Why Keys and Gray should face the music

Spec-tacular O-G: Gray and Keys face an anxious wait over their future

Richard Keys and Andy Gray made the front pages this week for sexist remarks made towards a female assistant referee.

The commentators, who believed their mics were turned off, questioned whether Sian Massey knew the offside rule during the Wolves v Liverpool game on Saturday.

Today the repercussions were felt, as Sky suspended the pair from presenting tonight’s Monday Night Football.

Their words are sickening, bigoted and wrong, but are they surprising?

Only last week, I was having lunch with a friend of mine who works for Sky, and he revealed Keys was a sexist git who was living in the stone-age.

And that is where the pair of them belong.

As much as it pains me to say, as for many years I have been a massive fan of Sky’s coverage – in particular Keys and Gray’s input – the pair must walk or be shown the door.

In the current age we live in, such comments are unacceptable and an example must be made of them.

Should the fact the pair are stalwarts of Sky Sports, Keys has been associated with the channel since 1990, mean an apology suffices?

And should the fact comments made by Sepp Blatter, President of FIFA, in which he suggested in 2004 female footballers should wear tighter shorts and low-cut shirts to attract more male fans, make such comments more acceptable?

The answer is of course not.

If the pair worked towards the bottom end of the Sky ladder and made such slurs, obviously the ripples would not be as significant, but a zero-tolerance policy would be in place and they would be shown the door.

The same must be applied for these two dinosaurs.

Can you image what kind of message it sends out to young football fans should the pair be reinstated following suspension?

I don’t have the figures, but there must be tens of thousands of kids who watch Sky’s coverage and take in their analysis and views.

Condoning the remarks by re-instating them would certainly be the wrong message, and Sky have a moral duty to terminate their contracts should they not walk.

Karen Brady was also targeted by Keys, and she was damning towards the pair today.

She told BBC Radio 5 Live: “It never would have occurred to me that they had those views whether public or private and I'm disappointed.

“It almost makes it worse that they're speaking when the microphones are not on as opposed to when they are on because they'd never really have the brass neck to say it publicly.”

Brady is known as the first lady of football since becoming managing director at Birmingham City in 1993 at just 23 years old, and is well placed to comment on the apparent sexism that exists within the game.

In a column she wrote for the Daily Mail last week, she said she had ‘experienced sexism at its rankest, lies about my personal life and a level of calculated mischief that is simply appalling’.

If this is the case, perhaps Keys’ and Gray’s comments are a mere drop in the ocean of an epidemic that needs to be uprooted, and fast.

For this to happen an example must be made, starting with this furore.

Since the mid 80s, Keys has forged a successful career in television presenting, starting with TV-am, a breakfast show on ITV.

In 1990, he became one of the presenters for The Sports Channel on British Satellite Broadcasting (BSB), before leaving ITV in December 1990 for the renamed Sky Sports.

Gray’s move into TV presenting has been a little less orthodox as, unlike Keys, he was a former professional footballer.

He won the League Cup with Aston Villa and Wolves, before success with Everton, where he won the League, FA Cup and the Cup Winners Cup in the mid 80s.

Since hanging up his boots, he has forged a successful career as both a presenter and a commentator with Sky, and this is the first real sneer he has been hit with.

Despite the two having relative success thus far, this story will end up haunting them long into 2011.

When a story such as this gathers momentum, especially in a relatively dry-news period such as this, there can only be one outcome.

Remember the Ross-Brand-Sachs scandal in the autumn of 2008? The public outcry to this was enough for Russell Brand to leave the country temporarily, for both to be suspended, and for Jonathan Ross to never quite recover his TV career.

Sky themselves have already proved they can be ruthless operators. Rodney Marsh made an ill-timed joke about the Tsunami that hit South-East Asia in January 2005.

On Gillette Soccer Saturday he quipped: “David Beckham has turned down a move to Newcastle United because of trouble with the Toon Army in Asia.”

He was promptly fired and has never worked for Sky since.

It remains to be seen who fills in for Keys and Gray tonight, but one thing is for certain, whoever it is should prepare to take over for good.

------------------------------------------

So, what was said?

Keys: “Somebody better get down there and explain offside to her.”

Gray: “Can you believe that? A female linesman. Women don’t know the offside rule.”

Keys: “Course they don’t. I can guarantee you there will be a big one today. Kenny (Liverpool manager Dalglish) will go potty. This isn’t the first time, is it? Didn’t we have one before?”

Later in the exchange…

Keys: “The game’s gone mad. Did you hear charming Karren Brady this morning complaining about sexism? Do me a favour, love.”

