City can be stopped; exciting games ahead

Manchester City had another big win last night, 5-1 against Tottenham. Are they unstoppable?

Well, no, I don't think so. While they have been scoring for fun (68 goals in 23 league games so far), they do show occasional vulnerability in defence. Whereas teams like Spurs (sorry Spurs fans) are not good enough to hold them at bay, they very top teams (e.g. Chelsea and City's next Champions League opponents Barcelona) are capable of stopping City.

Ironically Chelsea failed to beat West Ham United last night, despite having a record-equalling (while failing to score) count of 39 shots. Jose Mourinho has accused West Ham of playing football from the 19th Century. Well, he's not afraid to vary his playing style, and although he wasn't in charge at the time, didn't Chelsea win the Champions League a couple of years ago by basically trying to stop Bayern Munich from playing?

West Ham boss, Sam Allardyce, was (quite rightly) unrepentant. He said: "He can't take it, can he? He can't take it because we've outwitted him - he just can't cope.

"He can tell me all he wants, I don't care.

"I love to see Chelsea players moaning at the referee, trying to intimidate him, Jose jumping up and down saying we play rubbish football.

"It's brilliant when you get a result against him. Hard luck, Jose."

There are many ways to play this great game of ours, Jose. Deal with it.

So on to the match on Monday night: Manchester City v Chelsea. This will go a long way to indicating whether City really are destined for the League title this year.

Then barely two weeks later the same two teams meet in the FA Cup 5th round. Mouth-watering.

Manchester City need to travel better to challenge for the title

Manchester City destroyed Tottenham Hotspur yesterday, 6-0. Before the game Tottenham had only conceded six goals in 11 games, but they were on the back put from the first minute as a poor clearance from Hugo Lloris led to Jesus Navas opening the scoring after only 13 seconds.

But the real enigma is Manchester City.

Their home record is 6 wins, no draw, no defeats, scored 26, conceded 2.
Away record: 1 win, 1 draw, 4 defeats, scored 8, conceded 10.

I don't understand how a team costing so many millions, with players from all around the world, find it difficult to travel away from the the Etihad stadium and get points!

(As a side point, no English players started the game for City, though a couple (Lescott and Milner) did get token substitute appearances when the game was well and truly over.

City's league home/away form is not quite reflected in League Cup and European games where their record is:

Home: Won 2, drawn none, lost 1, scored 11, conceded 5.
Away: Won 3, draw none, lost none, scored 7, conceded 1.

Their league defeats have come at Cardiff City, Aston Villa, Chelsea and Sunderland - at least three of which take a bit of explaining.

Currently fourth and six points behind leaders Arsenal, Manchester City will need to tidy up their away form if they're to make a sustained challenge for the Premier League title.

A good week for English (and Welsh!) clubs in Europe

It's been a pretty good week for English clubs in Europe.

Manchester City secured qualification with a 5-2 win over CSKA Moscow, but they will probably go through as runners-up to Bayern Munich so the second round draw will need to be kind to them.

Arsenal had a fantastic 1-0 win at Borussia Dortmund, a win that will go a long way to putting them through to the knock-out stages out of a group with three good teams (add Napoli to these two). Aaron Ramsey's excellent scoring record for the season continued with his winning header.

Chelsea have recovered superbly after their shock defeat in the first group match against FC Basel. Their latest win, 3-0 against Shalke '04, pushed them to the brink of qualification.

Manchester United's rather dull 0-0 draw put them top of their group with eight points and another win will see them through. Steady, if unspectacular, progress.

In the Europa Cup, Tottenham Hotspur ensured that they will progress to the second round with a 2-1 win over Sheriff Tiraspol from Moldova. Six wins out of six (including two qualification games) - often with understrength teams - is evidence of a fine European campaign to date.

Wigan Athletic's loss at Rubin Kazan (Russia) leaves them with five points in second place, but work still to do in their final two group games.

Wales's Swansea City got a 1-1 draw at Kuban Krasnodar and they have eight points to date. Second behind Valencia in their group, another two points will certainly see them through (and one, or even none, might be enough!).

All round, an excellent week for teams from the English League in Europe.

Spurs need goals

Watching Tottenham against Everton yesterday, it was obvious what Tottenham's problems are.

