大象传媒

Just finished watching the Ghana V USA game at work on the beeb website (Amazing quality given how many I imagine are trying to see it!) and thought it was another cracker from what has been the most entertaining group of the lot so far. I wonder if the atmosphere in the office was better than the atmos outside the stadium?

Bless the yanks, they've got the measure of the Italians then. Welcome to 'football'.

And GO AUSSIES tonight! My wife's one so it's a double whammy of tension in our house. They'll have the Italians if they don't lose tonight. And strangely enough, the Aussie's tend to refer to our game as 'soccer' a bit too.

Have you got a good ticket for that?

Well, it was interesting to read nothing about the match from someone who wasn't there :-)

Interested to know Martin, if you had had gained access to the stadium whether you would have mentioned on here that you bought the ticket off a tout, thus praising the service? In contrast to the reality that you've now fed a criminal some handy Euro's.

And they say not to buy off touts... a lesson to us all.

It's selfish idiots like you that keep the touts in business, thereby denying real fans access to tickets in the first place.

Well, the Italians made it up to us with the 2-0 result. Unfortunately, we made some dreadful defensive mistakes and the ref handed Ghana the second goal.

As for this American fan, I can't even go to work to day. June 22 is a day of mourning for me now.

Well, the Italians made it up to us with the 2-0 result. Unfortunately, we made some dreadful defensive mistakes and the ref handed Ghana the second goal.

As for this American fan, I can't even go to work today. June 22 is a day of mourning for me now.

Buy an illegal ticket, get what you deserve.

Idiots who are prepared to pay touts prices are the reasons touts exists. Put another way, idiots like YOU are the reason touts exist.

Highly enjoyable read -We get a good inside, personalized, picture, as opposed to the sterile, official, broadcasts.

the americans think we are babies. brian mcbride is a baby. de rossi accidently taps him in the face with his elbow, and it's wah wah

Gees guys I think he's learnt his lesson about buying off a tout and I'm sure he will get grief when he gets home after the wife has looked at the bank statement. He's got burnt by a tout so I don't see how he is depriving anyone else seeing the match. There's always going to be someone out there who is going to work around the system and there will always be someone who is willing to pay for it. Basic rules of supply and demand.

Completely agree with all the people who have no sympathy with you after you bought a tout's ticket - as someone who missed out despite going through all the official channels it is poetic justice. I hope the atmosphere on those concrete steps was worth the outlay.

Ghana is simply the best. This is a big lesson for ther African countries representing Africa.

HI,I JUST WATCHED THE GHANA V USA MATCH.I TELL YOU,MY COUNTRY GHANA,IS REALLY A TEAM AND NOT A GROUP OF PLAYERS.I HOPE FIFA'S TECHNICAL OFFICIALS WILL TAKE A SECOND LOOK AT THE REFREE'S PERFORMANCE ON THIS GAME.THE REFREE IN MY ESTIMATION PERFORMED POORLY.AS FOR THE CELEBRATION DOWN HERE IN GHANA,YOUR GUESS IS AS GOOD AS MINE.MY LAST WORDS FOR ALL WHO ARE NOT SURE OF SUPPORTING THE BLACK STARS OF GHANA IS "PUT YOUR HEART IN IT,BELEIVE IN THEM,AND THEY WILL SURVIVE.AYEEKOOO BLACK STARS.POSITIVE STIIIILL.GO FOR THE ALTIMATE BLACK STARS.MAKE AFRICA PROUD''.

REGRADS
SAM NEWTON,GHANA

So did you lot enjoy the atmosphere created by the English taking over Frankfurt, Nuremberg and Cologne? If so, how do you think most of them got their tickets? Try blaming the real villains of the piece - FIFA and their ridiculous ticketing policy.

I disagree with all of you. I feel really sorry for him. Yes it was stupid but you can't anticipate something like that happening. Unlucky!

Italiano man, I really hope we won't see de Rossi playing in this tournament again.

Thanks to God and our players; the BLACK STARS.i personally believe the guys have two systems of dealing of their opponents. when the meet their opponents and they play a fast game, then they play a slow game, get them confused to commit mistakes and punished them for that. when the opponents play a slow game, then the change to a fast game. this is just the trike.

