I like soccer. I played it as a kid like most people. I was in Korea for WC2002. The Reds were exciting and very fun fans (I am glad the US/Korea tied or things could have gone poorly on the subway). I love soccer fans and their love their sport. The sport itself is corrupt. It is probably worse than the Olympic Games prior to the Salt Lake Winter Games. There were tons of rumors (some true) that some WC2002 refs were bribed. I watched all of Korea’s games and they did not deserve to win every match.
The biggest crime: FIFA doesn’t care. They are uncommitted to improving their game and making it so fans won’t feel ripped by some idiotic or criminal ref and the exploitation of a regulation loophole.
I was in the breakroom watching the Ghana/Uruguay match end. Either way was fine. I was rooting for both teams. I watched US/Ghana and though let down, I agree Ghana was better. In the final minutes of this match it was apparent Ghana was stronger here too. Then the hand. The entire breakroom exploded. Everyone saw it and thought it should count just like goal-tending in basketball.
The player: a dirtbag, but understandable – advancing in the WC is huge. FIFA: criminals for not having a mechanism to equalize situations like this and prevent the other poor calls during this WC.
FIFA robbed Ghana and should ban Uruguay from all international play for four years.
