Soca Warriors Online Discussion Forum
Sports => Football => Topic started by: E-man on February 03, 2008, 11:43:22 PM
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Just say no to Mr Warner.
By: Martin Samuel (Times).
So now we know what the FA means when it claims to be influential in Fifa circles. Influential as in acquiescent; influential as in mute and unseeing; influential as in prepared to do anything, to sacrifice any principle or last crumb of self-respect in a vain grab for the 2018 World Cup.
There is a good chance that England will end their season with a match in Trinidad & Tobago, at the invitation of Jack Warner, the Fifa vice-president and president of Concacaf. Ostensibly it will mark the centenary of football on the islands; in reality it will be an exercise in glad-handing one of the most powerful figures in the world game - a man who has stated his aversion to a World Cup in England.
There is a suggestion that Warner will have to retract some of his more incendiary comments if England are to make the trip and the FA may even dress this up as a moral victory. It is nothing of the sort. If England follow Warner’s beckoning, crooked finger in the hope of bolstering the 2018 bid, they give credibility to one of the most despicable figures in football.
Warner’s continued presence at the right hand of Sepp Blatter, the Fifa president, leaves the organisation without authority while its leader pontificates on moral and ethical issues. In 2006, World Cup tickets allocated to Trinidad & Tobago were sold in packages by a travel company run by Warner’s son, Daryan. Fifa’s executive committee expressed disapproval but claimed that there was no proof that Jack Warner knew what Daryan Warner was doing, or that the son got hold of tickets for a Fifa tournament through his father, the vice-president of Fifa. Profits from this scheme may have run into seven figures.
After the competition, Warner offered Trinidad & Tobago’s World Cup players a bonus of £498 each, claiming that his federation had made a profit in the region of £1.462 million from the tournament, before deducting costs of £1.434 million. Government figures put the World Cup income at nearer £13.862 million. Warner’s reaction was to attempt to ban any dissenting players from the team and, again, Fifa turned a blind eye. This was, apparently, a localised dispute.
There is more. According to John McBeth, the former president of the Scottish FA, Warner asked for a cheque from Trinidad & Tobago’s friendly international against Scotland on May 30, 2004 to be made to him personally, rather than to his federation. McBeth refused.
Sport and ethics are often strange bedfellows, as the presence of the Olympic Games in Beijing demonstrates. It is wrong that sportsmen are required to make value judgments about men such as Robert Mugabe when governments are too cowardly to act. Warner’s case is different. The FA is not being asked to take a political stand by refusing the trip to Trinidad & Tobago. Saying no to Warner is saying no to the abuse of power at the top of the game. Sadly, it is more likely that the FA will submit in the craven hope of garnering the support of a man whose patronage is the very sign that the mission is misguided. If this is what needs to be done to get the World Cup, why would any decent nation want it?
Fabio Capello keen to fix up June Trinidad trip.
By: Henry Winter (Telegraph).
Fabio Capello has given the Football Association's marketing men permission to organise a controversial June 3 friendly with Trinidad and Tobago in Port of Spain to celebrate the centenary of the local federation. The leading figure in Trinidad and Tobago football, Fifa vice-president Jack Warner, would still be expected to retract disparaging comments about "irritant" England before Soho Square sanctions a trip guaranteed to vex Premier League managers.
If Warner explains why he observed that "England invented the sport but have never made any impact on world football" and "nobody in Europe likes England", and also guarantees that the T and T players are properly paid, then the match will go ahead.
For all their annoyance over Warner's derogatory remarks, and enduring unease over allegations of corruption placed at his door (most recently over ticket sales at the 2006 World Cup), the FA are particularly keen on the fixture because Concacaf's president can deliver three Fifa votes that will assist the English in their bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
Under Capello's iron-fist rule, FA mandarins knew the match must fit in with the Italian's vision of how England can best prepare for the 2010 World Cup. Offered a range of overseas friendlies in June, including Australia, Mexico, the United States and T and T, Capello approved the Caribbean option because it suited his desire for a five-day training camp with a game against relatively unthreatening opposition.
FA officials laugh at the suggestion that such a driven coach as Capello would acquiesce to a friendly fixture programme that did not primarily serve his team-building purposes; they are simply delighted that his choice also benefits their 2018 push. Any doubts about Capello being his own man were dispelled when he banished the darling of the FA marketing department, David Beckham, to the international wilderness. Soho Square will sell fewer corporate deals on the presence of David Bentley at No 7, but they respect Capello's game plan.
And he wants some "quality time" with Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney and company. A few hours with the players before friendlies against Switzerland on Wednesday and France next month is useful as an ice-breaking exercise, but the real bonding comes in late May, early June. "There is a lot of work to do," said Capello. When Premier and Champions League races are run, Capello will have 10 days to drill the players into what he wants for the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign beginning in September with trips to Andorra and Croatia. Capello informed the FA that he wanted a reasonably testing game at Wembley on May 28, still unconfirmed after Scotland withdrew, followed by a training camp and half-decent challenge outside Europe.
Nothing happens now without fitting in with Capello, as his players will discover today when he puts them through an unprecedented double drill, first at London Colney and then Wembley.
