This summer's World Cup, as things stand, will go down as one of the poorest in recent memory both on and off the pitch and FIFA only have themselves to blame.
Sepp Blatter's decision to host the tournament in South Africa could not have been more misjudged than his predecessor João Havelange believing that the United States of America was the ideal destination for this international footballing spectacle back in 1994.
And just like a Diana Ross penalty, world football's governing body could not have been wider of the mark with their actions in the build-up to and the tournament itself.
Blatter has sanctioned a full-scale clampdown to protect brand FIFA by assigning his storm troopers, enjoying a corporate jolly before a further four years of pen pushing in Zurich, to enforce a blanket ban on any mention of the phrase 'World Cup'.
Businesses in South Africa have been threatened with legal action for breaching the trademark by writing those two little words unless they are officially recognised commercial partners.
Vendors selling unofficial merchandise have also been hit with lawsuits for attempting to take a slice of the R40-billion (£2billion) windfall the country will supposedly see in tourism this summer as it appears that FIFA are determined to eat up as much of that figure as possible.
Instead of locally-made products which encapsulate the spirit of Africa for £6, cheaply-sourced FIFA-branded products straight from a Taiwan workhouse are being thrust in the eyeline of football fans flocking to the tournament for a significant mark-up of £10.
But it doesn't end there.
The vuvuzela - part of South African football culture since the 1990's - has become a prominent gripe with many a fan for its monotone buzzing noise which gives the impression that games are being played in front of stadiums littered with swarming beehives.
FIFA won't clamp down on this because it is part of the country's sporting culture and are, predictably, selling the plastic horns with their own branded logos much to the irritation of diehard football fans who believe in generating an atmosphere using traditional methods.
The official tournament ball - currently selling on FIFA's online shop for £101.50 - has not helped matters after Adidas took their innovation technology a step too far and made it impossible for players to accurately fire shots on target due to the lightness of it.
Goalkeepers and outfield player alike have been unanimous in their condemnation for the Jabulani, African for 'celebration', apart from the German national team whose kits are made by - yes, you guessed it - Adidas.
Any fan deciding to sport replica shirts with a sponsor not officially recognised by FIFA can fully expect to be frogmarched out of the stadium as Holland supporters found out to their cost during their game with Denmark for wearing mini-dresses advertising Dutch brewer Bavaria.
But it seems that censorship is not just restricted to the tournament's commercial aspect as Liverpool fan Nadeem Khan found out when his banner pleading ‘Save Liverpool FC – Hicks and Gillett Out’ was destroyed by stewards at Durban Stadium last weekend.
Supporters of other nations suffered similar fates by having their often tongue-in-cheek flags confiscated by FIFA before being threatened with the prospect of a night in prison if they protested their innocence further.
Zakumi, the official 2010 mascot, believes in Fair Play but not freedom of being it appears.
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