that 15 thousand Irish people paid money to go to Paris to see their team cheated out of a potential world cup place?
(e) We think it funny that you should phone Thierry Henry to empathise with him?
(f) You have admitted that in a Junior game you cheated to score a goal as did Henry. Where does this leave FIFA's "Fair Play" initiative?

We in Ireland find the whole thing hilarious.

..add further as you see fit.

How dare that twerp laugh!!

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

You need to get some perspective on this and see it from FIFA's point of view. As he said on the video clip, the laws of the game have been in place now for 125 years. FIFA don't want to bring in video replays, because video technology is not yet available at all games. (I would assume this is still true even at a World Cup Qualifying level, American Samoa vs Micronesia?)

They have already rejected the Republic of Ireland's appeal for a replay, correctly, as you aren't the first team to lose a match in controversial circumstances, just very unfortunate that it happened at am important stage in such an important match.

The FAI then requested an individual meeting to present their case to Blatter in person. There case amounts to, ok you arent going to replay the match, but could you just let us into the World Cup anyway?

Im guessing Blatter (as useless as he is) is a very busy guy. You're lucky he is laughing about this farce. Some posters have stated that you have nothing to lose with this, I would think you have damaged your reputation/standing within FIFA.

And just to confirm for those that seem to think this was a flippant statement in a large meeting with FIFA officials, it was a meeting between the FAI and Blatter, called for by the FAI.

Stuttgart88

01/12/2009, 10:07 AM

I never was interested in a replay and asking for an extra slot is dumb, but OF's points (e) and (f) are very pertinent in my opinion.

Leeside Swagger

01/12/2009, 10:10 AM

FIFA bringing in 4 extra assistant refs per match for the world cup according to reports on the radio this morning

shakermaker1982

01/12/2009, 10:28 AM

That press conference repulsed me. Blatter and his cronies giggling like a gang of school girls.

SSN reported that Henry's family in London received death threats (Blatter apparently released this as well). Anybody else hear this? I hope this is not the case and it's just more BS from Blatter.

R�iteoir

01/12/2009, 10:29 AM

http://www.rte.ie/arts/2009/1201/bono.html

It gets better. Guess who's hopped on to the bandwagon now...

You know how farcical this has become and how low everything has sunk when Bono comes out and makes a statement in support of the "33rd team" idea - but it ends up sounding like he's appealing for cash for starving African kids again

SSN reported that Henry's family in London received death threats (Blatter apparently released this as well). Anybody else hear this? I hope this is not the case and it's just more BS from Blatter.

The Police are in the process of investigating death threats made over the past few weeks - so it is true.

Make Emmet7 a mascot at next year's World Cup

We could drape him in the Fair Play flag and dress him up in Irish kit?

anyone....?

I'd be for it - but only if the flag is on fire at the time

paul_oshea

01/12/2009, 10:32 AM

This hitman thing could be a good idea. see whose laughing then.

ArdeeBhoy

01/12/2009, 10:43 AM

You need to get some perspective on this and see it from FIFA's point of view. As he said on the video clip, the laws of the game have been in place now for 125 years. FIFA don't want to bring in video replays, because video technology is not yet available at all games. (I would assume this is still true even at a World Cup Qualifying level, American Samoa vs Micronesia?)

Im guessing Blatter (as useless as he is) is a very busy guy. You're lucky he is laughing about this farce. Some posters have stated that you have nothing to lose with this, I would think you have damaged your reputation/standing within FIFA.

And just to confirm for those that seem to think this was a flippant statement in a large meeting with FIFA officials, it was a meeting between the FAI and Blatter, called for by the FAI.

You need to get some perspective;the first statement is BS at any level, especially from FIFA.
And Blatter is a senile tw*t;he won't be around for much longer (tomorrow is too long), why would anyone be worried about an organisation with zero credibility anyway?
Lastly;of course it was flippant and disrespectful, but that's Blatter. Just a prize clown.