Gone, but not forgotten. Steven Pienaar’s finest moments in an Everton shirt

Steven Pienaar was only an Everton player for three-and-a-half years, but his legacy at the club is telling. Despite failure to win any silverwear, he was integral in taking Everton to the next level; from low-lying underachievers to a club that enjoyed European football in each of the three full seasons he spent on Merseyside. Here is a look back at some of the little magician's finer moments in royal blue.


v Arsenal

Without question the South African’s finest moment in an Everton jersey. Pickling up the ball on the halfway line, he continues unaposed before delightfully clipping the ball over the onrushing Manuel Almunia.

v Aston Villa

A wonderful curled effort from 25 yards to put Everton 3-1 up in yet another Villa-Everton epic (0:26).

v Man City

Pienaar curls in a delightful freekick (1:16) to set Everton on their way to a 2-0 triumph.

v AEK Athens

Picking up the ball 30 yards out, there is only one thing in Pienaar’s mind as he drives towards goal before rifling an unstoppable drive into the corner (0:42).

v Sporting Lisbon

A neat finish into the top corner after Tim Cahill’s audacious back-heel.

v Man Utd

In a game that will forever be remembered for the two goals Everton scored in stoppage time to level at 3-3, you could be forgiven for forgetting Pienaar put the Toffees 1-0 up in the first half. This tap in sent Goodison wild (thanks to the Gremlins at the Premier League, I can't use the footage yet).

Edwin van der Sar: "Oooaaah" Pienaar: "That's the way, aha aha"

v Middlesborough

Pienaar tenaciously wins the ball back, starting and finishing a move that resulted in his first Everton goal (1:22).

v Burnley

A goal made in Africa: Yakubu’s Ronaldinho-esque pass finds Pienaar who drives into the area before curling a left-footed effort past the Beast in the Burnley goal (2:10).

v Tottenham

Is this the reason Harry signed him up? In November 2008, Pienaar struck the decisive goal as Everton triumphed 1-0 at White Hart Lane. Found by the quick-thinking Mikel Arteta, his deflected effort dumfounded a helpless Heurelho Gomes (2:10).

v AS Larissa

Ok, so he doesn’t score this one, but Pienaar’s Cruyff-esque pass into the path of Leon Osman is poetry in motion.

Classic derby moments

It may not have escaped your attention that this weekend plays host to a number of mouth-watering derby games. In recent years, Sky’s Super (must-view-mega-grand-slam) Sunday’s have tended to put all the big games on one day and Sunday is no different, with no fewer than three derbies to wet the appetite.

Such is the importance of Spurs v Man Utd, the sub-plot to the David Beckham: will-he-won’t he sign for Harry circus, the Tyne-Wear derby has been cast aside, playing fourth fiddle in a day that also sees the Second City and Merseyside derbies.

To get us all in the mood, here are ten top derbies from bygone years.

1. Everton 4-4 Liverpool, FA Cup Fifth-round replay, 20 February 1991

Evertonians have this week joked it took two games to get rid of King Kenny last time while now it’ll only take one. The two games they refer to include this gem from Goodison, where Everton levelled the game no fewer than four times. Dalglish has been quoted in saying: “recalling the see-saw sequence of that match is distressing. Liverpool kept taking the lead but Everton kept equalising. It was like watching a car crash and not knowing which emergency service to call first.”

2. Manchester United 4-3 Manchester City, Premier League, 20 September 2009

City levelled this contest three times, and when Craig Bellamy picked Rio Ferdinand’s pocket in stoppage time to make it 3-3, surely that was it. United’s old-guard had other ideas, however, and when Ryan Giggs picked out Michael Owen with a delightful through-ball in the sixth minute of injury time, Owen rolled back the years to steal all three points for Sir Alex Ferguson’s men.

3. Arsenal 4-4 Tottenham, Premier League, 29 October 2008

This game will be remembered for a number things: David Bentley scoring an outrageous volley to open the scoring from 50 yards, Darren Bent netting for Spurs, and Aaron Lennon’s dramatic injury-time leveller. Arsenal were 4-2 up heading into the 89^th minute of Harry Redknapp’s first official game in charge, but Jermaine Jenas made it 4-3 before Lennon tapped home the rebound from Luka Modric’s effort that crashed back off the post. Cue carnage in the half-deserted away end. 

4. Everton 2-3 Liverpool, Premier League, 16 April 2001

A game that quite possibly had everything. Five goals, a sending off, 12 yellow cards, a missed penalty, a converted penalty, an Emile Heskey goal and an injury-time winner. Heskey put the Reds ahead early on, but talisman Duncan Ferguson levelled on the stroke of half time. Markus Babbel restored Liverpool’s advantage before Robbie Fowler missed a penalty, striking against the post. Everton equalised when David Unsworth typically crashed home his effort from twelve yards, but there was to be one final twist in the tail. Look out for where Gregory Vigal is tripped to where Garry McAllister takes, and scores, the free kick.

5. Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal, Premier League, 23 October 1999

“It’s Kanu, what’s he gonna do?!” shrieks Martin Tyler as the Nigerian curls in an improbable goal from the acutest of angles to score his and his side’s third goal. Tore Andre Flo and Dan Petrescu, names that will resonate with avid Merlin sticker album collectors, put Chelsea 2-0 up. But the magician had other ideas and scored a 15-minute hat-trick to steal all three points. (“Kanu believe it?” was also bellowed by Tyler in this sequence).

6. Liverpool 3-2 Everton, FA Cup final, 20 May 1989

At a time when Britain was mourning the 96 who lost their lives in the Hillsborough disaster, perhaps it was fitting the two Merseyside clubs contested the Final. And contest it they did, in one of Wembley’s most dramatic encounters. Liverpool took an early lead through John Aldridge and it was not until injury time that Stuart McCall equalised for the Toffees. Five minutes into extra time, Ian Rush retook the lead, only for McCall to level once more with a stunning volley. Rush and Liverpool had the last laugh though, and just as he did in the 1986 Merseyside derby final, he grabbed a second to give Liverpool their fourth FA Cup triumph.

7.  Manchester United 0-1 Manchester City, Old First Division, 27 April 1974

In United’s last game of the 1973–74 season, they needed to beat their city rivals at Old Trafford to stand any chance of remaining in the top flight. United legend Denis Law, now at City, scored an audacious back-heel to give City a 1–0 win. Thinking his goal had relegated United, he did not celebrate and walked off the pitch with his head down immediately after scoring. As it transpired, United would have been relegated even if the match had been drawn.

8. Arsenal 2-3 Tottenham, Premier League, 10 November 2010

Spurs staged a stunning fight-back to claim their first league victory over Arsenal in 17 years thanks in no part to their two outstanding performers, Welsh wonderkid Gareth Bale and Dutch maestro Rafael van der Vaart. The hosts were ahead 2-0 at the break, but Spurs had other ideas and when Bale reduced the arrears in the 50^th minute, the alarm bells began ringing in the Arsenal rearguard. Van der Vaart’s penalty levelled the game, before Younes Kaboul headed the Dutchman’s freekick past a shell-shocked Lukasz Fabianski with just five minutes remaining.

9. Newcastle 1-2 Sunderland, Premier League, 25 August 1999

Leave Alan Shearer out of a Tyne-Wear derby at your peril. This is what Ruud Gullit found out when he took charge of his final game for the Magpies. On a rainy night at St. James' Park, Newcastle took the lead through Kieron Dyer, but a second half comeback saw current Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn equalise. Kevin Phillips capped off the comeback to strike the final nail in Gullit's Toon coffin as the Dutch legend was sacked the next day.

10. Tottenham 4-5 Arsenal, Premier League, 13 November 2004

It was Martin Jol’s first Premiership game as Head Coach, and what a game it was. Despite Spurs taking the lead, they surrendered their advantage to a Thierry Henry effort on the stroke of half time. When Lauren’s penalty made it 1-2, Tottenham played catch-up for the remainder of this enthralling contest. Patrick Vieira made it 1-3, before Jermain Defoe reduced the deficit to 2-3. Freddie Ljungberg restored Arsenal’s two-goal advantage at 2-4, only for Ledley King to hit back at 3-4. Bobby Pires shimmied his way past Noe Pamarot, Paul Robinson and a match-day programme to make it 3-5 and Freddie Kanoute set up a grand-stand finish at 4-5 with two minutes left. Unfortunately for Spurs fans, there was no dramatic comeback this time.

EPL's Half Term report

Man Utd

So far, so good for Sir Alex Ferguson’s men. United were always going to be there or there abouts, and the ominous thing for the rest of the league is they usually experience better second halves to the season. Despite their poor away record thus far (played nine, won two, drawn seven) they remain undefeated. What chance of them replicating Arsenal’s achievement in 2003/04? Grade: A

Man City

Man City’s spending prowess over the past three seasons has been nothing short of extraordinary. Since the Abu Dhabi United Group bought the club in August 2008, they have spent over £320 million. With Wolfsburg’s Edin Dzeko set to arrive in January, their spending shows no signs of letting up. Due to their financial muscle alone, they could and should be looking down on the league at this stage. With none of the title chasers taking command at the half-way stage, City could achieve what they haven’t since 1968, and spend their way to the title this year. Grade: B-

Arsenal

Monday night’s moral-boosting win over Chelsea will do wonders for The Gunners’ confidence. With visits to Eastlands, Old Trafford, Anfield and Stanford Bridge out of the way, not to mention a game in hand over City in second place, this could be the year the Wenger bus rides into town once more. Look out for their visit to rivals Spurs on 26 February. Grade: A-

  

