Sunday, July 11, 2010

Who gives them a Red Card?



This World Cup was a joke, a parody of soccer. It would be better said that it was a mockery of the sport. Many have profited greatly at the expense of incorrect judgement calls. If it was incidents that happened once or twice it would be quickly forgotten from the pages of our minds, but they were from beginning of the championship and continued until it concluded, even in the final act for the World Cup. I am at a loss of words, how can I express the events. The bias of the referees was undeniable. When will FIFA realize the importance of using replay review to make an objective call? Clearly one of the most frustrated teams this world cup was Team USA, but the same can said of Italy who should have won its last game by 4 - 3, instead of losing by 2 - 3. The Italians scored a perfectly valid goal, plus a crystal clear penalty that was not granted to them by the referee in question. Maybe Italy deserved to be eliminated due to their unconvincing performance. They were too weak for a reigning world champion, but a theft remains theft. They were robbed of a victory if not more. Another memorable situation was when the referee had invented a free kick for African team vs Uruguay in the last minute of play (my guess is that African team was supposed to qualify), then a penalty was easily awarded for the African team. Eventually the team’s worth became apparent. The Africans were left where they belong. Spain was visibly frustrated as the match against Paraguay, but like the game that I mentioned earlier, it was Spain's turn to be helped by the referees in the last act of the competition. Maybe the Dutch did not deserve a victory, but football is no longer a sport for fun, but a business, and those guys with the big bucks give a damn about fans and spectators.
Congratulations to the Netherlands, congratulations Germany, congratulations U.S.!

46 comments:

  1. great talk about this very boring Cup. But don't cry over Italy, i can tell it as an Italian. They're super paid pampered people...and i don't like soccer!!!

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  2. Excellent image and great commentary. While I don't watch much sports, I do believe that the instant replay should have been in use from start to finish. It would have probably provided a different outcome, but then ALL the teams would have known that they gave it their best and that they would have won or lost farly and honest.

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  3. It was very clear FIFA does not believe in using technology, and proper calls seem to belong to other sports.

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  4. This was my first experience watching the World Cups and I have to agree with some of this, so many of the calls made were so unfair and ridiculous, they could not pay me enough to be a referee, on the other hand I did enjoy watching the commonality between the players and counties involved.. and hopefully they will in the future find a better way to judge the calls made on the field.

    Nice work on this Eddie..

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  5. Nice poster. I did not follw the cup, but I heard the same things about it.

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  6. se nota que no entiendes de futbol o as visto otro campeonato a españa en todos los partidos le an pejudicado los arbitros y sobre todo el de la final el equipo que mejor futbol ha hecho ha sido el español. aupaaaaaaa españaaaaaaaaaa

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  7. Modern madcap football for money...

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  8. Don't get me and Jeff started on the outcome of such World Cup-hype, we used to love Soccer - not as much anymore !
    Definite corruption from most Countries, thanks to the Referees - they are the ones, who should have received the 'yellow & red cards' for wrong calls and should have been ousted...
    technology doesn't get any better, than that...OUCH !!!

    BTW nice addition to the Cup - that will always be remembered - for the wrong reasons.
    *BB*

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  9. I didn't watch a second of any of it, for me it's like watching Golf or Bowling, just boreing but I can under stand your passion against the Referees, it's that way in most Sports.
    **Peace**

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  10. Soccer (or football for those who insist) isn't really my thing, but it's been hard to ignore this time around - and I've had limited internet access and time to spend online.

    From the sounds of it, this World Cup have proven to be one that's going to be looked at as an example of what not to do. Quesionable calls, issues with noise (for some), issues with the ball, performance issues and FIFA having a problem with people outside of the organization making decisions regarding the poor performing teams.

    Granted, it wasn't all lows, but I believe there were enough of said moments to, as blondeblurr said, make this a memorable Cup for the wrong reasons.

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  11. outstanding illustration.I did not follow the games but heard bits and pieces on the TV.seems as all professional sports is in the hands with the deepest pockets and probably even high school college levels

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  12. I enjoyed the games. USA 'n' Germany didn't make it, but Spain did A-OK! Each to their own I guess. (:

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  13. Eddie, this is an amazing work of art and dedication. I agree totally with your thoughts on what happened. Richard also made a good point that sadly it seems almost all pro sports fall victim to this.