Capello had dinner last night with Gerrard, Rooney and the rest at the Grove, England's hotel near Watford, and will this morning outline his expectations on and off the field (deliver and behave), before explaining that the captain's armband is up for grabs with Gerrard expected to 'bags' it against the Swiss. The Liverpool dynamo will certainly enjoy the backing of the England fans, who yesterday voted him their Player of the Year. "It's a fantastic honour, coming from the fans makes it very special to me," said Gerrard, who polled 22 per cent of the vote despite rarely impressing for England in 2007, even missing a crucial chance against Russia in Moscow. Micah Richards came second.
"There were a number of players who did really well last year: Gareth Barry came back into the team and had some great games, and Micah Richards was really consistent for someone so young particularly playing in defence," added Gerrard.
English obsession over who is captain has surprised Capello, who comes from Italy, where they tend to hand the armband to the man with the most caps. "I plan to name a captain for the Switzerland game on Tuesday, but I don't expect to appoint a permanent captain until we start the qualifying games," said Capello. "I want to work closely with the players before deciding on this."
John Terry, currently injured, is favourite to retain the armband in the long run but three other senior players have privately confided their ambition to captain the side. As well as the honour, players (and their agents) are very aware of the sizeable commercial benefits running into six figures of being England captain. Rio Ferdinand and Owen Hargreaves have been tipped as potential long-term captains, along with Terry and Gerrard. Peter Crouch, Gerrard's Liverpool team-mate, voiced the "excitement" of all the players last night. "It's a new manager, a new era," said Crouch. "We all know his track record is fantastic and we're all looking forward to working with him."
For all Crouch's upbeat sentiments, a feeling of uncertainty sweeps through the dressing room, as the inscrutable Capello has been keeping them all on their toes. They all know he is ruthless, a streak he displayed over the weekend by standing down five members of his provisional 30-man squad: Michael Carrick, Curtis Davies, Stewart Downing, Nicky Shorey and Glen Johnson. Emile Heskey and Ledley King pulled out injured, and Jermain Defoe last night replaced Aston Villa's electric striking talent, Gabriel Agbonlahor, who has a hamstring strain. Capello, the Iron Duke, will take it in his stride.
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Just say no to Mr Warner
By: Martin Samuel (Times)
Under Capello's iron-fist rule, FA mandarins knew the match must fit in with the Italian's vision of how England can best prepare for the 2010 World Cup. Offered a range of overseas friendlies in June, including Australia, Mexico, the United States and T and T, Capello approved the Caribbean option because it suited his desire for a five-day training camp with a game against relatively unthreatening opposition.
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when will we be taking seriously >:(
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Just say no to Mr Warner
By: Martin Samuel (Times)
Under Capello's iron-fist rule, FA mandarins knew the match must fit in with the Italian's vision of how England can best prepare for the 2010 World Cup. Offered a range of overseas friendlies in June, including Australia, Mexico, the United States and T and T, Capello approved the Caribbean option because it suited his desire for a five-day training camp with a game against relatively unthreatening opposition.
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when will we be taking seriously >:(
Like they forget the World Cup already or wha? >:( They wasn't saying "unthreatening opposition" after dat game tho. Humph!
On another note, why de fack they keep having important games in the middle of my exam period?! Why dis game cyah be later in June? Like de end of June? Then I can time my holiday to suit. ;D
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Just say no to Mr Warner
By: Martin Samuel (Times)
Under Capello's iron-fist rule, FA mandarins knew the match must fit in with the Italian's vision of how England can best prepare for the 2010 World Cup. Offered a range of overseas friendlies in June, including Australia, Mexico, the United States and T and T, Capello approved the Caribbean option because it suited his desire for a five-day training camp with a game against relatively unthreatening opposition.
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when will we be taking seriously >:(
what you expect?
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I guess the choice of words was poor, but look at it this way. T&T were chosen above Australia, USA and Mexico, so at least be proud of that.
The timing is probably to coincide with the 2008 Euros (although I haven't checked the dates.) At least Warners influence will bring a good match and the FA are insisting that the Trini players get paid!
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I guess the choice of words was poor, but look at it this way. T&T were chosen above Australia, USA and Mexico, so at least be proud of that.
The timing is probably to coincide with the 2008 Euros (although I haven't checked the dates.) At least Warners influence will bring a good match and the FA are insisting that the Trini players get paid!
lets hope is some respectable money...not a mere pittance...let Jackula accustom to giving
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The Football Association will ask FIFA vice-president Jack Warner to retract his controversial comments about English football before agreeing to an England friendly with Trinidad and Tobago.
Warner, the head of Caribbean football, wants England to play a friendly in June as part of the Trinidad and Tobago FA's centenary celebrations this year.
The FA are receptive to the idea - it would also help the bid for the 2018 World Cup as Warner, who is special adviser to the Trinidad and Tobago FA, is one of the most influential figures in FIFA.
But they want him to retract his remark last year that 'England has never had any impact on world football, England at no time has had the love and support of Europe; for Europe, England is an irritant'.
It is understood playing in Trinidad would fit in with Fabio Capello's plans of a match against a testing opponent at the end of May followed by a trip abroad where the England manager can spend some time with the players in a low-pressure environment.
