Saturday, March 13, 2010 Previous editions
Saturday, November 21, 2009
ON the FIFA website, under there mission statement, they have the following "We believe that, just as the game itself, FIFA must be a model of fair play, tolerance, sportsmanship and transparency".
By their refusal to allow a replay of the match, it shows that they are not interested in either fair play or sportsmanship.
It also shows scant regard for the young players of the game, it shows them that, if you deliberately cheat, once you keep you mouth shut and provided the referee does not see it, then it’s OK by them.
If Henry was found to have taken a banned substance after the match, he would face a ban for bringing the game into disrepute.
As this is not going to happen in this instance it shows us what FIFA really thinks of the incident (even though, by their own rules he is guilty of "unsporting behaviour").
FIFA no longer deserve to call themselves a "sporting organisation" and should simple be referred to as a "for profit organisation".
The Irish team showed us what true sportsmanship was on the field of play in Paris that night.
They took on one of the giants of world football and played in a manner that was inspirational not only to the young but also everyone else, only to have there heroic actions thwarted by a deliberate cheating action and the Governing body says "hey that’s OK".
Dave McInerney
Rivendell
Coolatuder
Ballinhassig
Co Cork
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