In a World Cup dogged by controversy, English referee Howard Webb has launched the latest salvo with his savage criticism of the official World Cup match ball plinth that referees daintily pick the Jabulani up from at the start of each match. “For the referees it’s proving a nightmare,”. he was overheard telling anyone who would listen at a FIFA official cocktail party in Bloemfontein. “This new plinth is so light and flyaway – why, it’s like one of those plinths you get for 50p in the newsagents”.
Between mouthfuls of springbok canapes, Webb added: “It’s not just me making a big song and dance about it, for once, it is also terrible for the referee’s assistants, because they have to sort of…walk around it. That’s very difficult when you’re holding a colourful flag”. (more…)
