FIFA corruption allegations

[geysir]

It is bizarre that the brit is asking for a Uefa boycott over issues to do with the corruption around the Qatar bid and vote, when Qatari cheerleader Platini and the Uefa based executives voted en masse for Qatar. And the bogey man in the spotlight, Blatter didn't vote for Qatar.
Bernstein's asking for support from Uefa countries, while at the same time he's slagging off those who supported the Qatar bid as "making one of the most ludicrous decisions in the history of sport".

[Charlie Darwin]

The FA obviously didn't go out of their way to court Jack Warner and line his pockets at all, so luckily they're innocent. The Australian media's articles on their own FA's dealings have been a lot more self-critical and transparent.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Bernstein has some balls?
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/former-fa-chairman-david-bernstein-calls-for-england-to-walk-the-talk-and-boycott-2018-world-cup-unless-fifa-reform-and-sepp-blatter-goes-9864536.html

[NeverFeltBetter]

Well now: http://www.rte.ie/news/2015/0527/704042-fifa/

[Mr A]

This is interesting: http://m.nydailynews.com/sports/soccer/soccer-rat-ex-u-s-soccer-exec-chuck-blazer-fbi-informant-article-1.1995761?cid=bitly&utm_content=bufferf35b5&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=NYDNSportsITeam+Twitter

Mad stuff altogether!

[The Fly]

http://i.imgur.com/VxpTENF.png

[NeverFeltBetter]

There won't be any re-vote on Qatar though. Full steam ahead.

[Spudulika]

Very much an inside job and major house cleaning vibe to this one. A bit disquieting when the FBI are involved in this, yet their own sports, especially college sports, are about as clean as a pig sty. Then again, this suits the suits nicely.

[Wolfman]

Chuck Blazer.
http://1.vgc.no/drpublish/images/article/2015/05/27/23460063/1/990/imago18040752h.jpg

[Charlie Darwin]

Holy ****.

[pineapple stu]

The Guardian article (http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/may/27/fifa-arrests-corruption-loretta-lynch-chuck-blazer) says he uses a mobility scooter to get around - was chased through New York in one actually. He weighs 32 stone.

Interesting read actually. Took all the money he should have spent on tax and ate it instead.

[Stuttgart88]

I wonder did his surname influence his career choice?

[Stuttgart88]

Very much an inside job and major house cleaning vibe to this one. A bit disquieting when the FBI are involved in this, yet their own sports, especially college sports, are about as clean as a pig sty. Then again, this suits the suits nicely.
Im guessing the misdemeanours in US sport are probably the FDA's remit, not the FBI?

[DannyInvincible]

Chuck Blazer.
http://1.vgc.no/drpublish/images/article/2015/05/27/23460063/1/990/imago18040752h.jpg

Wow.

It's like two Father Ted scenes in one.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm167/kaiowasnt/fintan_stack.jpg


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dS12p0Zqlt0

That apparent girth must surely be down to camera perspective. He can't be that big... Can he?!

[DannyInvincible]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEpgwlWH56I

[osarusan]

Roy Keane's worst enemy - a blazer actually called Blazer.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Jeez, some delegates arrested, others nowhere to be seen . It's a regular First Dail over there.

Doesn't seem to be a hope that Blatter will step down, or lose. Not that I know much about the other candidate anyway. Better question is what happens if Blatter is re-elected and then arrested the next week.

[The Donie Forde]

Chuck Blazer.
http://1.vgc.no/drpublish/images/article/2015/05/27/23460063/1/990/imago18040752h.jpg


I particularly like the way he wears a loud tie, just in case you didn't notice him...

[strangeirish]

Rumor has it that when they all got arrested, they fell down and rolled around for ten minutes faking an injury...

[nigel-harps1954]

http://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2015/jun/02/fifa-calls-press-conference-amid-latest-corruption-claims-live

Sepp Blatter resigns. Hallelujah!

[Eminence Grise]

http://1.vgc.no/drpublish/images/article/2015/05/27/23460063/1/990/imago18040752h.jpg


The Guardian article (http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/may/27/fifa-arrests-corruption-loretta-lynch-chuck-blazer) says he uses a mobility scooter to get around - was chased through New York in one actually. He weighs 32 stone.

Interesting read actually. Took all the money he should have spent on tax and ate it instead.

