What Etoo said is the truth, imo.
Football is a fair play sport, but only to some extent.
For example, most of our fans will deny it, but in Champions league, Barcelona, Real and similar teams are often "pushed" by referees, in some situations.
I am not saying that our results are good (only) because of referees, but for example, Barca or Real will get 6:4 or 7:3 decisions which are 50:50 in their favor, against teams like Borussia, Schalke, Psg etc.
The same is in qualifying groups for World cup or European cup, where Italy, France, England and similar will usually get a boost if they will get into troubles against Georgia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Norway or any random average/weaker team who is causing "troubles" in their group.
Or at World cups, "big teams" and home teams are always "pushed" through a group stage, if possible, and at least to 1/4 finals.
Anyway, Barca and Real are pushed (if needed), because Barca:Real or Barca:Bayern final will get more sponsors/people watching all around the world, than a Atletico:Schalke/Psg final.
People want to see epic duels between Messi and Ronaldo and similar.
Or Ronaldinho vs Zidane in the past etc.
On a World cup, people want to see Argentina:Brasil or Brasil:Spain or Germany:Italy and similar matches in semis and in finals.
Not too many want to watch Croatia:Colombia final, for example.
Again, bigger names in the finals will bring more people watch the match all around the world, more sponsors, more "talk" about the match and world cup.
-- so, in that sense, if Croatia or Colombia can win 3:0 against Brasil and kick them out, referees won't interfere, because they can't do anything
-- but if the result is 1:1 or similar, you can expect a penaldo for Brasil, red card for the opponent, a lot of 50:50 duels in favor of a bigger team etc
= and in the end, a bigger team will usually win 7:3 or 8:2 of those matches, with a little help from the Fifa and referees
The same is with Borussia/Arsenal/Liverpool/Roma against Barca or Real
-- if we trash them 5:0, everything is ok
-- but if we will get into troubles with 1:1 and similar, you can expect "a lucky" penaldo for us, a red card for opponent, some strange onside/offside decisions etc
-- the only way for a weaker team to kick bigger teams out from CL is to trash them 3:0, so that Uefa and referees can't help
So, when Barca and Real play in CL finals, referees don't care about the winners. We will get a fair game then. (Because both teams are big teams)
Also, when 2 crap teams play in group stage, you will get a fair play game by Uefa.
But, whenever is possible, Fifa and Uefa will slightly help to Brasil, Argentina, Italy, Germany, Spain, France (remember the scandal vs Ireland a few years ago, lol), and the same applies to Barca, Real, Bayern, Chelsea in CL.
The same system works with Ballon'd'or.
Fifa's goal is again to have fancy and famous players from top teams, and from bigger nations.
That will bring more buzz about football in general, more sponsors, more viewers etc.
So, for example, a battle between Messi and Ronaldo is not rigged, because both play in Barca and Real, and it is irrelevant who will win.
The winner will be a guy who played better that year.
But, no matter how well will Suarez play, he will never stand a chance against Messi or Neymar, because they are from bigger countries.
Also, even if Atletico Madrid won the CL, their players wouldn't get awards.
For example, imagine if Arda was the best player last Season (which he wasn't), but there is no way that a player from Turkey and from Atletico gets an award.
That just doesn't attract sponsors and money.
So, in the end, FIFA is fair only when:
-- Brasil plays against Argentina, because both teams are big
-- or when Barca plays against Real, or Messi against Ronaldo
= but whenever there is a battle of a giant against an average/smaller team, if needed, you can expect a push from FIFA, UEFA and referees.
Football is a sport, but a huge amounts of money from sponsors and viewers are forcing directors of Fifa and Uefa to slightly "manually" adjust results, whenever it is needed, and possible.