They do not have sufficient goal-scoring threat.

They have only scored nine goals in ten games, yet still sit fourth in the table. Their defensive record (5 conceded) is second only to the unlikely Southampton in the division.

But as long as Tottenham can't score, they will not represent a long-term threat to the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United.

Yesterday's first half was completely dominated by Spurs at Goodison Park, but Everton held them at bay, and the second half was much more in Everton's favour.

If Andre Villas-Boas cannot find a combination with his current players, then he will be very keen to delve into the transfer market come January's window.

And yet Spurs are reported to be happy to let Jermain Defoe go. Defoe may never have quite reached the heights that his earlier potential promised, but surely he's worth a run in the Spurs line-up.

They need goals.

Manchester clubs trump the north London cards

So Manchester gained the whip-hand over north London on Sunday as City beat Spurs 3-2 and United beat Arsenal 2-1.

Manchester City only just squeezed over the line against Tottenham with a last-gasp penalty taken by a player who might not have been on the pitch on another day, as Mario Balotelli supposed "stamp" went unpunished, but might have resulted in a sending-off on another occasion. My opinion is the same as Lee Dixon's on Match of the Day: there was enough doubt about the action to merit no action. Indeed, it may be that Howard Webb didn't even see it as his head was partly turned away when Balotelli's foot came down.

Perhaps, however, Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp should use his words to Gareth Bale and Jermain Defoe for failing to convert a glorious chance seconds before Balotelli's telling spot kick. It's all about points of view, isn't it?

And so it was in the Arsenal v. Manchester United game as Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was roundly criticised and booed for substituting the threatening Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with Andrey Arshavin as minutes ran out at the Emirates. The fact that Arshavin was ineffectual in preventing United's winner would not help Wenger's case. But he must have had his reasons. He said: "Arshavin is captain of the Russian national team. You have an 18-year-old kid making his first Premier League start and a player who is captain of his country and they are querying the substitution?"

Although no manager - including Wenger - can be right 100% of the time, I am staggered that Arsenal fans can doubt the man (trophyless for six years or not). Look around, you Gooners. If you sacked Wenger, who would be your ideal managerial candidate?

Can Spurs really challenge City and United for the title?

Tottenham Hotspur brushed aside Norwich City last night to go seven points behind the two Manchester clubs with a game in hand.

Are Spurs a real threat for the Premier League title?

After losing their first two games (to United and City) they have only lost once since - to Stoke City - and they were desperately unlucky to lose that one. So it's been 12 wins in 15 games since those two opening defeats.

Spurs have been knocked out of the Europa Cup while both City and United have fallen into it since being knocked out of the Champions League. That could be a blessing for Spurs, but there is no question of United or City treating it as anything like a priority.

In the League Cup Manchester City play Liverpool in the two-legged semi-final. United and Spurs have already been knocked out.

In the FA Cup one of Manchester United or Manchester City will definitely get knocked out and one will definitely progress - as they are drawn against each other. Tottenham have the 'luxury' of a home draw against League Two Cheltenham Town, so they should progress.

It boils down to Manchester City having a lot of games; United with the League and FA Cup (at least as far as beating City is concerned) as priorities, and Tottenham with the League and the FA Cup as far as it takes them.

Tottenham undoubtedly have a multi-talented midfield, with Scott Parker, Luka Modric, Rafael Van der Vaart, being supported superbly by Gareth Bale on one side and Aaron Lennon on the other. The defence looks fairly strong and is backed by 40+ Brad Friedel showing no signs of a dip in form.

Maybe it is only up front where Spurs lack the fire-power to match the best. They average 2 goals a game; United average 2.61 and City average 2.94.

But with City possibly distracted by other tournaments, it may depend on United and Tottenham's progress in the FA Cup as to which will challenge City the most.

I don't think Tottenham are quite ready yet, but they're close.

Fulham undone by last-gasp header

Fulham were undone by a sucker punch last night as they were knocked out of the Europa League by an injury-time header by Odense BK of Denmark.

Fulham were seemignly curising into the last 32 at half-time with a 2-0 lead, and needed to win to remain above Wisla Karkow in the group. But two second-half goals put paid to Fulham's Europa League ambitions. So ends a 14-game run in the competition which started way back on 30 June - nearly six months ago!