The FA will also been keen for ongoing legal dispute between Trinidad and Tobago players and the country's federation over payments for the 2006 World Cup to be resolved.
Source: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=505025&cc=5901
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As I say before...People have to understand how ruthless this man have to be to reach the FIFA vice president...Just imagine this man have the English FA asking him to retract statements...What goes around comes around....so we'll see
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Just say no to Mr Warner
By: Martin Samuel (Times)
Under Capello's iron-fist rule, FA mandarins knew the match must fit in with the Italian's vision of how England can best prepare for the 2010 World Cup. Offered a range of overseas friendlies in June, including Australia, Mexico, the United States and T and T, Capello approved the Caribbean option because it suited his desire for a five-day training camp with a game against relatively unthreatening opposition.
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when will we be taking seriously >:(
Would'nt worry too much bout that comment.....it is England we talking about after all. England is dismissive of most nations unless they have been beaten by said country at least twice in recent memory. Just ask Croatia and Russia about comments made before the Euro qualifiers. This is strangely why England has always been dismissive of Mexico when playing them yet has a growning respect of the US team when historically Mexico has always been a better side than the US. Mexico aint ever beaten them while the US has (twice).
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Just say no to Mr Warner
By: Martin Samuel (Times)
Under Capello's iron-fist rule, FA mandarins knew the match must fit in with the Italian's vision of how England can best prepare for the 2010 World Cup. Offered a range of overseas friendlies in June, including Australia, Mexico, the United States and T and T, Capello approved the Caribbean option because it suited his desire for a five-day training camp with a game against relatively unthreatening opposition.
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when will we be taking seriously >:(
doh worry they have they cuttarse book for june
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ESPNSoccernet
FA hint: 'No apology, no Caribbean friendly'
The Football Association will ask FIFA vice-president Jack Warner to retract his controversial comments about English football before agreeing to an England friendly with Trinidad and Tobago.
Warner, the head of Caribbean football, wants England to play a friendly in June as part of the Trinidad and Tobago FA's centenary celebrations this year.
The FA are receptive to the idea - it would also help the bid for the 2018 World Cup as Warner, who is special adviser to the Trinidad and Tobago FA, is one of the most influential figures in FIFA.
But they want him to retract his remark last year that 'England has never had any impact on world football, England at no time has had the love and support of Europe; for Europe, England is an irritant'.
It is understood playing in Trinidad would fit in with Fabio Capello's plans of a match against a testing opponent at the end of May followed by a trip abroad where the England manager can spend some time with the players in a low-pressure environment.
The FA will also been keen for ongoing legal dispute between Trinidad and Tobago players and the country's federation over payments for the 2006 World Cup to be resolved.
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Dat go be the hollowest apology ever.
He talk the TRUTH and dey hadda pass a friendly for him to do what? Dat apology go be a joke ....the FA doh find it looking kinda dotish making him apologize when we all go know he really eh mean what he saying?
Best part of this whole thing is the lil bit about fixing the issues with the players....is next month the arbitors ruling? No settlement before?
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ESPNSoccernet
FA hint: 'No apology, no Caribbean friendly'
The Football Association will ask FIFA vice-president Jack Warner to retract his controversial comments about English football before agreeing to an England friendly with Trinidad and Tobago.
Warner, the head of Caribbean football, wants England to play a friendly in June as part of the Trinidad and Tobago FA's centenary celebrations this year.
The FA are receptive to the idea - it would also help the bid for the 2018 World Cup as Warner, who is special adviser to the Trinidad and Tobago FA, is one of the most influential figures in FIFA.
But they want him to retract his remark last year that 'England has never had any impact on world football, England at no time has had the love and support of Europe; for Europe, England is an irritant'.
It is understood playing in Trinidad would fit in with Fabio Capello's plans of a match against a testing opponent at the end of May followed by a trip abroad where the England manager can spend some time with the players in a low-pressure environment.
The FA will also been keen for ongoing legal dispute between Trinidad and Tobago players and the country's federation over payments for the 2006 World Cup to be resolved.
well at least it bringing the payments issue to our players known some more internationaly
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Just say no to Mr Warner
By: Martin Samuel (Times)
Under Capello's iron-fist rule, FA mandarins knew the match must fit in with the Italian's vision of how England can best prepare for the 2010 World Cup. Offered a range of overseas friendlies in June, including Australia, Mexico, the United States and T and T, Capello approved the Caribbean option because it suited his desire for a five-day training camp with a game against relatively unthreatening opposition.
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when will we be taking seriously >:(
Like they forget the World Cup already or wha? >:( They wasn't saying "unthreatening opposition" after dat game tho. Humph!
On another note, why de fack they keep having important games in the middle of my exam period?! Why dis game cyah be later in June? Like de end of June? Then I can time my holiday to suit. ;D
The bloody game is on the same day as my MBA marketing exam. DAMN IT >:( >:(
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ESPNSoccernet
FA hint: 'No apology, no Caribbean friendly'
The Football Association will ask FIFA vice-president Jack Warner to retract his controversial comments about English football before agreeing to an England friendly with Trinidad and Tobago.
