It’s over and, in a way, thank goodness. Despite my protestations I ended up watching far more of the FIFA World Cup than I meant to. Politics aside, it has been a good competition, with new teams emerging yet it is the old guard that has won again. Europe or South America has been the pattern and so it was again with Argentina and Spain in the final.
In the end I only watched the first half. I am glad I did as another seventy five minutes of play as well as the thirty minutes half time show would have been too much. The match was a complete contrast to the free flowing, ten goal epic of the runners up match. England did well, achieving its highest placing since 1966 though it is still not coming home. There is always 2030!
What has upset me about this competition, however, is the attempted North Americanisation of the game. Hydration breaks were one thing, which I can understand on very hot days but a thirty minute half time break and a show was too much. Half time is about getting a pie and going to the toilet. Nobody needs a show other than the sponsors and accountants!
The rules are quite clear.
Law 7: The Duration of The Match
2. Half-time interval
Players are entitled to an interval at half-time, not exceeding 15 minutes; a short drinks break (which should not exceed one minute) is permitted at the interval of half-time in extra time. Competition rules must state the duration of the half-time interval and it may be altered only with the referee’s permission.
Seeing that the format of the show was decided long before the referee was chosen, makes a mockery of this rule.
Does this matter? Yes because the beauty of football is that the rules are the same wherever it is played, or so they are supposed to be, whether you are playing at your local club or at the World Cup. I can’t see Morpeth Town affording such a show. I hope the football governing bodies get a grip on these rule changes and go back to how the game should be played.
I know it’s another four years away until the next World Cup, which is being held in Morocco, Portugal and Spain, but I’m already looking forward to it. Also, the coming season is only six weeks away.
Thoughts from a Retired Guerrilla Worker 