The thin red fine
Fri Sep 26 09:07AM
The world isn't always as harmonious as Early Doors likes to believe. While ED and the other people who inhabit this little cul-de-sac of cyberspace have learned to co-exist in an environment of peace and understanding - a blog-based Utopia, if you will - not everyone else is so lucky.
This was brought home when England striker Emile Heskey was subjected to monkey noises from a section of the crowd during the 4-1 win in Croatia earlier this month when he received a booking for a foul on Niko Kovac, which could just about be heard over other chants deriding a certain British subscription sports broadcaster.
Just 15 days later, FIFA leapt into action. The buffet was left almost unfinished, such was the rush to tell everyone: "Racism has no place in football. FIFA is determined to continue broadcasting this message around the globe and deploying all of the means at its disposal to eliminate this form of discrimination."
They not so much broadcast the message as hammered it home by slamming the Croatia Football Federation with a hefty fine of almost £15,000.
Just to put that into context, that is 60 percent of the £25,000 automatically incurred for a Premier League side picking up seven bookings in one match, three times as much as a manager might get fined for kicking a water bottle, and 0.27 percent of what West Ham paid over the Carlos Tevez affair - essentially a clerical issue.
ED couldn't mount a moral high horse if its life depended on it, but let's not get too carried away with accusing an entire nation for the idiocy of a few of its citizens.
The news has provoked plenty of reaction, not least here, and there are two particular themes that kept continually arising.
The first was the notion that if the roles were reversed and it was England fans abusing another player then they could expect to be kicked out of the competition sharpish.
This is most likely a hangover from the days of English teams' post-Heysel ban from European competition, as alludes to a massive conspiracy against the English. That's not a conspiracy. THIS is a conspiracy.
If that's the case, then surely even FIFA suits would have put the profiteroles down for just a second to act whenever a pocket of English fans causes trouble abroad, and there must have been a good reason for them not acting over chants of "I'd rather be a P**i than a Turk" during England's match against Turkey in 2003.
Another carefully-considered opinion from some of our more learned readers that popped up more than its fair share of times was that - presumably confusing them with Poles, who have a much greater presence in the UK - if Croatians are all such racists then they should get out of Britain. It's an easy mistake to make, of course. You only have to drive through two other countries to get from Zagreb to Warsaw.
Ironically, UEFA are set to have another debate today about the state of Poland and Ukraine's preparation for co-hosting Euro 2012. One of their concerns is that the necessary infrastructure may not be ready in time. Apparently this is because there is a labour shortage in the Polish construction industry. Perhaps they are propping up another nation instead?
- - -
On Thursday, FA chairman Lord Triesman expressed his wishes to root out any institutionalised discrimination at the top of the game, such as at boardroom level.
As well-intentioned as his comments are, this is the same man who also described the FA as "a pretty decent regulatory body", on the same day as it charged Watford boss Aidy Boothroyd for using foul and/or abusive language towards officials following the 'phantom' goal scored by Reading.
Presumably Boothroyd did not express his thoughts with the words "I say, old chap, that goal you awarded looked a tad like a goal kick to me, but I respect your decision, I'm obviously wrong," as per FA guidelines.
- -
Back on to real issues now, and there will be plenty of bad things said when Everton host Liverpool on Saturday.
Liverpool may be riding high and unbeaten in the league, but the remarks of a certain Evertonian will surely sting a bit.
The Toffee said: "I think it will be hard for them [Liverpool] to challenge the top three. They could be third, which would be an improvement for them." Ouch.
And who was that 'True Blue'? Why, Manchester United's Wayne Rooney of course. Talk about two birds with one stone.
- - -
FOREIGN VIEW - It seems FIFA and the FA are not the only football organisations capable is spectacularly mismanaging their disciplinary procedures.
Paraguayan club Olimpia have been given a home ban and fine by CONMEBOL after a riot caused last week's Copa Sudamericana match at home to Chile's Universidad Catolica to be abandoned in the 85th minute when a linesman was carried off on a stretcher after being hit by a missile. The official needed seven stitches in a head wound. The match was repeatedly interrupted as Olimpia supporters hurled stones and plastic bottles on to the field.
Olimpia have been banned from playing at their Manuel Ferreira stadium in the next two continental competitions for which they qualify, and were also fined £27,000 by South America's governing body.
However, the punishment is little more than symbolic as Olimpia will still be able to stage home matches at the nearby Defensores del Chaco stadium, their traditional venue in international competitions. Doh!
TALKING POINT - jeff53ref took yesterday's question to the Nth degree: "Who on Earth will take on this job?" gives the clue. The Newcastle job can only be sucessfully handled by the ex Ruler of Nimbus 111, a desert planet known as the planet of galactic peace, which turned into a cesspool of crime and poverty. One walks amongst us and his name is Pete Burns. Wisey would lap him up.
Today - Paltry fines, late stadiums, senseless attacks of clubs and managers. Are governing bodies capable of doing anything right?
COMING UP - All matter of domestic-based goodness as the Premier League resumes. Stick around these parts for all the weekend's team news, our Fantasy recommendations in Choose 'em or Lose 'em, the thoughts of our resident expert bloggers Paul Parker and Jim White and a look at the pick of previous Merseyside derbies.
1st Comment babbbbbbbbbby Hibeeeeeeeeeeees
From emmapeebles on Fri Sep 26 09:08AMam logged in as ma boss :O bad times
From emmapeebles on Fri Sep 26 09:08AMWith a hefty what? fine perhaps?
Morning all!
From kevin1985kane on Fri Sep 26 09:14AMThe Celtic Tiger is over!
From kevin1985kane on Fri Sep 26 09:17AMLiverpool should hopefully beat Everton comfortably this weekend!