Tottenham

The most impressive aspect of Spurs’ season to date has been their ability to excel both in their debut season in the Champions League and on the domestic front. The days of Tottenham fans lamenting inconsistent displays appear to have subsided for now, and game week 20 saw them overtake Chelsea into fourth place. Countless superlatives have been heaped on the Welsh wonderkid Gareth Bale and stand-out summer signing Rafael Van der Vaart, and justifiably so. The pair have quite simply been the outstanding performers of the season so far. Grade: A*

Chelsea

Chelsea made an explosive start in their campaign to retain the title, scoring 21 goals on the way to winning their opening five games. Their recent set of results, which has seen them fail to win in six, incurring three defeats, is relegation form and serious questions will be asked of Carlo Ancelotti’s future should they not win at Wolves tonight. Frank Lampard’s return to full fitness cannot come soon enough. Grade: C-

Sunderland

Perhaps Sunderland’s biggest strength this season has been the form of their strikers. Between Danny Welbeck, Asamoah Gyan and England International Darren Bent, the three have scored 20 of the Black Cats’ 24 Premier League goals. However, over the course of the season, they will need to find goals from all over the park if they are to continue to push for the European places. However, having three strikers who can find the back of the net is a big plus, and one that will draw envious eyes from several clubs around them. Grade: A-

Bolton

Owen Coyle’s team have been the surprise package of the season. Relinquishing the shackles of a ‘long-ball side’ gained under the stewardship of Sam Allardyce, Coyle has The Trotters playing a brand of football that at times would not look out of place in the Champions League. With one or two astute signings in January, who knows where they could finish? Expect a dip in form at some stage, but with consistency failing most teams in the 2010/11 season, Bolton could well retain their current position and end up playing European football next term. Grade: A-

Stoke

Tony Pulis is doing a sterling job at The Britannia and after cementing Stoke as a Premier League club, he is now in the process of taking them to the next level. He is slowly adding brains to his squad of brawn, with the technically gifted Matthew Etherington, Ricardo Fuller and Şanlı Tuncay able to turn a game in an instant. Perhaps their biggest compliment this season is they are where they are without having to draw as heavily on the human catapult, Rory Delap. He has started all but three of their games thus far, and yet his trusted arm has barely featured on Match of The Day. Despite it only being January, it is safe to say the Potters will be here next season. Grade: B+

Liverpool

Liverpool are a team in transition – but into what? Time will tell whether they are descending into the bleakest period in their illustrious history, or whether they are merely taking a breather. As perverse as it may sound, it may not be the end of the world if they were to sell one of Steven Gerrard or Fernando Torres in order to raise the cash needed to improve the overall quality of their squad. It is only now we are seeing the perilous sate Rafa Benitez left the club in. Those calling for his return better know what they are wishing for. Grade: D

Newcastle

Chris Hughton’s sacking was a shock to everybody, and was wholly unjustifiable. You have to wonder what more he could have done since taking over in the summer of 2009, when the beleaguered Toon had just suffered relegation from the top flight. Not only did he emphatically guide them back up at the first attempt, but, at the time of his sacking, had stabilised the club in mid table. Add to this impressive wins at Arsenal, Everton and Chelsea in the League Cup, not to mention the 5-1 hammering of rivals Sunderland, and the decision makes even less sense. What Mike Ashley expected from him is anyone’s guess. Will the knives be out for newly-appointed Alan Pardew should he not deliver European football this season? Probably not, but it would render his appointment totally unnecessary if they do not finish significantly higher than the 11th place Hughton left them in. Grade: B

Blackpool

Who says the romance of the game is dead? Blackpool’s start to life in the top flight has been nothing short of a fairytale. Their 2-0 win at Sunderland to cap off a remarkable 2010 for Ian Holloway was their fifth on the road in a season that has also included an outstanding 2-1 triumph at Anfield. Sitting comfortably at this stage in eleventh and playing attacking, carefree football, Ollie will hope his side do not capitulate as Hull did in their maiden season of 2008/09. Hull survived that year, but had to wait until the final day. Would Ollie take that? Probably. Grade: A*

Blackburn

Along with the departure of Chris Hughton at Newcastle, the sacking of Sam Allardyce shocked the club’s fans. It did not, interestingly, draw as much sympathy from the media, however. With Rovers sitting comfortably in mid table, only time will tell whether the new poultry owners from India, Venky’s, have made the correct decision. By appointing the untried and untested Steve Kean (an underwhelming playing career was followed by assistant managerial roles at Fulham, Real Sociedad and Coventry) they’re leaving themselves open to criticism immediately should results fade. Their challenge over the coming weeks will be keeping hold of skipper Christopher Samba, who has voiced his displeasure over Allardyce’s departure. Grade: B+

Fulham

Last season’s UEFA Cup Finalists have been the draw specialists this time around, with a staggering ten of their 21 games yielding a point. But for long-term absentee Bobby Zamora, many fans will be wondering how many of these draws could have been turned into wins. On the plus side, they have not lost nearly as many games as those around them, and with the return of Andy Johnson and Zamora in the spring, their fortunes could take a turn for the better. However, should results go the other way, I wonder what price Fulham fans will be calling for a Roy Hodgson return should Mr Benitez be reinstated at Anfield? Grade: C