ArdeeBhoy

01/12/2009, 10:44 AM

Wouldn't FIFA be "cheating" by changing their rules to accomodate Ireland, regardless of how noble the cause?

Lets see how all you hypocrites riddle your way out of that one....

What's hypocritical about getting them to address the issue of cheating and match-fixing, or do you really think these don't matter??

jebus

01/12/2009, 10:47 AM

Thank Christ I've been off the internet for the last few days

This whole thing has gone beyond embarrassing for the whole country at this stage.
At least people might realise we're not all carefree rogues out for a laugh at all times now anyway
Silver linings and all that

razor

01/12/2009, 10:49 AM

Duffer, for one, has said it will haunt him until the day he dies!What? the handball injustice or the one on one he missed to send us to the World Cup?

They were right to laugh cos this whole 33rd country sorry mess is laughable.
but now that Bono is behind it we're pretty much there

i'm mortified, what a laughing stock we are.:o

ArdeeBhoy

01/12/2009, 10:55 AM

i'm mortified, what a laughing stock we are.:o

As opposed to :rolleyes: the great authority and credibility of FIFA!

jebus

01/12/2009, 11:00 AM

As opposed to :rolleyes: the great authority and credibility of FIFA!

Two wrongs don't make a right

Blatter is a clown, always has been, so I don't see why you are all getting offended at him laughing at such a ridiculous idea as us being the 33rd team

The Irish indigination and bitterness has pretty much out-stripped the English in terms of going over the top in their petty grudges.

Everything from boycotting Gilette, to Henry's death threats, to peeing yourselves with excitement when Bilbao boo Henry (SHOCK HORROR an opposing team use a situation to boo the other teams player), to how over the top the vast majority of you have been, to all those Facebook groups, to threatening legal action against FIFA, to demanding a replay, to pretending that no Irish player has ever cheated, to Damien Duff, to this 33rd team nonsense, and that's all it is

You should all be ashamed, you've made us worse than the English at this. I'm sure the Sun and the Daily Mail are considering moving their HQs over here in light of this hysteria

Leeside Swagger

01/12/2009, 11:15 AM

Two wrongs don't make a right

Blatter is a clown, always has been, so I don't see why you are all getting offended at him laughing at such a ridiculous idea as us being the 33rd team

The Irish indigination and bitterness has pretty much out-stripped the English in terms of going over the top in their petty grudges.

Everything from boycotting Gilette, to Henry's death threats, to peeing yourselves with excitement when Bilbao boo Henry (SHOCK HORROR an opposing team use a situation to boo the other teams player), to how over the top the vast majority of you have been, to all those Facebook groups, to threatening legal action against FIFA, to demanding a replay, to pretending that no Irish player has ever cheated, to Damien Duff, to this 33rd team nonsense, and that's all it is

You should all be ashamed, you've made us worse than the English at this. I'm sure the Sun and the Daily Mail are considering moving their HQs over here in light of this hysteria

Well said, we are literally (going by that press conference yesterday) a laughing stock.

geysir

01/12/2009, 11:16 AM

Wouldn't FIFA be "cheating" by changing their rules to accomodate Ireland, regardless of how noble the cause?

Lets see how all you hypocrites riddle your way out of that one....

Who are all the hypocrites here agreeing that we should be the 33rd team?

Blatter selecting one point, chuckling away on stage, made an ass of himself, his position in FIFA and FIFA itself.
How anyone could feel embarrassed by that spinning rogue, is beyond me.

dr_peepee

01/12/2009, 11:30 AM

Who are all the hypocrites here agreeing that we should be the 33rd team?

Blatter selecting one point, chuckling away on stage, made an ass of himself, his position in FIFA and FIFA itself.
How anyone could feel embarrassed by that spinning rogue, is beyond me.

