Forget researching goal-line technology or ridding football of racism, FIFA have a bigger issue to contend with.
Lionel Messi scored his 86th goal of, a remarkable, 2012 at the weekend which meant the Argentinean overtook Gerd Muller’s record for goals in a calendar year.
While Messi, pundits and fellow professionals were waiting to light the candles, pull the party poppers and sing ‘hip-hip-hooray’ the Zambian Football Association were waiting to spoil any celebrations.
In 1972 a Zambian international striker, by the name of Godfrey Chitalu, scored 107 goals for Kabwe Warriors and the national side, although FIFA do not recognise such a mammoth achievement.
Hardly a household name Chitalu’s goal haul from 72 is now being archived and investigated so that FIFA can rewrite the record books and leave Messi stuck in second place, as La Liga’s impending winter break will come too soon for Messi to beat Chitalu.
The Zambian’s Wikipedia page may never be as popular as it has been in the past few days following the unearthing of his achievement.
Sam Jewell