Football and a crisis

Much has been written over the last few days about Thierry Henri's use of a hand during a game of football. I note today that Henri thought about retiring from international football. Discussions about the player, the referee, the two managers and their respective national FAs is pretty much irrelevant. As a crisis for football (and it is) this is something which only the international football body, FIFA, can solve. Yet, this appears to be an issue which the one body able to deal with it, have largely ignored (they may not have behind the sences, but this is the perception many may have). Looking at their media pages, there is a press release which deals with the request to replay the game. But if you look at FIFA's home page, it would appear that nothing untoward has happened in the game of football recently requiring their attention, other than the banning of the Iraqi FA. The reality is that this incident highlights a problem which other sports have addressed, but football is perceived as dragging its feet on. How can modern technology be used to best help the referee? Until FIFA address this issue, and I am not saying exactly what they should do, the crisis will not go away.

I draw a comparision with what is happening in UK politics at present regarding MPs expenses. Personally, I take the view that MPs are not paid enough, and I would significantly increaase their salary and take away the generous expenses. But whatever is the appropriate solution, thus far, like FIFA the real problem is being ignored. Focusing on not employing family members is ignoring the real problems.

Neither MPs nor FIFA seem to get it in terms of the nature of the crisis they are responding to. One is not yet clearly and unambigously demonstrating that it understands public anger, the other does not appear to be openly addressing the issue (they may be in committees but we the public are not being told what is happening).