Ireland ask FIFA to be 33rd team in WC

[Kingdom]

Brilliant


Can I borrow your superfan handbook, does it come with an inflatable shamrock from Jacob's?


Reese Witherspoon is far too popular, she needs a few enemies.


Why are you ranting at me so


No-one is questioning that. Do you read other people's posts at all?


For what reason? Looking for imaginary positions at the World Cup to be created?


The replay isn't in question here, creating imaginary spots in the World Cup is, I haven't heard any player stating they want that. If they do come out and state it, then yes, I'd consider that action to be stupid [and embarassing].


I'm sure Robbie Keane will eventually, through years of therapy, get over his abandonment issues that have come about as a result of my post, which didn't mention him.

This is typical of the kind of superfan nonsense we've seen in recent days. If you are angry at the way we went out but ultimately accept it and recognise that FIFA e.g. can't create an imaginary slot for every aggrieved team, then you are not a real 'fan'. If you are embarassed by calls to invade France, Ban Gilette, storm the French Embassy, you are not a real 'fan'. If you don't join one of the Countless 'I hate Henry' groups on Facebook, you are not a fan.


I think I'm far less likely to stalk them at home than you are to be perfectly honest.


Stop making things up and if you can, stop writing completely ill-informed rubbish.
I am now standing back from my workstation to take my bow.
**bows**

Magnificent sir, quite magnificent.

[Absinthe]

Glad to see you are making fun of Robbie Keane's misery. Any of the other player's misery you want to make fun of? I mean they were all in tears at the final whistle having given it their all, the hardest work you did during the game I'd say was turn up the volume on the remote.

As for FIFA, they are a bunch of corrupt, lying c**ts.

As for Delaney, he is looking at a loss of at least 10 million Euro to the FAI, and possibly 20 million when everything else is thrown in.

It's hard to simply ignore 20 million Euro and most head's of organisations would try every route to recoup that money.

At this stage its not just about football, its about money as well. The FAI want a piece of the World Cup cake, and can you blame them?

I take it 7 is either your Actual or Mental age?

The FAI have let themselves down badly with this suggestion. Firstly its not even vaguely possible, i.e. the group that gets the extra team would be at a huge disadvantage, they would also have to figure out a system for the highest placed runners up in the groups to go through.

Secondly, you had a good degree of support, in the UK and other European countries, but with this you just look like really bad losers. I would say a lot of people are fed up with it at this point. You lost to a bad refereeing decision, in an important game. For better or worse this is part and parcel of football. For me N'Gog's dive for Liverpool against Birmingham the week before was on a par. If Birmingham get relegated by a point, should they ask the Premier League to be the 21st team next season?

See the link below for your international sympathy evaporating.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A60177495

As said by a poster on here you have been better appealing for video technolgy so that this couldnt happen in the future.

[tiktok]

but i will bow to you superior mind reading skills as to what they really think.

There's lots of assumptions on player's thoughts from both sides in fairness.

Personally, I'd assume that while they'd realise that this doesn't have a snowballs chance in hell of working there's probably something at the back of their heads still thining 'what if...'. So all in all, to my mind, this latest nonsense serves only to unneccessarily prolong the hurt the players and staff are undoubtedly feeling.

[Bungle]

To be honest, I don't care if the FAI make us a laughing stock with some members of FIFA and a few comedians around the world if we get to the world cup. I have more respect for them for keeping the flame burning then sitting down lightly. FIFA are the real joke at the moment with their fair play ideals. I personally feel a replay is the fairest notion, as it is very conceivable that we would have lost anyway in extra time or penalties.

However, FIFA know that they have to restore pride into the game. They also know that Italy, France, England, Holland and Germany off the top of my head would support the inclusion of Ireland as an extra team. Additionally, there would be support from many other countries. The real stumbling block as i see it would be what countries constitute the Executive Committee. Smaller countries like Honduras or Algeria would not be keen to have Ireland as a fifth seed, as it is is going to be hard enough for them to get out of their group without a good quality European team anxious to show that FIFA made the right decision and they deserve to be there.
From FIFA's perspective, they know that Ireland will bring 15-20,000 fans and given what they must have noted during the Lion's tour, this will be crucial for helping to make the tournament a success.