He's really a whippet thin 8 stone. The rest is the money belt (14 stone), brass neck (9 stone) and the Official Rules of the (Blame)Game (1 stone).


I particularly like the way he wears a loud tie, just in case you didn't notice him...

It's not a tie. It's a bed spread.

[geysir]

It's quite astonishing how Qatari embedded Platini has consistantly (and I have to say, admirably) kept the strong scent of roses emanating from his good self, amidst the FIFA bloodbath. If he was one of a bunch condemned and lined up be shot by firing squad, he would request a last fag, have a smoke with the guards, share a few laughs and walk out the front door with everybody waving goodbye and good luck to him.

I'm on a mission from God (http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/may/24/michel-platini-uefa-football) or was it 'Platini maintains his guiding force is to "protect" a game he still loves'

[NeverFeltBetter]

Timing of Blatter's resignation has me wondering who he has lined up to replace him.

[Charlie Darwin]

Timing of Blatter's resignation has me wondering who he has lined up to replace him.
http://img.rasset.ie/0005a6af-642.jpg

[OwlsFan]

Blatter wasn't really on my radar until he sniggered in public at Delaney's idea of 33 teams at the WC in South Africa. An idea that was going no where of course and many scoffed at it but for the President of FIFA to snigger in public when he personally had come out against technology - grrrrrrr, I hated him with a vengeance ever since (I am sure it worried him). Pompous and arrogant and please God they'll dig something up on him.

[NeverFeltBetter]

I'm seeing a lot of articles pop up all over the place about Russia and Qatar getting stripped of the World Cups, but it all seems like presumtious fantasy, many of them based off no more than the vague inklings of Greg Dyke, hardly the authority on the subject. It seems way too late to reconsider Russia, and the legal issues surrounding Qatar and the numerous contracts awarded and stadia already being built would mean a gigantic quagmire if any attempt were to be made to re-run their vote, without the most cast-iron, indisputable proof that their delegation was involved in wrongdoing.

I imagine that FIFA will deem the arrests and Blatter's resignation as enough, and go full speed ahead on everything else.

[Spudulika]

Does anyone remember the London meeja in the lead up to 2012? All the fake hysteria about war on the streets, hateful racist locals and the absolute ferry load of tripe Panorama trolled out? When tehy were taken apart over it, by Jewish groups and others, they tried to neck it out. It is the same right now. The same front pages on the tabloids (Sun, Guardian etc) declaring victory. Same as their EASY headline before the 2010 World Cup, same as "Gotcha" when the British Armed Forces sank a retreating vessel. The jingositic orgy of self-congratulation would be deserved, were it warranted.

Blatter, I believe, is not clean. Neither are most of the blazers (including Chuck), knocking about. There has never been a clean vote for a large event in sports, player and fan welfare is always secondary and nothing will change. And to hear JD glorying.....oh no, just no.

[jbyrne]

Does anyone remember the London meeja in the lead up to 2012? All the fake hysteria about war on the streets, hateful racist locals and the absolute ferry load of tripe Panorama trolled out? When tehy were taken apart over it, by Jewish groups and others, they tried to neck it out. It is the same right now. The same front pages on the tabloids (Sun, Guardian etc) declaring victory. Same as their EASY headline before the 2010 World Cup, same as "Gotcha" when the British Armed Forces sank a retreating vessel. The jingositic orgy of self-congratulation would be deserved, were it warranted.


the lead up to every world cup, euros and Olympics is filled with british media overblown stories over fears that the host country is miles behind schedule in its preparations among many other potential problem they can throw at the hosts. cant remember such an event where their "fears" turned out to be true

[Eminence Grise]

http://i.guim.co.uk/static/w-300/h--/q-95/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2015/6/3/1433330247326/d0ed0d1d-b537-4b96-8354-33fe7b0d0a39-335x480.jpeg
My French is a little rusty, but I think the editor could have gotten away with enculé rather than 'cornered'...

[OwlsFan]

the lead up to every world cup, euros and Olympics is filled with british media overblown stories over fears that the host country is miles behind schedule in its preparations among many other potential problem they can throw at the hosts. cant remember such an event where their "fears" turned out to be true

Yes and reports of deaths of workers on the sites. I always thought they were slightly along the tone of "Johnny Foreigner isn't quite up to the task".