Exactly.. That's precisely the reaction he wants. Embaresment. Head down. Life goes on. etc etc... It's all deflection. Soundbites.... He threw the seals a beach ball and a few sardines, and they (and some of us I'm ashamed to say bought it). Berti was a master at it.

It's about what he's NOT saying. Don't get sucked in.... My committment to this sport is dying every day since, more due to what's gone on since Paris. Mistakes can be forgiven. What's gone on since is far from it.

geysir

01/12/2009, 11:34 AM

According to reports the FAI made no mention of asking to be included at the WC in their written submission.

Examiner (http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/no-hand-up-from-fifa-106823.html)

'In fact, in their written submission to FIFA preceding the meeting, the FAI had not even mentioned the idea of filling an extra berth at next summer’s finals in South Africa, instead concentrating on issues designed to prevent incidents such as the controversial French goal in Paris from occurring again.

Nor, when they actually met with FIFA last Friday, did the FAI propose any kind of mechanism for accommodating an extra team in the World Cup finals in South Africa'

drinkfeckarse

01/12/2009, 11:44 AM

If we did ask then it is something Delaney should resign about if true, making us look like amateurs. However, I agree that Blatter was an absolute disgrace the way he delivered the news and hopefully that costs him his job. Highly unikely IMO but a man in that position should not be acting as if he was looking down his nose to us. He wouldn't have spoken like that had it been one of the "big" countries.

Predator

01/12/2009, 11:47 AM

Interesting, geysir, but could this be a case of backtracking? They simply say in the 'written submission to FIFA preceding the meeting'.

Here's a link from the FAI website (http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=100565&catid=1&Itemid=8) detailing their statement after the meeting :

'The Football Association of Ireland today (November 30) confirmed that it attended an hour and a half meeting, at its request, with Mr Sepp Blatter, President of FIFA on Friday in Zurich. A lot was discussed at the meeting and at one stage the FAI asked if Ireland could be accommodated into the World Cup 2010.

Other suggestions were also made to mitigate against further occurrences of such incidents, including the use of additional goal line assistant referees for FIFA international matches, further use of video technology for matches at the highest level, stronger provisions to discourage players from engaging in such blatant breaches of the Laws of the Game and provisions to strengthen referee selection for such important matches.'

Then again, Blatter did make it appear like we were actively looking for a place in the WC, which I don't think was the case at all.

tiktok

01/12/2009, 11:50 AM

Nor, when they actually met with FIFA last Friday, did the FAI propose any kind of mechanism for accommodating an extra team in the World Cup finals in South Africa'

Maybe it was a request to be an automatic alternate should any team be excluded [as Yugoslavia were in Euro92? That'd be slightly less embarassing, though it'd still be against FIFA's own procedures for handling such an exclusion [unless of course Italy or France were the ones excluded].

On the other hand, if Blatter is making stuff up, he should be forcibly and publicly called on it. This request has made us a laughing stock. If it was made, it's deserved. If it was never made, Blatter should be dragged through the mire. The silence from the FAI on this would suggest that they did ask though [or that they're scared of upsetting Blatter].

Den Perry

01/12/2009, 11:59 AM

Maybe it was a request to be an automatic alternate should any team be excluded [as Yugoslavia were in Euro92? That'd be slightly less embarassing, though it'd still be against FIFA's own procedures for handling such an exclusion [unless of course Italy or France were the ones excluded].

On the other hand, if Blatter is making stuff up, he should be forcibly and publicly called on it. This request has made us a laughing stock. If it was made, it's deserved. If it was never made, Blatter should be dragged through the mire. The silence from the FAI on this would suggest that they did ask though [or that they're scared of upsetting Blatter].

I don't think Delaney was too out of order if he did ask...nothing ventured, nothing gained. Regarding replay / 33rd team permitted etc, let sleeping dogs lie.

