Hard not to be cynical about FIFA chiefs’ motivations

ROBBIE Keane was spot on to question the motivations of messrs Blatter and Platini after Ireland’s heartbreaking defeat to France on Wednesday night.

No doubt the powers of world football are delighted that France, with a population of 60 million-plus and thus far more attractive in terms of marketing, is on it’s way to South Africa and a ‘backwater’ 1like Ireland is left out of the party.

One cannot but be cynical about FIFA’s motivations, from it’s well criticised U-turn on seeding the play-off draw to the events on Wednesday night.