Fuck FIFA for several reasons, Pompey, and what I never wanted to talk about but have to...

Morning.

A child has been screeching it's head off constantly since about 8:05. Why is it she not tired yet? Stopped now though...hopefully that's good news, not bad news. Dark.

Anyway back to football and FIFA are meeting today near Cardiff (holla) for their AGM. Must be so fucking good being a FIFA big wig - travel round, go to football games, do press conferences, go to meetings, get a huge pay check. Except that everybody who likes football probably hates you and wants to you to die so we can get some young FIFA heads in who understand the modern game.

Yeah, I'm on about FIFA's continued refusal to address the possibility of goal line technology, which has been removed from their agenda for today's soiree. This is despite Sepp Blatter declaring that they would review the situation immediately after Frank Lampard's non-goal for England ahainst Germany in the world cup. A typical grey 'spokesman' said:

"The meeting this week is purely to ratify any requests that have come forward over the implementation of the assistant referees experiment, which was used last year in the Europa League. The first formal meeting where that discussion [goal-line technology] could take place is in October."

October? I wonder just how many wrong goal line decisions will be made between now and then. Maybe none - I don't really care if it isn't Arsenal suffering, but what I do care about is the complete ineptitude of the people in charge of the game; a defect caused by their ridiculous old-fashioned view that football must retain an element of human error. It will. If anybody has ever seen Lukas Fabianski play in goal then they will know that human error is here to stay as long as he is playing. There will always be a Frank Sinclair willing to score a spectacular own goal or a Kanu/Steve Stone/Chris Iwelumo who cannot hit the net from a yard. Human error should remain with the players.

Now I understand that referees and linesman will make human "errors" of judgement, but that is based on opinion. This is because the rules of football are regularly open to interpretation i.e. Was it a penalty? Was it deliberate handball? Was that worthy of a yellow card? Was there daylight? (lol) etc. I like that - that shouldn't end. It leads to discussion, debate and it sets football apart from other sports such as rugby, which has far clearer rules and it is just a case of the ref spotting them efficiently. Nobody is suggesting that video technology be used to argue over general fouls, penalties or handballs. These can be interpreted by refs. It is about proving matters of fact.

When you ask: Was it a penalty? Two people could have a completely different opinion and they could probably both back up their points of view solidly. Technology is about proving matters of fact. If the whole ball is over the goal line, it can be seen, it is a fact. It is a goal. FIFA will argue that the game should be consistent from grass-roots to top division level but come on! It is too late for that. They are living in the seventies and they do not like the modern game (except for all the money they can make out of it - e.g. South Africa). The highest leagues are on a different planet across everything else: wages, facilities, sponsorship. So what is the point of bucking the trend with technology? Hand the decision over the national associations and I reckon the top four divisions in this country would have no problem kitting themselves out. FIFA's refusal to prove matters of fact when technology is so readily available to them is a joke. A complete joke. So fuck them.

While I'm on them I will briefly address a subject close to me - the Fabregas story. FIFA are using Xavi's disrespectful quotes on their website today. Cunts. Using the blatant public tapping up of a player under contract to maximise the hits on their website, to squeeze money from their web sponsors on every click when they are supposed to be the body who control and implement the rules of the international game. Unbelievable. However, Xavi does conclude that:

"We were all with him for five weeks in South Africa and we know he wants to be at Barcelona, he made it very clear, but he will under no circumstances do anything that will upset the Arsenal fans. And that's probably why we are going to have to wait for him for another year."

It must really piss Xavi off that Fabregas' superior class as a person, his love for the Arsenal fans, will mean the move won't happen this summer. If that isn't public tapping up I don't know what is. It is probably all true - does that make it ok to discuss it so openly? No. Is it disrespectful to Arsenal, the fans and Cesc? Yes. Is it a sick attempt to try and rip Arsenal off? Yes. Same as Madrid with Ronaldo a few seasons back. Hope Arsenal hold on and get an astronomical fee next summer. The egos at the Nou Camp must be Mourinho-Esq by now so although it is annoying - it isn't suprising. How must Cesc feel being constantly spoken for? Moving on...

Pompey have managed to move their court proceedings against HMRC forward to attempt to get out of administration before the start of the season - they need to sign players but are currently under a transfer embargo. Apparently it should be lifted by the start of the season but I don't think it is going to be straight forward. It is all a little complex and therefore sails over my head in terms of details but what is clear is that Pompey spent way beyond their capabilities under Harry Redknapp. How is this allowed to happen? This now moves discussion on to two other organisations: The FA and the Premier League.

Pompey were sailing along with a great squad that they couldn't afford and winning the FA cup on borrowed money they couldn't repay - but nobody seemed to bat an eyelid. Why? How could the FA and Premier League sit back and allow them to do this, surely they have a responsibility to monitor the clubs in their leagues and ensure that they are operating efficiently (unless you are City or Chelsea in which case you can shit away all the money you want).

This does lead me on to a story from yesterday that Chelsea are attempting to buy Neymar, the "new Pele". Now this kind of poaching is very common in football nowadays. Check out the situation with Connor Wickham at Ipswich. Just coming into the first team and it looks like he's going to be whipped away by a big club to sit on the bench for about three years. Same happened with Walcott and Bostock. How are the clubs who find and train these kids supposed to get the best out of them if they are subject to such huge bids all the time from bigger clubs. I would also argue that the players would be better served staying with their original club where they are likely to get a game more often and develop their quality. I think Walcott definitely came to Arsenal too early and now he is suffering. Worst thing is I don't think there is any way to stop this from happening. With new rules about a home grown players quota it will also probably just get worse.

So a quick round-up of some other stuff. The Martin Jol to Fulham saga drags on. Apparently he wants to go but Ajax are mugging him off about money or something. Like I said, would be a great appointment and I hope they get him.

David James is now a free agent after Portsmouth withdrew a contract offer to the keeper. This may alert Arsenal who are looking for a goalkeeper - this story will develop in the red tops at the least I'm sure.

A good week keeps going for Liverpool as Gerrard has said he is going to stay at Anfield (no surprises there) and they've snapped up a kid from Rangers for 2 million, which could become 5 million if he's any good. Meanwhile, Titus Bramble has joined Sunderland. This is neither very interesting nor very important. But on a day when I've discussed the idea of human error, Titus seems like a good place to end.

Leave comments, More tomorrow.