Why Sepp Blatter was out of order over Ireland's 33rd team request, and all football agents are leeches

By Brian Reade

Published 05:00 05/12/09

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It seem Irishman haven't embarrassed themselves as much since Bono and The Edge asked us to click our fingers and end famine.

All that was missing from the FIA's suggestion to Sepp Blatter that they be 33rd team at the World Cup, was Mrs Doyle delivering it with a pot of tea saying "ah, go on, go on, go on, GO ON."

But it was only a private suggestion, not intended to be formally raised at a FIFA meeting, and certainly not intended to be raised by Blatter at a press conference, to allow the world to laugh at the stupidity of the Irish. And the cleverness of him.

But that's Blatter for you. Do you imagine if the hand had been on the other arm, and Michel Platini had mentioned the 33rd step, that Blatter would have subjected France to such public ridicule? No. But then when you've got the right result in a World Cup play-off (helped by seeding the French when no seeding had been planned) why not have a good grin.

Blatter talks about helping smaller nations but it's patronising drivel. He lives in too much fear of the big nations removing his five-star existence.

Which is why this inquiry into French cheating is simply an exercise to make it look like he's standing up to the big boys.

When the fuss dies down, all FIFA will do over Henry's hand is slap it lightly on the wrist.

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In the Premier League's past two transfer windows £73.5million was paid to agents (the figure given was £70.7million but Hull under-declared by £2.8million).

Amid the disbelief and anger, one agent, Barry Silkman, defended the figure, saying: "We're an easy target. When you look at how much money is in the game the amount going to agents is a very small percentage."

Really? Well let's put that very small percentage in perspective. The average Premier League season ticket costs £550. Meaning when 133,636 fans scraped together enough cash last summer to pay to watch their club's home games, every single penny went out of the game, and into the Saville Row pockets of already wealthy agents who bring little or no value to the game.

Easy targets? If only they were as easy as the creature they most resemble. The leech. They would be that much easier to crush.

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