Opinion: Let's leave FIFA and UEFA

Nobody was happy that Qatar, a nation without a single football stadium, was awarded the 2022 World Cup and there are many questions about bungs and corruption. Similarly, many questioned the extent to which the Russian oligarchs helped win their country the 2018 tournament and, after this evening's BBC Panorama programme, many now wonder how on earth Poland and Ukraine were given the right to host next month's Euros.

The solution is simple...

We should leave FIFA and UEFA and set up a new organisation, with rival tournaments and rival administration that aims to eliminate corruption, racism and everything else that's wrong with football at the moment.

It might only take one nation with guts and principles and the rest would follow - as long as they met strict suitability criteria.

Then countries can choose to take part in the clean or corrupt tournaments - they can join in the World Cup of hate or the friendly World Cup.

And please, don't think the UK is any better than Ukraine or Poland. We may have fewer racists on the terraces but the FA isn't anywhere near harsh enough with the racists and drug cheats on the pitch. Racism, cheating and corruption must be eliminated everywhere. Consistency is vital.

Sadly, I doubt the FA is sufficiently robust to stand up on principle, but I live in hope. I'd happily accept we miss a tournament occupying the international wilderness waiting for sufficient others to join.

OPINION: FA wins Rooney appeal

This morning, the FA won its appeal and had Wayne Rooney's three-match ban at the Euro 2012 tournament reduced to two matches.

This means, assuming that Capello selects Rooney, he will be available t play in the final group stage match against the co-hosts, Ukraine.

But what sort of message does this send out to youngsters, as well as other players?

At best, Rooney's tackle was petulant. At worst, it was thuggery of a type Rooney regularly exhibits. He'll feel he's got away with it to some extent.

Rooney, and all other footballing thugs, should be banned and fined far more dramatically. When Eric Cantona Kung fu kicked a fan in the crowd he was banned for the rest of that season. That is the sort of punishment that Rooney deserves. And, if there is a repeat (and there have been many repeats from this dullard yob) he should be banned for life.

He is a danger to himself, to the teams he plays for and, more seriously, to the opposition because, the chances are, his violent tendencies will, one day, lead to a player being seriously injured.

Today, UEFA lost my respect. The FA, by appealing the original decision, had already lost my respect. Rooney is scum, sporting detritus, and should not be allowed to play again, in any competition, until he cleans up his act and learns how to play within the rules ofthe game.

EURO 2012 Draw

Euro 2012 takes place in Poland and Ukraine between 8th June and 1st July 2012.

There are 16 competing nations:

Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Poland (co-hosts), Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Russia, Spain (Holders), Sweden and Ukraine (co-hosts)

The Group stage sees 4 groups of 4 teams compete against each other On a round robin basis, the top 2 from each group qualifying the the quarter finals.

The 4 groups were drawn, in Kiev, on 2nd December 2011:

Group A
*Poland
*Greece
*Russia
*Czech Republic

Group B
*Netherlands
*Denmark
*Germany
*Portugal

Group C
*Spain
*Italy
*Republic of Ireland
*Croatia

Group D
*Ukraine
*Sweden
*France
*England