Some of you are jokers. Old school touts provide a service buying tickets at already high prices from so called "genuine fans" or FAs who make the bulk of the money and cause the problem. The tout will only add on his margin (say 拢50) and as he is selling so many tickets this builds up making it worthwhile. In this case chances are the tout would not have know he had bought a "cancelled" ticket. The story is different if you chose to deal with kids, non english, and generally shifty characters but you can generally spot these a mile off. As for your comments of touts ruining it for you not being able to see a match get real. They are helping you get to the match after the system let you down and many 1000s of english fans in germany are proof of that. You are just not willign to pay the going rate which means you are not too bothered about seeig the match.

It's funny how a light-hearted blog can be received by many to strike you down and tear you to shreds (well.. attempoted)

i'm pretty sure, given the chance, any person would buy of a tout but, yet, it is a good lesson to be learnt, you can get your fingers burnt

GO USA IN 2010! Ah well, we seem to do well every other World Cup, so it's on to South Africa! And CONGRATS GHANA! You're second goal was a gift from the referees (A WEDGIE FOR MARKUS MERK), but in the end, without that goal it would have been a tie and you still would have progressed. Good luck against Brasil.

GO USA IN SOUTH AFRICA 2010! We seem to do well every other WC, so we'll just have to wait. CONGRATS GHANA! Your second goal was a gift from the referees (A WEDGIE FOR MARKUS MERK!) but even without that goal, it would have been a draw and you would have advanced. Good luck against Brasil.

I don't agree with buying tickets from touts - it'll always end in tears - if not the police station!!

However, given the stupidity of the ticketing arrangements which seem to favour money rather than putting the show on for those who genuinely care about and love their footie, I don't blame you for trying. If it wasn't for touts getting hold of tickets given to corporate sponsors etc and selling them to fans, the stadium would be full of middle aged businessmen talking business and there would be none of the party atmosphere and flags that you see on the TV that make the world cup the party it is. Its time FIFA thought of the real fans, the bread and butter of football - without us there would be no game, and no world cup.

Is it possible that no one else saw that the American goal was on offside apart from myself. Everyone keeps saying that the ref handed Ghana the game. But for me i think he just made amends. Poor thing about the cancelled ticket but hey you could have been laughing by now.

I have no problems buying a ticket from a tout, its basic law of supply and demand, if I have the surplus income and no other means to obtain a ticket, then yes it might be worth the risk.

The major problem is FIFA's ticketing policy. It is an abomination that sponsors get the bulk of the tickets (many of which are returned) and the average (usually very enthusiastic and vocal) supporters have to enter a ridiculous lottery in the slimmest of hopes to watch a game. FIFA's ticketing policy is what perpetuates the black market and obscene ticket prices that are in the world cup today. I'm Brazilian and on a few occassions have gotten to watch my beloved selecao, but why is it that someone who works for Coca-Cola or T-Mobile in Norway has a greater chance of watching them play than I do?

I love football with all my heart, but I hate FIFA.

Markus Merk and the ref for the Italy game knocked the US out. True the US didn't play well enough to advance but it would have been nice if the refs didn't ruin the World Cup with insane cards and pks.

Nice dive by Pimpong. Ghana, enjoy getting destroyed by Brazil. I doubt the biased refs will help you there.

Listen here italiano man (post #10), where do you get off calling McBride a baby? He gets a gash that would later require four stitches, sheds no tears and STAYS IN THE GAME.

Meanwhile, I still don't know who was wearing the blue that day: your football team or the Italian National Diving Team. At least when a US player gets taken down, he doesn't roll-around on the turf like a woman giving birth.

Just remember the ref had to disallow Beasley's goal for Italy to get that 1-1 tie. You will not play a physically tougher team than the USA in this world cup.

As for your view of the US team, I've got a little Calabrese saying for you: Occhi tua, culo mio! Capice?

Watched USA and thought they had their chances, and just couldn't manifest goals. The refs are using standards that these players aren't used to, and USA in this game suffered. That second Ghana goal should not have happened. Honestly, though, I am pissed at my team for simply not running hard enough...

As for why we don't hang our flags up in the cafes of the host town, get drunk, clog the pubs, act like teenagers, not sure....but not concerned either.

This referee was a joke. His whistle dominated the game. After the "gift" penalty, all he was doing in the second-half was trying to please the American. He just frustrated Ghana and tried to get Essien out. But Ghana would have still qualified without the referees whistle and cards. God bless Ghana

Why shouldn't the 'Yanks' sing "'ere we go, 'ere we go..."? The music is from the American John Philip Sousa's "Stars and Stripes Forever" which is played at the end of every 4th of July fireworks display!

