Uzbeks may join UEFA after World Cup 'robbery'

[pc4th]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=346512&cc=5901

Uzbekistan may apply to join European soccer's governing body UEFA after what the Central Asian state called an injust decision robbed it of a chance of reaching the World Cup finals.

'We, in Uzbekistan, always wanted to be a part of UEFA and after the latest events this process will certainly gain a new momentum,' Alisher Nikimbayev, a senior official in the Uzbekistan Football Federation, told Reuters in an interview.


'What FIFA had done to us in regards of replaying our qualifier with Bahrain was very unjust. We feel very strongly about that.'

Uzbekistan beat Bahrain 1-0 in the first leg of their Asian Zone World Cup qualifier play-off in Tashkent on Sept. 3 but FIFA cancelled the result and ordered a replay following a mistake by Japanese referee Toshimitsu Yoshida.

FIFA, world soccer's ruling body, ruled that Yoshida had made a technical error in disallowing a converted Uzbekistan penalty and awarding Bahrain a free kick.

The two sides drew 1-1 in a rescheduled match on Oct. 8 before Bahrain held the Uzbeks 0-0 in the second leg in Manama four days later to advance on the away goal rule.

'We have been robbed,' Nikimbayev said. 'First, we were robbed of a penalty, then they wiped away our 1-0 win which would have been enough for us to reach the play-off.

[NeRoN_FB]

ohh good..I hope UEFA accepts...

[blackjack]

This is ridiculous. Israel I understand, because it would be unsafe for them to play qualifiers in the Middle East. But what's next, Surinam asking to join UEFA? Uzbekistan is NOT IN EUROPE! They have no business in UEFA.

[laudrup]

It's not as if being in UEFA will make them more likely to qualify. In fact, it would make it more difficult for them. They will occasionally play a game against European powerhouses, but that'll be it. This year they might have been robbed, but they were close, they can try again next time. If they want fair referees because they want to qualify, then joining UEFA is kind of useless. If they want fair referees because they feel that it is a question solely of principles and morals, then go ahead, but it's kind of a stupid move.

[Zenit]

That article neglects to mention that the UZBEKS were the ones to protest that initial game, because the technical error by the referee, in one of the most ill-advised protests in recent memory. If they wouldn't have protested the ref's decision, I doubt very much the game would have been replayed.

http://www.eurosport.com/home/pages/v4/l0/s22/e6243/sport_lng0_spo22_evt6243_sto761926.shtml

[Cazlon]

I don't see what the Uzbeks could hope to gain joining UEFA. Some nice tv revenues when getting hammered into the ground maybe ? That's about the only positive aspect i could think of. Their chances of ever qualifying would be like non existant.

[Pierre-Henri]

2008 European Championship Qualification Round

GROUP A

- Germany
- Slovenia
- Bhutan
- Luxembourg
- St Kitts-Nevis
- Midway Islands
- Yemen

GROUP B

- Italy
- Swaziland
- Papua-New Guinea
- Lesotho
- Ukraine
- Mongolia
- Canada

And so on.... talk about european imperialism :rolleyes:

[chairleg55]

How come Kazakhstan ended up in Europe this time around?

[Uzbekistan2006]

This is ridiculous. Israel I understand, because it would be unsafe for them to play qualifiers in the Middle East. But what's next, Surinam asking to join UEFA? Uzbekistan is NOT IN EUROPE! They have no business in UEFA.

what about kazakhstan, armenia, georgia?

[NeRoN_FB]

what about kazakhstan, armenia, georgia?
You're right.. It shouldnt be a double standard on this subject...If Kazakhistan,Armenia,Georgia,Israel...etc have been accepted, Uzbekistan should be accepted, too....
More counties can make the qualifications more colorful and more enjoyable....

[scaryice]

It says that all former Soviet Republics were invited to join UEFA after the breakup.

They might as well just have all of them join now and get it over with.

[JanBalk]

You're right.. It shouldnt be a double standard on this subject...If Kazakhistan,Armenia,Georgia,Israel...etc have been accepted, Uzbekistan should be accepted, too....
More counties can make the qualifications more colorful and more enjoyable....
Kazakstan actually have territory west of the Urals and thus in Europe, and Georgia and Armenia is pretty much laying on the border (Cacasus).

[Forza AZ]

what about kazakhstan, armenia, georgia?
There is only one country in UEFA that everybody agrees on is completely in Asia: Israel. But they play in UEFA because they couldn't play in AFC because of the conflict with the Arab countries.

Russia (West of Ural), Turkey (Northwest of Bosporus) and Kazakhstan (West of Ural) have territory in Europe. For Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan there is some discussion about if they are (for a part) in Europe, depending where you want to draw the border (through Caucasus or on the south border of the former Sovjet Union). Also for Cyprus there is some discussion if they are in Europe or not.

Uzbekistan (and the other 3 Central Asian former Sovjet replubics) are for certain not in Europe. Everybody agrees on that. So I think they don't have anything to do in UEFA, but have their home in AFC.

[NeRoN_FB]

It says that all former Soviet Republics were invited to join UEFA after the breakup.

They might as well just have all of them join now and get it over with.
I agree with you....

[Canadian_Supporter]

2008 European Championship Qualification Round
GROUP B

- Italy
- Swaziland
- Papua-New Guinea
- Lesotho
- Ukraine
- Mongolia
- Canada



Fantastic! I like our chances. ;)

[Uzbekistan2006]

There is only one country in UEFA that everybody agrees on is completely in Asia: Israel. But they play in UEFA because they couldn't play in AFC because of the conflict with the Arab countries.

Russia (West of Ural), Turkey (Northwest of Bosporus) and Kazakhstan (West of Ural) have territory in Europe. For Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan there is some discussion about if they are (for a part) in Europe, depending where you want to draw the border (through Caucasus or on the south border of the former Sovjet Union). Also for Cyprus there is some discussion if they are in Europe or not.

Uzbekistan (and the other 3 Central Asian former Sovjet replubics) are for certain not in Europe. Everybody agrees on that. So I think they don't have anything to do in UEFA, but have their home in AFC.

from logistic point of view it is better to play for uzbekistan with lets say romania, hungary, russia , ukraina, kazakhstan belorus, baltic countries instead of japan korea australia north korea thailand or yemen bahrain

[SwissGCZ]

Not sure what to think...

On one hand they are a former Soviet republic, but unlike Kazakhstan they don't have any land in Europe. From what I understand Kazahkstan's culture is also closer to Europe than Uzbekistan (please correct me if that is wrong.)

[Uzbekistan2006]

Not sure what to think...

On one hand they are a former Soviet republic, but unlike Kazakhstan they don't have any land in Europe. From what I understand Kazahkstan's culture is also closer to Europe than Uzbekistan (please correct me if that is wrong.)

yeah u are right... almost 40 persent of kazakhstans population are russians

[laudrup]

from logistic point of view it is better to play for uzbekistan with lets say romania, hungary, russia , ukraina, kazakhstan belorus, baltic countries instead of japan korea australia north korea thailand or yemen bahrain

Yeah, but UEFA WCQ draw aren't drawn by region - you might find yourselves playing Norway, Ireland, San Marino, Portugal and Spain, and there go your logistics.

[nicephoras]

yeah u are right... almost 40 persent of kazakhstans population are russians

That number is lower now. Many of them have left.