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  14. Well, Pretty much everything is a business and has nothing to do with the sport or fans, it is about filling those seats and making money. Hockey, Basketball, baseball etc.Most athletes get paid pretty good, win , loose or draw in order to help fill those seats. Athletes are expendable as here today and gone tomorrow when better ones get hired. Just business.

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  15. did not watch it at all. very good expane of what going on and wonderful image

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  16. Did not watch this game but i heard it little bit ...But This is Great poster, Eddie...

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  17. Excellent art work. I agree with all you've said, especially about them not using video playback. It's unbelievable in this day and age of technological wonder gadgets. And I also second sandra46 comment (I'm Italian too) about the Italian players super paid and pampered. They don't deserve tears for their very ordinary performance.

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  18. a very cool work!!!!

    thus soccer games look, if they are played only by repeated millionaires. And the arbitrators are the scapegoat......

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  19. Can't say much; home team is England, who managed to prove themselves overpaid, over-hyped and nothing for us to be proud of.

    All that money could have gone to improve the lot of the population.

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  20. An wonderful and very creative poster my friend, congratulations.....!!!!

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  21. great composition!! I don't like soccer, I liked F1 but there big bucks rule too much!

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  22. Great poster, Eddie

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  23. Never watch it myself, but I think that a red card should have been thrown at the South African fans who insisted on ruining the World Cup for everyone.

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  24. Hello Eddy !

    First of all, thanks for your fav and comment on my last image !

    Now, I can say that I agree with your comment about the soccer World Cup. I was ashamed with the french team's behavior and I think that the referees made big mistakes (or were they paid for not seeing some faults like in the final?)
    Your words are courageous but I think that money rules in the soccer game : it so bad it ends to this. Where is the true spirit of sport?

    Have a great day !

    Virginie

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  25. In 4 years Canada will be in the Mondial :)

    Wonderful Tribute!

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  26. this is cool work !! great tribute !

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  27. l'espagne etait la meilleure equipe!! l'arbitrage plutot bizzarre,et l'argent de plus en plus present,et la france ridicule; aussi, voila resume une coupe du monde qui ne resteras pas dans les memoires!! superbe image!!

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  28. I can only say that the referee was very bad!!!

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  29. Really nice image and thoughts on the sport. I can't say I watched more than a few minutes, but I did hear about some of the bad calls.

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  30. Money rules even in sport. Great image!

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  31. Studio Art VartanianJuly 12, 2010 at 7:12 PM

    Amazing image!!!
    I have to agree this was the most boring mundial ever:)
    and i didnt liked vuvuzelas sound,but what can we do..lol
    Lets hope Brazilian moundial will be better:)

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  32. fantastic poster design, very creative...

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  33. Fantastic work! :)

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  34. Excellent work Eddie. Yes it is so sad that everything in life is only about the money these day it is not only in sports but in everything. People don't care about anything any more only money, There is no honor, no morals, no nothing any more it is heart breaking how people have become.

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  35. Great illustration!!!

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  36. Excellent artwork! :)

    No professional sport is about fun, it's about money. That is why it is called professional, it's what it means. You Soccer/Football fans got to learn to chill a little. It is just a "money game". ;D

    Nice rant!

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  37. Good work again
    erland

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  38. Awesome illustration!!!!!!...everyone knew from the start the refs would suck horribly!!!! ...but the poor team play and sportsmanship from the supposed 'top teams' just made this tournament an all 'round disappointment!!!!

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  39. This year was the first I've actually gotten into it myself, and actually watched.... it was rather exciting at times, I must say! I really enjoyed your commentary.... Great image as well! I think all the teams played well, nevertheless, it was an honour just being out there, and playing.... I know there's more to it than just having fun, though it brought the world together, I think on many levels!

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  40. Your work is fantastic even if the games were disappointing!

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  41. Yes, this world cup competition was really strange.

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  42. Wonderful and truthful narrative.

    Dana

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  43. Excellent image and great commentary! BRAVISSIMO.

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