The Sporting Injury

It has come to that time in the football and rugby season that we start to see the aches & pains hobbling into clinic.

The chronology of these injuries is always the same, the player starts to feel pain in their back, hip, knee or foot in one of the early games, but resolve to ‘run it off’ – yeah always works that one. They don’t say anything because they want to keep their position in the team, so play on loaded with painkillers and crippled for two days after a game.

Still they soldier on until it gets to the point that their partner forces them into our clinic at gunpoint because they can’t stand the whinging any longer.

Recognise the pattern anyone?

Give me a chance chaps, come in when if first hurts, that way the treatment is simple, effective and quick – honest!

Be healthy your way, but your better off doing it my way!

Thierry – No!

Oh the shame, the aggro from irate Irish supporters and even the FAI.

I genuinely believe that VaVaVroom Tel is embarrased by the way he manufactured the goal that sends Ireland out of the World Cup – and he should be, however, there is no way that FIFA will sanction a replay.

Just a couple of thoughts here;

1) If the events had been reversed, i.e. if the story was the same but it was Keane handling in the box for a pass to O’Shea to score, would FIFAs stance be the same. Er no, it wouldn’t would it because all Platini and Blatter wanted was to see France go through, and that way they generate more interest in the Cup and therefore line their pockets with more sponsors & advertisers cash.

2) I seem to remember that Ireland were awarded a bogus penalty against Georgia in the group stages, but there was no clammer to have the game replayed The game changed as a result of that goal just as much as the knock out.

3) Everyone capable of breathing knows that the modern professional game needs goal line technology and the video ref. That is apart from FIFA, who continue to state that they are going to put more match officials in place instead. Why? There is no coherent reason being offered, so you have to ask why. It is bound to be something to do with power, money or control, betcha.

4) I heard someone proposing that Henry should be banned from the World Cup……. get real. He may well get a ban for bringing the game into disrepute or whatever, but the World Cup is only a spectacle because of players of his ilk. That was why the ex Manc one trick pony from Portugal is all over the media and promotion for the competition – and he didn’t even play in the qualifiers!

So, I feel desperately sorry for the Irish, and it would have been good to have got through – but it was never going to happen from the moment that FIFA suddenly introduced seeding into the qualifiers – that showed their intent. If it hadn’t of been a Henry handball, you may well have seen Platini take out Shay Given with a snipers rifle before the end of the penalties.