Spurs news: English football – taking a Blattering

By Ray King
March 1 2004

So Sepp Blatter thinks too many games are played in England. Sepp Blatter wants the Premier League reduced to 16 or 18 teams and wants to put an end to that dreadful tradition of having FA Cup replays.

As for the League (Milk, Coco Cola, Worthington, Carling....perhaps one day to be “Horlicks”) Cup, well no doubt Sepp Blatter would like to see this competition ditched at the earliest opportunity. Well try telling that to Middlesboro supporters Mr Blatter?

The history and tradition of the glorious game in England should not be beholden to a “Eurocrat” who wishes to dictate from on high to the Football world and quite frankly the FA, Premier League et al should say so.

Perhaps we do play too many games, perhaps some teams with their sights firmly focussed on the desire to increase their already bulging satchels through Champions League revenue and maybe – one day – by a European Superleague – do not want to be part of English footballing traditions. But whatever the case is or will be, it should not be Sepp Blatter proposing or insisting on changes which attack these very traditions

Take the League Cup (as Boro just did). It may be scoffed at by the wealthy and successful clubs but we should remember that it was introduced so that much needed revenue could flow into the smaller clubs in the League by pitting them against the more wealthy in the League. As all but a few clubs struggle these days to pay the bills, this perhaps quaint principle might well be worth preserving.

And what of the scrapping of FA Cup replays? The chance – for those who get it and then decide to take it - of a minnow taking a Premiership side to their “local ground” is not just about football – it’s about a feel good factor for all those towns who have experienced and who may yet experience that “chance to dream”. It’s about our culture and traditions.

There is nothing wrong with embracing change when that change is in the best interests of the majority but Mr Blatter that does not mean the majority of the wealthy football clubs that you might talk to.

By Ray King

Tell us what you think of this issue by visiting the message board.