Mihir Bose's Blog, page 56
February 6, 2013
Why match fixing cannot be fixed
Insideworldfootball
The story of match fixing in football is very like the story of Lance Armstrong. The world knew, with the singular exception of UCI, cycling's world body, that Armstrong was a cheat. The problem was finding enough evidence to prove that he had doped his way to victory. And once the Americans had seen the light it was always a matter of time.
Of course even now the UCI refuses to accept responsibility for the fact that Armstrong cheated right under their noses. But that is because as Dick Pound, the man who set up the World Anti Doping Agency and was the American's greatest scourge, told me, the UCI is behaving like an alcoholic refusing to believe it has a drink problem. And in any event it does not matter because the UCI is now such a discredited organisation that not many care what it thinks or does.
The story of match fixing in football is very like the story of Lance Armstrong. The world knew, with the singular exception of UCI, cycling's world body, that Armstrong was a cheat. The problem was finding enough evidence to prove that he had doped his way to victory. And once the Americans had seen the light it was always a matter of time.
Of course even now the UCI refuses to accept responsibility for the fact that Armstrong cheated right under their noses. But that is because as Dick Pound, the man who set up the World Anti Doping Agency and was the American's greatest scourge, told me, the UCI is behaving like an alcoholic refusing to believe it has a drink problem. And in any event it does not matter because the UCI is now such a discredited organisation that not many care what it thinks or does.
February 5, 2013
Cycling did not do enough to detect Lance Armstrong. How could they not know?
Evening Standard
Dick Pound is the one sports official entitled to gloat about Lance Armstrong and boast: “I told you so.” The man who set up the World Anti-Doping Agency and headed it until 2007 never doubted that Armstrong was a cheat.
But, far from boasting, the unmasking of his old nemesis only shows Pound how far cycling still has to go. The QC says: “In Churchillian terms this is not the end, or even the beginning of the end, but the end of the beginning. There is a lot more to be done.”
Dick Pound is the one sports official entitled to gloat about Lance Armstrong and boast: “I told you so.” The man who set up the World Anti-Doping Agency and headed it until 2007 never doubted that Armstrong was a cheat.
But, far from boasting, the unmasking of his old nemesis only shows Pound how far cycling still has to go. The QC says: “In Churchillian terms this is not the end, or even the beginning of the end, but the end of the beginning. There is a lot more to be done.”
January 30, 2013
Britain’s government wants change but will it enforce it, and is it asking the right questions
Insideworldfootball
It would be foolish in the extreme to believe that just because the Commons Select Committee on Culture Media and Sport has given the football authorities a bollocking, things will change in the national game. This may be the second verbal lashing the MPs have administered football in two years but just because the MPs wave a big stick it does not mean they will follow up by using it to whack the football authorities if, as so often in the past, football does nothing.
Here it is worth recalling what John Whitingdale, chairman of the committee, told me back in July 2011 when the committee looked at the bidding for 2018 World Cup. His words were: "I am instinctively against government intervention. The government has an awful lot on its plate, the state of English football is a lesser priority than improving the welfare state and the NHS. I don't think there will be a great wish for legislation."
It would be foolish in the extreme to believe that just because the Commons Select Committee on Culture Media and Sport has given the football authorities a bollocking, things will change in the national game. This may be the second verbal lashing the MPs have administered football in two years but just because the MPs wave a big stick it does not mean they will follow up by using it to whack the football authorities if, as so often in the past, football does nothing.
Here it is worth recalling what John Whitingdale, chairman of the committee, told me back in July 2011 when the committee looked at the bidding for 2018 World Cup. His words were: "I am instinctively against government intervention. The government has an awful lot on its plate, the state of English football is a lesser priority than improving the welfare state and the NHS. I don't think there will be a great wish for legislation."
January 29, 2013
Holly Colvin: I want to rule the world … then take on the men
Evening Standard
Holly Colvin, women’s cricket’s answer to spin-king Monty Panesar, has never thought it a big deal to play against men.
This summer, England wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor is set to make history by playing second XI cricket for Sussex, having already held informal talks with the county. Colvin may not have gone as far as her old school friend and long-time colleague but the 23-year-old is thinking along the same lines.
She cut her teeth playing with men for Brighton College as a 15-year-old and Colvin insists: “For me and Sarah, playing men’s cricket made us tougher and it’s something I’d quite like to go back to.
Holly Colvin, women’s cricket’s answer to spin-king Monty Panesar, has never thought it a big deal to play against men.
This summer, England wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor is set to make history by playing second XI cricket for Sussex, having already held informal talks with the county. Colvin may not have gone as far as her old school friend and long-time colleague but the 23-year-old is thinking along the same lines.
She cut her teeth playing with men for Brighton College as a 15-year-old and Colvin insists: “For me and Sarah, playing men’s cricket made us tougher and it’s something I’d quite like to go back to.
January 23, 2013
Lies, damn lies and alienating statistics
Insideworldfootball
One important reason why football of all ball games is the most popular game in the world is because it is simple. Its rules are easy to understand and have none of the complexity that, for example, rugby has. Football's celebrated off side rule may be a diverting after dinner conversation with which to bait those who do not care about the game but it is nowhere near as mind blowing as trying to work out why a penalty is given in rugby.
This explains why the round ball not the oval ball, despite the fact that both games have common origins and for many years in its infancy the football both allowed hacking and carrying with the ball, became the world game.