[Gather round]

They also know that Italy, France, England, Holland and Germany off the top of my head would support the inclusion of Ireland as an extra team. Additionally, there would be support from many other countries

Er, evidence?

PS I trust Tiktok jr. has fully recovered after his upset stomach?

[Kingdom]

Why are you Glad, what have you got against Robbie Keane, did you not see the effort he put in versus the French? You shopuld be ashamed of yourself Emmet7 [if that is your real name].


My God but you're a sadist, encouraging people to go making fun of players at their lowest ebb. Is there no end to your hatred of Ireland and it's national team? Those players are heroes to children all over this Island, but that doesn't matter to your sort does it. Won't somebody think of the children.


Actually the hardest work i did was to clean up the projectile vomit of my two year old son who was sick, I missed the half time analysis and start of the second half mopping vomit up off a floor. True Story [and clear evidence which one of us places an importance on the children of this world, they're the future Emmet&, why do you hate them so?]

Two in a row!

[Absinthe]

To be honest, I don't care if the FAI make us a laughing stock with some members of FIFA and a few comedians around the world if we get to the world cup. I have more respect for them for keeping the flame burning then sitting down lightly. FIFA are the real joke at the moment with their fair play ideals. I personally feel a replay is the fairest notion, as it is very conceivable that we would have lost anyway in extra time or penalties.

Your out, get over it. Even if Chile were thrown out, their place will go to the Next South American team, or possibly Costa Rica (as they lost in a play-off to the next best South American team).

[tiktok]

They also know that Italy, France, England, Holland and Germany off the top of my head would support the inclusion of Ireland as an extra team.

I'm sorry now, but no team would, if it actually came down to it.

How could any national association support a situation where they could end up with an extra game to play in a two week period, an extra game in which to suffeer injuries, earn bookings and possible bans. Worse again, the fifth seed team that would be added would actually be second seed standard and capable of causing an upset, or making their own advancement more difficult. No way it would be supported, if it got to the support stage.

There may be lip service paid in some regions, but it comes with a heavy dose of 'not in my group though'.

[tiktok]

PS I trust Tiktok jr. has fully recovered after his upset stomach?

He has, thanks for asking.
Luckily it was just a gastric bug and nothing more serious.

[Réiteoir]

Your out, get over it. Even if Chile were thrown out, their place will go to the Next South American team, or possibly Costa Rica (as they lost in a play-off to the next best South American team).

Agreed - if FIFA followed the normal convention - then they'll designate Uruguay as "Automatic Qualifiers" and then place Costa Rica in the place of Playoff Qualifiers.

In the interests of "Fair Play" and "Integrity" and all those other nice shiny words that Delaney is fond of using - then Costa Rica should technically play Ecuador in a rerun of the playoff now vacated by Uruguay.

[DeLorean]

It wouldn't surprise me if this request didn't even happen, probably Blatter misinterpreting something or lost in translation or whatever.

I can see why people would find it embarrassing at this stage but I don't really. The longer it lingers on and the more noise about it, the better chance that measures will be intorduced to improve the game. It may also embarrass FIFA/UEFA, and in turn referee's, into more balanced decisions in the future, whether it be seedings or handballs!! I am going to look at it as Ireland taking a stand for the little guy.

By the way, a 33rd team at the WC is absoloutely mental in my opinion, all the fixtures, venues, etc. have been announced already so that's not going to happen, nor should it.

[Morbo]

When I saw the title of this thread a few minutes ago, I thought it was a joke. Can anyone explain how it would be logistically possible to run a 33/or even 34 team format?

Thats what I was thinking, maybe 11 groups of 3 with 1st place going though and some of the 2nd placed teams going into a playoff or else having a 2nd group stage to get it down to 16 but somehow I think the chances of Fifa making radical changes to the group stages to accommodate Ireland is a bit of a long shot.

One extra team in two groups?

That would hardly be fair on the 5 team groups though.

