Monday there's supposed to be word from FIFA on World Cup officiating.
Don't hold your breath if you're looking for an explanations for the recent gaffe(s) in the USA-Slovenia match, for example.
Rumor has it the Mali referee received a bad review. How bad was it? He was the fourth official on the Italy-New Zealand game on Sunday!
I can only imagine what type of smokescreens or shenanigans will emerge from Monday's briefing. There will be no specific address of particular plays.
Now, my avocation is officiating so I can speak with some relevance in this case. Officials should NOT cause the outcome of matches. That has not been the case of a few games in this year's World Cup.
Also, as an official, you are subject to review. We talk about plays, what we saw, if we got it right, etc. If an error was made, the proper people are informed.
The USA has long been scoffed at by international soccer. Yet the Americans are better at soccer now, bring more fans than any other nation to the World Cup and people now watch and follow the games.
In short we've grown as a soccer nation. FIFA, on the other hand, has not grown.
How can they make amends? Take the initiative of American sports where integrity and accountability to the public are part of the checks and balances.
That photo above shows New Zealand celebrating after its improbable draw with Italy. The blew that one, too, as Italy dived to earn its match-tying PK.
That brings up another issue. The naked eye can't see these dives, but video can. Video is needed in these other instances. That's just another thing Sepp Blatter and FIFA need to address ASAP.
Credibility can kill the goose that laid the golden egg. FIFA is in jeopardy of doing just that.
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