However, Blatter was an absolute disgrace in the condescending way he announced it and then laughed at the conferance.An arrogant, patronising swine.It really needs somebody in a powerful position in one of te powerful nations to take a stance on his behaviour. Forget about us going to the WC, but make as big a fuss as possible about Blatter's behaviour since Paris

Billsthoughts

01/12/2009, 12:18 PM

Two wrongs don't make a right

Blatter is a clown, always has been, so I don't see why you are all getting offended at him laughing at such a ridiculous idea as us being the 33rd team

The Irish indigination and bitterness has pretty much out-stripped the English in terms of going over the top in their petty grudges.

Everything from boycotting Gilette, to Henry's death threats, to peeing yourselves with excitement when Bilbao boo Henry (SHOCK HORROR an opposing team use a situation to boo the other teams player), to how over the top the vast majority of you have been, to all those Facebook groups, to threatening legal action against FIFA, to demanding a replay, to pretending that no Irish player has ever cheated, to Damien Duff, to this 33rd team nonsense, and that's all it is

You should all be ashamed, you've made us worse than the English at this. I'm sure the Sun and the Daily Mail are considering moving their HQs over here in light of this hysteria

and on and on he goes.... :rolleyes:
Shock horror people get annoyed when they are cheated out of the World cup!
I have to say I find your little Ireland "oh god what will the neighbours think of us" attitude quite amusing.

paul_oshea

01/12/2009, 12:27 PM

Lads that say we are making fools of ourselves are yet saying we should drag them through the mud. It hasn't in the past made a difference, it wont in the future, so you lot are even more annoying and naive than delaney asking for a place at the world cup. Blatter is making a mockery of us on the world stage and although some on here are smart enough to read between the lines im not so sure others are or are afraid to upset the apple tart(as bertie says).

Whats really annoying is people thinking we are fools for asking yet expect us to "drag him throught he mud". We have no power, nothing we do or say carries weight beyond the british isles. Its up to bigger nations to take the cause for us. But i cant see that happening.

Scram

01/12/2009, 12:30 PM

FAI DELEGATION

http://www.squareball.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/mrs-doyle.jpg

FAI DELEGATION

Turty Tree Mr. Blather??...ah you will, ah go on, go on, go on, go on......

ps. as embarassing as this is, I am astonished to hear the likes of John Motson say on BBC a week after the game that the Irish are completely wrong in all their outrage and need to get over it NOW, they probably would not have won anyway!

Astonishing for one of the main men who continually refer to the legend Maradona's handball.

And, in fairness to Irish football fans, none threatened the life of the Swedish referee etc. Compare that to Engerrrland’s exit from Euro 2004 and Chelsea’s exit for the CL where the referees needed round the clock security because of death threats.

The English are real hypocrites, but I guess that is not news to anyone!

pineapple stu

01/12/2009, 12:46 PM

I wonder how broke are the FAI that they're this desperate to receive World Cup cash?

Uncle_Joe

01/12/2009, 12:52 PM

We have no power, nothing we do or say carries weight beyond the british isles. Its up to bigger nations to take the cause for us. But i cant see that happening.

I think your right on this Paul, and its the crux of the matter. If a big team had been in our position then, more than likely they would demand a replay and then insist on a replay and then apply pressure to FIFA and other countries to support them. We dont have any favours to call in or any serious clout on the world stage to do this.

It looks like what has happened is that the FAI were trying to explore all possible options of action. However Blatter has simply hoodwinked Delaney & Co. and made them look foolish by highlighting the 33rd team request. The credibility of the Irish search for redress is now gone and with it any sympathy from other nations.

R�iteoir

01/12/2009, 1:12 PM

And, in fairness to Irish football fans, none threatened the life of the Swedish referee etc. Compare that to Engerrrland�s exit from Euro 2004 and Chelsea�s exit for the CL where the referees needed round the clock security because of death threats.

Incorrect with the Chelsea incident - �vreb� left on his scheduled flight booked in the lead up to the match, and his hotel was only changed due to there being an overbooking problem with the original hotel (this information comes direct from the horses mouth).