[newrynyuk]

Oh jeez, this saga is becoming embarrassing.

We ask for a replay, FIFA say no. So what do we do? Ask to be put straight into the Finals as a 33rd side. Marvellous stuff.

Presumeably, next week we'll be asking to be awarded the World Cup trophy? The integrity of sport hinges on this!

[Superhoops]

I think Delaney's stance is quite clever.

It will not result in us going as the 33rd country (no more than Kilburn will ever be the 33rd county of Ireland) but he has managed to get Blatter in a position where FIFA must publicly acknowledge that the situation they (FIFA), Ireland and France find themselves is far from satisfactory.

I can see the following outcomes:
- goal line officials in place, a la Europa cup, for the WCF's
- a commitment to explore the use of technology
- some sanction against Henry
- financial compensation for Ireland from the WCF coffers

GIven the perilious state of the FAI finances and particularly the disaster looming with the poor take up of the Vantage level seats at the new Aviva, I think some FIFA recompense will suit JD 's purposes.

[Newryrep]

I can see why people would find it embarrassing at this stage but I don't really. The longer it lingers on and the more noise about it, the better chance that measures will be intorduced to improve the game. It may also embarrass FIFA/UEFA, and in turn referee's, into more balanced decisions in the future, whether it be seedings or handballs!! I am going to look at it as Ireland taking a stand for the little guy.

By the way, a 33rd team at the WC is absoloutely mental in my opinion, all the fixtures, venues, etc. have been announced already so that's not going to happen, nor should it.

Thing is as Blatter full well knows, as he has spun it perfectlly is that the only thing people are commenting on is the ridiculos proposal of Ireland as a 33rd team all other issues are overlooked. Malcom Tucker eat your heart out.

[Absinthe]

Oh jeez, this saga is becoming embarrassing.

We ask for a replay, FIFA say no. So what do we do? Ask to be put straight into the Finals as a 33rd side. Marvellous stuff.

Presumeably, next week we'll be asking to be awarded the World Cup trophy? The integrity of sport hinges on this!

In fairness, I think the next step for the FAI is to play the eventual World Cup winners in a one off match, the week after the final, also in Jo-burg. The winner obviously gets to keep the World Cup for the following 4 years, along with the title of best team in the Universe.

[paul_oshea]

What i hate about the whole thing is everyone is so bloody squirmy and sly, particularly blatter. He is ignoring the other 20 issues discussed and focusing on this one, making Ireland look like a thick, but at the same time suggesting that it will be aired and discussed as though good auld honest and fair sepp will bring it to the table, even though he is laughing behind it all but shows the world how fair and noble he is that he would give it thought....He reminds me of nixon, so squirmy and sly, trying to turn any situation to his advantage.

[geysir]

Funny how so many people get sucked in by a Blatter spin at a press conference.

Embarrassed by the level of gullibility going around

[shakermaker1982]

what the FAI seem to be forgetting is that if the game ended 1 nil we'd have still had to win a penalty shoot out. Keane's goal was not taking us to South Africa. We needed another goal.

[Torn-Ado]

It wouldn't surprise me if this request didn't even happen, probably Blatter misinterpreting something or lost in translation or whatever.
I can see why people would find it embarrassing at this stage but I don't really. The longer it lingers on and the more noise about it, the better chance that measures will be intorduced to improve the game. It may also embarrass FIFA/UEFA, and in turn referee's, into more balanced decisions in the future, whether it be seedings or handballs!! I am going to look at it as Ireland taking a stand for the little guy.

By the way, a 33rd team at the WC is absoloutely mental in my opinion, all the fixtures, venues, etc. have been announced already so that's not going to happen, nor should it.

This is the most feasable explanation. As Junior said earlier, there was probably many points on the agenda and something along the lines of being an extra team if another team were disqualified etc. was brought up. FIFA and Blatter in turn come out to the world sporting press and announce straight up that Ireland demand to be included in the world cup. Probably a smart move by Blatter. Takes the heat off him and his cronies and makes Ireland and the FAI look like an unreasonable daft laughing stock.