Henry and the Banking scandals?Why is it in this world that you try to raise your child to be honest and a good person and yet then on the other hand you have to explain to that child why cheating works for some? Firstly Henry's handball, no it's not the end of the world and yes us Irish will survive the incident. But try explaining... |
Yes - the old adage 'Cheats never prosper' often seems a rather limp or lame denial of our experience of life.
But it it is an age old problem.
Juvenal, the Roman satirist commented "Quis custodiet ipsos custodies ? " nigh on 2000 years ago - in the days of the very oppressive Emperor Domitian.
"Who guards the guards themselves ?"
A query just as relevant today as it was then.
FIFA, UEFA, the FA are all allegedly the monitors, the custodians of the global game - laying down the rules, the governance etc.
But 'allow' a case of cheating to decide, determine the result of a key World Cup qualifying play-off go in favour of foul play.
A bitter pill to swallow - for the 'losers.'
And yes - you have every reason to query what example this sets for a child trying to make sense of a 'fair-play sport' - in which blatant cheating is somehow over-looked - and even (apparently) condoned.
Because the Custodians - the Authorities - have stubbornly refused to move with the times - adopt modern technology - insisting the 'game' must still be monitored by middle-aged referees, running around the pictch with whistles and flags - relying on the easily deceived human eye.
Fair dues - we don't need such modern aids for monitoring The Boys Brigade playing the XIth Scout troop on a Sunday morning - but when huge global commercial concerns are putting up big bucks - sponsoring stuff - you'd think the 'Authorities' were better equipped.
More on the ball.
And how right of you - to draw a parallel with the banking muddle/cess-pit/crisis.
Just as Blatter and Platini have somehow managed to push their way into the seats of power and control - and cause most unlikely and unseemly mayhem - so too did that pompous incompetent, Gordon Brown - 10 years posing as an Iron (yet prudent) Chancellor - and another 2 years as an un-elected, unpopular 'Prime Minister' - drag us all into a cess-pool of debt our children and grandchidren will have to explain to their off-spring.
Brown FAILED to set up adequate monitoring mechanisms for our all-important financial banking activities. Making the Bank of England 'independent' of direct Government contol - copying the German model sounded OK - he left a ghastly gap as regards 'responsibility' - was it the BoE, the Treasury or the FSA who had the power/authority to intervene - when the whole economy seemed to be running away, up a mountain of debt - into the mists of uncertainty - and perhaps a grievous, painful downfall ?
Of course, Brown won't admit to such woeful neglect - or basic incompetence. Indeed, like Blatter - he'll remain super-glued to his seat in No 10 - until the furniture rmoval van calls next May.
As some French guy commented - "Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose".
We like to think to think we're getting there - but somehow....
Suffice to say Henry ain't no more the hero - and Brown will be discharged with ignominy next May.
All things come to those who wait.
; )