The refs need to get the hell out of the game. I played college "soccer" back in the dark ages (the late 70s, I was a fullback). If you rolled around on the ground and cried like a little girl the ref would come by and kick you to get you up.
Good luck to Ghana against Brazil. No whining! It it isn't bleeding or broken, you're not hurt.

To all those with harsh words to say about me buying a ticket off a tout.

Yes, in one way I got what I deserved as there is always a risk associated - but i don't think me buying an unvalid ticket has deprived a 'real' fan of entrance to the stadium.

I didn't pay that much over the face value and just got unlucky i guess

Plenty have people have bought very expensive tickets from touts and have got into the game - and its not as if I hadn't applied for tickets in the first place.

Roll on the latter stages eh? So I can waste more of my money.

As a longtime USA fan, I was tremendously disappointed with many aspects of our teams performance in Germany. Pathetic outing versus the Czechs, followed by a gutsy game against the Italians, and capped by a mixed finale. The PK was a lame call, but the constant American weakness, finishing, was mostly to blame for our woes. Congratualtions to Ghana! It is great to see an African side in round of 16. Give Brazil hell!!!

At least the Americans have a team to watch! I'm from Canada... don't get me started.... :'(

Congrats Ghana! You deserved to win. I'm a US fan, and disappointed of course. Yes, "The Call" was weak, but bottom line is the US didn't score enough to win - and only 1 goal in 3 games will never be enough to advance. Hafta say it is sad to see all of the venom spewed at the US by people of other countries. Could take it more easily if we'd won, but it seems to me like being kicked whilst being down - not very sportsman-like.
Go Ghana! take it to Brazil with everything you got.

Well what can i say! look's like the boys from Brazil are back,
Brazil for the cup YET again

On the subject of tickets; I was in Italy for the 1990 World Cup and somebody was delayed and didn't turn up with my ticket. Out onto the streets and to much relief bought one from an Irish fan. Ended up in the Irish end, but no matter. As it happens I could have bought one at less than face value from local residents on the walk to the ground. They had loads to sell as they had bought them in hopes of making a profit.

Ticket policies still don't seem to have improved much - but you can hardly blame the [choose small impecunious country] F.A. from raising funds - it's just that I suspect it's often individuals in power profit taking. Perhaps less generous third party ticket policies and increased subsidies to smaller FAs is a way forward?

The World Cup hasn't started until Ronaldo scores.
He may be fat, listless, indolent and all that; but as Scolari said "he decides matches"

Touts, please dont get me going. I was in Cologne for the Sweden match and the touts were asking for a grand a ticket. After watching the Germany Ecuador game in a Fanfest full of Germans (where I made many new friends) I joined the 35,000 other Enlgish fans in the fanfest on the other side of The Rhine. Apart from a dodgy compere and the England team trying to ruin the night great fun was had by all. So forget paying touts inflated prices go to a fanfest watch the game and have a drink at the same time (if you can get served). Just remember FIFA are the ones to blame for ticketing.

Ghana is the best. I root for the underdogs, go teams!!

Give the underdogs a chance. It is like the football giants act like bullies to new and developing football countries. I know everyone should be competetive but that doesn't mean the world need to exclude the ones regarded as 'underdogs'.

The football giants should respect them no matter what. Sometimes whenever I see arrogant teams, sorry, like Brazil, I pity them due to their country's situation, sorry again, on poverty. Their country needs to win in order to compensate the poor in their country. While whenever I look at a country like Ghana, even though they're not rich in food, etc. and less unfortunate than the whole world, they're rich in smiles, and truly they live football.

I admire those countries like Ghana, full of spirit no matter how hard the country faces.

FIFA should, I recommend, expand to every part of the world. Majority of Countries like Philippines, India, Kazakstan, and other countries not involved in football, should get opportunities to actually playing Football.

It's ironic to say Football is a World Game if not the Whole World is part of the beautiful game. Shame on FIFA, sorry but true. Please FIFA, share!! If you don't share, you will get ones, but if you share, you'll get billions. Share football to the whole world.

Why anyone will pay even official prices for football tickets is beyond me. Isn't the fact that players and managers earn such high salaries just as obscene as the prices touts are charging? Just give your grand to Oxfam and watch the match at home.

Have you noticed that all the good players at this tournament are Liverpool players? We are keeping this tournament alive. Super reds. I'm off to make a banner!

Thats right Dave. YOULL NEVER WALK ALONE.