Warner, the head of Caribbean football, wants England to play a friendly in June as part of the Trinidad and Tobago FA's centenary celebrations this year.
The FA are receptive to the idea - it would also help the bid for the 2018 World Cup as Warner, who is special adviser to the Trinidad and Tobago FA, is one of the most influential figures in FIFA.
But they want him to retract his remark last year that 'England has never had any impact on world football, England at no time has had the love and support of Europe; for Europe, England is an irritant'.
It is understood playing in Trinidad would fit in with Fabio Capello's plans of a match against a testing opponent at the end of May followed by a trip abroad where the England manager can spend some time with the players in a low-pressure environment.
The FA will also been keen for ongoing legal dispute between Trinidad and Tobago players and the country's federation over payments for the 2006 World Cup to be resolved.
He go appoligise - then we beat dem he go say" alyuh c c c cy cyah even b- b- b- beat we but you go win ah wo - wo- wo -world cup"
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Dat game eh happenin apology or no apology
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Just say no to Mr Warner
By: Martin Samuel (Times)
Under Capello's iron-fist rule, FA mandarins knew the match must fit in with the Italian's vision of how England can best prepare for the 2010 World Cup. Offered a range of overseas friendlies in June, including Australia, Mexico, the United States and T and T, Capello approved the Caribbean option because it suited his desire for a five-day training camp with a game against relatively unthreatening opposition.
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when will we be taking seriously >:(
Would'nt worry too much bout that comment.....it is England we talking about after all. England is dismissive of most nations unless they have been beaten by said country at least twice in recent memory. Just ask Croatia and Russia about comments made before the Euro qualifiers. This is strangely why England has always been dismissive of Mexico when playing them yet has a growning respect of the US team when historically Mexico has always been a better side than the US. Mexico aint ever beaten them while the US has (twice).
Yuh ent see allyuh men is kicks, lol...we barely draw wid friggin Puerto Rico...ent play nobody of note in almost 9 months...local administration in a mess, team organization in a mess...
...and because they characterize Trinidad as relatively unthreatening some ah allyuh taking offense?? steups
we lucky fukkin Puerto Rico ent cut we ass.
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we lucky f**kkin Puerto Rico ent cut we ass.
you HAVE to agree that the fellas showed character by coming back to tie
(http://hiapr.org/yabb/Attachments/Puerto_Rico-Trinidad-Jan_26-08-scoreboard_002.jpg)
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Just say no to Mr Warner
By: Martin Samuel (Times)
Under Capello's iron-fist rule, FA mandarins knew the match must fit in with the Italian's vision of how England can best prepare for the 2010 World Cup. Offered a range of overseas friendlies in June, including Australia, Mexico, the United States and T and T, Capello approved the Caribbean option because it suited his desire for a five-day training camp with a game against relatively unthreatening opposition.
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when will we be taking seriously >:(
When we finally beat somebody and stop hanging on to one goalless draw with Sweden as a claim to football respect....
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We draw wit a baseball and basketball nation and we want 2 bb taken seriously?
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Until we start beating teams consistently I doh know why men does get offended when other people say we are easy opposition. Yeah we draw with Sweden but that was a dfferent team with a different coach. Reality is we draw with Puerto Rico. Our under 23 side should be waxing PR.
There is plenty work for the team to do and not much time. I wish the team the best and hope the younger players will get international exposure when the foreign based away. This coach sound like he actually willing to develop players. If that is so we headed in the right direction. Hopefully if we get England by that time we would be clciking.
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Haha jack should diss Holland after ,we getting famous ,bad press better than no press atall .
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Dey goh get de apology since, yesterday was yesterday and today is today..... ::)
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Just say no to Mr Warner
By: Martin Samuel (Times)
Under Capello's iron-fist rule, FA mandarins knew the match must fit in with the Italian's vision of how England can best prepare for the 2010 World Cup. Offered a range of overseas friendlies in June, including Australia, Mexico, the United States and T and T, Capello approved the Caribbean option because it suited his desire for a five-day training camp with a game against relatively unthreatening opposition.
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when will we be taking seriously >:(
Would'nt worry too much bout that comment.....it is England we talking about after all. England is dismissive of most nations unless they have been beaten by said country at least twice in recent memory. Just ask Croatia and Russia about comments made before the Euro qualifiers. This is strangely why England has always been dismissive of Mexico when playing them yet has a growning respect of the US team when historically Mexico has always been a better side than the US. Mexico aint ever beaten them while the US has (twice).
Yuh ent see allyuh men is kicks, lol...we barely draw wid friggin Puerto Rico...ent play nobody of note in almost 9 months...local administration in a mess, team organization in a mess...
...and because they characterize Trinidad as relatively unthreatening some ah allyuh taking offense?? steups
we lucky f**kkin Puerto Rico ent cut we ass.
True dat Bake! and to make matters worse it was a come from behind draw. We need to be very afraid if we have to face England in June, we are not the team we were in 2006 so all the chest beating that we go cut they arse needs to be tempered with the reality that without quality players, preparation and winning attitude, be prepared for England to ress it on we!