Despite a 3-1 defeat in Turkey, Stoke City qualified for the knock-out stages last night, but they could be the only British team to make it through the Europa League groups.

All of Celtic, Tottenham Hotspur and Birmingham City are starting this evening's round of matches in third place and all look unlikely to qualify.

But will they be sad or happy?

Celtic will be left to push for the SPL title. Tottenham will be left to push for (ahem) a European place, although they will hope to qualify for the Champions League; and Birmingham will be left to catch up their league games and settle down to plotting a way out of the Championship.

It makes you wonder why they bother to qualify in the first place.

Manchester City and Manchester United, take note.

Tottenham v Everton falls victim to the riots

I see that Tottenham v Everton has been postponed for this Saturday as a result of the recent riots in the area. This has to be the right decision at this uncertain time.

It will be interesting to see what other games get postponed. Games in London and Bristol were postponed in the Carling Cup during the week.

Thus, other games that must be vulnerable are:
Fulham v Aston Villa
Liverpool v Sunderland
QPR v Bolton
Birmingham v Coventry
Crystal Palace v Burnley

West Brom v Manchester United on Sunday, and
Manchester City v Swansea City on Monday.

It looks like being a stuttering start to the season.

Football fans will join the rest of the public in their anger against these idiotic looters.

Modric, Fabregas: who's going to win and lose?

As the transfer mayhem continues throughout this miserable British summer, Tottenham Hotspur are holding out for more than £27m for Luka Modric; Arsenal have rejected a bid of £27m from Barcelona for Cesc Fabregas.

If those players eventually move - Modric to Chelsea, Fabregas to Barcelona - who will be the big winners and losers in the deals?

Tottenham: loser or winner by selling Modric for, let's say, £30m?
Chelsea: loser or winner by buying Modric for that price?
Arsenal: loser or winner by selling Fabregas to Barcelona for, let's say £35m?
Barcelona: loser or winner by buying Fabregas for that price?

I'd say:
Tottenham: winner, by getting so much for a player who didn't play that much last season.
Chelsea: probably a winner, given the lack of inspiration in their midfield for much of last season.
Arsenal: loser; they need top players; they need players.
Barcelona: Fabregas to improve their team? Really? Not now, but maybe in the future. Just about a winner.

So, I'd say:
Biggest loser: Arsenal.
Biggest winner: Tottenham.

But the game's all about opinions, isn't it?

Surely Beckham won't become a professional trainer!

It really is beginning to look like David Beckham might make a return to the Premier League. His current club, LA Galaxy, is said to be in talks with Beckham about a possible loan deal, with Tottenham Hotspur as the favourites.

As a strange addendum Galaxy might only releae Beckham to train with the club, not play! That would be weird. It would be hard to imagine Beckham training with Spurs until the US Major League Soccer starts in March. Surely he would have to be able to play.

Of course, the wider media are trying to make out that Beckham's first game for Spurs could be the game agaainst his old club Manchester United on 16 January. That seems a little unlikely given all the caveats involved.

Still, for my part, I'd like to see the old England hero back in English grounds to see what he can still do. He would definitely bring intense media and spectator interest to what is already the most watched football league in the world.

Can Harry Redknapp pull off the deal for Spurs?

All four English teams qualify in Champions League

All four English clubs made it through the group stages of the Champions League.

Manchester United's draw on Tuesday with Valencia wasn't not particularly relevant, except that it ensured that they won the group. It was a shame that the concession of a goal spoilt their blemish-free goals against column for the previous five games, but Sir Alex Ferguson won't worry too much about that.

Chelsea had already qualified prior to last night's 1-0 defeat at Marseille, but Chelsea's problems are longer term than worrying about an otherwise 'dead rubber' - the Blues want to get back to winning ways in any competition in any way.

Tottenham Hotspur are Chelsea' next league opponents on Sunday, and they won their Champions League group by drawing 3-3 at FC Twente on Tuesday - the first new team to win a CL group. Going forward, boss Harry Redknapp's concern might be that Spurs conceded 11 goals in the six group games - with much tougher opponents likely to be waiting.

Arsenal made it through by beating Partizan Belgrade 3-1 at the Emirates last night. The Gunners' startling start to the campaign (three straight wins) was threatened by derailment with the two defeats that followed, but they secured second place behind Shakhtar Donetsk with the win.