One important reason why football of all ball games is the most popular game in the world is because it is simple. Its rules are easy to understand and have none of the complexity that, for example, rugby has. Football's celebrated off side rule may be a diverting after dinner conversation with which to bait those who do not care about the game but it is nowhere near as mind blowing as trying to work out why a penalty is given in rugby.
This explains why the round ball not the oval ball, despite the fact that both games have common origins and for many years in its infancy the football both allowed hacking and carrying with the ball, became the world game.
January 22, 2013
Securing a bright future for Britain needs work, panellists argue
British Futures
The themes of community and trust dominated the Bittersweet Britain: What unites & what divides us debate, held on 22nd January on London’s HMS Belfast to mark British Future’s first birthday and the launch of its State of the Nation 2013 report, writes Richard Miranda.
Moderated by journalist Mary Riddell, a diverse group of people [...]
The themes of community and trust dominated the Bittersweet Britain: What unites & what divides us debate, held on 22nd January on London’s HMS Belfast to mark British Future’s first birthday and the launch of its State of the Nation 2013 report, writes Richard Miranda.
Moderated by journalist Mary Riddell, a diverse group of people [...]
Gus Poyet: I want to manage at the highest level. Does my Chelsea and Spurs past mean I can’t be the boss at Arsenal?
Evening Standard
Managers the length and breadth of the country insist they are only thinking about the next game but Gus Poyet’s mind is already on challenging and, possibly, managing Brighton’s FA Cup fourth-round opponents, Arsenal.
The Uruguayan has the small matter of a 600-mile round trip to Blackburn in atrocious conditions for tonight’s Championship clash while Arsenal entertain West Ham in the Premier League tomorrow night.
Managers the length and breadth of the country insist they are only thinking about the next game but Gus Poyet’s mind is already on challenging and, possibly, managing Brighton’s FA Cup fourth-round opponents, Arsenal.
The Uruguayan has the small matter of a 600-mile round trip to Blackburn in atrocious conditions for tonight’s Championship clash while Arsenal entertain West Ham in the Premier League tomorrow night.
January 16, 2013
What has the FA done, Daddy?
Insideworldfootball
The 150th anniversary of the Football Association certainly deserves to be celebrated. Any organisation that has reached such a venerable age has the right to celebrate its birthday and no doubt get a telegram from the Queen, or however Her Majesty marks such occasions these days.
But the tipple for the occasion should not be Krug champagne but a glass of Prosecco. For all the warm words that are now being showered on the FA from far and wide the best thing that can be said about the FA is that it still exists. But then so does Lloyds of London, an older institution than the FA let it be recorded. But not many would think of raising a glass to that organisation.
The 150th anniversary of the Football Association certainly deserves to be celebrated. Any organisation that has reached such a venerable age has the right to celebrate its birthday and no doubt get a telegram from the Queen, or however Her Majesty marks such occasions these days.
But the tipple for the occasion should not be Krug champagne but a glass of Prosecco. For all the warm words that are now being showered on the FA from far and wide the best thing that can be said about the FA is that it still exists. But then so does Lloyds of London, an older institution than the FA let it be recorded. But not many would think of raising a glass to that organisation.
January 15, 2013
Mako Vunipola: Playing for England is surreal but I deserve to be in the squad
New Zealand-born prop of Tongan origin is having too much fun with the Red Rose to worry about questions over his background
Evening Standard
Mako Vunipola cannot understand why anybody should question his right to play for England.
The Saracens prop could have followed his father, Fe’ao, and six uncles and played for Tonga. He could also have chosen the world’s best team, the All Blacks, as he was born in Wellington. And Wales were another option as he came to the principality as an eight-year-old after his dad joined Pontypool. So why the Red Rose?
Evening Standard
Mako Vunipola cannot understand why anybody should question his right to play for England.
The Saracens prop could have followed his father, Fe’ao, and six uncles and played for Tonga. He could also have chosen the world’s best team, the All Blacks, as he was born in Wellington. And Wales were another option as he came to the principality as an eight-year-old after his dad joined Pontypool. So why the Red Rose?
January 13, 2013
Game Changer – review
The Independent
by Simon Redfern
This examination of the Premier League's birth 20 years ago and its subsequent flourishing begins in Singapore, where Liverpool are on a lucrative pre-season tour. That, and the fact it is published by an imprint dedicated to Asian business affairs, are eloquent evidence of the global interest English football's top flight now inspires.
Less satisfactory for many English supporters is the increasing foreign ownership of clubs and the declining number of home-grown players detailed here. The appendix reveals – a favourite word of the author – that Arsenal's 30-man squad in the League's first season comprised 24 England-qualified players and six foreigners, of which two were Scottish and one Irish. Their figures for this season are six and 34 respectively. Read more
by Simon Redfern
This examination of the Premier League's birth 20 years ago and its subsequent flourishing begins in Singapore, where Liverpool are on a lucrative pre-season tour. That, and the fact it is published by an imprint dedicated to Asian business affairs, are eloquent evidence of the global interest English football's top flight now inspires.
Less satisfactory for many English supporters is the increasing foreign ownership of clubs and the declining number of home-grown players detailed here. The appendix reveals – a favourite word of the author – that Arsenal's 30-man squad in the League's first season comprised 24 England-qualified players and six foreigners, of which two were Scottish and one Irish. Their figures for this season are six and 34 respectively. Read more
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