Dancing Dave, wasn't aware that Joe Cole played for Liverpool :)

Paying over the odds for a ticket that doesn't exist? Seems a little gormless to me when the Germans are laying on Fanfests like that in Stuttgart, where you can turn up and be in the company of 65,000-odd fans from 16 countries in the main square, be provided with 4 giant screens, entertainment before/during/after the games, and really get in the spirit of "Time to make friends". Me, I shall be spending the weekend in the company of the football-supporting public, watching the Germans save our blushes by squeezing out the Swedes, the Mexicans doing a Port Stanley on the Argies, the English beat the Ecuadorians (after a 6-5 penalty shoot-out and some bizarre substitutions from Svengali) and then see the entire city turn orange for the Dutch victory over the Portugese. All for the price (pre-booked) of 75 euros for one night's hotel room, and the flight. Why perpetuate the touting? If you don't give the touts a market, they will disappear. One thing is clear - the Germans have shown the way forward at events like this with their open-minded approach to inviting ticketless fans and their policing policies.
Still, got to go back to work on Monday!

HAHA Brazil for the world cup......
Is that when Ronaldo has been on the atkins diet for a few months.. very lack lustre. Hard luck USA, well done. Can't wait till you let other nations into the 'world series'.....
Think you will do well in 2010.

Liverpool players? Erm Who? All I can think of is Gerrard and Alonso?

Surely you can't be talking about Robocrouch or Kronkamp or Carragher? Anyone I've missed?

Rich Clark: Yes, Steven Gerrard (the man's a footballing God!), Xabi Alonso (is there a better passer in the world?), would far rather have Carra at right back than Gary Neville every time, Luis Garcia's had a couple good games, Harry Kewell's had a mixed time of it but in the end his goal got Australia through, so it's a little more positive than that for us Reds. However, we're far from keeping the world cup alive. There are a lot of very, very good players in this WC, and on just tonight's matches I think Real Madrid, Barcelona and both Milan clubs may have a little to say about Liverpool keeping the World Cup alive...

the refs in a lot of the games i have seen in this world cup are just plain bad. terrible game turning calls. the worst was the gift goal japan got against australia. anyway, somebody educate me, why is there only one ref? most sports have multiple refs, etc. i'd rather watch a slowed down game with instant replay than see a game decideded by the refs. dives should receive a red card right off. ridiculous.

This world cup has not been a great one for the U.S. but lets call it evenly. The team was obviously overhyped by our media pundits in the States and did not perform to the own standards they claimed to have. I actually heard multiple commentators say that there was no team in the Cup this year more "physically fit" than the U.S team! That is pure absurity to say! Players on every national team are professionals in leagues around the world. Nevertheless, beating powerhouse teams is one feat to tackle alone, but trying to beat the refs at this World Cup is ridiculous. As for US fans not being rowdy... just come watch an American football game in the South or swing by to watch an NFL game across the country, you'll get what you want and more. Americans, in general, still do not care about soccer. If you don't believe me, go check out the major headlines on ESPN or FOX and see what the major story is.

I am heartbroken. another 4 yrs and such a disappointing tourney for them. From playing lethargic in the Czech game to a weird game (9 on 10) that we could have won but didn't against Italy and then to give up two terrible goals against Ghana in game we frankly should have won. While I thought a lot of players looked great (Dempsey, onyewu, convey, mcbride, and some others) I was thoroughly disappointed in Beasley, Reyna and Donovan.

The penalty was atrocious. 99 out of 100 times that would and should not be called. I couldn't believe it. I can't wait to analyze it more closely tonight . Reyna completely blew it with an elementary mistake that no one at this level should make, much less the leader and veteran of the team. While completely Reyna's fault, I don't ever see them giving up a goal like that ever again. Just one of those flukes that I wish came in qualifying. Ghana was diving all game and essien is lucky he escaped his second yellow with a pitiful dive at the top of the box that the ref bought. While we didn't dominate or look as threatening as I would have liked we certainly controlled the game and didn't get beat on the field just on the scoreboard. Unfortunately we couldn't catch a break. One off the post and two narrowly missing around the 60th minute.

One bright spot, Dempsey is good and his goal was great (good pass from beasly). He is clearly better than beasly and Donovan. He, Convey and Onyewu are the future of this team.