YNWAAll the Top Four teams......... and United should win this weekend!
From kevin1985kane on Fri Sep 26 09:21AMHow many EDs does it take to write a decent article these days? apparently more than 3
From jude_surf on Fri Sep 26 09:21AMFootball regulation? Like the rest of the world "The best lack all conviction / The worst are full of a passionate intensity" - WB Yeats.
If kanton_wokster is reading the blog today, have a good safe flight and hope to read your forthright comments here again soon. SRECAN PUT!!
From james_ssmith on Fri Sep 26 09:22AMGreat article today... See what difference a week makes. and the lack of Ryder cup duties too
From g_hine on Fri Sep 26 09:23AMJust wait for the FA to throw the book at Boothroyd over his "unacceptable outburst" he should have been more British about things and apologised to the ref and linesman and offered to move the goal 2 foot to the left.
How can they keep a straight face while dealing with this case!
From sikka316 on Fri Sep 26 09:23AMEverton to defend like thier lives depended on it, LFC to banish Stoke draw (defeat) and win 2-0
Keane to become instant Liverpool hero and grab both goals
Well you never know ...
LFC 4 EVER
From fitbutfrustrated on Fri Sep 26 09:23AMPeace to u kevin.
Did u see what Wayne Rooney wrote?What do u make of it?I think he is right there.Pool will be at their best at 3rd position and what an improvement it will be.Peace
From jacknfor on Fri Sep 26 09:25AMLeaving home this morning I was looking forward to a relaxed drive to work, getting my coffee once there, opening ED and be entertained but I was stuck behing a bunch of slow driving @#$%s, it is so foggy you can hardly see anything, the coffee tastes @#$% and the article nearly put me back to sleep. At least it's Friday....
From jude_surf on Fri Sep 26 09:25AMI dont understand this. Is it that FIFA does not have the guts to tackle racism and only acted cos England made a complaint or is it a matter of Croatia being unable to pay if the fine is hefty....this from a federation that says it can buy West Ham.....
From berbagon on Fri Sep 26 09:26AMalways easy to give governing bodies some flack; and often they deserve it; but whatever they deserve, there must also be some other body deserving of shaming or there would not be an event that the governors could be criticised for;
so lets remember those who cause the crisis and ensure that they do not hide in the shadows of the misdemeanours of the governors,make sure they are identified, be they the club owners, managers, players, whatever, since ultimately only changes in their behaviour will give us the sport we deserve (?). (By the way, stuff your american spell checker)
From c.hawcroft on Fri Sep 26 09:27AMQuestion of the day, if James were Croatia would he be fined £15,000 for his turd comment. Answer has to be yes surely
From jude_surf on Fri Sep 26 09:27AMJack you look very smart, I feel all scruffy.Peace
From jude_surf on Fri Sep 26 09:27AMPeace to James,Jude and fitbut....Peace to you all.
From jacknfor on Fri Sep 26 09:27AMKantong Sam and Rob - happy last day(or whatever it should be called)
Find a way to keep posting when you canFrom jude_surf on Fri Sep 26 09:28AMAs for darksideray, I have no idea of your gender, race, age or anything else about. If you took my comment as a personal insult aginst your actual identity, rather than as irritation at your continual targetting of me on this blog, then I apologise.
Now bugger off!!From james_ssmith on Fri Sep 26 09:29AMRise above Darkside
Morning all...
From fitbutfrustrated on Fri Sep 26 09:29AMAnother win for the Reds Everton are trash this season.
From berbagon on Fri Sep 26 09:29AMfitbutfrustrated - I like it..... hope you are right!
jacknfor - Wayne Rooney? I find it very hard to anyone who fondles with the over 60's on a regular basis seriously. Where there is a will there's a way!
Ps. Rangers left it late on Wednesday night?
Peace my friend!
From kevin1985kane on Fri Sep 26 09:31AMBerbagon - YNWA
From kevin1985kane on Fri Sep 26 09:33AMThanks jude.It is for the temporal send off for Kw and brother rob.Temporal cos i know they'll certainly blog again wherever they are.Peace
From jacknfor on Fri Sep 26 09:34AMShould we all wear the same attire?
From kevin1985kane on Fri Sep 26 09:35AMno ed no they aren't capable of doing ANYTHING
From manojthiyagarajan on Fri Sep 26 09:42AMGood morning and peace to you all.
Brother Jack, appreciate the effort buddy. Looks form comment 23 that fitbut is the ideal candidate for your next padawan.
ED: I get the feeling, from your surrepticous (sp?) jibes at the readership over the last few days, that you're just dieing to get down here among us commoners and join in the banter. Do it guys, as long as you dress up!
From rob_snaith on Fri Sep 26 09:46AMConspiracy, probably nothing intentional. I didn't really like that crack about Polish construction workers. Leave that to the Tory party, who as Nye Bevan said sixty or so eyars ago, are Vermin!!
From james_ssmith on Fri Sep 26 09:51AMBest of luck to Samone and Rob.
The FA / FIFA / UEFA / Prem League are a joke.
Won't retrospectively use video footage to give 3 match ban for diving and get rid of it once and for all.
Can't retrospectively punish if Ref gave a yellow.
Won't consider video evidence or goal-line chip technology.
Punish Boothroyd when he's obviously correct.
Didn't have the balls to dock West Ham points and now expect them to pay £30m fine. The authorities should pay the fine coz they didn't deal with it in the first place.
From kgh_r on Fri Sep 26 09:56AMMorning kgh_r - "Won't retrospectively use video footage to give 3 match ban for diving and get rid of it once and for all" - United & Chelsea would end up relagated!
From kevin1985kane on Fri Sep 26 10:04AM
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