By Andrew Warshaw
July 12 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter got at close as he possibly could today to laying the blame for Sunday’s fiery World Cup final directly at the feet of the vanquished Dutch.
Blatter left little doubt about his take on proceedings at Soccer City when he was repeatedly asked, at his final World Cup press conference, what he thought of the Dutch tactics in the 1-0 defeat by Spain.
“The final was not exactly what I expected in terms of fair play,” said Blatter.
“When I watch football I watch as a fan but when I am asked questions like these as FIFA president then I cannot answer as a fan.
“Even though I have seen all the irregularities as a spectator, I cannot answer this question as president of FIFA.
“I could answer it as a fan of football but I am here as president.
“You have to learn to win and you have to learn to lose, and should not forget the basis which is discipline and respect.”
Blatter also sprang to the defence of English referee Howard Webb who has come in for fierce bitter criticism from Dutch coach Van Marwijk and his players after dishing out 14 cards, all but five against Holland and including one sending-off, the highest haul in the World Cup finals since the 20-card record from the second round in 2006 between Portugal and Holland.
“It was a very hard task that the refereeing trio had,” said Blatter.
“It was not easy - really, not easy and they were not helped.
“Football is a sort of school for life which is based on discipline and respect.
“It is also a combat game but a combat game in the spirit of fair play.”
Blatter also repeated answers from previous press conferences about the reopening of inquiries into goal-line technology – scheduled for October- about the value of relying on home-bred talent and about no decision being made this year on the allocations of the 31 slots for the 2014 finals in Brazil.
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