june 5th
09.54 – So, FIFA have weighed up the evidence and fined Rivaldo € 6500 or thereabouts. What bright spark in FIFA thought “How can we make an example of him and his actions? I know…..we’ll fine him a small percentage of his weekly wage!!”?
What if it had been a player from a smaller country playing for a smaller club….would they have based the fine on his earnings or would he have been fined the same amount?
The only way to punish players misbehaviour on the pitch is to make them miss games. I’m not saying Rivaldo should have been banned, but a retrospective yellow card would have been a more suitable punishment in my opinion. Thus ensuring that he has to behave better or he will face a ban for two yellow cards.
Message to FIFA – You can’t fine multi-millionaires and expect anything to change.
00.01 – Well done to Arsenal’s Junichi Inamoto.
He hasn’t had much of a chance at Arsenal this season, but on today’s showing, he doesn’t look half bad. He got about in midfield, scored a great goal and rather unfairly had an even better goal – which would have been the winner – ruled out for an infringement only the referee saw.
If the Van Bommel rumours are true though, it’s hard to see how he’ll get a chance next season either. Competing with Vieira, Edu, Parlour, Van Bronckhorst and Van Bommel puts him right down the pecking order, and he might think a move is the best thing for him. Anyway, he’s been the most impressive gooner on show so far. He’s got mental hair as well. Good show.
Speaking of Japan v Belgium, what the hell happened to the Belgian team’s strip? Up close it’s like a kind of flourescent pink, while from a distance it looks orange. I always remember Belgium playing in a deep red, why have they made themselves look Dutch?
It looks like Rivaldo is going to have to pay for his theatrics. Quite right too.
After Roger Lemerre complained that Arsenal over-played Robert Pires and were responsible for his injury, Real Madrid’s sporting director Jorge Valdano makes the very same point A R S E B L O G did; “If he hadn’t taken Zidane to Australia and Chile for friendlies last season, perhaps he would be fit now”. Quite right too again.
Sleep now. Have to watch Ireland beat Germany tomorrow ;o)
