FIFA corruption arrests

[Axionknight]

TheD said:

Blatter and his team are an absolute disgrace. Talk about in plain site. He truly believes he is untouchable. The trouble is he has so many countries in his pocket that there aren't many that will stand up against him.

He'll probably live forever too, the stupid old .

[cirian75]

Yup, FBI says the money was laundered through US banks and the Swiss are sounding keen to cooperate with FBI with extraditing them.

The FBI had a mole in the form of Chuck Blazer who was the No2 at CONCACAF (American equiv of UEFA) who has been spying on FIFA to avoid jail time for tax evasion.

Edited by cirian75 on Wednesday 27th May 09:50

[robemcdonald]

Say what you like about the U.S. If anyone is going to get to the bottom of corruption in FIFA it will be the FBI. No chance of them being fobbed off or intimidated.
Allegidly Blatter has been avoiding visiting the U.S. For the last 4 years to avoid getting nicked.

[cirian75]

unlike quite a few US police forces, the FBI seems to be a well trained and disciplined force

All their agents have to college grads.

[Roo]

Someone just posted this on twitter.

[cirian75]

This ones good too

can't be long before one of them turns turtle and dobs him in to the FBI

[Axionknight]

"FIFA suffering"

[cirian75]

Jail em all


Put Luis Figo in charge and award the world cup hosts to who ever was 2 or 3 place with the failed bids and is capable of hosting given such short notice.

[Axionknight]

cirian75 said:

Jail em all


Put Luis Figo in charge and award the world cup hosts to who ever was 2 or 3 place with the failed bids and is capable of hosting given such short notice.

2018 was a Portugal/Spain double whammy, I'm surprised that they could afford it

2022 was the USA, AHA, motive found!

[jamiebae]

I love the fact they were all staying at the Baur au Lac hotel - the most expensive hotel in Zürich, one of the most expensive cities in the world...

I think the 2018 World Cup might just end up being in Germany or the UK as there's not enough time to organise a re-bid and they're the only two countries which could stage it with no need for new infrastructure or big projects.

It appears the Swiss have opened their own investigation into the bidding which is arguably an even bigger step than the US money laundering stuff - they wouldn't make a public announcement like that unless they were pretty sure that it was a nailed-on case.

Big changes afoot I'm sure...

[Russ35]

Apparently 4 people already pleaded guilty, 4 individuals and 2 corporate defendants (TV companies), including Charles Blazer former member of the FIFA Executive Committee.

Edited by Russ35 on Wednesday 27th May 10:52

Edited by Russ35 on Wednesday 27th May 11:04

[cirian75]

Walter De Gregorio, Blatters right hand man and FIFA's communications head honcho is saying all is well, Sepp not being charged and 2018/2022 will go ahead as planned.

Not if Sepp's in a US jail it ain't

very Comic Ali'ish

[Crush]

cirian75 said:

unlike quite a few US police forces, the FBI seems to be a well trained and disciplined force

All their agents have to college grads.

That's a shame. I wonder how much talent has been missed due to the graduate requirement?

[jamiebae]

cirian75 said:

Walter De Gregorio, Blatters right hand man and FIFA's communications head honcho is saying all is well, Sepp not being charged and 2018/2022 will go ahead as planned.

Not if Sepp's in a US jail it ain't

very Comic Ali'ish

2018/2022 will not go ahead as planned if the Swiss courts decide that the tournaments were 'bought' that's for sure. Best case scenario for FIFA is that the courts order a re-run and nobody bar Russia and Qatar contests it because of the time/cost making it impossible to stage the event.

[London424]

I think it's important to point out there are two things that have come to a head today.

There is the Swiss investigation which looks to be off the back of that report before Xmas that they tried to brush under the carpet.

Then there is the FBI one which is looking at money laundering, wire fraud and racketeering.

I know which one I'd be more worried about!

[Blib]

CNN quoting FIFA as saying that the presidential election will still go ahead and there are no plans to changes the 2018 & 2022 World Cup venues.

[cirian75]

London424 said:

I think it's important to point out there are two things that have come to a head today.

There is the Swiss investigation which looks to be off the back of that report before Xmas that they tried to brush under the carpet.

Then there is the FBI one which is looking at money laundering, wire fraud and racketeering.

I know which one I'd be more worried about!

The FBI, they will chase the money trail, and with a lot country's signed up to FATCA it will be far easier for them get the info than it would have been several years ago.

[hornetrider]

Blib said:

CNN quoting FIFA as saying that the presidential election will still go ahead and there are no plans to changes the 2018 & 2022 World Cup venues.

Tout est bien.

[Ridgemont]

cirian75 said:

London424 said:

I think it's important to point out there are two things that have come to a head today.

There is the Swiss investigation which looks to be off the back of that report before Xmas that they tried to brush under the carpet.

Then there is the FBI one which is looking at money laundering, wire fraud and racketeering.

I know which one I'd be more worried about!

The FBI, they will chase the money trail, and with a lot country's signed up to FATCA it will be far easier for them get the info than it would have been several years ago.

Interesting comment in the Telegraph noting that the wirefraud offence usually pertains nowadays to email exchanges. If the FBI are after the email trail I'd expect there'll be a bonfire of Desk & laptops going on in Zurich right now.

[Negative Creep]

cirian75 said:

Jail em all


Put Luis Figo in charge and award the world cup hosts to who ever was 2 or 3 place with the failed bids and is capable of hosting given such short notice.

Might as well put John carver in charge, he'd do a better job