You know I would like to comment on a few. First the italian in post 10: You are a tool, maybe if italy can manage football in its own country they can then play in a league with the US and Ghana. That was a well fought match. Bad calls yes but no one her has even started calling out Arena. That moron handed Ghana the game. He should have asked the boys who wanted the game then made the lineup. This was his day to hope the "all stars" shine. How often in world sports has an american "dream team" worked? RARELY!! learn the lesson. As for dives, all of europe is taking them, it is ridiculous, from swiss against england, to Brasil against anyone. The entire tournament is a sham at this point. Every team is being robbed in every game. Yellow cards and red cards are abound, having to add more than 3 minutes of stoppage per game is a prime indication there. Ghana jsut did what they saw. The US tried to pla pretty soccer and did not come out and attack or even really play the game. That was all our fault. No one else to blame. Convey, Conrad, Johnson, Mcbride, Onyewu and next cup we get Freddie Adu. We will show then what we can do, with that all and a new coach, no one will be able to stop us.
Lastly, to attack italy again, you throw an elbow like that and you DESERVE the card, it was in no way accidental, several other cuts were handed out this cup, none were intentional. That was, and you are all little whining girls for complaining that it did not happen in your favor, at least del Piero shows dignity for your country, he deserves to be there. Aso For England, hoping you do well but until you let go of crouch, no hope. And bad call by erikson removing Rooney, true you advance but that guy will break his soul to get your country a championship. Let him run, watch what he is capable of with Becham feeding him a ball.

You have 22 players running around a field that is twice as big as a football field, but you have only one measley stupid retarded referee in the whole game????? How the hell can you ref a fair game?

If you want soccer to be popular, it needs to be fair. With so much ground to cover, one measely ref can't do it. What do you need?

You need INSTANT REPLAY you dummies. FIFA get with the program!!! 1 bad call changes the entire game. In a game where almost no one scores a fricken goal, you better get your calls right.

It's hilarious to watch the americans bitch and moan. especially the idiot that said football isn't popular. Just goes to show you the level of knowledge US fans have.

The US has always been one of the weakest teams in the world. They are a top 30-40 team most of the time and overachive once in a while and everyone goes crazy. Remember when they lost to Iran in 98, the US players were saying 99 times out of 100 they would beat Iran.

Now 99 times out of a 100 Ghana wouldn't get the PK.

The reality is that US was one of the weakest teams in this tournement, they would have lost to Iran, Japan or S. Korea. So stop whining and instead learn to watch some football maybe then you'll get a clue.

You are in so much trouble when you get home, not for lining the pockets of criminals, but for referring to your spouse as 'the wife'.

Americans bad losers? Against Italy you play your best match: pressing and perfect off side. The only result is you complain that our players are divers. You should learn how to score!
We made you a gift (you can return home with 1 point) and you are in anger with us? Baaaad losers!

posts 24 and 26 have got it spot on here.

Fans wouldn't need to buy off of touts if FIFA's main concern was the fans and atmosphere generated and not money in their pocket and backslapping their pals.

The most galling thing is all the FIFA c**p about 'Fair play is our game'. 8% is not fair play, and the sooner that becomes more link 35% you might actually stop looking like a laughing stock to the world, and the games might have genuine atmosphere again instead of businessmen doing the mexican wave and more interested in buying ice creams than getting involved in the game.

Congrats to Ghana. The real shame in all this is the draw. I think that all four teams in this group could have moved on if placed in different groups. I should say that the ref's decision on the PK was awful, but in the end that wasn't the reason for our early exit. Ghana should be proud, and anybody that doesn't think that this was the toughest group in the cup is a fool. I feel sorry for the Czechs, too. Oh, and one last thing. I am so sorry that the American fans are not living up to this blogger's expectations of what a football / soccer fan should be. We will try to model ourselves more like England and the continent in the future. Perhaps you could loan us a few Liverpool fans and a tape of that 1985 game vs. Juventus so that we may present ourselves better in four years.

yes yes...now ghana can be named football made in ghana cos we beat U.S.A 2 gaols to 1 and cant run with ghana forever, so now we are waiting for braizel to give them the same 2 gaols to 1,and i dont think ronaldo and ronaldinoh will understand that

I have been a long time fan & loved the run for the US in 2002. And I think this team, on paper, was better than 2002's team. But grevious mistakes were made from top to bottom. Arena managed like he was trying not to lose the whole tournament and that is never going to work. It was not until the 60th minute of the last game that the US had two strikers on the field! Completely unexcusable. When the US has success, it is playing as an athletic, running side - perhaps not the most technical or "total" football, but successful. This cup we simply didn't do that - even though we have the players to do it. And that comes down to the manager.

