French complain World Cup seeding is unfair and want FIFA to review system

By Gary Anderson

October 14 - The French Football Federation (FFF) plans to ask world governing body FIFA to review the seeding system for the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying play-offs as it believes the current format is unfair.

The draw for the European zone play-offs is due to take place next week at FIFA headquarters in Zurich, following the final round of World Cup qualifiers which take place tomorrow.

The French have complained that they are at a disadvantage in terms of accruing ranking points because they are in a group with just five teams compared to all other groups which contain six.

The seedings for the play-offs are determined by FIFA world ranking points, and the former World and European champions currently lie in 25th place on the rankings list which is more than likely going to result in Les Blues entering the play-off draw as one of the second seeded teams, meaning potentially tougher two-legged tie.

The second placed team with the weakest qualifying record out of the nine groups will miss out on the play-offs, and as things stand that is likely to be one of Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark or Armenia in Group B.

The remaining eight group runners-up will be drawn against each other and contest the play-offs which are due to take place on November 15 and 19.

Members of the French squad share a joke ahead of their final Group I World Cup qualifying match against Finland

France currently lie second in Group I, three points behind the all-conquering world and double European champions Spain, with both sides expected to overcome Finland and Georgia in their respective final home games.

Noel Le Graet, President of the FFF, is reported to have told French radio station RMC that he plans to try and persuade FIFA to review the seeding system ahead of the draw on October 21.

"There is a little injustice between the groups of five and those of six," he said.

"Our rivals in the other groups have been able to score more points in official matches.

"That's a fact.

"But the rules have existed for a while.

"It'll certainly be complicated.

"It'll be changed for the future, I imagine.

"In my opinion, it's difficult, but it would be fairer."

France could potentially face a tie against Greece, Sweden, England, Portugal or Croatia, who are all currently ranked higher in the official rankings.

France forward Thierry Henry's controversial handball which lead to the winning goal in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying play-off win over the Republic of Ireland

Ironically, FIFA came in for criticism for employing the same seeding system for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa which saw France benefit by entering the play-off draw as top seeds.

The French went on to controversially defeat the Republic of Ireland after extra-time in the second leg in Paris but only after the match officials on the night missed a blatant hand-ball infringement by French striker Thierry Henry in the build-up to the winning goal scored by William Gallas.

At the time, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) called on FIFA to either sanction a replay of the match or allow the Republic of Ireland to go to South Africa as a 33rd team, but these calls were quickly dismissed by President Joseph Blatter.

Giovanni Trapattoni, the then Republic of Ireland team manager described the seeding system as the "death of football".

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