My entry in the intel sports inventor competition

I had posted earlier that Intel was running a competition where you could suggest some revolutinary changes in a sport of your choice.there was a limit of 400 words.

here's my entry

"In spite of all the big money flowing into football, incorrect referee decisions continue to dog the game. Several crucial matches have been lost due to human error. From Maradona’s infamous ‘Hand of God’ to Thierry Henry’s handball on Nov 18 which, knocked Ireland out of the 2010 world cup, the financial impact of these decisions has increased manifold over the years.

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Le Hand of TH14 - Part Two

Here is some snippets of news which traces the time line of this controversy

1. The Match Result

The Republic of Ireland suffered cruellest of World Cup exits as France went through with a goal which should have been disallowed for handball.
Thierry Henry clearly handled before playing the ball for William Gallas to score the equaliser which saw France win the play-off 2-1 on aggregate.

The debate will rage on about the goal that took France to the 2010 finals in South Africa and how the officials failed to spot such a blatant handball and will likely reignite the debate about video technology being introduced.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/8367418.stm

2. FAI decides to put in a request for a playoff to FIFA

3. FIFA rejects the plea and Irish hearts are broken

Fifa has refused the Football Association of Ireland's request for a replay of France's World Cup play-off win over the Republic of Ireland.A Fifa statement read: "The result will not be changed and cannot be replayed."
And the French Football Federation (FFF) has no intention of proposing a replay, BBC sport has learned.
With Fifa having rejected the Republic's plea, it was thought Ireland's only hope was if France themselves came forward and backed plans for a replay - but the FFF believes such a notion to be a nonstarter, BBC Sport understands.

Even politician's got into the act

Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen called on Fifa, football's world governing body, to order a replay, saying he would raise the issue with French President Nicolas Sarkozy at a Brussels summit.
But France's Prime Minister Francois Fillon responded that the Irish government should not interfere in footballing decisions.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/8368100.stm

Football club debt targeted by new UEFA rules

Michel Platini, president of UEFA, has said European football’s governing body will next week begin creating new rules to regulate clubs’ finances.

Full article : http://www.sportbusiness.com/news/170861/football-club-debt-targeted-by-new-uefa-rules?utm_source=sbinsl&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nov04

For England and Fabio the road does not end with the world Cup 2010

At the moment Fabio Cappelo and England supporters might be totally focussed on the upcoming world cup in South Africa in 2010. But a look at the ages of the players in the squad will make you realize that the road won't end in South Africa.

Agbonlahor, Gabriel 23
Barry, Gareth 28
Beckham, David 34
Bridge, Wayne M. 29
Brown, Wesley M. 30
Cahill, Gary J. 23
Carrick, Michael 28
Cole, Ashley 28
Cole, Carlton M. 25
Crouch, Peter J. 28
Ferdinand, Rio G. 30
Foster, Benjamin A. 26
Gerrard, Steven G. 29
Green, Robert P. 29
Hart, C. Joseph J. 22
Heskey, Emile W. 31
James, David B. 39
Johnson, Glen M. 25
Lampard, Frank J. 31
Lennon, Aaron J. 22
Lescott, Joleon P. 27
Milner, James P. 4 23
Robinson, Paul W. 29
Rooney, Wayne M. 23
Terry, John G. 28
Upson, Matthew J. 30
Wright-Phillips, Shaun C. 27

In fact by the 2014 world Cup more than half this squad would have retired ( or else would be too old to play, not everyone can be a Beckham)including the likes of Stevie G, Lamps, Terry who are lynchpins of the current team. Additionally, England would lose poachers like owen , hesky and the experience of rio,upson, robinson,james ( if he plays at 43 it would be a miracle)

Most probably Rooney would be made captain but a study of the current crop of English players in the EPL would make one realize that the 2010 team would leave some big boots to be filled.
So for Fabio and England post the 2010 world cup it's going to be a long and winiding road till 2014. We might start seeing Fabio in attendance at Second division games as well post 2010 !!!.

What a way to get the ball rolling....

Chris Skinner , a guy whose blog i have been following for the last few months in my opinion is one of the best blogger around. The blog deals with Financial services.Today, he had written an article called "Do bankers really get retailing?"In there he has a small mention about football. Where there is football there is your truly. And the guy not only responds but uses my query to further strengthen his point.

Read on : http://thefinanser.co.uk/fsclub/2009/10/do-bankers-understand-retailing.html#comments

What a way to get things started here.