If there’s one thing we learnt from Jeff Horn’s world title win, it’s that sports administrators everywhere will never let a fair result get in the way of undermining their own integrity.
The World Boxing Organisation’s decision to re-score Horn’s Welterweight title win is entirely pointless and utterly predictable.
Under pressure from sometime Filipino senator Manny Pacquiao – who waited until he was safely back in General Santos City before complaining about the result – the WBO has announced it will enlist five independent judges to re-score a fight that Horn was unanimously adjudged to have won.
Why? Two reasons.
Pacquiao might be a big-time boxer, but he’s an even bigger celebrity – one with millions of fans across the globe, particularly in the Philippines and the United States.
And when the Battle of Brisbane was beamed into millions of American households in primetime on ESPN, the troubled network managed to plumb new depths with its abysmal coverage.
Having told anyone who would listen that Horn had no chance of beating Pacquiao, a stupefied ESPN – lead by cartoonish ringside commentator Teddy Atlas – then deployed an increasingly common tactic when supposed experts get something wrong. They blamed someone else.
“It’s either incompetence or corruption,” raged Atlas – who conspicuously failed to his blame his own ignorance of Horn’s ability as the real reason he was stunned by the result.
Having been made to look stupid, ESPN then set about deflecting the blame for their own lack of knowledge by implying the result must have been rigged.
And Pacquiao’s legion of passionate fans – some of whom seemed to spend more time posting comments on the internet than they did watching the fight – fell for it hook, line and sinker.
Of course, re-scoring the fight won’t make one iota of difference.
Horn will keep his belt regardless, and the WBO will have engaged in that most David Brent of activities beloved by all sports administrators – being seen to act, while accomplishing nothing.
It’s an artform some would argue Football Federation Australia has perfected – typified by the truly bizarre announcement that the final nine rounds of the A-League season will henceforth be known as ‘The Chase.’
While FFA is busy conjuring some marketing guff around the revolutionary concept of not forcing the same teams to play twice within a matter of weeks, FIFA has made it clear that unless changes are made to the way the game is governed in Australia, they will step in and make changes themselves.
Yet as much as reform is necessary – and a broad range of stakeholders are legitimately entitled to a bigger say – it’s a strange notion to have to take management advice from an organisation whose reputation is the most corrupt in world sport.
Still, if it prompts some debate around what a viable national second division would look like, it’s a decent starting point.
Much as the Association of Australian Football Clubs – composed of almost one hundred National Premier League clubs – would like to see a second division launched sooner rather than later, there has still been precious little discussion around how it would actually be funded.
It’s far more likely the FFA will announce two expansion teams, one in Sydney and the other in Brisbane, before any moves to create a second division are made.
Who knows – by the time the A-League institutes promotion and relegation, the rest of the world may well be on the way to ditching it.
That seems to be the way sport is headed these days, where the notion of a fair contest means nothing and the biggest clubs can always threaten to form a breakaway league based on the size of their Twitter following and a desire to never again be embarrassed by Leicester City.
You’d think if Manny Pacquiao wanted to win a fight, he’d simply knock the other bloke out.
But failing that, whatever happened to the concept of losing with honour?
R King
Guest
Waz - If the clubs get what they want then there will be no P/R in the foreseeable future and maybe not even a 2nd Division. The clubs do want a closed shop or control who comes and who goes.
pauli
Guest
I want a proper once home once away season more than anything!
pauli
Guest
Waz, the princes are technically of German descent. Prior to WW1, the House of Windsor was the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.
Craig Dunsall
Roar Rookie
Agreed
Craig Dunsall
Roar Rookie
Agreed
Craig Dunsall
Roar Rookie
100% disagree nemesis
Mark
Guest
The biggest barrier to a 'low bar for entry' to the A-League and the creation of a second division is the PFA, who insist on minimum salaries for individual players and salary floors for all teams that are up to around 80-90% of the full salary cap. Just look at their comments on how much it would cost to run a second division club - they have factored in fully professional and generously paid players. For all people bang on about the salary cap harming the growth of the A-League, I think the floor does as much, if not more damage.
RBBAnonymous
Guest
Hahaha, well played Ross, well played.
Caltex Ten & SBS support Australian Football
Guest
"Then I can support SBS and be critical of the A-League treatment." Mid - What on earth are you talking about "A-League treatment" they are journalists who support Australian Football and write on the issues that concern Australian Football and the A-League, you are not making sense. They are all for the A-League and do an almighty job. Perhaps your problem is you can't handle the truth when they write articles about the governance of the FFA, HAL or your beloved CCM.
Nemesis
Guest
You're a nasty little pest, aren't you. You've taken time out of your day today to just stalk Midfielder & add a snide, nasty little remark. What motivates you to behave in such a petty & pathetic manner? Find a hobby. Find someone, or something, that makes you happy so you aren't so unhappy and nasty all your life.
Midfielder
Guest
BINGO Then I can support SBS and be critical of the A-League treatment.
Caltex Ten & SBS support Australian Football
Guest
"The SBS article totally supports Frank Lowy so I am glad to see you know support Frank Lowy." Mid - I always supported the "New Football" concept that doesn't mean I support all of Frank Lowy's appointments who were outside of the football fraternity. Or his ostracization of the one football serviced that stuck firm behind Australian Football.
Footoverhand
Guest
I can't stop thinking of a cheap quiz show and then I think about this...... https://youtu.be/rAsbPl_-fAY
Footoverhand
Guest
http://www.thepeckingorder.com.au/tpovision/
Midfielder
Guest
RK Money and control... and fear Not enough money to pay for things Steven Lowy still wanting control Steven Lowy in fear the old NSL will return ... The clubs in fear Lowy is not up to the job.
Redondo
Roar Rookie
Waz - what percent of an FFA congress vote is required for a veto? It seems all the FFA's preferred models keep the A League vote at 25% or less. Is more than 25% enough to veto?
AR
Guest
"Huge huge nay mega huge squared favour to ask. See end of post for the favour." Is this the same poster who complains that the Mods won't let his quality posts through?
Midfielder
Guest
Caltex Lets be honest... yep I complained constantly about the SBS coverage of Hal in Hals 2 to 7 [BTW so did roughly 90 % of the Football family] ... and I complained constantly about the SBS broadcasting style of the A-League... You believe SBS is full of saints ... I believe SBS has many people with their own agenda .. we will never agree .. As an aside when the mods release my post ... you will see I am surprised you support Frank Lowy so much ... as the LM article is all about what Frank Lowy did ...
Midfielder
Guest
R King The A-League criteria is a mega huge issue.... how to explain simply... Roughly 10 months ago the head of the A-League said FFA played to expand the A-League. Tassie then put up a very very decent bid to be included... what followed was a host of bids maybe 16 bids many excellent....it exploded most government backed in some form or other. The existing state teams also wanted to join ... The demand to join the league was huge. FFA then promised to publish and release the requirements to join within I think they said a month... that was about 9 months ago... in the mean time the media deal was less than what was expected and FFA have said they can't expand as fast as they wanted. So what you assume is kinda set and known has become a large part of the current frustration with FFA ... their inability to make reasoned decisions in a reasonable time and openly debate and make their case and drag the Football community with them... has brought them undone and has made everyone angry with them .... The issue has grown a life of its own and is in and of itself the main reason the clubs and the state teams went to FIFA. Steven Lowy desire to retain control is at the core of the delay in decision making. So your very simple question is actually the core issue FFA is in a total flap with.
R King
Guest
Why do State Federations require more say on A League matters than the A League clubs? This is beginning to look like the old battles that were had within the last days of the old Soccer Australia days.