Everton

After yet another sluggish start, David Moyes’ side will again have it all to do in 2011 to salvage anything from their season. The main thing going in their favour is it is so tight this season in the Barclays Premier League and if they were to put a run together, you would not back against them finishing in a European place. Conversely, if they cannot sort out their inability to convert the amount of chances they are creating, they could find themselves struggling at the wrong end of the table. A striker is desperately needed in January, but who will Moyes sell to raise the cash? Grade: C-

Birmingham

Many would regard this as a par score for Alex McLeish’s side, but try telling that to the ambitious Scotsman. After finishing last season in ninth spot following promotion, any talk of second-season syndrome should be rebuffed. Firstly, they have spent six of the past nine seasons in the top flight and should know their way around this division by now. Secondly, the league is scintillatingly close and 15th could turn to top ten with two results. Never-the-less, there is undoubted quality in their ranks and perhaps McLeish’s biggest task is keeping hold of key midfielders Barry Ferguson and Seb Larsson, the latter approaching the final months of his contract. Grade: C

West Brom

The fact all three promoted clubs are well placed at this stage is phenomenal. Should West Brom, Newcastle and Blackpool stay up, it will be the first time since 2001/2002 this feat has been achieved (promoted clubs Bolton, Fulham and Blackburn maintaining Premier League status at the expense of Leicester City, Derby and Ipswich). The Baggies are perennially known as the ‘Yo-Yo Club’, but this year manager Roberto Di Matteo has them playing with confidence and a resilience that has escaped them in previous seasons at this level. Summer arrivals Peter Odemwingie and Somen Tchoyi have been revelations, as has the continued development of Chris Brunt, whose left peg has been striking the fear of life into opponents. Expect another nervous season climax, but there will be no need of a similar great escape of 2004/05, as survival will be wrapped up much earlier. Grade: B+

Aston Villa

Villa’s demise since Martin O’Neil’s exit in the summer should come as little surprise. When the Ulsterman took over in August 2006, he was inheriting a side who had just finished in 16th spot. In his final three seasons in charge, he restored the reputation of the club, guiding them to three consecutive sixth-placed finishes and a League Cup final. But was the fact O’Neil was not given a lavish summer transfer kitty in order to inject life into an aging squad, a squad he had constructed, the main reason for his exit? Or was he simply jumping ship, with the subsequent lacklustre performances envisaged? Either way, the start Gerard Houllier has endured has been average at best. The one positive is the success of their youth system, with Barry Bannan, Jonathan Hogg and Eric Lichaj all making their Premier League debuts, while recent graduates Ciaran Clark and Marc Albrighton have excelled. Expect a recovery of sorts, but not enough for top-six. Grade: C-

West Ham

A recent turn around in form has elevated the East London club from the bottom of the table. Only one other club, West Brom in 2004/05, has managed to survive when propping up the league on Christmas Day since the inauguration of the Premier League, so Avram Grant will still have it all to do to keep the Hammers afloat. It is imperative they keep star players Scott Parker and Carlton Cole, but with the latter’s form hit and miss this season, Grant may look to cash in to bolster evident weaknesses throughout his side. Too good to go down? Don’t count on it. Grade: D

Wigan

You do feel for Wigan. You get the impression no matter how much money chairman Dave Whelan makes available for Roberto Martinez, they either won’t be able to attract the calibre of player they want, or those they do bring in see it as an opportunity to promote number one and engineer a move within a few seasons. As a result, progress is more or less impossible to achieve. The best they can expect is to hover around the mid to bottom end of the league and, to their credit, this is exactly what they’ve done since gaining promotion in 2005. Their player of the year last term, Charles N'Zogbia, made it clear he wanted out in the summer and he encapsulates this type of player. However, with few clubs interested this window, he may stay to preserve their top-flight status for another year. Grade: C

Wolves

So much for my pre-season prediction of Mick McCarthy’s side having a successful year. Wolves have played some decent football at times, but like Everton have been unable to translate this into results. McCarthy was asked in November if he thought there were three worse-off teams in the division and his response was a resounding ‘yes’. Half-way gone, he will have it all to do to prove this to his supporters. Key players Kevin Doyle, Matt Jarvis, Steven Hunt and George Elokobi need to demonstrate why they are held in such high esteem. The problem is you need more than three or four players to hold your own in this division. Expect tears in May. Grade: C-

The Big Sleaze

And tonight Matthew: Blatter confirms Twitter's Russian prediction

“When you have the best technical bid, fantastic inspection visits, the best economic report, and, from what people told us, the best presentation, it's quite hard to stomach that all that seemed to count for absolutely nothing.” – Andy Anson, chief executive officer of England’s 2018 FIFA World Cup bid.