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Jack like to be wrong and strong...i doh see any apology coming unless the FA grease his palms quietly..or he get to meet the queen or something so.
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Jack like to be wrong and strong...i doh see any apology coming unless the FA grease his palms quietly..or he get to meet the queen or something so.
Fixed ;)
he go tell dem to make de cheque out to Austin Warner ;)
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didn't have time to read all the articles
but on fox football phoen in the man said it clearly, jack warner has 3 votes in FIFA so with england looking fro a bid jack is strongarming oppl as usual, he even recalled when scotland played tnt jackl told them to pay HIM, some nonsense about the players wouldnt get paid properly if it was given to the TTFF.
jack "BOBOL" warner
he is one huge wall in my path to introduce a great help to community sporting centers in trinidad and tobago
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True dat Bake! and to make matters worse it was a come from behind draw. We need to be very afraid if we have to face England in June, we are not the team we were in 2006 so all the chest beating that we go cut they arse needs to be tempered with the reality that without quality players, preparation and winning attitude, be prepared for England to ress it on we!
I root as hard fuh this team as anyone, but I like to be realistic too man. I find if man ent bussin up dese youths and calling dem 'shithongs'...is because they acting like we have a team of world-beaters. I agree with you that the end result might not be pretty...England has a lot to prove and may well have the Germany result in the back of their minds...they may be properly motivated to put us 'back in our place' as they see it...meaning, I'm sure they think of themselves as better than a 2-0 result against us and would be looking to prove that with their play.
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When is our arbitrator's ruling? I want all players available
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Lord this hit every small town paper in the UK (http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&scoring=d&num=35&q=warner+olive+branch&btnG=Search):
Warner holds out olive branch
17:55 - 07 February 2008
FIFA vice-president Jack Warner has paved the way for a friendly between England and Trinidad & Tobago in June by hailing the FA as the most respected association in the world.
The FA had wanted Warner, the head of Caribbean football, to redress comments he made last year about England being "an irritant" to Europe and having had no impact in world football.
Warner, who insisted the FA had never asked him personally for any retraction, said: "I am certain that nobody of relevance within the FA believes that Jack Warner is England's enemy. The opposite is true."
He added: "What I did say in a BBC radio interview last year, was nothing but the reproduction of opinions and background whispers offered by false friends in Europe.
"Numerous European football grandees have often made derogatory remarks about England in the past. What I did was merely to state them and share them with the public at large.
"Unfortunately, it was subsequently construed to be 'Jack Warner's opinion', simply because it was I who had voiced what others - behind England's back - were and are saying in Europe.
"I emphasise 'Europe' because the FA, under Geoff Thompson's leadership, and ever since [the failed bid for the World Cup in] 2006 has changed course in international terms and stepped up its international development programme to a level unmatched by any other FA in the world.
"The FA today is probably the most respected football association in Europe in the eyes of virtually all countries within CONCACAF, Asia, Africa and South America."
The FA are keen to hold the friendly in the West Indies on June 1 because Warner, the president of the CONCACAF federation, is a hugely-important FIFA figure in terms of the 2018 World Cup bid.
The match would also be part of the centenary celebrations of the country's football federation (T&TFF), and would fit in with England manager Fabio Capello's plans.
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D money he could make wit that match is not only d olive branch he extend I say is d entire tree
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Lord this hit every small town paper in the UK (http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&scoring=d&num=35&q=warner+olive+branch&btnG=Search):
Warner holds out olive branch
17:55 - 07 February 2008
He added: "What I did say in a BBC radio interview last year, was nothing but the reproduction of opinions and background whispers offered by false friends in Europe.
Aaaaaaahhhhhh yes, de ammended version....
Last year was last year, and dis year is dis year.....
Oh lord ah trying real hard not to laugh.....
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Warner rails at 'deplorable' McBeth
By Martyn Ziegler (Scotsman)
FIFA vice-president Jack Warner has opened the way for a friendly between England and Trinidad & Tobago in June by hailing the FA as the most respected association in the world.
The FA had wanted Warner, the head of Caribbean football, to redress comments he made last year about England being "an irritant" to Europe and having had no impact in world football. Warner now says while European football figures do denigrate England, in the rest of the world the FA's international development work has reaped huge dividends.
He also claims that without his active support, former FA chairman Geoff Thompson would not have been elected as a fellow Fifa vice-president.
Warner was instrumental in securing Thompson the seat as Britain's Fifa vice-president. Scottish Football Association president John McBeth was about to take the post last May, only to be forced to withdraw after suggesting African and Caribbean associations were tainted by corruption and greed.
Warner said: "To assume that I had a personal grudge against England is incorrect. Frankly, without my active support, there still would not be an Englishman in Fifa's executive committee today: I encouraged Geoff to take on the responsibility of Fifa vice-president after that deplorable Scot McBeth lashed out against virtually anything non-British in a reprehensible way.
"One must not forget that for decades, there was no Englishman in any body of relevance at Uefa or Fifa levels. For 17 years, your Home Countries were represented by a Scot, and only when Geoff Thompson with his quiet yet professional and dedicated ways offered to play an active role, Uefa and later Fifa accepted an Englishman in their most senior ranks."
