Liverpool FC Forum

by **Sabre** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 6:45 pm

UEFA officials have stated again it's not hollow threats the possibility of banning Spain from both national and club international competitions.

Spanish government issued an order to ALL the sports federations that are not going to Beijing 2008 to start an election for new chairman. It was a routine decission of the Sports and Culture minister involving a lot of Sports, and as part of the Sports law being applied. And the Royal football association is no exception: it's affiliated to the FIFA yes, but under the Spanish law. So basically here we have a clash between Spanish Laws and Fifa's laws, and FIFA has chosen to use something that doesn't work here, blackmail.

I don't see why FIFA doesn't want ELECTIONS in Spanish FA and quite frankly I don't care. If we have to pay the price of not playing those competitions to be a sobereign country to take this decissions, then so be it, and good luck to Northern Ireland.

FIFA IMHO has been arrogant. Should they have dealt this issue with some diplomacy and discretion, it could have been solved, as the Spanish law does accepts some extra months to apply this rule. But they've chosen to blackmail and threat, and that won't work.

Let's see what happens.

by **woof woof !** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 7:27 pm

Think Fifa are throwing their weight about unnecessarily, but what can you expect from a bunch of pen pushers.

If they want to take Spain (or any country) to task about anything , it should be the facism that still invades football , but of course that would be asking them to do something thats actually worthwhile and therefore is never gonna happen.

by **LFC2007** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 7:53 pm

Yes mate, I posted this in the Euro's thread yesterday:

Spain probably will be there, but there's a possibility they might not:

LINK

Denmark replaced Yugoslavia in 1992, albeit for different, and more severe reasons than those currently surrounding Spain.

by **Sabre** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 8:29 pm

Sorry LFC2007 I missed that post, perhaps it didn't deserve it's own thread but since this section is not too crowded I decided to open one.

From the link you provide

"It's by no means an empty threat," UEFA spokesman William Gaillard said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. "I think FIFA would sanction Spain if there is no agreement."

The problem in Spain arose when the Socialist government asked all sports federations not competing in this year's Olympics to hold elections before the Beijing Games in August. The Spanish soccer federation, however, doesn't end its four-year term until November.

"It's not up to a government to tell a federation when to hold elections," Gaillard said.

It's definitely up to a government to set up the legal ordinance of a country. The Royal Spanish Federation of Football (RFEF) is associated to the FIFA but under the legal ordinance of this country. The country doesn't make distinctions between Judo or Football, and despite I'm a massive football fan, I understand it.

It's true The Spanish government has been trying to force elections of the football federation, reason of it being that the current FA chairman is unwanted by most of the Spanish football. The government's view is that when there's a lack of agreement in a federation, elections are the proper thing to do to debate ideas and take decissions, which is a balanced view. But as I've said, Spain was only applying the same law to all federations in this case.

"FIFA's rules regarding elections are 100 per cent compatible with Spanish law and with its electoral processes,"

It "is a very powerful weapon, so governments do give in," Gaillard said.

The previous quote is ridiculous when he then admits it's a blackmail tool they use.

"FIFA has the utmost respect for national laws"

But they blackmail the countries which apply those laws.

Well I find the FIFA's ways unacceptable. I wont say "fascist" as Woof uses, because that's a serious word, but definitely I hope my country doesn't give in.

Even if I'm a massive football fan, I don't agree football has a special rule in the law of my country. That law has been approved in the parliament and must be respected. If FIFA doesn't want elections and want to keep their muppet then OK, but Spain shouldn't give in no matter the consequences. It's this "giving in" precisely what makes FIFA so arrogant and dictatorial.

by **dawson99** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 8:38 pm

id say if spain arent in it, then theres less chance of our players getting injured... thats purely selfish.

from a football point of view, Spain have to be there, as ive already backed them to win it

by **Sabre** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 8:45 pm

dawson99 wrote:id say if spain arent in it, then theres less chance of our players getting injured... thats purely selfish.

from a football point of view, Spain have to be there, as ive already backed them to win it

That "selfish" point of view is the view of most Liverpool fans when it comes to their players and when it comes to any country, so that's ok.

Let them ban us, an Euro without Spain and England would be cráp anyway.

by **Huck** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 9:52 pm

It's absolutely unbelievable how those people from FIFA fill their pockets with money earned for nothing and, instead of trying to hide that, they swagger about that and create laws threatening the "real" laws from each country in order to maintain their ruking positions, they must think they are the creators and legitimate owners of this sport, otherwise, I understand nothing. I'm beginning to be really fed up with these people who run the sport I love just as a business, a way to make money (LFC included).

I hope Spain or Spanish clubs are not damaged, but I also think they are going to act firmly if we happen to callenge them, it seems they are immune...at least they will be while most football rulers and clubs chairmen go on kissing their :censored:

.

by **The Manhattan Project** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 9:53 pm

If Spain are kicked out, Manhattan will officially support Holland.

by **Big Niall** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 11:28 am

There is no way FIFA will throw out a large country for a tiny one - money talks.

Anyway, it would be soooo stupid. Even Yugoslavia should have been alowed enter in 1992 - it might have helped ease separatist feeling (who knows).

Spain won't be thrown out and will be free to bottle it in Euro 2008

by **Big Niall** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 11:30 am

Sabre - do all the people in Spain support the team or would people in Catalonia, Basque region etc not view Spain as being their country?

by **112-1077774096** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 11:44 am

Big Niall wrote:Sabre - do all the people in Spain support the team or would people in Catalonia, Basque region etc not view Spain as being their country?

oooooooooo just imagine the irony if spain were banned for this reason and the northern ireland were allowed in

by **Sabre** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 1:18 pm

Big Niall wrote:Sabre - do all the people in Spain support the team or would people in Catalonia, Basque region etc not view Spain as being their country?

Only 15% in Basque Country would want the basque players like Alonso not playing in Spain, and playing for Basque country.

Another 15% doesn't want Basque selection even in friendlies.

Most of us want to keep the things like they are. Some of these due to they don't see realistic to compete at the highest level with just basque players (Although I think a midfield with Arteta and Alonso could compete with countries like Austria) and others because they are simply spanish.

My self I like the basque selection for friendlies and things like that but I like the things like they are right now. Catalonia would be something similar. And the rest of Spain would support the national team unconditionally.

by **Mikz** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 1:22 pm

Give Kosovo a free entry as the worlds Newest country..

The northern irish myself included want to see the best teams in there..Spain are one of them..so i hope it doesnt happen (and if ya believe that ya believe anything ) lol
Wed go...but talks first at the table!

by **Judge** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 2:12 pm

LFC2007 wrote:Yes mate, I posted this in the Euro's thread yesterday:

Spain probably will be there, but there's a possibility they might not:

LINK

Denmark replaced Yugoslavia in 1992, albeit for different, and more severe reasons than those currently surrounding Spain.

denmark went onto to win aswell

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