Dave Barry: Blowing the vuvuzela is the new World Cup tiebreaker - Dave Barry - MiamiHerald.com

Dave Barry: Blowing the vuvuzela is the new World Cup tiebreaker

"FIFA, has finally offered an official explanation of the controversial call in the U.S.-Slovenia game by referee Koman 'Ray Charles' Coulibaly of Mars. According to FIFA's statement, the call -- which cost the U.S. a win -- was made because the referee, quote, 'observed a traveling violation by U.S. player Joe Maca.'

Some Americans questioned this explanation, pointing out that (1) there is no such infraction as 'traveling' in soccer; (2) Joe Maca has not played on the U.S. national team since 1950; and (3) he died in 1982.

Soccer purists argue that this nitpicking is one more example of how Americans do not grasp the free-flowing beauty and subtlety of international soccer, and need to get over their anal-compulsive need to know exactly what the rules are, how much time is left in the match, etc."