Apocalypse Watch: Sepp Blatter Apologizes

June 29th, 2010 | by: Ian Rose |

The end is nigh. The trumpets (vuvuzela?) have sounded and we are all doomed, because this must truly be the apocalypse. Sepp Blatter has apologized, and may even change his mind.

“It is obvious that after the experiences so far at this World Cup it would be a nonsense not to re-open the file on goalline technology.” the FIFA president said at a press conference today.

And he added: “I have apologized to the two delegations,” (England and Mexico). ” It has not been a five-star game for referees. I am distressed by the evident referees’ mistakes. I have expressed my apologies.”

It has not been a five-star game (I’m guessing he means tournament) for referees. That from the big boss, the constant defender of all things status quo in football. It will take me a day or so to sort this out in my head. Is this the start of a kinder, gentler, less overtly scary Sepp Blatter, who listens to the fans and takes some steps to bring the game into the 21st century? In short – no. But it may be the sign of a Sepp Blatter who has been talked to rather harshly by the English FA.

Only time will tell if anything will come from this. But myself, I have to admit, I’m feeling a little optimistic.

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1_Luka

Tomorrow he'll come out and claim he was mistranslated.
sandra350

Well I'm totally shocked at his response but I'll believe he's sincere when I see it.

No one wants technology brought in more than referees — esp. goalline technology which is a no-brainer. It's simple stuff with goalline tech. – it's either a goal or it isn't, the technology clarifies that. The technology works, it's been tested a number of times and proven totally effective. People have been shouting to FIFA for years “will it take a legitimate goal disallowed in a world cup final for you to see sense????”

Video replay is something else re offsides, fouls, penalties, etc. — there's legitimate debate about that. Referees' opinions differ on its application and effectiveness. I can understand some of the arguments against it but after having watched how it works with rugby (the game stops while a TV referee replays, say, a play to see if it's a legitimate try), I don't see why it wouldn't work in football. The game already stops for injuries, free kicks, fouls, etc.
http://twitter.com/PaulArens Paul Arens

This is Blatter BS. Remember when he “reopened the file” on additional referees near the goal line and all that happened was a few assistants were tried out in a few Europa league games? Notice that he hasn't promise anything. The file will be “reopened” and he will be apologetic until the World Cup is over and barring any other appalling calls, this will all blow over as there were bad group stage and round of 16 calls. I fully expect that the file will be reclosed and FIFA will be business as usual when club football restarts at the end of summer.
hobo84

He'll re-open the file in a couple of months, then close it again.
http://malawi.worldcupblog.org sscouser

I think goalline technology will be approved. That's about it.

Blatter said that with calls “like in the Mexico game, we don't need technology.”

Here is what I stated on the post entitled: Tevez: “I was offside”:

“If an AR is not totally sure about an offside offence, the flag should not be raised.”

Do you see how far in line the 'linesman' was from the last/second last defender? No wonder he didn't raise the flag.

Sometime back Blatter said “we don't need instant video replay, we need professional refs.”
TewDollars

I agree, the goal line tech. is a “no-brainer” at this level.
Some guys surely get death threats after an unseen or an unjust given goal call. That alone should be reason enough to give them the better tool.

I can't help but worry that some spazzo maybe even one day will follow through on one. This might be paranoia on my part, but it would be a hard lesson to rethink the “human” aspect they keep touting.
Bense235

All Blatter needs is a red lightsaber, a robe and a hood. Then he'd finally be Darth Blatter.
Bense235

At the moment, it has a margin of error of about 3 mm. No replay could prove that thing wrong. It's correctly 99,7% of the times. We don't need something like a horn and a strobe light on the goal, but simply some device that sends the ref a signal it was in.
http://twitter.com/folktechnology L V Subramaniam

How long do these prez stay? They run it like a fiefdom. At least the king apologised.