The draw will be interesting on 17 December.

Manchester United could get Inter Milan, Lyon, Copenhagen, Roma, Marseille, AC Milan.
Chelsea could get Inter Milan, Lyon, Valencia, Copenhagen, Roma, AC Milan.
Tottenham could get Lyon, Valencia, Copenhagen, Roma, Marseille, AC Milan.
Arsenal could get Shalke 04, Barceloan, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid.

Title contenders: is the balance of power shifting?

Chelsea lost - again.
Arsenal lost at home - again.
Manchester United gained ground on Chelsea with a 2-0 win against Wigan Athletic, but were unconvincing, and have drawn half their league games this season.

Manchester City, Bolton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur in places 4th to 7th, all won.

Is the balance of power beginning to change?

The fact is that the top three remain as Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal. The chasers have yet to break in among them. Even Liverpool, who had a terrible start, are only three points behind Tottenham, who boss Harry Redknapp claims are in title contention. Fulham boss and ex-City boss Mark Hughes saw his team whipped 4-1 by the Mancunian Blues and declared them to be contenders.

The problem is that, despite the reduced consistency of the regular challengers, the chasing pack are even more inconsistent. Unless they can improve that, then the big three (as they are now) will gradually pull away and be the three in the tussle for the title come the business end of the season.

Chelsea astound. They have now lost three games in of the last four, scoring only one goal in the four games, have sacked Ray Wilkins as coach, and seem to have a thin squad after injuries have struck. One apparent piece of good news on Saturday was the return of Alex, but they lost all the same.

Has Roman Abramovich interfered once too often?

Bale - simply magnificent

Gareth Bale - marvellous!

Following up his remarkable hat-trick against Inter Milan in the match in Milan two weeks ago in which Milan beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-3, Bale gave another fantastic performance against the same opposition at White Hart lane last night.

Although not scoring this time, Bale provided two tap-ins for strikers Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko, each one following a magnificent run down the left showing top speed and pinpoint accuracy with the crosses, to take Spurs to a 3-1 win.

It is a pity that Aaron Lennon, on Tottenham's right and blessed with similar speed, cannot produce it in  similar situations and deliver equally stunning crosses.

Bale's performance helped see Spurs through to a victory which goes a long way to giving them a qualification place for the knock-out stages of the Champions League.

There is also little doubt that Bale will give England problems when they meet Wales in home and away legs of the Euro 2012 qualifiers coming up next year. He must be relishing the thought!

Nani goal was morally wrong

That Nani goal can't be right, can it?

If you didn't see it, I'll try and describe what happened.

Nani was running towards the Spurs goal just on the angle of the six-yard box. In a challenge by a defender, he went down. No penalty was given, but somewhat petulantly, he reached out and rolled the ball towards himself with his hand. Nani then got up, claiming that he was fouled. Spurs keeper Gomes retrieved the ball, defenders moved upfield, and Gomes threw the ball forward with backspin about ten yards ahead of the place where the handball took place, as if to take a free-kick. But the free-kick for handball had never been given.

As Gomes retreated to take the kick (by the way, waving his hands as if asking his defenders to be available for a short one - they weren't interested), Nani realised that the whistle had never gone. Looking round, wondering, he mentally shrugged and poked the ball goalwards and into the net.

Referee Mark Clattenberg gave the goal, but then did go and talk to the assistant referee, who obviously said that there had been a handball. But Mr Clattenberg had played an advantage. It was up to Spurs (Gomes) to play the ball out without stoppage. That he failed to do so was, according Mr Clattenberg, his own fault. The goal was allowed to stand.

By the letter of the law, I guess the referee was right. But morally, the outcome was wrong. Nani handled the ball. A free-kick should have been given. After Nani had stabbed the ball into the net, Mr Clattenberg should have retrospectively given the free-kick for handball. Nani could hardly have complained – he blatantly handballed it (on purpose actually, so he might have been booked!).

None of this probably affected the result. Manchester United were already 1-0 up and won 2-0.

But this was morally wrong.

English clubs in European clean sweep

It was a clean sweep for the English clubs in the Champions League this week. All four of them won their games.

