Actually, referees at the 2014 FIFA World Cup being held in Brazil couldn’t have had a worse start than the one they had with World Cup hosts, Brazil, being awarded a crucial and highly dubious penalty against Croatia. Before the penalty was awarded, the game was evenly matched at 1-1.  Japanese referee, Yuichi Nishimura, an experienced official who officiates J-League games, saw defender Dejan Lovren place a hand on the arm of Brazil’s Fred.  With some drama moves he had learnt at his local drama organisation, the latter didn’t hesitate to act as if he had been shot.  Neymar took the penalty and sent Brazil on their way to a crucial 3 points.

Most top-level European referees, who are used to the antics of strikers who go down at the slightest of touches, would have probably given Fred a yellow card for simulation. However, Nishimura, who is used to the more honest Japanese league, fell for Fred’s drama trick.  The main question here is, “Fred, can you please give me the number of your drama school so that I can forward it to those who are longing to start drama?”

No wonder Croatia’s manager Kovac was furious with regard to this particular decision.  In fact, after the match, he stated, “If that’s a penalty, we don’t need to play football anymore. Let’s play basketball instead, it’s a shame.  If you continue in this vein then there will be 100 penalties during this World Cup.”

We move on to Spain vs Holland, a match during which another highly dubious penalty was awarded, this time to Spain’s Diego Costa.  Experienced Italian referee, Niccola Rizzoli, awarded Spain the penalty after Dutch defender Stefan de Vrij slid into the box and appeared to clip Diego Costa’s heel.  In spite of this, replays showed a different picture. Not disheartened by this penalty decision, Netherlands went on to win the match 5-1 and give a strong message to Spain.

Another game, another controversy. This time during the match between Mexico and Cameroon Here, Mexican footballer Giovanni Dos Santos had two goals disallowed for offside calls by Colombian official Wilmar Alexander Roldan Perez. While the first decision could have gone either way, the second was a crystal clear mistake.  Dos Santos finished off a corner at the far post that had been flicked on by Cameroon’s Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting. The referee thought that another Mexican player had touched the ball and not Choupo-Moting, and thus ruled out the goal as offside.  After the match, Mexico’s head coach Miguel Herrera said, “Frankly, the refereeing took away two clear goals, but at the end of the day you’ve got to work for it, and we get to the next match with three points and very high spirits.”

Costa Rica`s crucial match with 4-time-World Champions Italy, saw another gross mistake by the match officials.  Arsenal’s  Joel Campbell broke into the box with a surging run, and was bundled over by Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini, who simply ran into Campbell’s back.  Amazingly, the referee turned down Costa Rica’s appeals for a penalty. With so many penalties being called during this World Cup, it’s simply incredible that this stonewall penalty wasn’t given.

Another ludicrous decision was taken during the game between Nigeria and Bosnia Herzegovina where the latter’s striker, Edin Dzeko, had a goal chalked off for an inexistent offside. Dzeko, his nation’s record goal scorer, stated that Bosnia’s captain, Emir Spahic, was fouled by Emmanuel Emenike in the run-up to Nigeria’s sole goal which gave them the all-important three points, during his post-match interview.  Edin Dzeko stated: “Today we should have won this game.  The referee was shameful in this competition. We are going home, we are sad because of that but this referee should be going home too. He changed the result and he changed the game.  That’s why we lost.”

The mistakes and questionable calls continue to add up match after match, this time during the match between Argentina and Iran.  Here, referee Milorad Mazic, didn’t point to the spot when Argentina right back Pablo Zabaleta challenged Ashkan Dejagah in the second half as the midfielder was running toward goal. Up to this point the game was balanced and the score was still tied at 0-0.  Argentina went on to win the match 1-0 with a 92nd minute screamer from Lionel Messi.  After the match, Iran’s coach Carlos Queiroz stated: “It should have been a penalty and red card (for Zabaleta).  There’s no excuse.  There’s nothing that can explain (why) this Serbian referee (did) not give the penalty.  How can this guy sleep tonight, or for the rest of his life?  With all respect, I would like to have the opportunity to have a one-on-one conversation with him. Why did he do that to us?”

Even though some of the aforementioned mistakes were huge ones, I bring to you earth-shaking news, “Referees are human beings too!” Whilst the magnifying glass is continually getting closer to their officiating during this world class tournament, we wish all referees the best of luck in their upcoming matches.  

Finally, we would like to give you some advice dear refs.  Look out for divers, and forget about the beautiful senoritas present in Brazil.  We know it’s difficult and we know you’re human beings, but for your own good pay attention to the ever increasing number of divers on pitch.  Don’t let them kill the "beautiful game’.  Best of Luck!

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Deaths and delays to construction workers at the Arena Corinthians and Cuiaba stadium have only attracted further negative attention on Brazil.  Sao Paulo`s Corinthians Arena will be hosting the opening game and ceremony but there are still some things to arrange and amend within this amazing stadium since it is still not fully complete.  In fact, after a trial run last week, one of the stadium’s stands has been denied the all-important safety certificate.  This continued to put pressure on Brazilian authorities regarding the upcoming World Cup.  Workers at several stadiums are still struggling to set up cell phone networks aimed at withstanding tens of thousands of fans’ smartphones. There is no doubt that by the opening game the stadium will be certified, but how safe will it be?