Much and all as I dislike Blatter, the UK media (and the FA) have been engaged in a witch hunt against FIFA ever since the UK wasn't awarded the WC. Well, they may have got their bonfire at last and knowing the sort Blatter is, it may be the bonfire of the vanities.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Crap like this is a classic example: http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2015/0604/705785-england-ready-to-host-2022-world-cup/

UEFA aren't permitted to host the World Cup in 2022. England weren't even the runner-up in the voting for 2018. Yet here are the politicians, courting some easy popularity, claiming they are graciously ready to "step in". Jesus. If 2022 was to be re-run, I'd love for it to go to Australia or even the USA despite their similar attitude, but definitely not another European nation.

Man, who would even decide the vote gets re-run? There isn't even going to be a proper President till next year probably.

[geysir]

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/reporter-drives-exfifa-deputy-jim-boyce-to-fury-threatens-to-sue-over-question-about-football-corruption-31276830.html
Felix lives in a vice grip of fear
Former Fifa vice-president Jim Boyce says he has been left hurt and angry by false accusations he accepted cash for his vote.
The Belfast-born football chief was caught up in the row over claims that corruption was rife throughout the sport's governing body.
An exchange between Mr Boyce and a German reporter took place last Thursday, as the local man and his wife left a Fifa dinner in Zurich.
It was captured on video as the journalist asked Mr Boyce if he had ever been part of an alleged bribery ring.
The 71-year-old, clearly upset by the question, replied: "Don't you dare!"
Pointing angrily at the reporter, Mr Boyce also asked his name, before walking up to the man, who claimed to be Felix from a German television
Mr Boyce said: "Well I'm very glad that you've given me your name because I can assure you there will be a legal action.

[DannyInvincible]

FIFA's puff flick 'United Passions' took in $607 (yup, six-hundred-and-seven dollars) in its US opening weekend: http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jun/08/fifa-film-united-passions-scores-just-607-in-us-opening-weekend

I decided to watch it myself last night just to get an idea of how bad it is. It's truly awful, sycophantic, flattering nonsense. Or propaganda, in other words. I fell asleep about a third of the way through it. Thankfully, it had finished by the time I woke up.

-1/10

[pineapple stu]

Your review is flattering compared to the Guardian's (http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jun/04/united-passions-review-tim-roth-sam-neill-gerard-depardieu)!


pure cinematic excrement

Even without the current headlines, United Passions is a disgrace. It’s less a movie than preposterous self-hagiography, more appropriate for Scientology or the Rev Sun Myung Moon
An enjoyable read!

[geysir]

We are being hit by an avalanche (http://www.spiegel.de/international/world-cup-bribe-the-hoax-that-brought-the-world-cup-to-germany-a-394276.html) and I have to say I'm delighted

Blatter spills the beans (http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/34657900)
'agreement was in place for Russia to host the 2018 World Cup - before the vote took place'

'a late swing in voting that gave Qatar the 2022 World Cup undid a similar agreement to hand it to the US .... four votes from Europe later switched from the USA to Qatar..

And on super clean Franz, just another grubby official.
The DFB transferred (http://www.usnews.com/news/sports/articles/2015/10/18/beckenbauer-denies-claims-bribes-secured-2006-world-cup) 6.7 million euros to FIFA in 2005 and Spiegel alleges that this money was transferred again to a Zurich account belonging to Louis-Dreyfus. The DFB has acknowledged the payment to FIFA but says it is unaware of where the money ended up.

"To clear it up we have the control committee investigating internally and the law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer externally," Niersbach said. "The outcome of the ongoing investigations is open but I can already definitely rule out that the payment was related to the awarding of the World Cup in 2000, due to the timing of the payment process.";)

'Franz Beckenbauer (http://nr.soccerway.com/news/2015/October/26/beckenbauer-fifa-payment-a-mistake/n675884/) has described a payment sent to FIFA while he was head of Germany's 2006 World Cup organising committee as a mistake, but rejected claims it was made to buy votes.' ;)


UEFA push infanino for the FIFA presidency who the Guardian (http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/oct/28/uefa-fifa-presidential-candidates-sheikh-salman)refer to the as the "most excruciating entrant"

[NeverFeltBetter]

It's an unholy mess alright. Blatter seems to be in "I'm taking you all down with me" mode, while the February election seems to get a new candidate every week. None of them appeal.

[BonnieShels]

As bad as all the candidates are... Who else would you suggest taking over?

Niall Quinn?

