For a change, Fifa is right

It's not very often I get to say this but Fifa made absolutely the right decision when they decided to leave the refereeing situation as it is for next year's World Cup.

In the wake of Thierry Henry's public display of juggling there has been a clamour for football's governing body to either introduce video technology or at least increase the number of match officials in South Africa.

But at their emergency meeting this week, Fifa's executive committee decided to leave things alone for now. Instead, they will launch a full inquiry into the state of refereeing and come out with a definitive solution.

This led to some people accusing them of procrastinating and failing to have the courage to embrace change. And normally I would agree with those sentiments when they are aimed in the direction of Sepp Blatter and friends.

However, on this occasion, I think Fifa is right to hold back. Football doesn't need a knee-jerk reaction and it doesn't need a temporary fix that will paper over the cracks only for things to deteriorate again in the future.

What football needs is a calm and considered approach to the issue of refereeing, and an equally well-planned solution.

From what I understand, nobody in the Europa Cup is particularly enthusiastic about the 'five official' experiment currently taking place, so maybe that is not the answer. Implementing it in a state of panic is not going to help referees or football in the long run if it doesn't actually solve the problem.

Don't misunderstand me - things have to change and they have to change as quickly as humanly possible. We can't go on with the world witnessing mistakes that only the match officials miss.

But changing the entire face of football in just a few months would not be giving the situation the attention it deserves.

If nothing else, Henry's indiscretion has at least brought the situation to a head. And I think everyone from the top of the game to the very bottom now agrees that this problem can't be allowed to go unaddressed.

The process of finding a solution has to be a proper one, with consultation at all levels of game to make sure the hundreds of millions of people who love football are in agreement.

And there is no way that can be done with any level of professionalism in the next six months.

Another close shave

Over the past couple of weeks, Thierry Henry and Tiger Woods - two of the stars who make up the current 'Gillette Three' - have been embroiled in incidents that have left their reputations tarnished.

Henry decided it would be a good idea to combine basketball and football during the World Cup play-off match against Ireland. Not that anybody noticed his little indiscretion. Anybody living in a tent in the Amazon rain forest, that is. Or carrying a whistle.

Up until that moment, Henry had a reputation as being one of the nicest and most honest football-ers around. Now he will forever be associated with not only cheating but only bothering to admit to his misdemeanour when it was too late to change the past.

Woods, meanwhile, showed that when it comes to driving he is nowhere near as good at it in an automobile as he is on the golf course. Woods smashed up his car and knocked himself unconscious in the process as he was - allegedly, of course - fleeing his irate wife who was after him with a golf club. All a bit Benny Hill, really.

The clean-cut, all-American hero has apparently been getting frisky with women other than his Swedish wife, leading to the domestic incident. Even if the couple patch up their differences, I can't see Woods ever being able to say 'I'm just popping out to play a round' again without putting himself in serious danger of a clubbing.

So, of the three stars who are paid millions to show us exactly what the best a man can get is, only Roger Federer remains unscathed.

And that must be quite disconcerting for the Swiss tennis star.

Right now, he is probably seated in one of his mansions somewhere, afraid to do or say anything in case the 'curse of the close shave' strikes.

And he shouldn't think that by quitting his brand ambassador role he will leave the curse behind. A certain David Beckham parted ways with the shaving company a couple of years ago and promptly signed for LA Galaxy, which in many ways is a more unlucky development than either Henry or Wood's recent incidents.

So a word of warning to all sports stars our there: If a clean-shaven man wearing a dark suit and glasses knocks on your door wondering if you fancy making millions selling multi-blade razors, think twice.

It may sound tempting at first, but ultimately it is decision that could leave you foaming at the mouth.

No more Wenger boys

For years now, Arsene Wenger has been insisting his kids are good enough to bring the glory days back to Arsenal.

Well, the past week or so has proved one thing. They aren't.

Defeats to Sunderland, Chelsea and Manchester City have left Arsenal's domestic season hanging by a thread once again as they seek to end five trophyless years.

Yes, you can point to the fact that the London side have numerous injuries, but that can no longer be seen as an acceptable excuse from a team with any serious ambitions.

All teams have injuries and the manner in which they overcome them is the real measure of their abilities. The simple truth is that Wenger has built a great young squad that is just not quite good enough win anything - with or without injuries.

Before the season started I tipped Arsenal to win the title this year. But I now feel I may have got a little bit carried away in much the same way Wenger does every year when his young gunners put in a few quality performances.

If Arsenal are to end their barren run there is only one thing for it: Wenger is going to have to swallow his pride and spend some cash. Instead of sitting back and letting the January sales pass him by as they do most years, he is going to have to push his way to the front of the queue and try and snap up a few bargains.

The current Arsenal side has many of the ingredients it needs for success with one notable exception - a spine. All the best teams in history - including Arsenal's - have had a solid spine that holds the whole thing together, three or four untouchables that play all major games. Wenger's current team is mostly spineless.

This nucleus needs to start with a goalkeeper and, frankly, Manuel Alumnia is just not solid enough. Next would be a central defender of epic proportions, and while Thomas Vermaelen is quality, I wouldn't yet put him on a par with the likes of Rio Ferdinand or John Terry.

In midfield, you have Cesc Fabregas as the key, but he needs a fully-fledged, internationally acclaimed ball-winner to play alongside. Also lacking is your key striker. Robin Van Persie is, again, quality. But he lacks that special presence. Not to mention the fact that he is more prone to injury than Evil Kinevel.

The time has come for Wenger to admit he may actually be wrong about his young team being ready for success. The time has come for him to get Arsenal what it needs: some quality, proven, oven-ready players.

The kids are good. No doubt about that. But if they are to ever achieve their full potential they need a good, solid spine to play around.

The pressure of the current situation is obviously getting to Wenger, who got all moody after the defeat to City and refused to shake Mark Hughes' hand.

But I don't think it was a personal snub. The Frenchman was probably busy trying to remember where he left the chequebook...

sportscolumnist@timesofmalta.com