… When it’s an English god. Well according to Rob Shepherd, a hand of god goal is instinct but a dive is premeditated. Yes you read that right, the esteemed Mr Shepherd was on talksport this morning discussing Wenger’s comments on the an English player diving to win a penalty in the world cup finals. Obviously Talksport dodged Wenger comment and shifted the conversation back onto Eduardo, saying it’s time Wenger just come out and admit it was a dive.

Back to Wengers comment, Shepherd admitted that in an interview Beckham was asked something similar and the answer was to the effect that he would cheat to win the World Cup. The topic of handball came up and it was noted that Sir Geoff Hurst had confessed to scoring his first of six against Sunderland with his hand. So even revered English gentlemen can pull one over the refs then eh.

Amazingly the hypocrisy does not end there. Shepherd had the audacity to say that if Rooney did a Maradona to win England the world cup it would have been instinct not cheating. Even going as far as outrageuosly claiming that diving is premeditated but putting the ball in goal with your hand is not, that’s just pure instinct.

So apologies then to Mr Maradona, we now understand that England got knocked out of the 1986 world cup by a legitimate instinctive goal.

Wenger spoke of the ridiculous rules that Platini, Blatter, and other wants to introduce to football restricting the movement of players under 18. I honestly don’t understand the uproar about children moving teams or even countries. FIFA and UEFA always seem to be reactive, instead of thinking things through they always come up with some spur of the moment edict.

What purpose will the new rules serve, if FIFA is worried about child trafficking maybe the should set up schools in poorer countries instead of giving handouts to Football Associations in exchange for votes. I am from one of those countries and have seen the good use that FIFA dollars has been put to, houses and cars for association members.

Wenger musical analogy is spot on, talent will just go to waste with no chance of blossoming. Ask people like Eboue, Song, and Drogba, ask Eduardo what chance he’d have if he didn’t move to Croatia, would Messi ever been European player of the year if he’d been left in Argentina?

The ridiculous notion that is is better for the children is a fallacy, of course if you’re from France then moving to England is not much of a difference, but tell me what is the difference between moving from Mali to France (Tigana) or Gaudeloupe to France (Thuram)? Yes they are French departments, but it’s the same upheaval as someone moving from Montserrat to England.

It’s all about protecting the investments of smaller clubs, something which we have accused Wenger and Arsenal of doing too well. There is a much better way to deal with the movement of young players, instead of a blanket ban on under 18′s.

Any club holds the registration of their players up to the age of consent in that country, they can always sell the player if the price is right. If the parents decide to move then the club has to relinquish the player’s registration. So what of teams paying off parents, or getting jobs for them? Well I don’t see the problem there, a parent must have the right to do what is best for their children and if they feel moving from Malawi to Sunderland is best for their children then so be it.

I have a nephew who this season is playing top level football in my home country (Dominica) at the age of 13, he has never done well at school but he can play football. I know his parents would willingly move to any Western European country if they got any whiff of a chance. If that doesn’t happen then I know very well what his future may hold, and if he has a slim chance now, how demoralising if FIFA get’s their way.