Hi Andy . .
It's just a billion dollar industry, built on the backs of talented players, which is unfortunately run by a select bunch of #$%^%$# who are answerable to no-one.
Whether the players are rich or not, they made their money through their own talents, that's not a crime.
But when they act like prima donna's and become deviants in their methods to force a penalty etc, then shame on the Refs, shame on their side-line helpers AND especially on FIFA, because they all know it is happening and don't care. They are in a position to do something about it, but won't.
And double shame on Refs who make bad calls, regardless of whether it ultimately affects who wins the game. They should be instantly removed from any further world cup games. They stand in judgement on the players, and won't tolerate any discussion, well - so it should be for them as well.

Look, I find watching a game of soccer is equal to taking a sleeping pill, yet this time I followed it because our country was involved. Our team didn't make it past the group stage, but they didn't lose any games, and I am so dammed proud of them. All of the kids here are now keen to start playing soccer, a game which we used to think was played by a bunch of "pansies". Our "All Whites" have changed all that because they earned our respect. And the thought of those crappy refs and the FIFA creeps destroying the 4yrs of slog getting to the world cup just by a "bad call' makes me so angry.
So yes it does mean something, the world cup is the pinnacle that the players aspire to, from school age onwards. They're playing for us all, and people from all over the world spend a lot of money to go over and support them. And many others will watch via TV or the Internet. Think of all the money that exchanged hands through the betting agencies.
It's important enough for FIFA to ban any team, whose country's politicians start interfering with the game. [France got warned.] Can't figure out if it was FIFA protecting itself, or the football players.
It's important enough for FIFA, this year, to change the Yellow Card rule to "reduce the chances of big name players missing out on the July 11 Final." "players would only miss the final if they receive 2 yellow cards, or a red card in a semifinal game". Taken from Wikipaedia - I think. They know this will affect the number of people watching and reduce the $$$$$ rolling in.
Now, I just have to figure out where the "Ref" is in horary charts for FIFA games, because he, not the players' talent's, win or lose the games.

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"Scars remind us of where we have been;
  They don't have to dictate where we are going . . "