Tag: Sepp Blatter

Red card…

Red Card We are not the type to hand out red cards willy nilly. On this ocassion however, it was very easy to yank the shiny red card from the top left pocket and hold it high in the sky for everyone to see.

Sepp Blatter, this one is for you. It doesn’t require too much explanation. You are a bully. You are a shiner. You are nothing but Del Boy dressed in Giorgio Armani. How dare you ridicule one of the world’s best players? How dare you play favourites? How dare you say anything about Cristiano Ronaldo’s hair or style? Have you looked in the mirror lately? Do you see what we see?

Kudos to Cristiano for responding to Blatter. Kudos to Cristiano for standing up to the so-called leader of world football. Kids are bullied across this universe every single day. Even young lads who aspire to be like Cristiano Ronaldo and have lots of talent are victims of bullies. Cristiano showed young kids everywhere that no matter what anyone says, if you believe they are wrong, you can speak up and defend yourself. You have a voice and can use it.

Blatter may think that Messi is the “good boy every mother dreams of having,” but like many have responded to his ridiculous comments, there are a gazillion parents out there who would love to have a successful and talented son like Cristiano.

Not everyone has to be the same Blatter. That’s what makes the world special. That’s what makes things fun. We can appreciate Messi and Cristiano. Even if they are chalk and cheese, even if they are night and day, they are both gifted, they are both brilliant. There is room for each of them and we’d appreciate if you just got your bald bitterness out of the way!

The Football Family…

Sepp Blatter mostly puts his foot in his mouth when he speaks. There is no doubt the FIFA President has been highly controversial on many matters concerning the beautiful game. From racism to female footballers and bribes, the figurehead of the world’s most popular sport has been nothing short of a huge embarrassment.

However, despite his very impressive resume of controversy, there is one positive thing Blatter has referred to often and we saw it in abundance this week. The “Football Family.” And my how the “Football Family” has come together following the shocking collapse of Bolton Wanderers star Fabrice Muamba at White Hart Lane against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

As the paramedics tried desperately to revive Muamba following a heart-attack during the game, players from both teams, fans in the stadium and viewers from around the globe stood and watched helplessly. The distress was clearly visible on every player’s face and the reaction from the fans in the stadium told a very bleak story.

Since then, players and fans have banded together in prayer and support of Muamba’s recovery. Bolton and Tottenham fans immediately united in stadium by chanting Muamba’s name as he lay lifeless on the pitch. And from Real Madrid, to Chelsea, Barcelona and beyond, many popular footballers wore t-shirts in honour of Muamba. Thierry Henry flew from New York to London to visit his old Arsenal teammate and there are many other players who have done their part the way they can.

In a season where we have seen racist behaviour from players, fans rioting in Egypt and Greece and the governing body of football be accused of bribery, the story of Fabrice Muamba is a sobering reminder that life is fragile and football is just a game. Dead for 78 minutes, I don’t think there are many who thought Muamba would make it. But his incredible recovery is just one of the beautiful threads to what started off as a horrific story. How much has the positive energy from the global “Football Family” helped? Probably quite a bit.

This isn’t about Sepp Blatter and this isn’t a pat on the back for him. However, his notion of a “Football Family” really does exist. We all witnessed it this week and Muamba I’m sure is forever grateful to the heroic paramedics who saved his life and to the players and fans from around the world who prayed for him.