Alhaji Righteous De Ambitious: World Cup 2010 Blog: As You Were, Says FIFA

Friday, March 4, 2011

World Cup 2010 Blog: As You Were, Says FIFA

Posted: 03 Mar 2011 10:35 AM PST

Jack-Warner-001

FIFA rolled out the changes in typical FIFA fashion today: there are none.

The possibility for a shuffle of allocated spots at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil was opened to the floor and CONCACAF, led by the all-powerful Jack Warner, steamed into town requesting another spot at the expense of…someone. Likely Africa.

No such luck.

What’s astounding isn’t the fact that there are no change, but rather that a group led by Jack Warner within the confines of FIFA wanted something and yet didn’t get it.

Charting new waters here.

The usual suspects:

Europe will keep its 13 places—considered too many by some observers—while Africa will have five, Asia 4.5, CONCACAF 3.5 and Oceania 0.5. South American will have 4.5 places, not including Brazil.

Based on footballing clout alone, not nations/federations or population, it’s rather staggering to think Africa has more World Cup spots than South America, isn’t it?

Sounds like they have a much bigger gripe than CONCACAF.