Perhaps the most impressive result was Manchester United's 1-0 win at Spanish league leaders Valencia. It wipes out the memory of the 0-0 home draw with Rangers, and puts United at the top of group C, with Rangers in second after their 1-0 win over Bursaspor last night.

Arsenal also had a good away win, 3-1 at Partizan Belgrade, and after their 6-0 thrashing of Braga in the opening game, they are in a good position with 6 points, although Shakhtar Donetsk also have 6 points, having beaten Partizan 1-0 and braga 3-0. Arsenal and Shakhatr meet next.

Chelsea were not a their best on Tuesday night against Marseille, but still won 2-0 and were never really troubled. They are top of group F, but Spartak Moscow also have 6 points and the pair are looking good to qualify. All this for Chelsea without the suspended Didier Drogba. They're going to be a real threat for the trophy this time round.

Finally, Champions League newcomers Tottenham Hotspur put Twente Enschede to the sword last night, winning 4-1, following on from their 2-2 draw at Werder Bremen in the first match. There now come two tough matches against Rafa Benitez's Inter Milan who beat Bremen 4-0 last night, having only draw 2-2 with Twente in their first game.

There are some interesting games ahead.

Is the Carling Cup a route to success for Wenger?

As I hear that Arsene Wenger will retire from his position as Arsenal boss in 2014, I note that he played a strong team in the Carling Cup last night.

Notoriously using the League Cup to blood his younger players in recent seasons - often with great success, including a runners-up spot in 2007 - it seems that the Gunners' boss may have had a change of heart this season.

In a twist of the status quo, it was Tottenham Hostpur who fielded an inexperienced side in last night's third round tie. With Harry Redknapp having bigger fish to fry in this season's Champions League than they ever before, he decided to rest his top players ahead of the weekend's game at West Ham and next week's European game against Twente.

So it was that the Gunners triumphed in the north London cup derby, 4-1 winners after extra time.

May Wenger has decided that the Carling Cup represents Arsenal's best chance of getting their first trophy since being Premier League Champions in 2005.

Manchester United and Tottenham begin their Champions League campaigns

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur take to centre stage for England in the Champions League this evening.

Old Champions League stagers Manchester United take on Scottish champions Rangers in a game that some years ago might have been (and, indeed, was) dubbed 'The Battle of Britain'. Not so much now. United are such strong favourites that the title is barely worth the effort. Yet fans of the Scots will travel south to Manchester with hope - as they always do - and Walter Smith will be out to conjure an upset.

It is highly likely that United striker Wayne Rooney will return to the team after being omitted from Saturday's team against his old club Everton at Goodison Park for fear of a fan backlash after revelations about his private life. Rio Ferdinand - unavailable since being injured in an England training session in June - may also be in contention. Bursaspor (Turkey) and Valencia (Spain) complete the group.

Meanwhile, Champions League virgins Tottenham travel to Germany to face Werder Bremen who finised third in the Bundesliga last season. Fourth-placed Tottenham - who have not actually won the English league since 1961 - may surpsingly be able to call on Luka Modric, despite fears of a broken leg from Saturday's draw at West Brom. England players Jermain Defoe and Michael Dawson are definitely out. It will be a chance for Harry Redknapp (many people's tip for the next England manager's job) to begin to pit his wits against Europe's finest. Twente Enschede (Holland) and Inter Milan make up the group.

Who can wrest fourth place from Liverpool?

The fight for fourth place in the Premier League to secure a Champions League spot for next season stumbles on. No one can quite grasp the opportunity.

For all their apparent failings this season, Liverpool are placed fifth with 41 points from 24 games. Tottenham surrendered a lead late on in the game at Birmingham City on Saturday, but they still hold fourth place, but are only one point ahead of Liverpool on even games.

In sixth, with two games in hand on the two above them, are Manchester City with the same points as Liverpool. With only three defeats all season, they still look a good bet, but can't quite get consistency in their performances. Yesterday's 2-0 over Portsmouth was comfortable, but uninspiring. A lace and a point behind City, on 23 games, are Aston Villa, who secured a good 2-0 win at Fulham on Saturday, but otherwise have stumbled of late.

It is then six further points back to Birmingham City whose good run seems only to have secured a Premier League spot for next season, rather than forcing them into fourth-place contention.

Thus, it looks to be between the four: Spurs, Liverpool, City and Villa.

