FIFA in Moving the Goalposts Shocker

[sarah_lennon]

Ireland to face top seeds in play-offs
Wednesday, 30 September 2009 16:01
The Republic of Ireland will face a potential World Cup play-off against one of Europe's top nations after FIFA President Sepp Blatter confirmed last night that the eight European qualifiers would be seeded.


After a FIFA meeting in Rio de Janeiro last night, Blatter confirmed to The Guardian newspaper: 'We have decided on seeding the teams into two groups of four, taking the Fifa world rankings into account, with the top four in one pot and the others in another pot.'


'There will be a separate draw to decide home and away,' he added of the two-leg ties to determine four European places at the 2010 finals in South Africa.


In keeping with their format for qualification for the 2006 World Cup in Germany when six teams were placed in two pots of three, Giovanni Trapattoni's Republic could find themselves in the unseeded Pot 2 if they can secure second spot in Group 8 after their remaining two games against Italy and Montenegro next month.

That would certainly leave Giovanni Trapattoni's men, currently ranked 38th, in the second tier, with Germany, France, Russia, Croatia, Greece and Serbia all potential opponents this November.


An FAI spokesperson also confirmed that the play-offs will be decided on world rankings and the strong likelihood is that Ireland would be in the unseeded Pot 2 and therefore face a tougher draw.


Ireland could not hope to overhaul Germany or Russia in their group, Croatia or Ukraine in their group or France and Serbia in their group.


The remaining groups would need to see Sweden beat Portugal to second place, Latvia to finish ahead of Greece, Slovenia to finish ahead of the Czech Republic and Bosnia to finish ahead of Turkey. Even then, the Republic would not be sure of making the top four seeds.


However, FAI Chief Executive John Delaney remains optimistic about Ireland's chances in spite of the revised seeding system.


Speaking in today's Irish Daily Mail, Delaney insisted: 'I'm not too sure where that [seeded draw] will place us but we've got concentrate first on what we've got to do.


'We've got to try and beat Italy and take it to the last game. And if we end up in the play-offs, we'd have been delighted to have got to the play-offs at the start of the group and we'll take what we get.'


He added: 'All I will say is that and team who finishes second mustn't have been top team in their group, obviously. So it gives you a chance.

[exiledinmunster]

Sepp Blatter is one of the world sports most cretinous individual. Between himself and that other racist buffoon Platini, is not a single ounce of integrity and/or honesty.