And as for direct threats - untrue as well:

Oslo police said there were no threats against Ovrebo in Norway but decided to place police patrol at his residence to keep the calm during a period of "intense media interest".

"This is not a police matter for the time being," Oslo police spokesman Joern Jorgensen said.

"Because of media interest at the (Oslo) airport, he was escorted home by police. There is also a patrol at his home," Jorgensen said. "There have been no threats, but if anything happens we are ready."

As I recall from the Oslo FK (our County Football Association) - Tom Henning was back in work as usual on the Friday morning - and was back on Tippeligaen duty on his next regularly scheduled game the following Saturday.

Anyway - by the by - still doesn't really excuse the fact that the Law Authorities have been conducting investigations into death threats made to Henry by some Irish supporters

joe_barry80

01/12/2009, 1:15 PM

I'm sad to say it but this is just getting funnier....Bono...?!?! ffs!:eek:

I think he was asked the question because Drogba was beside him at the time when they where doing that charity thing together

jbyrne

01/12/2009, 1:22 PM

You know how farcical this has become and how low everything has sunk when Bono comes out and makes a statement in support of the "33rd team" idea - but it ends up sounding like he's appealing for cash for starving Africa

he didnt "come out" with a statement. he was asked a question and he answered it. so what?

The Police are in the process of investigating death threats made over the past few weeks - so it is true.

so why are the police investigating then? should they not just make contact with you as you know already?

Anyway - by the by - still doesn't really excuse the fact that the Law Authorities have been conducting investigations into death threats made to Henry by some Irish supporters

and you can also tell them where they were from?! tell us, what happened to shergar? you could save the cops a lot of time with that one

OwlsFan

01/12/2009, 1:23 PM

As Brady says,

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2009/1201/bradyl.html

Blatter was totally disrespectful. The guy is a hypocrite of the highest order. A few sycophants to laugh at his put down and people say that we are the "laughing stock of Europe" because of this. Because Blatter scoffs at us, we are a laughing stock. I didn't realise there are so many Irish people who take their lead from Blabber.

paul_oshea

01/12/2009, 1:41 PM

exactly owlfan, you can really tell the naivety here among some people masquearding as fans and some who plainly dont care.

The only problem I see, is a lot of people outside ireland aren't seeing blatters comments in the way we would hope. They are just hearing his comments, not listening and digesting what he is saying, and more importantly doing, if ye get me. So whilst I agree with yerself, peepee and geysir, unfortunately here in England they aren't seeing what we would expect the more astute informed reader to see i.e. nothing beyond his actual remarks, diverting attention away from the real issues.

jbyrne

01/12/2009, 1:46 PM

The only problem I see, is a lot of people outside ireland aren't seeing blatters comments in the way we would hope. They are just hearing his comments, not listening and digesting what he is saying, and more importantly doing, if ye get me. So whilst I agree with yerself, peepee and geysir, unfortunately here in England they aren't seeing what we would expect the more astute informed reader to see i.e. nothing beyond his actual remarks, diverting attention away from the real issues.

i think most football fans in the world know exactly what blatter and the fifa top brass are like so i wouldnt be too worried about our reputation to be honest. everyone has seen the incident, many have commented on it, the french themselves are disgusted with the way they qualified and everyone is aware of the lack of / poor fifa response. they have now also seen the degrading way blatter has dealt with us

OwlsFan

01/12/2009, 1:49 PM

FAI DELEGATION

http://www.squareball.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/mrs-doyle.jpg

FAI DELEGATION

Turty Tree Mr. Blather??...ah you will, ah go on, go on, go on, go on......!

http://7amkickoff.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/sepp.jpg

"I hope you all like my blue jersey. It's modelled on the French. I find it so funny that Ireland should ask to change the rules for the World Cup when I changed the rules for the play offs? I think it is really funny that people blame the the referee when FIFA lead by me has refused to have video technology. Did I ever tell you I cheated in a Junior game to score a goal? Now where is my document on the "Fair Play" initiative? It's time to get out of this ill fitting outfit and prepare to ridicule in public any country which should dare to challenge FIFA. I won't mention France. I'll just laugh at the Irish and give them the red card. They are after all the guilty party in this for refusing to bow to FIFA.

paul_oshea

01/12/2009, 1:50 PM

Just here at work i had a lot of lads the first few days afterwards saying a disgrace etc, though it happens etc. Feeling sorry for Ireland etc.

