It was mentioned a couple of weeks ago by someone and I don’t recall it getting much attention, but it’s time to remind everyone about the FIFA/UEFA fiasco scheduled for 20th May.
The powers-that-be, in their wisdom, have scheduled France v Brazil for 20th May. Two days before the FA Cup Final.
For the sake of argument, let’s say Arsenal reach the Final. Thierry, Bobby, Paddy, Silvain, Gilberto, possibly Edu, would have to play in the International match under threat of suspension if they don’t.
They’ll arrive back as the coach leaves for Cardiff.
It’s bad enough they have to play in meaningless friendlies at important times in the season, but this is stupidity of the highest order.
What has anyone else heard/think about this?
p.s. Met a guy from Minneapolis giving it large against Chelsea in the Lower West Stand on Sunday. Top geezer and I hope he got back safe. The last I saw of him was walking down the road waving his scarf in the general direction of 6000 Chelsea fans. He hadn’t heard of ArseAm so I pointed him in the right direction.
Ed. Note - Yes, this is certainly a troubling set of circumstances. I’m going to make an attempt to shift blame here a bit. FIFA contends that this match has been on the schedule for a year or so. If that is indeed that case, perhaps the FA should have considered that before setting the date of the FA Cup final. Of course and that point it becomes a “my dick is bigger than your dick” sort of thing with both sides thinking their match is more important.
15 Responses to “FIFA/UEFA Fiasco”
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February 19th, 2004 at 4:53 pm
FINALLY! A real Gooner here who has spotted the trouble with international football matches, mostly friendlies, and the Arsenal (and other clubs). It was I, I think, who first pointed out the upcoming conflicting schedule, in my first ever post that started a firestorm. Will the Arsenal be compensated for this forced removal of their players? Sepp Blatter has ALWAYS said no national football organization will ever have to give compensation to a club side whose player was injured whilst on international duty. The Arsenal, lads, are about to get fecked yet again by Blatter and his mafioso. This is one of the extremely rare cases where, say it was Mank United in the final, and they lost Saha, that I’d actually sympathize with The Big Red-Nosed Dictator. This isn’t the World Cup final here we’re talking about. How can the oldest and most venerated Cup in the world be made to play second fiddle to some rubbish international friendly? Kelvin, you are one of the best lads around, I must say. “Stupidity of the highest order.” Hey mates, it’s hard to disagree with him as he’s just calling a spade a spade.
And to the editor’s comment, I wholeheartedly agree that the FA is also to blame for this fiasco. The FA lately has dropped more clangers than David James in his heyday. It is indeed a pissing contest. Ultimately though I cannot see how a friendly can take precedence over a Cup final.
February 19th, 2004 at 5:03 pm
Actually, FIFA claim that the match has been on the schedule since August 2000… though they didn’t name the teams until December 2002. In any case, the problem seems to have been the classification of the match, which was set as a class A mens international only last month… well after the FA decided on its schedule.
It does need to be asked why couldn’t FIFA delay this anyway, they already moved it one day earlier than their date of founding… why couldn’t they have moved it to after the European Cup Final which is less than a week after too, while the UEFA Cup final is the day before - seems like UEFA agree with the FA to me…
Anyway, if this is a fight between history, then maybe it should be remembered that while FIFA is celebrating its centenary, the FA Challenge Cup is celebrating its 132nd anniversary in a competition which started with 644 teams this year!
February 19th, 2004 at 5:50 pm
CHEERS to that mate! Barkeep, this lad’s drinks are on me tonight.
February 19th, 2004 at 9:01 pm
Not surprising really though, is it, between fifa’s world-domination and money-making aspirations and the fa’s hatred of anything Arsenal. since when have they ever done us any favours? Same as the 2-point deduction in ‘91, Paul Davis 9-match ban years before, and every suspension since for minor infractions up to this season’s o-t-t response to a normal reaction to van fuckface’s cheating - any opportunity to shaft us. Especially if it interferes with us getting to keep their Holy Grail after a trio of victories. On the subject of el tramposo, did anyone see his attempt to cheat a handballed goal in the Holland v USA match on Wed, a la Maradona. Thing is this was a friendly, not a World Cup quarter-final, and he was caught and booked. Should have been shot and made into glue.
If the Gooner from Minneapolis logs on,give a shout out to the Midwest mate. I ‘only’ live 5 hours away in sunny Sioux Falls, south dakota and am thinking of a possible move to the Twin Cities. Any Gooners watch games in the Brits Pub? Was up there couple of weeks ago and *****-me did those pints of Stella, London Pride and Old Speckled Hen taste good.
February 19th, 2004 at 10:34 pm
Kelvin matey have a pant and relax. Rick got it right here. The FA is at fault.