You'd have to say, despite all their troubles, Liverpool look the likeliest.

Tottenham run riot with nine

Eight second half goals produced an amazing score line at White Hart lane yesterday with Tottenham blasting Wigan Athletic 9-1. Jermain Defoe became only the third Premier League player to score five goals in a game with a hat-trick in seven minutes, and two more to follow.

Defoe joins Andy Cole (Man United 9, Ipswich Town 0 in 1995) and Alan Shearer (Newcastle United 8, Sheffield Wednesday 0 in 1999) on the five-goal mark, and it is only the second time that a team has scored nine since the inception of the Premier League in 1992.

An agonising second half for Wigan and boss Roberto Martinez must have seemed interminable as goals flew in on 51 mins, then 54,58,64,69, then a lull before three late goals (87, 88, 90) turned the score line from a thrashing into a total embarrassment. Peter Crouch, Aaron Lennon, an own goal and Niko Kranjcar added to Defoe's quintuple.

Defoe complimented Lennon for his assists, saying: "Azza made the difference. He's so direct. When you've got someone with that pace in the team, he's so direct, it's just easy for everyone.


"He gets the ball, you just leave him in a one-on-one and get in the box. Two fantastic crosses, which I made sure my movement was right for, and I got on the end of them and scored."


Wigan's goal - which made it 3-1 - was courtesy of a handball by Paul Sharmer, causing the Spurs fans to sing "Are you Henry in disguise?", but they weren't that bothered as Spurs' fourth goal was scored a minute later.

The question now for Tottenham is whether they can build on this result. Now in fourth, they travel to fifth-placed Aston Villa next Saturday. They're sure to present a sterner test.

Faked injuries to put the ball out must be stopped

One of the most irritating aspects of the game these days is the fiasco of "putting the ball out" when a player is lying down, apparently injured.

Frankly, it's become a joke.

Several years ago, when the practice became the expected norm, it did seem a sporting thing to do. If a player was lying down injured, the player with the ball would put the ball out of play so the injured player could receive treatment.

Many years before that, it was the referee's decision whether to stop play or not. I'm not sure how, when or why it changed into the players' decision.

Then, after the practice got out of hand - about three years ago - as players were obviously using the ploy to stop opposition attacks, the Premier League decided once again that it would fall to the referee to make the decision. That didn't last long.

It's gone back to the players once more. But while it seems all right to play on if it's one of your own players who's lying injured, apparently it's not all right to carry on playing if it's one of the opposition down on the ground.

Two incidents from Sunday's Chelsea v Spurs game indicate the farcical nature of this appalling gamesmanship - for that is what it is.

In the first half Didier Drogba went down to the ground and stayed down. Spurs had the ball and the referee waved play on. Tottenham's Robbie Keane ran forward, as the crowd began to whistle (wanting the Spurs player to put the ball out). Then, despite the referee having waved play on, Chelsea's Michael Essien made it quite clear he was no longer playing and pointed to Robbie Keane to put the ball out. Keane, left with no choice, did so. Suffice to say, that Drogba carried on after "treatment". (As a quick aside, the ball was thrown back to Spurs, but, incredibly, Drogba made to tackle Ledley King who had just received the ball! Drogba feigned innocence and "sportingly" kicked the ball out again - now deep in Tottenham's half. How is this sporting?)

The second incident was in the second half. A Chelsea attack was mounted when the ball was knocked into the Tottenham half and Drogba, with a good turn was away with the ball. As he did so, Ledley King went down with an injury - which proved to be genuine, as he couldn't carry on - but Drogba carried on. Play developed and ended with a Frank Lampard shot a few yards wide. No putting the ball out, no crowd shouting or whistling at Chelsea's players, no "sporting" behaviour, no Michael Essien pointing to stop play!

What if Chelsea had scored from that attack?

It's actually my view that that attack should have carried on. It's the farce of the first incident that is wrong.

My personal view is that the Premier League should reiterate - and keep doing so until the message gets home - that the decision to stop play is the referee's alone. No matter how much the crowd whistle or the players point, play carries on.

The faked injury to stop play has become such an outrageous act of gamesmanship (nay, cheating) that it must be stopped now. Indeed, Fifa need to take a lead on it before the World Cup is ruined next uear.