The FA is keen to hold the friendly in the West Indies on 1 June because Warner, the president of the Concacaf federation, is a hugely-important Fifa figure in terms of the 2018 World Cup bid. The match would also be part of the centenary celebrations of the country's football federation (T&TFF), and would fit in with England manager Fabio Capello's plans.
Warner, special adviser to the T&TFF, is something of a controversial figure in football. Last year, his son Daryan was banned from selling World Cup tickets after offering briefs from the 2006 tournament for several times their face value. The T&TFF are also currently being sued by their own players over bonuses they say they are owed from the 2006 finals.
Warner is a vital figure in terms of the 2018 campaign however – he directly controls three of the 24 Fifa executive committee votes and has a strong influence over four more. He is also a strong backer of Fifa president Sepp Blatter.
Warner, who insisted the FA had never asked him personally for any retraction of his comments about England, added: "I am certain that nobody of relevance within the FA believes that Jack Warner is England's enemy. The opposite is true.
"What I did say in a BBC radio interview last year, was nothing but the reproduction of opinions and background whispers offered by false friends in Europe.
"Numerous European football grandees have often made derogatory remarks about England in the past. What I did was merely to state them and share them with the public at large.
"Unfortunately, it was subsequently construed to be 'Jack Warner's opinion', simply because it was I who had voiced what others – behind England's back – were and are saying in Europe.
"I emphasise 'Europe' because the FA, under Geoff Thompson's leadership, and ever sin
ce (the failed bid for the World Cup in] 2006 has changed course in international terms and stepped up its international development programme to a level unmatched by any other FA in the world. The FA today is probably the most respected football association in Europe in the eyes of virtually all countries within Concacaf, Asia, Africa and South America."
Warner said a friendly with England would be "fabulous". "The T&TFF, having been formed by English settlers in 1908, has come a long way since then.
"If England were to play our twin-island nation's team to celebrate 100 years of football history, it would be a fabulous sign of recognition.
"Therefore, and when the timing is appropriate, I will be happy to outline the fine achievements of the FA in international development, with or without a game being played between our countries in honour of our 100- year birthday."
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What ah...........!!!!!!!
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Bowing to the English
Fazeer Mohammed (Express)
Friday, February 8th 2008
Will this be another "Yesterday was yesterday, today is today" moment?
It seems there's only one thing standing in the way of our former colonial masters coming to these shores in June to take on the national team in the showpiece occasion of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation's centenary celebrations: an apology, or more precisely, a retraction, from no less a person than Jack Warner himself.
Based on a report carried in yesterday's Trinidad Express sports section on the authority of the website ESPN Soccernet, the English Football Association is prepared to entertain a request for their senior national squad to bestow us with the enviable honour of their esteemed presence, once Warner retracts this comment he made last year in the midst of a debate over the abandonment of FIFA's continental rotation policy which would clear the way for England to mount a bid for the 2018 World Cup Finals:
"England has never had any impact on world football...England at no time has the love and support of Europe. For Europe, England is an irritant."
And that was just an extract from all that he said, which had the bigwigs at the EFA spluttering into their cups of Earl Grey (it may be Darjeeling, who knows?) at the brazen effrontery of this nowhere man from a nowhere land to dare to diss a country that prides itself as the spiritual home of the beautiful game. Indeed, the theme of their failed bid for the 2006 Finals, which went to Germany, was something along the lines of "Football Comes Home."
By the way, if anyone is upset at the reference to sweet T&T, home of the steelpan, calypso and limbo, not to mention the greatest show on earth, as a "nowhere land" in terms of the footballing map, just digest this other observation by ESPN Soccernet in relation to the same issue:
"It is understood that playing in (sic) Trinidad would fit in with Fabio Capello's plans of a match against a testing opponent at the end of May followed by a trip abroad where the England manager can spend some time with the players in a low-pressure environment."
I put the (sic) in because, at the risk of sounding like an insecure, small island fanatic, you really get sick and tired of people ignoring the fact that Tobago (Dwight Yorke, remember him?) is an integral part of our twin-island state, not an appendage that can be conveniently disconnected for the sake of literary expediency.
But that's just an aside. What's really revealing is the regard, or lack thereof, that Monsignor Capello appears to have for us puny Third Worlders. Never mind that the game, if it does come off, will be around the same time that Trinidad and Tobago will be taking on either Bermuda or the Cayman Islands in a home-and-away tie that kicks off our actual qualifying campaign to make it to South Africa 2010, and will therefore be expected to display a sharp, competitive edge even if the English are laid back.
To say that either of those two initial qualifying opponents are of no consequence and we shouldn't even have to be up to full steam to blow them away is to adopt the same insultingly condescending attitude that we accuse those good folks up north of harbouring towards us. And let us please keep in mind, shall we, that for all of the glory and celebration of making it to Germany '06, we were in considerable danger of stumbling fatally at the feet of humble St Vincent and the Grenadines before two late goals by Hector Sam and Angus Eve saw us through to the final phase of CONCACAF qualification.
