Comments on: Is seeding the World Cup play-offs playing fair?

By: Charlie

Charlie — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:57:04 +0000

FIFA is a disgrace. They speak about “fair play” continuously but when some of the bigger teams (namely France, homeland of the FIFA chairman) have a chance of going out, they bend the rules. Ireland deseve to be through to the world cup but of course, they won’t accept that the fair desicion would be a replay. Football has become a sport in which cheaters win, simple as that!

By: noel g

noel g — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:00:17 +0000

this is no surprise and fifa are just trying to undo there stupidity in dropping the number of european teams in the world cup.all to accomadate irrelevant football nations from asia and central america north america etc weho are not good enough to be there anyway

By: olayinka

olayinka — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:00:16 +0000

seeding playoff is ok if it has been stated in clear terms be4 the commencement, on the other hand if not stated frm onset, it is wrong.

By: Oliver Chettle

Oliver Chettle — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:11:41 +0000

Caeji, there are currently 21 European teams in the top 32 in the world, so as a European I would be quite happy to see the top 32 countries in the World Cup. Please recognise that the system is actually loaded against European countries. This is perhaps the right thing to do, as it should help to develop the sport, but it is hard to maintain one’s enthusiasm for the arrangement in the face of fact-defying ingratitude from people such as you.

By: Doctor Mario

Doctor Mario — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:56:36 +0000

Seeding is reward for credits earned from past achievement. If all teams start right from scratch by simply casting lots, it looks more like a lottery than legitimate competition. If either England or Brazil has to be eliminated in the first round, the tournament is much less attractive further on.

By: joe

joe — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:09:13 +0000

Caeji you are wrong the standard to football in Europe is much better then the rest of the world, you are obviously not from Europe and just want to have a moan! stick to the subject and stop being boring boring boring !!!!

By: Caeji

Caeji — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:12:50 +0000

its more of the same as far as I am concerned. Fifa rules clearly favour european teams and now it is being stretched further to absurdity. i have often wondered why certain european countries make the WC. if they had to qualify thru africa countries like greece, slovakia, slovenia, ireland, bosnia, russia, ukraine and others would barely have a chance. i would support a system where after a qualification tourney the best 32 in the world go to the WC. 13 countries from Europe is a laughable travesty.

By: jason

jason — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:16:49 +0000

If it was unfair people wouldn’t complain about it. Yes it does make sense ! The thing is any way you look at it , Slovenia would be a better draw than France..

By: Richie

Richie — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 10:36:57 +0000

They seeded the 2006 Euro qualifying playoffs too, so it’s not exactly a shock that they’ve done it again. They should make it clear from the outset next time around whether or not this is going to happen though, to avoid it looking like they’re changing the rules as they go along to favour certain teams.

By: Celtig Tiger

Celtig Tiger — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:03:33 +0000

I don’t see anything wrong with seeding, myself. Where i do agree is that they should have made this clear from the start. I mean, it;s hardly unusual for one or two big teams to have to come through the playoffs.