After the Chairman of the FA David Bernstein’s honourable, but ultimately doomed, move to suspend the FIFA Presidential election this week, English football finds itself at its lowest ebb.
The world’s oldest football institution, the creator the game’s laws, now stands alone from its counterparts on the European continent and around the world, simply because of its vocal (and correct) disapproval of how the organisation was being run.
The head of the Argentinean FA angrily proclaimed that England would only ever receive its vote to host a future World Cup if Britain cedes the Falkland Island, the scene of a brief but bloody war between the two nations in 1982. The head of the Spanish FA, Angel Villar Llona, snapped at the FA to “stop telling lies” and to “leave the FIFA family alone”.
Numerous other nations chipped in to record their anger at the thought of delaying a one-horse race until there was even one other viable contender for the presidents.
But the real proof of England’s transition to pariah was in the result of the vote regarding the election, with the Bernstein’s motion being thrown out by 186 votes to 17.
Admittedly, the furious reaction of FIFA’s delegates towards Bernstein says more about the disgraceful desire to maintain the corrupt status-quo within football’s governing body than the worth of the motion to suspend the presidential vote. The FA’s bid was courageous, and deserves praise for attempting to bring about change in FIFA’s organisation in the face of clear opposition.
But the fact remains that England now finds itself a diplomatic outcast in world football, the biggest implication of which is that we can almost certainly rule out seeing England host a World Cup any time in the next 30 years.
The next three tournaments have been allocated to Brazil, Russia and Qatar, with the fourth in 2026 set to return to Asia, and the cash-strapped FA will be loathe to launch another expensive bid for the Cup while current anti-English attitudes remain.
In the short term, meanwhile, any hope of England making manoeuvres in its own self interest with FIFA will have little to no chance of going ahead.
And so with the state of affairs off the pitch in a perilous state, let us look to affairs on it, as Fabio Capello attempts to rebuild the team after the shambles that was England’s 2010 World Cup campaign.
After being torn apart and embarrassed by the Germans in the second round of last year’s tournament, Capello is seeking to introduce new young talent into the national squad.
There are undoubtedly exciting new prospects in the side: Jack Wilshere’s attacking midfield play brings happy memories of a young Paul Scholes to mind, while Manchester City’s Joe Hart looks to have made the goalkeeper position his own. But beyond these bright sparks, the usual concerns about the state of the Three Lions team remain.
Away from the first eleven there is a worrying lack of depth (understandable, given that just only 38% of registered players in the Premier League were qualified to play for England last season), and the players that are in the squad for tournaments are more often than not exhausted after a grueling 10-month season. On top of that, the huge weight of public expectation on the team to bring home some glory to a success-starved nation for the first time since 1966 means that anything less than the winning of a trophy results in the team being furiously lambasted by the unforgiving British press.
“Football’s coming home”, sing English supporters whenever the Three Lions play. With English football in its current state, however, it looks as though those ever-faithful supporters should consider marching to a different tune.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
The Guardian is reporting that Budweiser has just been announced as the new sponsor of the FA Cup.
Ben S
Roar Guru
'Footballers, who decided to play for EPL clubs would forfeit their rights to play International Football for their respective countries and would not be able to play for other teams outside the UK.' Really?
The Bush
Roar Guru
Yeah and cut them from the English Cricket team whilst you're at it... In fact cut all sporting ties with them and then we'll see who wins this tit-for-tat!
The Bush
Roar Guru
"by all means invite the plucky Scots, but by no means should the shady Welsh and Irish be invited." "There will always be a place for the doughty Scots in international soccer but, given Gareth Bale’s earnest desire to play for GB in the 2012 Olympics, I suspect the imminent demise of the Wales and Northern Ireland soccer teams. Not a moment too soon." If you aren't the funniest poster on this forum, I dunno who is... Great start to the week!
Tigranes
Guest
Maybe the FA should say to Swansea you cant compete in next years English Premier League...see what Wales say then.
betamax
Roar Guru
It was sold out. It looked like a lot of empty seats because the hot weather caused transport probs and late arrivals to the game.
UK Steve
Guest
Not being able to sell out Wembley for a Euro qualifier is surprising. Maybe the fans are losing faith. I'm assuming that they packed out Adelaide Oval for the Socceroos v NZ match. Haven't seen a report for it, anyone know what the official attendance was?
jus de couchon
Guest
The Idea that the F.A is above corruption is laughable. Theyre just not very good at it compared to FIFAs Mandarins.