This game as far as I?m aware was plan almost a 3 year ago and teams were confirmed 2 years ago. Don?t blame Fifa and Uefa here since a letter was sent to each country within Fifa/Uefa. The FA mess it up and in crisis here but they are working on it. The FA knew this before the start of the season. Even the government and PFA are in talk with the FA to sort out this mess. The FA cup is a national occasion and the government alone with the press, PFA will be allow the FA to away here. They might push the game back or forward.
So before others start talking crap and point fingers wait for the outcome. A report in the press confirms that as well. A decision will be made depending who gets into the final. Nothing to do with the FA hatred for Arsenal as some people will like to put it but pure crap management on the part of the English FA. Man United are in the same boat but being told to wait.
Chill and let wait for the facts.
February 19th, 2004 at 11:31 pm
Well said,
A fight between history. In this case the FA mess up. Fifa plan the game in June but due to Euro 04 Uefa wants it play early but the FA f**k it up.
Sweet FA. Cant run a ### so clubs get screw up.
As Sir Bobby said sometimes is bad to be a top team.
February 20th, 2004 at 2:31 am
The sooner someone gets hold of Sepp Blatter and his cronies….line them up against a wall and shoot the b@$t@rds…the better it’ll be for the rest of us.
February 20th, 2004 at 3:43 am
If the government are involved, God help us!
February 20th, 2004 at 8:12 am
I mentioned this about a month ago, and it looks more likely now that we will reach the final. the simple truth is that this friendly will not be moved, and if we are playing in the final we will be at a significant disadvantage, with key players either absent or tired.
nice one mr blatter.
February 20th, 2004 at 11:21 am
True,
What really piss me off is that the FA were informed again by the french before the start of the season but still manage to screw this up.
If you read most of my comments I cant stand these big cats whether Fifa or Uefa but this one the FA fail the whole nation and not a queation of only Arsenal.
Solo sqaure shows how crap they are again
February 20th, 2004 at 11:28 am
Hmmm,
Well let not blame Blatter and his fat cats here.
I blame the league and FA for poor management.
I know how you feel and most gunners like you are very piss but as I mention we have to wait and see what the outcome is.
February 20th, 2004 at 11:52 am
I think my name gives it away, I am the Minnesota Gooner.
I live 2 blocks away form Brit’s Pub though I tend to watch most matches at home since I have FSW.
Give me a shout if you’d like, anytime you are coming up to the cities.
dennisbergkampisgod@yahoo.com
February 20th, 2004 at 12:08 pm
I know this is a very trouble and serious matter but I hope we don?t jump the gun here.
This game was plan ages ago, teams confirm at the last world cup so I don?t see how people blaming FIFA or UEFA for that matter. If anything it was the FA and Solo square.
The whole England football govern body manage to screw this up big time. The sad fact is that Dein the best-known Gunner sits on that board as well.
I don?t believe in Aliens so let cut some of the outer rubbish am reading that FIFA/UEFA or even FA are against Arsenal here. I don?t buy that and the Evening Standard, which reported this story first last year also, mention they are working on something.
Out of 72 teams in the cup no one knows who was going to get into the finals and all the top 5 teams in England and Wales have one player or so in these two countries. Is not only Arsenal here.
Yes, I feel all your taughts but will wait for the official word first. Is all right to share or mention your concerns but some of the comments posted by others are just jumping the gun without the facts.
February 20th, 2004 at 4:43 pm
I’m not the biggest fan of the FA here, but let’s not go blaming them for things that they are not actually responsible for…
The match was not classed as an “A” Mens International until last month… why do you think that Wenger didn’t even say anything until last month either… the French knew that there would be an exhibition match on that day, which is why they moved one of their cup rounds… everyone expected pretty second-rate teams for the game…
Let’s also remember that
(1) Blatter has a very good reason to try and make the FA suffer… they publically backed the opposition in the last FIFA elections. You know, the one’s after which he abandoned all the investigations into every corruption allegation against him…
(2) UEFA are in the same position as the FA, though it’s being focussed on less. The UEFA Cup Final is the day before this and the Champions League final the week after (yeah sure, Arsenal and Real Madrid are really gonna want their players injured in a meaningless friendly for that game)!
(3) Despite the unaminous rejection of the competition by UEFA clubs, FIFA is going ahead with the World Club Cup, which will mean the European Champions will have to leave their national leagues in December to play in Japan in another meaningless competition (he wouldn’t even put it in the winter break, let alone drop the idea…)
Anyway, rant over…
February 21st, 2004 at 12:24 am
Yo, GalaxyGooner:
> The sooner someone gets hold of Sepp Blatter and his cronies….line them up against a wall and shoot the b@$t@rds…the better it’ll be for the rest of us.
I’ll second and drink to that!
— Geoff