Cold comfort for FAI
The special award concept was floated as compensation for Ireland’s controversial defeat to France in November’s World Cup play-off but the FAI decided not even to attend last night’s ceremony.
Instead, Chief Executive John Delaney did not mince his words in describing FIFA President Blatter’s behaviour in the aftermath of Thierry Henry’s notorious ‘Hand of Gaul’.
“The way the President of FIFA behaved was an embarrassment to himself and to FIFA,” said Delaney.
“FIFA offered us a fair play award to turn up at the awards ceremony but we respectfully declined.
“At some stage, we’ve got to put an end to that goal. We’ll probably see it for the next 20 or 30 years, I suppose. I thought the Irish supporters were fantastic (in Paris). I don’t think many would have behaved as well as they did.”
Delaney confirmed that Ireland will play a friendly game against Brazil on March 3, either in Croke Park or at a venue in England, with London, Manchester and Glasgow all in the running. Full details are expected in the New Year.
Said the FAI boss: “We have been invited to play Brazil by Kentaro, who have the rights to Brazil in Europe.
“Depending on the negotiations it will either be in Dublin or in the UK. It will be nothing like playing in the World Cup but it will be a pick-up game and at least it’s something to look forward to.”
Meanwhile, Ireland’s Assistant Manager Marco Tardelli says he is still haunted by contrasting images arising from that night in November.
“I’m not angry, I’m furious,” he said. “I have in my mind the picture of Damien Duff crying and Sepp Blatter laughing.
“After Blatter spoke, I was even more furious. I don’t understand Blatter.
“Fair play is very important for football, for sport and I can’t explain to kids how this happened.”
Asked about French prospects at next summer’s World Cup finals, the man who won a World Cup medal with his native land in 1982, smiled and said: “I hope they lose to Italy in the semi-finals.”
Meanwhile Lionel Messi was last night rewarded for a stunning year in which he helped Barcelona to an unprecedented six trophies by being named FIFA’s world player of the year.
The Argentina forward, who headed the clinching goal against Manchester United in the Champions League final, also scored on Saturday to secure the Club World Cup for Barcelona against Estudiantes on Saturday.
The 22-year-old won the award for the first time, beating last year’s winner Cristiano Ronaldo, his two clubmates Andres Iniesta and Xavi and Brazil midfielder Kaka.
Messi said: “I’m extremely happy. We’ve just ended a historic year, a perfect year in which we’ve won every competition we’ve played in. We just needed to take this last step and everything has worked out how we wanted. It’s amazing.”
The award is voted for by the coaches and captains of each national side.
Meanwhile, Messi’s team-mates Daniel Alves, Xavi and Iniesta were among those named in the FIFA/FIFPro World XI.
The XI, voted for by members of the international professional footballers’ union FIFPro, were: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), John Terry (Chelsea), Nemanja Vidic (Man United), Patrice Evra (Man United), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Xavi (Barcelona), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) and Fernando Torres (Liverpool).
Ronaldo won the FIFA Puskas award for the best goal of the 2008/09 season – his long-range thunderbolt for Manchester United against Porto in the Champions League in April.
Brazilian player Marta won the FIFA women’s player of the year award for the fourth year in a row.
The FIFA Fair Play Award was given posthumously to Sir Bobby Robson for his “outstanding commitment to the values of fair play throughout his career”.
The award was collected by his widow Elsie.
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