The Lead
England are playing San Marino in a World Cup qualifier on Friday, and a certain Manchester United defender won’t be there. He’ll be in Doha to teach football and do some punditry.
You should be aware of course Rio Ferdinand’s ability to get on a plane and go to Qatar is somehow commensurate with not following the club fitness programme that ostensibly prevented him from playing for Hodgson’s squad, or so says somebody I guess. From the Guardian:
Rio Ferdinand has defended his decision to fly out to Qatar in the week he withdrew from the England squad in order to follow a pre-planned fitness programme.
The Manchester United defender Ferdinand was called up by the England manager Roy Hodgson for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Montenegro but pulled out on Monday, citing the need to follow the fitness plan laid out by his club.
It has now emerged that the 34-year-old will visit the Aspire training academy in Doha and then appear as a pundit for al-Jazeera television in the Gulf state for the San Marino match on Friday night.
Anyway, speaking of Qatar, do you know there might have to be a revote? That was Sepp Blatter’s rogue opinion in any case, relayed in the Telegraph:
Spanish newspaper AS claim in an interview that Blatter admitted that would “affect the basic conditions of the World Cup” and could prompt the voting process to be re-visited if one of the other 2022 candidates objected.
However, world governing body Fifa dispute the content of the interview and say Blatter said it was a “hypothetical scenario” as the dates of the World Cup will be decided on by the tournament organising committee.
Why Blatter would stick his neck out to suggest the possibility is something worth looking into for another time…
England
Ferdinand defends Qatar trip.
Haidara shocked McManaman not punished over tackle.
Greg Dyke to replace David Bernstein as new chairman of FA.
Italy
Juve’s Giovinco closes Facebook account after constant abuse.
Chiellini a doubt for upcoming WC qualifier, still recovering from an ankle injury.
La Liga
Villa’s future at Barcelona will be discussed at the end of the season.
Malaga confident they’ll win appeal against Uefa ban.
Germany
Dortmund admit interest in Dzeko.
MLS
You spoke and we listened. MLS links are back by popular demand. Enjoy!
Thierry Henry to sit out game against Montreal, suffering from a sprained MCL.
How much will Nesta’s absence impact Montreal?
Bit and Bobs
Lionel Messi’s home city to build a museum in his honour.
Top ten worst tackles in football.
Going to Qatar instead of playing for England is not controversial. What is odd is that he accepted Hodgson’s offer in the first place. If the trip was pre-planned and he signed on for punditry, then he should have just told Hodgson that and he wouldn’t have been selected.
My guess as to what actually happened is that Rio thought that his England career was over, so he booked this trip. When he got called up he was excited, accepted, but then realized he couldn’t make it.
But if he actually wanted to play for England, surely Al-Jazeera would have understood if he bailed? If his rehab is too important for to make qualifying games, surely he shouldn’t be selected for big tournaments? Kind of crappy to miss the build up and go for the glory, not fair to everyone else. But if he needs a break, one year’s worth of more wear and tear would don’t do him any good in the World Cup. Why doesn’t he just retire from England and retain some grace and dignity?
I guess my point is that Rio Ferdinand is not unpatriotic, merely stupid and too proud to not act petulantly.
And woo hoo I beat Dan!
I think you’re probably right. My assumption was that he was offered a bunch of money to go to Qatar, accepted it, then got an invite to the English team, figured Al_Jezeera would understand… they didn’t understand, so he had to refuse team England.
OR
Sir Alex didn’t let him go play for England. This was my initial thought before this whole Qatar punditry thing came out.