Chris
Guest
FIFA rules say that the two continents that hosted the previous two World Cups may not host the next one, so Europe can't get the cup in 2026. After Russia 2018, the next World Cup that Europe can host is 2030.
Chris
Guest
Actually according to FIFA rules the World Cup cannot go to Asia in 2026. FIFA rules say that the continents that hosted the previous two World Cups may not host the next one. Simply put, no nation from UEFA or the AFC may host 2026.
Ian Noble
Guest
Having made their point, according to Bernstein, the chairman of the FA, the FA will work within in FIFA and I believe their position has been strengthened which must unsettle Blatter. Afterall all the reforms he has belatedly introduced would probably not have happened without the investigations carried out by the Britsh press, the majority of which took place before the vote for WC2018. Interestingly Kissinger who has been invited to join the so-called "wise men" of FIFA during an interview on BBC radio today was aware of the FA stance and indicated some support to improve the image of FIFA. The next stage will be to see whether there are any dirty washing regarding Blatter. Already some hint of nepotism with a member of his family involved within FIFA; awarding of contracts (?). We shall see what happens but the next few weeks will be fascinating. Hope you are whiter than white Mr Blatter!!
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
If the FA left FIFA then all the EPL clubs would also be outside FIFA and all the players would be outside FIFA and these EPL teams would be left to play amongst themselves - no more UCL or Europa League for the teams. Footballers, who decided to play for EPL clubs would forfeit their rights to play International Football for their respective countries and would not be able to play for other teams outside the UK. Without doubt, the EPL would return to mediocrity very quickly as the best footballers abandon the competition and the EPL would become am insignificant competition outside the United Kingdom.
Ross
Guest
Basic contract law would still apply, particularly with players form other EU countries.
Uncle Bob
Guest
Would be interesting to see if the FA left FIFA. What that means is, those little contracts that players sign outside of England are worthless. The EPL clubs can sign any player they want in or out of contract and simply ignore 'international dates' without retribution. Must to tempting to pull the pin on FIFA. The NBA would do it to FIBA in a heartbeat.
Ross
Guest
The worst thing the FA could do would be to try and get cosy with FIFA by changing their stance. They did that during the bid process for 2018 and it just left them looking as sleazy as FIFA. I honestly do think that FIFA will get their comeuppance when officials either in Europe or the United States decide to investigate some of the executive committee members. FIFA threaten countries who investigate them with expelling their Associations but if the EU acts then they aren't going to expel 27 countries. If the USA investigates the bribes then I can't see the corporate sponsors siding with FIFA. The FA needs to make sure that it is squeaky clean ( perhaps have a more stringent 'fit and proper person' criteria for owning a Premiership club) from now on and act as a rallying point for other member associations who are sick of the corruption.
Evan Askew
Guest
Wise words your grace.
Viscount Crouchback
Guest
Quite so, Ben, especially when one considers that the FAW and IFA are run less satisfactorily than the average corner shop. I do hope that the FA remembers the events of the past week when it is organising its 150-year celebrations in 2013. The notion of a British championship should be ditched in short order - by all means invite the plucky Scots, but by no means should the shady Welsh and Irish be invited. Let us hope that the honest Norwegians (and I believe other Scandinavians also supported England?) are invited instead. There will always be a place for the doughty Scots in international soccer but, given Gareth Bale's earnest desire to play for GB in the 2012 Olympics, I suspect the imminent demise of the Wales and Northern Ireland soccer teams. Not a moment too soon.
Viscount Crouchback
Guest
Ostracised? Splendid isolation would probably be a better term, old chap - a state of affairs that the plucky Englishman is famously comfortable with. Indeed, it takes a certain level of self-confidence and resilience to maintain one's moral bearings when dealing with beastly, grasping foreigners. What a pity the Australian federation proved themselves incapable of matching Mr Bernstein's bulldog spirit!
Ben S
Roar Guru
And I think that's a key point; there is a huge difference between club football and international football. At club level you can impose discipline and work on technique etc, whereas at international level your ability to refine a side is more limited. That said, I'm still pretty shocked by how poor everything was during the WC, from the running of the camp, to the pre-WC media build up to the actual selections and tactics. Capello was clearly flustered and reacted with some knee-jerk responses, and today's result doesn't indicate that things are on an upward curve. Capello doesn't seem to have had a Plan B with England. I don't necessarily think another coach would come in and wave a magic wand, but I firmly believe that Capello has underachieved, and the players don't seem to respond to him.
Ben S
Roar Guru
'PS: Interesting to note that neither Wales nor Northern Ireland supported England in its bid to have the FIFA Presidential vote postponed.' Why is that of specific interest?