Controversy And Criticism With The UEFA World Cup Qualifying Round Draw

Rage, Fits, and just down right anger are flowing through Europe right now. Last week UEFA announced that they would seed the teams involved in the playoff round of World Cup Qualifying. The seeding would take place by having the four nations with the highest FIFA ranking play one of the four teams with a lower FIFA ranking. This decision by UEFA has caused uproar. And rightfully so.

Ireland was the most vocal about the seeding procedure, saying that it was a conspiracy by FIFA in order to get the better teams into the World Cup. Whatever the true reason UEFA and FIFA thought this was the best way to go about determining the playoff proceedings.

I would be okay if FIFA and UEFA would tell all the football associations involved with qualifying before the games started, that the top eight second place teams would be seeded by the Wolrd FIFA rankings. That way there would be no surprises. Instead, UEFA threw the teams a curve ball during the qualification process, and now the less teams will have to suffer. One of the main ideas of competition is to have the rules set BEFORE, the competition was done. In all honesty a real cheap shot by UEFA and FIFA.

Another thing that comes in question is the whole validity of these FIFA World Rankings. The Rankings have been called into questions before, especially when the US was tied for 5th heading into the 2006 World Cup, and finished last in their group. This year they're a couple of teams that are highly ranked, yet will not be in the World Cup. No. 8 Croatia, No. 15 Czech Republic, and No. 26 Israel are all not in the World Cup, yet North Korea at No. 91 is in, and No. 83 New Zealand and No. 94 Qatar are in a playoff to get in. You know what that means-The Rankings are USELESS. A decent guide to gauge how good a team will fair in a match, yes. A tool to have a factor in who will play who in World Cup Qualifying, NO.

However, if you feel the necessary to actually seed the playoff teams by the FIFA rankings, make sure you do so before the qualification process begins. That way all the teams competing know what they are getting into. Next time UEFA make sure everybody knows the procedures that way your not throwing anybody for a loop.

Here are the fixtures for the Playoff Stage of UEFA World Cup Qualifying:

No. 16 Greece vs. No. 22 Ukraine

No. 9 France vs. No. 34 Republic of Ireland

No. 10 Portugal vs. No. 42 Bosnia-Herzegovina

No. 12 Russia vs. No. 49 Slovenia