I'm definitely on the side of "UEFA leaving FIFA" for starters. Why Conmebol and UEFA don't knock heads together is beyond me. This could be cleared up by a few white knights in either organisation.

[BonnieShels]

It's an unholy mess alright. Blatter seems to be in "I'm taking you all down with me" mode, while the February election seems to get a new candidate every week. None of them appeal.


This is the best part.
As bad as he is, always remember he didn't vote for Qatar. That for me is always something to hold onto just to show how bad the rest are.

[Charlie Darwin]

As bad as all the candidates are... Who else would you suggest taking over?

Niall Quinn?

I'm definitely on the side of "UEFA leaving FIFA" for starters. Why Conmebol and UEFA don't knock heads together is beyond me. This could be cleared up by a few white knights in either organisation.
Because they're as rotten as the rest of them.

[geysir]

Because they're as rotten as the rest of them.
If Uefa left Fifa, then Fifa in a single stroke would be 33% less corrupt.

Sepp didn't vote for Qatar and yet the poor man had to take all the flak, while Platini/Uefa who had engineered the corrupt process that boosted Qatar, dodged the bullets and allowed poor Sepp to take the rap. It's a reservoir of dogs.

[bennocelt]

Kind of like Gianni Infantino, if only for his cheesy jokes anytime I see him in the CL/Uc draws.........

[OwlsFan]

Meanwhile, Blatter has revealed he was "close to death" after collapsing earlier this month.

The 79-year-old, currently suspended from his post as FIFA president, fainted while visiting his parents' grave with family members.
Blatter spent time in hospital and has since been released, but said the health scare was very serious.

He told Swiss TV channel RTS: "The pressure on me was enormous. It came to the point where my body said: 'Stop! Enough is enough.
"I was close to death. I sat between angels singing and the fire of the devil."

Good on two counts. First, he wouldn't have had far to go to be buried and secondly, I bet he was feeling the heat more than the angels singing in his ears.

[BonnieShels]

Ethics committee are pushing for lifetime bans for Platini.

I know one should not laugh at another's misfortune... but...

Surely Qatar has to be revisited. (I know it won't) but SURELY!

[jbyrne]

sure why not just let everyone qualify and be done with it...

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/international/world-cup-set-to-expand-to-40-teams-from-2026-1.2452970

[BonnieShels]

sure why not just let everyone qualify and be done with it...

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/international/world-cup-set-to-expand-to-40-teams-from-2026-1.2452970

My love affair with soccer wanes evermore.

Sure have 100 places. Who gives a crap anymore.

[pineapple stu]

There's a lot of good teams that miss out on the World Cup each year.

Most of them are in UEFA though - so saying that UEFA gets too many places and the other continents need to be appeased is nonsense.

[NeverFeltBetter]

How will that even work? 10 groups of four presumably, winners and best six runners up go forward? Or winners plus 2 second placed team into last 16, and remaining 8 runners up play-off? Or eight groups of 5? Whatever it is it'll be a mess.

And UEFA has more teams at the WC because UEFA has more top-class nations than any other continent. Getting in an extra Caribbean whipping boy or Oceanic also-ran won't improve the competition.

[BonnieShels]

There's a lot of good teams that miss out on the World Cup each year.

Most of them are in UEFA though - so saying that UEFA gets too many places and the other continents need to be appeased is nonsense.

Well this is it. If anything UEFA deserve further places. But alas.


How will that even work? 10 groups of four presumably, winners and best six runners up go forward? Or winners plus 2 second placed team into last 16, and remaining 8 runners up play-off? Or eight groups of 5? Whatever it is it'll be a mess.

And UEFA has more teams at the WC because UEFA has more top-class nations than any other continent. Getting in an extra Caribbean whipping boy or Oceanic also-ran won't improve the competition.

It'll be 8 of 5 realistically I would say unless they want to expand to an extra round. It'll go on as long as the RWC!

[pineapple stu]

8 of 5 is out unless you want to go back to 1982 and teams finishing their groups at different times and knowing what result they need.

UEFA ditched it for the UEFA Cup groups as well; was just silly.

[BonnieShels]

8 of 5 is out unless you want to go back to 1982 and teams finishing their groups at different times and knowing what result they need.

UEFA ditched it for the UEFA Cup groups as well; was just silly.

Oh yeah, forgot about that issue.

Seems that Infantino proposed this earlier in November.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/nov/10/gianni-infantino-fifa-election-world-cup-40-teams