Well said. When I saw the score line, I thought it was a typo. I referee high school students with more class than that. Thanks much.

Edward Schell
Champaign, Ill.

Until I read your piece on the World Cup qualifier, I was blissfully content to share with my friends the humor of the scoreline. I'm glad that you brought to our attention the fact that Australia refused to allow the full American Samoa team into the country. That fact, plus a few others you pointed out, more than justify your claim that the Australian team was a class-less act. I agree with you 100 percent. To rectify an injustice, I am sending all I sent the original wire stories to the link to your piece. Justice will also be served by the elimination of the Aussies from WC qualifying.

I also salute you for speaking out against FIFA. For years now I have criticized FIFA for its spineless administration of the world's game. Their ongoing weakness in dealing with referees. . . and the handling of this qualifier are just a few of their sins. I hope that you will continue to expose FIFA in future articles.

Eduard Smit

When I read about Australia's extreme win over American Samoa, I didn't think of looking at the Aussie performance as shameful. I felt bad for American Samoa (having a soft spot for the underdog), but did not think the result should cast a negative light on Australia.

I can't say I totally agree with your extreme view of the Australian team. Yes, if it is true that the Aussie soccer authorities pulled some legal tricks to restrict certain players, they should be punished for it. FIFA may also be guilty of neglecting the development of soccer in small developing countries. But lets not forget that this is World Cup qualifying. American Samoa does not have to participate in an event where it knows it is at a severe disadvantage.

We should also remember that Archie Thompson is a striker and is expected to score, score and score again. Expecting Thompson to stop scoring during the game would have been like asking Sammy Sosa to stop hitting home runs. Why should it matter that Thompson is not a top-flight striker? Do you actually think he is shamelessly bragging about his goals against American Samoa? He did what he was expected to do. Was he supposed to purposely miss? Should Australia have dumbed down it's game for American Samoa? I'm unclear about your view on this.

Perhaps FIFA should create a rule for qualifying that allows the game to end before 90 minutes whenever a side is winning by an excessive number of goals. The bar could be set high enough for both teams to feel satisfied that there is nothing more to gain from scoring more goals. I know this would probably never happen. In the alternative, there could be a rule that gives the referee discretion (after a high number of goals) in determining that the game has gone too far. This would be similar to the rule allowing boxing referees to prematurely end a fight where it is determined that the injured boxer is not fit to continue.

There's no accomplishment or glory in winning in such a lopsided game. Excessively burying the opposition is not what soccer is about.

The American Samoa team that played in the qualifier was clearly not fit or skilled enough to play Australia or advance in qualifying. Qualifying ensures weak teams do not advance. Australia just happened to be the team that had to eliminate it and should not be criticized for their not-so-unique ability to do it. Neither side gained any glory from the result and neither should feel ashamed for their efforts.
Mark Odynocki

Chris D'Ambrosio

After reading your article, I felt moved to congratulate you on an article well written.

I, along with many friends and family members, are avid soccer players and loyal fans. We all respect the history and tradition of the sport and agree it is these two aspects that are sorely lacking in many other sports. Along with the history and tradition of soccer comes the respect between not only the players on the pitch, but between rival organizations and nations.

This display by the Socceroos was an embarrassment not only to Australia, but to the soccer community worldwide. (Australia coach Frank) Farina simply displayed an utter lack of respect for his nation, his rival, his sport and for millions of soccer fans around the world.

Again, thank you for the great article.

William Anderson, Jr.

Thank you so much for voicing the feelings my friends and I had after hearing the score of the Australia "slaughter" of American Samoa. Your article was beautifully written and conveyed the outrage I felt without "bad mouthing" anyone.

Here in Mississippi where I live, our youth soccer program has teams that run the score the same way and I've tried to talk to the coaches and tell them that that kind of score doesn't promote good sportsmanship.

In our program, there is no score differential and you only have to win by one. I hope that none of our young players heard the score of the Australia game. It would be very difficult to explain why the "big boys" can do it, and they shouldn't.

Karie Sorrells

It seems to me. . . that your article on the Australian soccer side is a piece of shameless drivel that cries out for a bucketing! What were you expecting the Australian team to do, keep the ball in their own half for 80 percent of the game? That'd be a great way to show respect for your opponents!

I certainly don't remember many people calling out for the American Dream Team basketball side to go easy on lesser outfits at the Sydney Olympics! And as for your charmless bagging of the Oceania conference, I can only respond by saying that Oceania is grateful that we don't have the USA on board. Obnoxious Yanks like yourself have a long history of bringing untold misery unto all who are unfortunate to cross your path!

You've definitely put the "U" into uninformed journalism,

Kevin

Wagman's uninformed & pathetically biased views did nothing but gain a laugh from myself and others that I passed this article on to.

I can accept that Wagaman has every right to express his views but to say a national team "have etched their names, properly permanently, in the record books for one of the most classless acts in history" and that "Archie Thompson should be ashamed of himself. So should the striker’s coach Frank Farina, and so should his Australia teammates" simply because of their location, they happened to have drawn a significantly weaker side is ludicrous.

I have no doubts that if the American's had played American Samoa and run up a similar tally, nothing but praise would have been heaped upon them. As far as Samoa players not being allowed into the country due to not having the correct visas, so what? The Australian government sets laws for a reason.

To say that a national sporting team and its coach have none\little class for winning is simply beyond comprehension. What else could they do? Should they have all sat down and let the opposition score? Should they have simply kept the ball away not attempted to play the game properly? Is that respect for your adversaries?

Shane