Unless you’ve been trapped indoors due to the arctic conditions and had the double misfortune of a power cut to boot, it will not have escaped your attention England failed in their bid to host the 2018 World Cup yesterday.

Instead, the honour goes to Russia, a nation as corrupt and as scheming as the bigwigs who sit on FIFA's 22-man Executive Committee.

Far from sounding bitter, the simple truth is England’s bid was the best going. As FIFA President Sepp Blatter has been quoted in saying, England could host it tomorrow.

Every box was ticked as England’s bid resembled near perfection. Led by their Three Lions, PM David Cameron, Prince William and its most-tattooed footballer David Beckham, few could predict the thrashing England would go on to receive.

Even the one area flagged up as England’s Achilles heel, a lasting legacy, was covered by arguably the most impressive speech conducted by an Englishman since Winston Churchill’s WWII rallying cry.

Eddie Afekafe, a social inclusion manager with Manchester City, was the star of the show, explaining how football had given him the opportunity of escaping the clutches of Manchester’s gang culture.

He said: “Mr President, mine is just one story. A World Cup here could change the lives of millions of people like me.”

England were sent crashing out at the first round of voting with only two votes. To add insult to injury, one of them was cast by an Englishman - 2018 bid chairman Geoff Thompson who has a seat on the committee.

Effectively, England's outstanding bid attracted a miserly one vote from 21 going.

The professional manner in which England conducted their campaign and the round-the-clock efforts of bid president, David Dein, meant it deserved more, and casts serious aspersions over how the process is carried out.

Yes the best team does not always win in football. But more often then not, if they dominate a game and play as impressively as England did, they will score more than once.

This is why there is certain to be a thorough investigation in the coming months into how FIFA choses the host nation.

There are two reasons why England were so comprehensively beaten, and thoroughly overlooked by the committee members.

The first is so obvious I shall not delve too deeply into it. But a certain investigative TV programme, screened just three days before the announcement, may have something to do with it.

The BBC cannot be blamed. Can you imagine if they had waited until after the announcement then given the go-ahead?

Cynics and the world’s media will no doubt have pointed to sour grapes.

By the same token, there would have been a public outcry if such damning evidence had been held back.

But enough of that, as England’s bid was defeated by a landslide. It’s not as if it was lost by a small margin, the sort of defeat where you could then look for extenuating circumstances.

No, England’s bid was never going to win for reasons beyond its control, reasons that are so profound and, in truth, damning for the game.

FIFA are a licence to themselves, and are so corrupt they make Oliver Twist's Fagan look like Santa Clause.

They are accountable to no one, and this must change if nations such as England want to succeed in any future bid.

Throughout the process, England were led to believe they had an excellent bid and members promised them their vote.

With these assurances not fulfilled, one has to ask the question: what changed their minds?


Anson has called for extensive changes to the voting system

The bid's chief Andy Anson revealed today how Blatter had spoke of the 'evils of the media' in his final speech to the committee just before their vote.

Asked if he thought England should bid for future tournaments, Anson told a news conference in Zurich: “I would say right now don’t bother until you know that the process is going to change to allow bids like ours (a chance) to win.

On Blatter’s address, Anson added: “I think that was unhelpful - the last thing those guys hear before they go and tick the box is the evil of the media.

“There was a final sum-up before they voted and I think it was at the beginning of that. That's not helpful to our cause.”

FIFA should also be asked to defend why they chose to conduct two bids side by side.

This opens up the possibility of collusion, and Anson added: “Running two bids together was clearly a huge mistake.

“Everyone who had a vote and a bid clearly wanted to trade that vote for something that helped them get over the line in that campaign.

“Australia had a very good bid and they got one vote, we had a very good bid and we got two, the USA had an unbelievably strong technical bid and got three.

“Six votes in the first round between those three, there's something not quite right.

“You have to open it up to all member associations and have transparency and open voting so everyone knows who voted for whom.”

Earlier this month, FIFA has been the subject of further corruption charges when the Sunday Times named and shamed six committee members who asked for money in exchange for votes.

Two were banned over these allegations, while the remaining four have been suspended pending investigation.

At the time, Blatter said: “No, I'm not pleased about that because this is not very fair, but now we have a result it gives us an opportunity to clean a little bit whatever has to be cleaned.”

It appears Blatter is waiting until the spring.

Another question mark hovering over FIFA is the Swiss controller's unrelenting crusade of taking football to the nether reaches of this world.

It has led Twitter user DavidBedwell to quip: “After Qatar wins the 2022 bid, 2026 is rumoured to be between Narnia, Mordor and Krypton.”

Indeed, before Russia 2018, the score was Western Europe 10-0 Eastern Europe in the hosting stakes.

So, a result for change, but we should not be too surprised.

