FIFA intervention on Vukovic a major embarrassment

Forget the absence of a national anthem or a couple of pitch invaders a few weeks ago in Brisbane. FIFA’s insistence in overturning Danny Vukovic’s farcical split ban is surely the height of embarrassment for the Football Federation.

That the world body had to step in and plainly exercise common sense is a black mark on FFA. To condemn a player for nine months for striking a referee, yet allow him to play in the Olympics was a decision that was simply selfish. No other explanation.

Glory before integrity.

Hardly a good selling point.

When Sepp Blatter amiably told us that an Australian bid for 2018 would be futile, the FFA were quick to act, defiantly announcing they could continue the pursuit. To hell with the fact the Southern hemisphere will host the two prior Cups, to hell with the fact Europe would have gone 12 years without the sport’s showpiece event. A press conference made it clear to the world that they would not be denied. Perhaps there’s a grand plan here. An honourable loss in 2018 might lead to a nod for 2022.

However, the defiance wasn’t a good look.

Cringeworthy.

There’s a lesson to be learnt from this:

Don’t mess with FIFA.

Hey Sonny Bill, what happened to all that loyalty?