Now though since that thing they are like get over it, move on etc. They aren't reading into what he is actually doing, but think we shoud let it go. Its getting overshadowed by the fact that they think we aren't getting over it, and losing sight of the fact that blatter is a cnut. When I actually took time to explain a bit more it was clear to them, but most are just seeing what we have said as "get over it its done now".

bennocelt

01/12/2009, 1:54 PM

What? the handball injustice or the one on one he missed to send us to the World Cup?

They were right to laugh cos this whole 33rd country sorry mess is laughable.
but now that Bono is behind it we're pretty much there

i'm mortified, what a laughing stock we are.:o

Definitely, more things to be worried about in this country at the moment with floods and all the corruption.
Ireland is a joke of a country and the reaction to this football match was embarrassing to say the least
The international section of foot.ie looks like it has been taken over by a gang of school kids who have just discovered the game. Its football, it is always like this, get over it and move on FFS. Just cause you cant have your big **** up in SA or wave your plastic hammer, or sing ole ole till the cows come home.................
Blatter was right to make a fool of the FAI. It was a bloody joke, a Father Ted moment.

jbyrne

01/12/2009, 2:20 PM

Just cause you cant have your big **** up in SA or wave your plastic hammer, or sing ole ole till the cows come home.................

what a pathetic generalisation

Hibs4Ever

01/12/2009, 2:23 PM

Just cause you cant have your big **** up in SA or wave your plastic hammer, or sing ole ole till the cows come home.................

what a pathetic generalisation

Was thinking the same thing. Sad individual

dan o d

01/12/2009, 3:00 PM

or sing ole ole till the cows come home.................
.[/QUOTE]
what do you sing at ireland matches?

Doire Abu

01/12/2009, 3:02 PM

i think most football fans in the world know exactly what blatter and the fifa top brass are like so i wouldnt be too worried about our reputation to be honest. everyone has seen the incident, many have commented on it, the french themselves are disgusted with the way they qualified and everyone is aware of the lack of / poor fifa response. they have now also seen the degrading way blatter has dealt with us

I think you're giving the general football supporting public too much credit. This will look to the world as the idiot Irish trying to get in through the back door because they don't understand the rules. It's now obvious that Blatter used ideas thrown around in a private meeting to discredit the FAI. If Delaney doesn't know how Blatter operates, and how politically manipulative the man must be to have reached the top job in a very corrupt FIFA, then he really should resign. He is too naive to represent this country. He should have concentrated on the 5 officials issue and pointed out the unfairness of the seeded teams extra advantage in playing the 2nd leg at home in the EURO 2012 play-offs. That is an issue that might unite the smaller countries together to challenge Blatter on. But he blew it.

ArdeeBhoy

01/12/2009, 3:07 PM

Definitely, more things to be worried about in this country at the moment with floods and all the corruption.
Ireland is a joke of a country and the reaction to this football match was embarrassing to say the least.
Blatter was right to make a fool of the FAI. It was a bloody joke, a Father Ted moment.

The phrase 'cabbage-eating surrender monkey' springs to mind.

Presuming you 'support' Ireland?

Have you not read about the antics of Blatter & the FIFA?? And their condoning of cheating eg. SB & Houllier's latest comments. Not to mention years of corruption or match-fixing, FFS.

The FAI may look foolish, but at least they have a load more credibility than those FIFA crooks. And any national FA should now stand up to those bent hypocritical fools.