This year, the tournament was hosted by South Africa – the first time the World Cup has travelled to the continent.

A change gonna come: Blatter sandwiched between Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Hamad
bin Khalifa Al-Thani and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov.

It was also revealed yesterday that football will cross further frontiers when the World Cup travels to Qatar in 2022.

“Expect Amazing” their bid motto promised, and the World certainly was amazed as Blatter slowly pulled open the envelope.

Qatar will have their work cut out, however, in hosting the World Cup, and serious questions will need to be answered closer to the time.

Cynics may argue such was Blatter’s desire to continue his quest, he conducted a joint bid, thus giving Qatar the longest possible time to prepare.

The Emirate nation is half the size of Wales, and only has two cities.

It will need to build nine new stadiums, while England fans will be pleased to hear it is illegal to consume alcoholic beverages in public places.

Perhaps the biggest stumbling block to Qatar 2022 is the searing heat that will meet the teams in June and July.

Playing in temperatures of 50C is not going to be viable, so expect the first World Cup to be held either in the spring or the autumn (either that or those air conditioning machines are going to have to put on one hell of a show).

So, in conclusion: why can’t us Brits be magnanimous in defeat? (‘Congratulations Russia and Qatar, your bids were worthy and we look forward to gracing your countries as and when.’)

The reality is, when you are defeated by a better team, you hold your hands up.

But when you feel you are robbed, just as Germany did in 1966 with Geoff Hurst’s phantom goal, and as Frank Lampard did 44 years later when his effort was half a meter over the line, you feel a sense of injustice.

There is sure to be an inquest into how FIFA select their host nations, and stand by for further programmes in the not too distant future.

I hope the fallout does stimulate enough debate for FIFA to reconsider how they conduct future World Cup bids, rather than fuel the fire of discontent that is apparent between England and football's chief governing body.

My hunch is that it won’t.

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NB Spare a thought for the Aussies, their bid to host the 2022 World Cup only received one vote. Will Adelaide bring them any joy in the coming days? Don’t count on it…

Giving something back. The nicer side of football

Flying the flag: Essien was in Ghana supporting his foundation

Overpaid, poor role models, on field prima donnas, disenfranchised from reality. These are only a few of the slurs aimed at the modern-day footballer.

The off-the-field antics of the likes of John Terry, Ashley Cole, Wayne Rooney and even youngster Andy Carroll and Jack Wilshere in recent weeks have only fuelled the fire of ill-feeling towards this particular group.

Believe it or not, although there are some bad eggs who continuously profess to have turned a corner (Joey Barton perhaps?) there those who go the extra mile to give something back.

Only this week Michael Essien returned to his hometown in Ghana, Awutu, to help promote his charity, the Michael Essien Foundation.

To date, it has helped fund a water bore hole in the centre of the town, as well as new public toilets.
“It is so good to be home and be able to give something back to my community,” said Essien.

“It is great to be here, where I used to play football, and the amount of people here is really special, it makes me really proud.”

The Ghana international is not alone by any means. Football fans across the land may have been surprised to learn Craig Bellamy opened a school in Sierra Leone earlier this year.

Although the cynics may see these as well-timed PR stunts, the Essien visit coinciding nicely with a three-game ban following a nasty two-footed lunge last week, while the Craig Bellamy Foundation set up to placate those who feel the Welsh international is little more than an angry thug, the pair are demonstrating a more generous and compassionate side to their feisty characters.

But there is plenty that goes on out of the public eye.

“Lots of players are setting up foundations,” said former Liverpool defender Phil Babb, speaking at The Sue Ryder International Cup, a charity event hoping to raise money for its international work.

“There are so many things going on behind the scenes. People don’t always see what’s happening – players are constantly out there giving something back.”

Babb was joined by fellow ex-pros Bob Bolder, Steve Lomas, Kerry Dixon and Steve Claridge in a legends team which faced the tournament’s winners.

Football friends: Getting up close and personal with the legends

Claridge and Dixon regularly feature in tournaments, while Lomas helps out at Children’s Hospice Haven House back in his native Northern Ireland.

Lomas said: “There are a lot of wonderful people involved there.

“Ray Winstone’s a patron and they give valuable support to the families.”

Babb said he and his teammates realise just how privileged they are and he remains grateful for the impact football has had on his life.

The former Republic of Ireland international has played for various Liverpool legends teams over the past seven years, while the club regularly host a Football Aid event.

Indeed, Liverpool as a club, and city, have a rich history of charitable work.

Both Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres have raised money for LUPUS UK, while vice-captain Jamie Carragher has set up his own charity, the 23 Foundation, which hopes to give children on Merseyside a better life.

Across Stanley Park, Everton skipper Phil Neville and his wife Julie are patrons of the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital Charity.

Their daughter Isabella was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when she was just 18 months old and they were told she may never walk.