No, what really crawls the blood is the insinuation that England coming here to play Trinidad and Tobago is not really all that far removed from a working holiday for the visitors in a "low-pressure environment," with 90 minutes of football at a reasonable enough pace to excite us star-struck natives before they return to the creature comforts of their luxury accommodation, complete with well-stocked bar and glamorous swarm of all-too-willing barflies.
Would it not be much more significant and symbolic if we were to invite, say, the African champions in a show of solidarity with a part of the world that suffers from the same sort of upper crust exploitation and condescension that has shaped our history, never mind the growing prominence of African footballers in the world's top domestic leagues?
And even if the likes of Ghana, Ivory Coast, Egypt or Cameroon couldn't make it, how about showing that we really have broken the shackles and approach Asian champions Iraq, who overcame the continuing destruction of their country to emerge triumphant last year, to honour us with a game worthy of our centenary celebrations?
But there's never going to be a chance of that, because I can see so many readers twisting up their faces at the prospect of enduring Abu Nobody and Abdul Whoever when they could be pulling on their England replica shirts and gallerying about how they know everything about Steven Gerrard from his tally of international goals to the favourite meal of his second cousin's uncle's former wife.
Almost two hundred years after the end of slavery and more than a hundred years since indentureship ceased, the mental ties that bind are stronger than any chains.
So Jack, let's try it one more time: Yesterday was yesterday and...
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Bowing to the English
Fazeer Mohammed (Express)
Friday, February 8th 2008
"It is understood that playing in (sic) Trinidad would fit in with Fabio Capello's plans of a match against a testing opponent at the end of May followed by a trip abroad where the England manager can spend some time with the players in a low-pressure environment."
I put the (sic) in because, at the risk of sounding like an insecure, small island fanatic, you really get sick and tired of people ignoring the fact that Tobago (Dwight Yorke, remember him?) is an integral part of our twin-island state, not an appendage that can be conveniently disconnected for the sake of literary expediency.
steups
Who gives a rat's f**kkin ass....
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But there's never going to be a chance of that, because I can see so many readers twisting up their faces at the prospect of enduring Abu Nobody and Abdul Whoever when they could be pulling on their England replica shirts and gallerying about how they know everything about Steven Gerrard from his tally of international goals to the favourite meal of his second cousin's uncle's former wife.
Almost two hundred years after the end of slavery and more than a hundred years since indentureship ceased, the mental ties that bind are stronger than any chains.
cough u mean cough Rooney cough cough
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From afar, ir certainly seems that Mr Mohammed is still suffering from "Almost two hundred years after the end of slavery and more than a hundred years since indentureship ceased, the mental ties that bind are stronger than any chains. "
Because when I read the comment about low pressure environment, this is what I thought:
Away from UK and Europe and the scrutiny of the press hyped up about Euro 2008.
The relaxed, chilled atmosphere of the Caribbean.
Sunshine and beaches.
This is why the Caribbean is such a popular holiday destination. The purpose of a friendly at this time is to bond the team and build team spirit. This is why many club teams choose holiday destination for pre season training.
Even better, England can play a 2006 World Cup finalist and gain brownie points for their 2018 bid. Even the journos will be more relaxed and less critical.
So, in my opinion, and offence to T&T is purely imaginary. Yes, I admit, if England wanted a testing workout, they may have chosen Mexico or USA, but thats a fair comment, isn't it. Brazil played Rep of Ireland on weds while England played the Swiss. Why do you think that was? Brazil and England didn't want a heavy match at this stage of the season. T&T are at least as good as Swiss and Rep of Ireland.
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From afar, ir certainly seems that Mr Mohammed is still suffering from "Almost two hundred years after the end of slavery and more than a hundred years since indentureship ceased, the mental ties that bind are stronger than any chains. "
Because when I read the comment about low pressure environment, this is what I thought:
Away from UK and Europe and the scrutiny of the press hyped up about Euro 2008.
The relaxed, chilled atmosphere of the Caribbean.
Sunshine and beaches.
This is why the Caribbean is such a popular holiday destination. The purpose of a friendly at this time is to bond the team and build team spirit. This is why many club teams choose holiday destination for pre season training.
Even better, England can play a 2006 World Cup finalist and gain brownie points for their 2018 bid. Even the journos will be more relaxed and less critical.
So, in my opinion, and offence to T&T is purely imaginary. Yes, I admit, if England wanted a testing workout, they may have chosen Mexico or USA, but thats a fair comment, isn't it. Brazil played Rep of Ireland on weds while England played the Swiss. Why do you think that was? Brazil and England didn't want a heavy match at this stage of the season. T&T are at least as good as Swiss and Rep of Ireland.
I beg to differ...How about T&T are at least as good as Puerto Rico and Guadelopue.
I don't think agree that Capello want to come here because the Caribbean is a popular destination for pre season training. I can't recall any of the powerhouses coming here for pre-season training within recent times. Asia is the more popular destination. Brazil and England played lesser teams the other day because NOW is building time...not so in four months time.
Added to that, why would he want to face a testing team in May and then cool down against T&T right after, to do team building...in preseason ?? June is campaign season where man have to be sharp.