Moreover, around 10,000 homeless workers marched and shut down one of Sao Paolo’s main highways to this stadium as a protest against FIFA and the Brazilian government.  They held several banners showing the catastrophic results which such an event placed on them, with the main issue being that the government spent money on the World Cup rather than on their transport, health, education, food and shelter.

There have also been concerns that the Airports in Brazil are not suitable enough to welcome those who are set to travel to Brazil to watch the World Cup.  As Brazil have almost no rail networks system, fans will have to fly from one venue to another.  A new terminal planned in the city of Fortaleza has now been delayed until after the World Cup and travelling fans will instead be greeted by a tent.  Did FIFA imagine that this World Cup would have created so much hassle, delays and contradictions within Brazil and even on an international level?

That being said, Brazil President Dilma Rousseff recently assured travelling fans that the Airports will be ready for the much-awaited event.  She stated, “I guarantee that our airports are prepared for the World Cup. We will welcome everyone very well. Our airports are prepared to offer good services to everyone coming to watch the World Cup.”

As the time goes by and the World Cup draws closer, Brazil will be under the magnifying glass more than ever.  Protests are still being held all over the country, some against the government and others against football’s governing body, FIFA.  All we can do is hold our breath and wait for Thursday 12th June, when all of the organizers’ hard work will be on the line, as more than one billion people will be eagerly watching the opening ceremony of this illustrious event followed by the opening match between Brazil and Croatia.

We would like to wish the best of luck to Brazil, all the organizers and people involved in the setting up of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.  Let’s face it; it’s never easy to hold an event as big as the World Cup, especially when there’s this big question mark on the hosts regarding the way they dealt with the organisation of the event.   One thing is certain; Brazilians are now divided by a long dividing line.  On one side there are those who are in favour of the World Cup being held in Brazil, arguing that tourism levels will escalate, bringing huge amounts of money home. Conversely, on the other side, there are those who are saying that this will only benefit those who are well-off, while continuing to drag down the poor. They are stating that the rich will become richer, and the poor will become poorer.  As Rafael Alcadipani, associate professor at Getulio Vargas Foundation in Sao Paulo stated: “The World Cup was a dream that has become a nightmare for many Brazilians.”

One of the most contradictory World Cups to date will be on show as from next Thursday.  Let’s all hope that the football throughout this competition will be of a much higher level than that shown by the organisers that are coordinating the event.  It is no surprise that the footballers representing Brazil will dance Samba after scoring a goal, but will all those homeless, sick and poor people do the same?  Whilst waiting and longing for the start of the 2014 Brazil World Cup, we leave you with this statement “FOOTBALL IS COMING HOME”, (but this is not the case for the poor and homeless).

The post The 2014 World Cup — The Dividing Line in Brazil. appeared first on The Third Eye.

Madrid rivals, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, will be battling it out for European’s football biggest price, the UEFA Champions League, tonight.  Benfica’s Estádio da Luz will host this much-awaited final.  They will be meeting for the fifth time this season following their two matches in the Spanish Liga BBVA and the two matches in the Spanish Copa del Rey.

It’s David against Goliath all over again; on one side we have Real Madrid, a club with an incredibly huge fan base and a strong economy, managed by the experienced Carlo Ancelotti, who is in charge of players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Angel di Maria, Gareth Bale & Sergio Ramos; then on the other side we have Atletico Madrid, a club that had to sell their superstar Radamel Falcao this summer in order to cope with their deteriorating finances and with a relatively smaller fan base than Real Madrid’s.  Atletico Madrid is managed by the young and ambitious, Diego Simeone, a man who manages to get the very best out of his own players.

As they say, big games call for big players.  It is no surprise that both teams will be hoping for an outstanding performance by their key players during such a vital game.  Atletico Madrid will be expecting their brave and lionhearted players such as Thibaut Courtois, Gabi, Juanfran and, if fit to play, Diego Costa, to guide the team towards a historic title-winning campaign.  The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Luka Modric and Iker Casillas will surely be in the front line to possibly lead Carlo Ancelotti’s side towards the tenth UEFA Champions League in Real Madrid’s history – A POR LA DÉCIMA!  

Despite being crowned Spanish Champions, Atletico Madrid will still be considered the underdogs against the Spanish giants, Real Madrid. This "label’ will undoubtedly be welcomed by Diego Simeone.  Will the latter be able to surprise those who are sceptical regarding an Atletico win once again?  Will he be able to beat a hungry Real Madrid side? Will he be capable in continuing to confirm that money is not everything in football?  Will he be able to end this memorable season in the most extraordinary and noteworthy way?

Albeit being considered the favourite side, Carlo Ancelotti and his men will not let complacency take over.  They already tasted grief against Atleti during this season.  In fact, they lost one and drew the other in the two Spanish Primera Division games.  Will Ancelotti be able to motivate his players to win the tenth one in Real Madrid’s history? Will he be able to show the world that it was only a matter of time for Real Madrid to triumph again in Europe?

The rivalry has now been taken to a whole new level.  It’s no longer a game to decide who is the best in Madrid, but a game to show who is the best in Europe, and possibly the World.  Los Colchoneros against Los Merengues ; Los Rojiblancos against Los Blancos; Los Indians against Los Vikingos.  Game on!

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