Andrew Warshaw Archives - Page 11 of 12 - Inside World Football

Andrew Warshaw: Irish, Scots and Welsh should shut up and just be part of Team GB at London 2012

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If ever there was a lie to the old adage that sport and politics don’t mix, the festering row over a united British football team at next year’s London Olympics must rank as the ultimate example.

Ever since London won the right to stage the Games, the three non-English Home Associations have steadfastly insisted they do not want to know anything about a united team because of a perceived threat to their independence.

Andrew Warshaw: The teasing is over – but can bin Hammam really oust the mighty Sepp Blatter from FIFA’s top job?

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So now we know. After seemingly interminable prevarication, Mohamed Bin Hammam has finally shown his hand and announced that he really does intend to try and end Sepp Blatter’s 13-year reign at the head of football’s world governing body.

For the last few months, at conferences and congresses the world over, rather like handing a sweet to a child and then withdrawing it at the last moment, bin Hammam has teased us with all manner of hints and innuendos.

Andrew Warshaw: English spending spree leaves Platini in no doubt who is bottom of Financial Fair Play league

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Ever since UEFA announced its financial fair play regulations designed to stop clubs over-spending, Michel Platini has been at pains not to single out the Premier League as the prime culprits. Penny for the UEFA President’s thoughts now.

Any of us who thought – and there are a good many – that the age of mind-boggling transfer fees had been swallowed up by the credit crunch were brought right back to reality when the mid-season window reached its frenzied dramatic conclusion.

Andrew Warshaw: Qatar may have worked the system to their advantage but there is no evidence to suggest they have broken any rules

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Just occasionally, in the murky, unpredictable world of football politics, an issue so outrageous and so baffling hits you so hard between the eyes, you wonder if you are actually seeing straight.

More column inches have been written about FIFA’s decision to award Qatar the 2022 World Cup than of us could have imagined before last month’s Zurich vote. What’s done is done say those who voted for the tiny Middle East state half the size of Wales.

Andrew Warshaw: Russian charm offensive hides ‘fight for life’ to secure World Cup

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“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Leningrad,” said the air stewardess as we approached St Petersburg airport. I kid you not.

Whether a deliberate piece of mischief, an innocent mistake or an embarrassing gaffe, she had conveniently overlooked the course of recent history. And a pretty significant period at that.

Andrew Warshaw: Little known ECA ready to bare teeth

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The European Club Association may not be a household name among football fans but Europe’s largest grouping of clubs is beginning to show its teeth.

Unlike its predecessor, the elitist G14, the ECA has no fewer than 197 members across the entire spectrum of the professional game, all speaking with one voice.

Andrew Warshaw: When being English doesn’t mean being born in England

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Just as the summer transfer window slammed shut across Europe, so a far more significant development took place in the English Premier League which has split experts down the middle.

The new eligibility rule, restricting top-flight squads to 25 players throughout the season – of whom at least eight have to be home-grown – is regarded as a long-overdue revolution by those in favour and a dangerously backward step by those against.

The reality is probably somewhere in between.

Andrew Warshaw: World Cup was Africa’s last chance for long time

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Now the vuvuzelas have been put away and South Africa is returning to some semblance of normality, attention will inevitably turn to if and when the African continent will stage the World Cup again.

Whilst the event matched or exceeded expectations both in terms of infrastructure and organisation, the reality is that Africa will almost certainly have to wait at least a generation before it can again embrace the infectious colour and collective enthusiasm that have been hallmarks of the past month.

Andrew Warshaw: Don’t hold your breath for Blatter to introduce technology

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Sepp Blatter’s decision to re-open the file on goalline technology marks a stunning U-turn even by the standards of his undisputed mastery of football politics.

But before fans across the world get too carried away by the FIFA President bowing to global outrage following Frank Lampard’s “goal-that-wasn’t” for England, a little caution would be advisable.

Andrew Warshaw: Are FIFA embarrassed? They should be

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The line of questioning thrown at FIFA spokesman Nicolas Maingot the morning after the night before Frank Lampard’s already imfamous “goal-that-wasn’t” included the words laughing stock and embarrassment. You can understand why.

When football’s lawmakers ditched goal-line technology once and for all just over three months ago, FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke said he hoped the decision did not come back to haunt the organisation at the World Cup.

Andrew Warshaw: Africa needs to rethink things after disappointing showing

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They had a record six teams in the tournament but one by one they tumbled out, failing to live up to expectations, dashing the hopes of an entire continent.

The vuvezelas may still be screeching and organisers saying all the right things about the show going on but no-one can ignore the hugely disappointing performances of Africa’s teams at Africa’s World Cup.

Andrew Warshaw: No-one is celebrating the Jabulani

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Jabulani means “celebrate” in Zulu. But you would have to go a long way to find anyone, anywhere - player, coach or fan - remotely happy when it comes to the controversial ball being used in the World Cup.

After the vuvuzela, nothing has generated greater debate. Watch any game and watch freekicks flying over the bar, outfield players struggling with their control, passes being overhit and goalies fumbling.

Andrew Warshaw: Blatter must fear after stampede South Africa 2010 will send out wrong message

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They were the kind of images FIFA President Sepp Blatter and his right-hand man, South Africa 2010 organising committee chief Danny Jordaan, least wanted to witness.

“World sees our soccer shame,” trumpeted the front page of Johannesburg’s main newspaper above several gruesome images.

One a terrified child, another a blood-stained fan with one eye half-closed; a third a frightening melee of confused supporters trying to find their feet after crashing into a gate.

Andrew Warshaw: Turkish optimism deflated by 10-year-old French boy

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It was always going to be a close-run affair but you only needed to witness the relief on the faces of the victorious French delegation and the look of total despair on those of their Turkish rivals to understand just how agonising it was.

Andrew Warshaw: Portsmouth should enjoy the FA Cup Final, their problems are about to get worse

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Under normal circumstances, FA Cup Final week should be about excitement, anticipation and gaining maximum publicity for all the right reasons.

But Portsmouth are no ordinary club as the last few months have starkly illustrated.