I feel he chose T&T because they looking to get Jack votes for they campaign and playing against Jack shit side, they cyah lose...is a win win situation....is just that they could afford to squeeze Jack arm lil bit to get an apology...hollow as it may be.
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I feel he chose T&T because they looking to get Jack votes for they campaign and playing against Jack shit side, they cyah lose...is a win win situation....is just that they could afford to squeeze Jack arm lil bit to get an apology...hollow as it may be.
good one Pardners
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From afar, ir certainly seems that Mr Mohammed is still suffering from "Almost two hundred years after the end of slavery and more than a hundred years since indentureship ceased, the mental ties that bind are stronger than any chains. "
Because when I read the comment about low pressure environment, this is what I thought:
Away from UK and Europe and the scrutiny of the press hyped up about Euro 2008.
The relaxed, chilled atmosphere of the Caribbean.
Sunshine and beaches.
This is why the Caribbean is such a popular holiday destination. The purpose of a friendly at this time is to bond the team and build team spirit. This is why many club teams choose holiday destination for pre season training.
Even better, England can play a 2006 World Cup finalist and gain brownie points for their 2018 bid. Even the journos will be more relaxed and less critical.
So, in my opinion, and offence to T&T is purely imaginary. Yes, I admit, if England wanted a testing workout, they may have chosen Mexico or USA, but thats a fair comment, isn't it. Brazil played Rep of Ireland on weds while England played the Swiss. Why do you think that was? Brazil and England didn't want a heavy match at this stage of the season. T&T are at least as good as Swiss and Rep of Ireland.
I beg to differ...How about T&T are at least as good as Puerto Rico and Guadelopue.
I don't think agree that Capello want to come here because the Caribbean is a popular destination for pre season training. I can't recall any of the powerhouses coming here for pre-season training within recent times. Asia is the more popular destination. Brazil and England played lesser teams the other day because NOW is building time...not so in four months time.
Added to that, why would he want to face a testing team in May and then cool down against T&T right after, to do team building...in preseason ??
June is campaign season where man have to be sharp. Not in England, mate. June is when players begin pre season. They probably won't even touc a ball in first few weeks of June. Then there'll be friendlies in early July (usually somewhere warm such as Spain) Englands first WC cup match is 6th September vs Andorra, so I don't think they want to focus on being sharp in June!
I feel he chose T&T because they looking to get Jack votes for they campaign and playing against Jack shit side, they cyah lose...is a win win situation....is just that they could afford to squeeze Jack arm lil bit to get an apology...hollow as it may be.
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Pardners in rippin form
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Good one, Pardners
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Allyuh tink Jack easy ? There's only one Jack Warner
ENGLAND has received a major boost to its 2018 World Cup chances after influential Fifa vice-president Jack Warner hailed the Football Association as the most-respected association in the world.
Warner’s latest remarks also open the way to a friendly between England and T&T on June 1 in the West Indies.
The FA had wanted Warner, the head of Caribbean football, to redress comments he made last year about England being “an irritant” to Europe and having had no impact in world football.
Warner now says while European football figures do denigrate England, in the rest of the world the FA’s international development work has reaped huge dividends.
He also claims that without his active support, former FA chairman Geoff Thompson would not have been elected as a fellow Fifa vice-president.
On their side, the FA is keen to hold the friendly in the West Indies on June 1 because Warner, the president of the Concacaf federation, is a very important Fifa figure in terms of the 2018 World Cup bid.
The match would also be part of the centenary celebrations of the country’s football federation (T&TFF), and would fit in with England manager Fabio Capello’s plans.
Warner said: “I am certain that nobody of relevance within the FA believes that Jack Warner is England’s enemy. The opposite is true.
“What I did say in a BBC radio interview last year, was nothing but the reproduction of opinions and background whispers offered by false friends in Europe.
“Numerous European football grandees have often made derogatory remarks about England in the past. What I did was merely to state them and share them with the public at large.
“Unfortunately, it was subsequently construed to be ‘Jack Warner’s opinion’, simply because it was I who had voiced what others—behind England’s back—were and are saying in Europe.
“I emphasise ‘Europe’ because the FA, under Geoff Thompson’s leadership, and ever since (the failed bid for the World Cup in) 2006 has changed course in international terms and stepped up its international development programme to a level unmatched by any other FA in the world.
“The FA is probably the most respected football association in Europe in the eyes of virtually all countries within Concacaf, Asia, Africa and South America.”
Warner is a vital figure in terms of the 2018 campaign however—he directly controls three of the 24 Fifa executive committee votes and has a strong influence over four more. He is also a strong backer of Fifa president Sepp Blatter.
Warner was also instrumental in securing Thompson the seat as Britain’s Fifa vice-president. Scottish FA president John McBeth was about to take the post last May, only to be forced to withdraw after suggesting African and Caribbean associations were tainted by corruption and greed.
Warner added: “To assume that I had a personal grudge against England is incorrect. Frankly, without my active support, there still would not be an Englishman in Fifa’s executive committee today: I encouraged Geoff to take on the responsibility of Fifa vice-president after that deplorable Scot McBeth lashed out against virtually anything non-British in a reprehensible way.
guardian
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Quote of all quotes d most respected association. I taught it was d TTFF