Despite this setback the couple, in particular Julie, have embarked on a vigorous fund-raising campaign which has seen a celebrity auction, a reception for the appeal at No10 with the Prime Minister, a series of fundraising races and two concerts.

To date, the charity has raised over £20 million.

In June this year, celebrities and some of the biggest names in football joined forces for Soccer Aid, a match held at Old Trafford to raise money to benefit UNICEF projects around the world.

While all of the above barely scratches the surface of charitable work carried out by current and former pros, it remains to be seen whether the football community can shackle the tarnished image created by many of the game’s less than responsible characters.

As long as the fund raising continues, be it in the public eye or behind the scenes, I doubt the game’s true legends will care.

Bolt from the Blue

Monday, Tuesday, Happy Days: Ray enjoying a joke with Ancelotti and Terry

Yesterday evening, Chelsea Football Club announced the shock departure of Ray Wilkins as their assistant manager.

Ray was one minute putting the ground-work in at their Surrey training base in a reserve-team game with Bayern Munich, and the next being told his services were no longer required.

Senior members of the backroom staff are rightly stunned by the decision to part company with such a popular character and this is a travesty not just for Chelsea, but for the football community.

In an age where loyalty is seemingly on the wane in the game, Ray was a breath of fresh air at a club that defines everything bad about the modern game: 1. foreign ownership and 2. debts only manageable by securing ludicrous loans and qualifying for the Champions League season-in season-out.

Ray has been associated with his boyhood club on and off for 37 years and, despite Chelsea’s flirtation with countless foreign managers, he has provided a solid English pillar.

Leader of the pack: A youthful Wilkins was handed the captaincy at just 18

He made 179 appearances for Chelsea, joining them as an apprentice in 1973, and filled in as caretaker manager twice, before assuming his role as assistant manager in 2009.

To sever ties with him is saddening, while the timing sickening.

Why wait 12 games into a season before rendering his services redundant? Surly it would have been preferable for an amicable parting of the ways in the summer.

The press have come to the conclusion there must have been a falling out with the manager, Carlo Ancelotti.

Such a scenario would make sense. In his latest book, The Beautiful Game of an Ordinary Genius released in August, Ancelotti was full of praise for his assistant.

“One of the reasons I fit into the locker room was thanks to the fundamental role played by Ray Wilkins, my number two and my friend,” it reads.

“It's one thing to translate words – plenty of people can do that – but translating feelings is the gift of only a select few.

“Ray is one of those select few, always present, noble in spirit, a real blue-blood, Chelsea flows in his veins.

“Without him, we couldn't have won a thing.”

The book also states what a great bloke John Terry is.

The fact Ray is held in such high esteem by the same man who was part of consultation process to oust him is telling; so I wouldn’t get too ahead of yourself John.

So all points to a very bitter, and recent falling out.

But I believe in an all-too-sinister alternative.

Today the game is run as a business; a cut-throat industry ran as meticulously off it as on it.

If an owner pours billions into a club and is dissatisfied with even the most minute of irritants, the axe is wielded, with timing and the individual concerned barely taken into consideration.

Quite how Ray fell victim to Roman Abramovich's regime is left open to speculation.

But from the outside looking in, the way this ‘blue-blood’ has been treated is despicable, and both Ancelotti and Abramovich should hang their heads in shame at this apparent coups d'état.

Anyone who has met Ray will tell you how likeable he is and, from a football fan’s perspective, he is a rare gem.

Ray spotted collecting his Barclays Merit Award for services to CFC

He is not of the Mick McCarthy or Ian Holloway school of comedy, nor part of the cryptic crew of Messrs Cantona, Ferguson or Benítez.

But his charm offensive is unique and likeable.

His tone of voice and charisma in discussing a John Terry elbow or a Didier Drogba dive is as eloquent as if he were giving a treatise on a Monet, or a Mozart violin concerto, all while sitting back to a glass of burgundy.

Quite what his views on French impressionist painting and Classical music is anyone’s guess.

But his passion for Chelsea is insatiable and was evident not least when he acted as a judge in Sky One’s Football Icon, a nationwide talent search for the next Frank Lampard.

Ray had no obligation to get involved in such a charade, but never-the-less offered four-decades worth of experience to these kids as if they were his own.

Perhaps this paternal instinct, evident when he skippered a youthful Chelsea team to promotion in 1977 and his work under two managers for the England Under-21s, is wasted on prima donnas such as Drogba and better suited to a youth set-up.

There is no doubting should he pursue this career path next there will be no shortage of admirers.

But the way he has been treated this week by Chelsea is despicable, and should be a wake-up call for football – loyalty is not something that can be bought, nor taken for granted.

With Chelsea looking down on the Football League, flying high in Europe and with an FA Cup to defend, don’t be surprised if Karma makes a timely appearance when the pots are handed out in May.