DID ONLY PUTIN MERIT AN UMBRELLA? … reflections on a monumental event
And the heavens opened – and it poured with rain. Thus came to an end a momentous three weeks of a feast of football that well-deserved FIFA President Infantino’s pronouncement that this was the best World Cup ever – and much, much better than expected.
There were certainly doubts. Gays and lesbians were said to be “not welcome”; trouble-making British and Croatian fans were warned to “behave”. Some concerns were expressed about Russia’s infrastructure and whether it could withstand all the logistical comings and goings. However, by the end, all doubts were dispelled and everything went swimmingly.
Well, not quite swimmingly. It seems that nobody predicted the possibility of a flood-like downpour slap, bang during the final presentation ceremony. There was no stand to shelter the VIPs, Russia’s Vladimir Putin, France’s Emmanuel Macron and Croatian Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, all country Presidents, as well as top FIFA officials and guests. They ended up like ducks wallowing in water.
From the picture it seems that only iron-man Putin deserved being protected by an umbrella!
On the football front there were some great games and some great surprises. Germany’s early elimination was unexpected and astounding, followed by that of Argentina, Brazil, Spain and Portugal – all favourites.
In the end, England did much, much better than expected and as predicted Belgium, Croatia and France were in the final reckoning. There is great admiration too for little Iceland who emerged with honours, for such a small country.
In the end too, it did not actually “come home” – but it came close – to England’s neighbours, France.
The French became World Champions on merit and although they did not steal anything in the Final against Croatia, their first two goals were certainly lucky breaks, an auto-goal and a VAR awarded penalty.
I would hazard and say that most attention was drawn by the novelty attention of the VAR process, about which I have mixed feelings. In my opinion the award in the Final of a penalty to France was mistaken.
The hands ball rule is quite clear; “hands” has to be deliberate and intentional with a clear intention to block, deaden or divert a ball to the disadvantage of opponents. The ball bounces and deflects and often unexpectedly strikes parts of the body.
Commentators make a clear distinction about “ball to hands” and “hands to ball”. For me, the action was the latter, “ball to hands” and in the commentary that I heard that is how the commentator described it at the time of the live action.
VAR officials decreed otherwise and probably veered the whole course of the game.
I started off my career as a sports journalist with “The Times of Malta” as a trainee and then Assistant Sports Editor. My Sports Editor boss was a former Sliema Wanderers and Pick Malta star defender, the late Robbie DeCesare who used a lot of cliché’s in his reports.
One favourite was “It’s All Over Bar The Shouting” and that just about sums it up. In the 1966 World Cup Final at Wembley that went to extra-time between England and Germany, with seconds to go, England were leading 4-2. The referee blew for a foul and the England players thought it was the final whistle and began to celebrate.
BBC commentator, the late Kenneth Wolstenhome, referring to the England players, said “they think it’s all over” and as he said that, the referee blew the final whistle.
“It is now” said Kenneth.
ALBERT JEROME FENECH