Congratulations to Ghana (are Americans the only football fans to graciously concede defeat?) but you guys are going to have a hell of a time against Brasil - best of luck!

Well this BLOG seems to have drawn some reaction.
I am sure that we can all agree that ticket touts are to be condemned and should have their breeding rights withdrawn. All ticket touts who rip off genuine football fans by selling invalid tickets at vastly inflated prices should be burnt at the stake.
I find it more difficult to condemn the fans themselves for buying tickets from "unofficial souces" when they have been denied the possibility of obtaining tickets by legitimate means through FIFA's
ticketing policy and FIFA's apparent unwillingness to act effectively agains the black market sale of tickets as a whole. It is hard but if FIFA were to invalidate all illegitimate tickets, the Black Market would collapse and the touts dissapear. The technology not only exhists, but FIFA have bought it and it is largely installed at WORLD CUP STADIUMS.
The problem is that an event like the FIFA WORLD CUP is an opportunity to make money, an opportunity that is exploited by both touts and "allegedly" those at the very highest level within football.
The 大象传媒's excellent Panorama programme THE BEAUTIFUL BUNG
"Corruption at the WORLD CUP"
highlights the problem. If you missed the program look up Reporter ANDREW JENNINGS on the 大象传媒 Web Site.

In America basketball and baseball are in the top of all sports in terms of popularity. It is a good sign that kids are playing football and interested to this sport that is a positive side for the future of USA football. This is very unfortunate to be cheated in an international tournament like world cup. So, the authority should do something to prevent the cheatings.

Let's think, for a moment, if the USA actually collected a concentrated effort to drawing it's premeir athletes to football at a young age. Imagine if the likes of Michael Vick, Reggie Bush, or Dwayne Wade were conditioned mentally and physically to become football players the same way that they were for their respected sports. Just a thought...

Massimo NorthItaly, I'm surprised to hear you call anyone a bad loser. Were you alive in 2002 when Italians complained more than any other team or country in the history of internatioanl competition??

Asad, USA would have probably gone out anyway even if the ref hadn't called the penalty and I know unluckly things happen to every team, just look at last tourney with us in the germany game, Italy and Spain against Korea, but the excessive penalty calling seems to be the design and not just the unlucky call that usually happens every tourney. Across the board this has been happening and FIFA is standing behind the calls. It is ruining a lot of games. Fans and players should not have to worry this much about getting cards or slightly touching someone resulting in free kicks in dangerous areas. It not only effects the score but the flow and style of play. I found myself, in a lot of the games, more worried about what erratic thing the ref will do next that may be detremental to the game or team than just thinking about how aggressive or well players were playing. I think a lot of people would agree that this has been the case in many of the games. Not all but if you've seen every match there have been a lot of unnecesary calls.

So, some people think that it's us ordinary decent ... fans ... that have caused the black market in World Cup tickets? The true villains of the piece are FIFA. With 45% of tickets going to corporate entertainment, where do you think the black market tickets originated? I was over for the first round matches with my son. The capacity of the venues, and ticket allocation to England fans (by far the largest travelling fan base) was practically immoral. I was fortunate enough to be given two tickets, on my flight over to Frankfurt, for the Paraguay game by an American 'football' fan. I will be eternally grateful to him for saving me 1000 euro. For the second game I had to pay the above amount for two tickets. For the Sweden match the prices had reached horrendous figures. I shelled out for another two. All the tickets I bought had a recurring theme. From what sector do you suppose they came? From English fans who had applied and sold them on? From local fans who had applied and sold them on? From neutral fans who had applied and sold them on? From Football Associations? No, they were all from the 'corporate' sector. FIFA have created a monster. And we ordinary decent ... fans ... are being made to feel like ordinary decent .... criminals.

You have 22 players running around a field that is twice as big as a football field, but you have only one measley referee in the whole game????? How can you ref a fair game?

If you want soccer or "football" to be popular, it needs to be fair. With so much ground to cover, one measely ref can't do it. What do you need?

You need INSTANT REPLAY you dummies. FIFA get with the program!!! 1 bad call changes the entire game. In a game where almost no one scores a goal, you better get your calls right.

JimmyZim just showed his ABSOLUTE IGNORANCE of the Game he's writing about. Go back to watching football (The kind played with the hands). Where I come from , it's called "CATCH".
If you believe football is not popular, how come the whole world is transfixed for a whole month? I guess in your opinion, POPULAR==Americans love it.
Go learn some Geography and figure out that America!=World

Ciao