Sports

[Roy Hunter]

I am so glad black bart didn't see fit to mention Wales 3: Scotland 0.

[PKMKII]

Why exactly do they let Wales, Scotland (Northern Ireland?) have world cup teams, instead of just one UK team?

[Roy Hunter]

Why exactly do they let Wales, Scotland (Northern Ireland?[yes, NI too]) have world cup teams, instead of just one UK team?

It is almost exactly as illogical and anachronistic as the reason the USA lets people carry guns BUT IT'S MY RIGHT AND YOU CAN'T TAKE MY RIGHTS AWAY FROM ME...[/sarcasm]

The Scottish Football Association has always been separate from the English FA, and they have always entered the World Cup as separate entities. We strenuously resist ideas like UK teams for football in the Olympics because then a precedent would have been set, and FIFA might 'impose' a UK team on us across the board.

(I say impose, because despite their protestations to the contrary, the politics of international football is like 15th century Italy or something, but with more backstabbing and double dealing going on.)

[PKMKII]

I get why the various British nations want separate teams; I was asking why FIFA lets them do it.

[Roy Hunter]

I get why the various British nations want separate teams; I was asking why FIFA lets them do it.

England competing in the World Cup pre-dates FIFA. The first World Cup competition was for the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy, which was competed for in 1909 and 1911. England (in the shape of West Auckland FC) won the 1909 competition, and successfully defended it in 1911. The FIFA World Cup didn't start until 1930.

[daftbeaker]

Why exactly do they let Wales, Scotland (Northern Ireland?) have world cup teams, instead of just one UK team?

You might as well ask why Germany, Spain and France field separate teams as opposed to a 'Europe' team. Far too much rivalry and history to think about fielding a UK team. The only time UK fans are united is when one side is playing against the French

Rugby's even more confusing, the World Cup and Six Nations are contested by national sides but the Lions (formed from players across the UK) also compete in various competitions.

[black bart]

Told you South Africa are rubbish...Saracens beat them last night!!!

(Mind you Saracens did have 9 South African players!)

Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi,
Gwlad beirdd a chantorion, enwogion o fri...

Roughly translated as:

3-0, 3-0, 3-0, 3-0 etc etc

[PKMKII]

At least the Scottish footballers aren't taking placenta baths.

[Tigger_the_Wing]

Told you South Africa are rubbish...Saracens beat them last night!!!

(Mind you Saracens did have 9 South African players!)

Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi,
Gwlad beirdd a chantorion, enwogion o fri...

Roughly translated as:

3-0, 3-0, 3-0, 3-0 etc etc

[PKMKII]

(I say impose, because despite their protestations to the contrary, the politics of international football is like 15th century Italy or something, but with more backstabbing and double dealing going on.)

And apparently, letting the French handball.

[daftbeaker]

And apparently, letting the French handball.

Not a particularly big deal, I refer you to the slightly more famous event. If the referee or linesmen don't see it then things just happen. Another good argument for video replays though.

[Roy Hunter]

And apparently, letting the French handball.

This is not going down well in my house. My wife is a huge Thierry Henry fan (she used to be a regular at Highbury, when she was at Uni in London), but she is also Irish. Fortunately, she can't find a way to blame me for it.

[PKMKII]

And apparently, letting the French handball.

Not a particularly big deal, I refer you to the slightly more famous event. If the referee or linesmen don't see it then things just happen. Another good argument for video replays though.

Yeah, but you have to find a way to make sure it doesn't get abused. (American) football used to have unlimited, penalty-free video reviews, and it made the games take forever. Now they have a coach's challenge; the coach may challenge the call and ask for a review, but if it turns out that the call on the field was correct, his team gets a time out taken away.

[Roy Hunter]

They've been using video in rugby for a few years now. The referee also wears a microphone. It works spendidly. FOOTBALL NEEDS TO CATCH UP!

[daftbeaker]

Not a particularly big deal, I refer you to the slightly more famous event. If the referee or linesmen don't see it then things just happen. Another good argument for video replays though.

Yeah, but you have to find a way to make sure it doesn't get abused. (American) football used to have unlimited, penalty-free video reviews, and it made the games take forever. Now they have a coach's challenge; the coach may challenge the call and ask for a review, but if it turns out that the call on the field was correct, his team gets a time out taken away.

As Roy says, it works well in rugby. Generally the referee asks for a video call for occasions where the officials didn't have a clear view of an important moment, the teams have very little say in how it's used.