World Cup soccer stirs controversy in qualifying

November 30, 2009 by Sean Jaramillo 

Ireland and Chile are top critics of 2010 world cup qualifying

Who says that controversy and upsets in the fall are limited to just college football?

Definitely not FIFA.

After nearly two years of qualifying, which was spread across more than 200 countries on six continents, the 2010 World Cup field has been narrowed to 32.

Or is it?

Just when it looked like the field was set, two challenges to the system reared their ugly heads and put two qualifiers on the chopping block.

The challenge, while basically resolved, managed to get national governments involved.

Let me set the stage for you:

France hosted the Republic of Ireland in the second leg of the final UEFA qualifier. With the aggregate score tied 1-1 in stoppage time, France’s Thierry Henry hit the ball twice with his hands to keep the ball in bounds and set up the game-winning shot.

For those of you who missed Soccer (World Football) 101 in elementary school P.E., using your hands when you are not the goalkeeper is illegal.

This act drew the attention and ire of not only Irish fans but the Irish government. Over the course of the next three days, Irish citizens, Irish players and Henry himself asked that the game be replayed.

Unfortunately, FIFA refused the petitions and allowed France into the World Cup.

Meanwhile in South America, another set of petitions were suffering the same fate.

Chile, which won one of South America’s four guaranteed spots, nearly lost it when one of its club teams took the Chilean league to court over its demotion to the secondary league.

FIFA rules state that national governments cannot get involved with the nation’s soccer leagues, which meant that Chile could be expelled from the World Cup.

On Friday, the squad dropped the lawsuit and Chile no longer has to worry about expulsion.

But out of this controversy has come some clarity. While the decisions of soccer referees are being questioned, one cannot question that these 32 teams are in for what they did on the field.

It is a system where the best of each continent were determined through powerful play and not political play. You should take a lesson from FIFA, BCS officials.

On that note, let’s review who made it in for each continent:

North America (sanctioning body: CONCACAF)

The battles for two of the North America’s three automatic spots were basically decided before the October session of matches, but the last one required an eleventh hour finish to be decided.

The United States continued their momentum to win the group and rival Mexico took second.

Honduras took the final spot with a win in their final game, but it was only made possible by a U.S. comeback win over Costa Rica.

South America (CONMEBOL)

Brazil and Argentina are no strangers to the competition and are now huge favorites in 2010.

With all the insanity in Chile complete, the team can now prepare for their first tournament since 1998.

Paraguay is the team who clinched that only Paraguayans remember. That said, they hold victories over top CONMEBOL teams, so remember them in June.

Lastly, Uruguay took the wild card spot by beating CONCACAF’s Costa Rica. They nearly took down Argentina one month ago, so don’t sleep on them.

Europe (UEFA)

Names like England, Spain, Germany and Italy bring with them the mystique of World Cup and European championships.

Newcomers to the global scene also plan to show their worth this June. The Netherlands, Serbia and Slovakia look to build off their successes in the 2006 World Cup and 2008 European Cup.

Surprise winners Denmark and Switzerland will have to show that their respective upsets of Portugal and Greece were no fluke.

The four consolation qualifiers gave UEFA their final four representatives and gave second life to teams who are proven threats in Europe: Portugal, Greece, Slovenia and France.

Africa (CAF)

Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana and the Ivory Coast each will make their second trips to the World Cup in three tries.

Algeria also will make their first trip since 1986 after upsetting African champion Egypt in a one-game playoff.

Asia (AFC)

A divided Korea may be even more divided come June, as both North and South Korea will be in the tournament together for the first time ever.

Joining them will be 2002 World Cup host Japan and Australia. (I don’t get why they’re in Asian qualifying either.)

Oceania (OFC)

The only “continent” with no automatic bid had to sweat it out these last two months while champion New Zealand slipped past Asian fifth-place finisher Bahrain for the final spot.

These 31 qualifying teams, and host South Africa, make up next year’s field.

Each team is six wins away from the World Cup tournament final.

At least one sport lets a playoff decide the champion.