Comments on: FIFA.com censoring discussion of referee Koman Coulibaly’s nullification of USA goal vs. Slovenia in World Cup

By: Sean

Sean — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 11:47:20 +0000

Thanks for raising this issue.
I became member of FIFA club to let them know about my displeasure of referee decision in a few games by participating in the comment parts of the news. It was shocking to understand my comments were censored. Then I realized there were no mention of any of the so obvious and bad refereeing on the FIFA site. You can’t see any highlights of the games about the referee mistakes which have been making news headlines everywhere.

I think FIFA members are old and out of touch with people, media and the game itself. I think not only video technology should be introduced to the International level soccer games but also they should get rid of the old members of FIFA and bring fresh blood and spirit to the game.
So far there has not been any even remotely convincing reason for not having video referee.

The president of FIFA refers to “Human Element” of the game for not having video technology. BUT the human element not only result in very bad decisions and stripping of a team from their rightful position in tournaments but also could contribute to corruption and bribery in the games.

This is 21st century and it is no more acceptable to continue the games the way it was in stone age. Censorship is no more acceptable. FIFA reputation is on the line. All my friends and whoever I know have the same feeling and express their dismay at FIFA attitude towards use of video technology.

By the way none of the bad decisions has effected my team so far but it really make me sad when I see so many mistakes by referees. I don’t blame referees, I blame FIFA since FIFA does not allow referee to have the right tools for their job.

By: Robin Goldstein

Robin Goldstein — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 09:36:19 +0000

It’s been amazing generally to hear how many other people had similar experiences with their comments being deleted, e.g. Courtney Knapp at The Atlantic, who wrote about this post and the issue in general:
http://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2010/06/is-fifa-censoring-the-us-non-goal/58428/

here’s my followup post:
http://blindtaste.com/2010/06/19/more-on-fifa-censorship-at-the-world-cup-suppressed-video-message-police/

nsa: you’re right, of course…fixed.

jake: i hope that’s the way people will react…

By: Jake

Jake — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 05:17:26 +0000

Perhaps fans should systematically visit as many of the tournament sponsors’ sites and register their displeasure at FIFA’s censorship.
Hopefully, they will blow back some of the fans’ disgust to FIFA. Money talks. I cannot think of any sponsor who would wish to be associated and support an Association that is causing such negative sentiments amongst its fans.

By: Douglas

Douglas — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 00:19:13 +0000

FIFA has also censored comments on their World Cup Myspace page.

By: FIFA’s Corruption And Censorship At The World Cup: The Keyword Is Not Trust | Pitch Invasion

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 03:12:50 +0000

[...] as well as the obvious spin in the match report examples above. As Robin Goldstein at Blind Taste detailed right after the U.S-Slovenia game: As of this writing, of the 343 comments to have been approved by the moderators on FIFA.com’s [...]

By: nsa

nsa — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 01:43:18 +0000

Good find. But, in the last paragraph I suspect that you meant the bigsoccer.com thread on the *Slovenia*-USA game.

Better yet, check out the referee discussion thread on the game at bigsoccer:
http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1461812

By: Mario Ippara

Mario Ippara — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 14:51:55 +0000

Not only are they censoring this information. They also pretty much censor any negative comments about any officiating. I commented on the red card dealt to the Swiss, and it never got posted.

By: follow & twit me @annelouisse89

follow & twit me @annelouisse89 — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 12:26:35 +0000

put joe cole in. heart of a lion , soul of a warrior. he will kindle the fire for a smoldering England team

excited for the game

By: Paul

Paul — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 04:09:16 +0000

A fun game I’ve discovered is to try and leave a comment that contains your true sentiments but that will pass the censorship. Here’s my attempt after the Brazil v IC game:

What a game! When it comes to Brazil, amazing control of the ball makes them simply untouchable. Another simply magical win!

By: FIFA is God at the World Cup | We Blog The World

FIFA is God at the World Cup | We Blog The World — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 17:49:53 +0000

[...] they are pretending that it didn’t happen. Here is an article about FIFA censoring all comments on its website about the decision. If there is a video of the play on FIFA’s it is hidden [...]