FIFA corruption arrests

[Eric Mc]

Negative Creep said:

(even if they do call it Soccer)

As does large parts of the English speaking world. It was always called Soccer in Ireland too. Indeed, the word was invented in England in the 19th century.

[Blib]

The Copa America begins in Chile in 2 weeks. It will be interesting to see whether Blatter decides to attend, or stays in Switzerland.

Chile has a long standing extradition treaty with the US.

[jonby]

Most people in the UK are utterly deluded about how our country, the US, the west in general and football is regarded by the rest of the world. I think it's worth considering how we look to the rest of the world and therefore in turn, why this simply won't pan out the way we in the UK, some of Europe and the US, think it might

There is nothing more important to most of the countries outside Europe than how many places their region gets in the finals of the WC. That's one reason Blatter is so popular. We forget just what a big deal this is to countries who don't have the glamour of Champions League, Premier League, etc, especially as we 'pinch' all their top players

The English press are incredibly poor at putting across the true picture of how this all pans out on a global stage. For instance, we almost ignore the FIFA club world cup but that's seen by most other countries as incredibly disrespectful.

Secondly, corruption and bribery are far more commonplace in many other parts of the world. In fact one could argue it's more commonplace here than we care to admit to, but it's certainly more open in other parts of the world. Hence they simply don't quite get the big deal that we make of it

Especially bearing in mind how we were cozying up to FIFA when we were looking to host, our protests now look like sour grapes. I fully understand, even though I don't agree, why those in Russia and Qatar think this is an anti-Russia/anti-Muslim related backlash on our side. Whatever we think, it's difficult to argue otherwise to those on the other side

Also, a lot forget that Stanly Rous, the English head of FIFA in the 60s & 70s, succeeded by Havelange and then Blatter, was a disgrace. From his attitude towards apartheid South Africa to the debacle when Russia (then the Soviet Union) understandably boycotted the game against Chile, it's hard for the rest of the world to take seriously our cries of foul against Blatter when the Rous regime is so conveniently ignored

I fully agree with the vast majority of views about Blatter/FIFA - I'm not an apologist. I'm simply pointing out that we need to consider how the rest of the world views all this to understand the bigger picture and also why, this idea that England or UEFA boycotting the WC will bring about regime change is laughable. In fact, it may have the opposite effect - there is no way FIFA as a whole and the majority of the nations in FIFA will allow themselves to be seen as UEFA's puppet

[London424]

I think this could be my favourite thing I've seen so far. And yes, this guy was deemed smart enough to be the Vice President of FIFA.

http://time.com/3902835/fifa-officials-falls-for-o...

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/may/31/ex...

Edited by London424 on Monday 1st June 10:00

[p1stonhead]

London424 said:

I think this could be my favourite thing I've seen so far. And yes, this guy was deemed smart enough to be the Vice President of FIFA.

http://time.com/3902835/fifa-officials-falls-for-o...

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/may/31/ex...

Edited by London424 on Monday 1st June 10:00

[KarlMac]

p1stonhead said:

London424 said:

I think this could be my favourite thing I've seen so far. And yes, this guy was deemed smart enough to be the Vice President of FIFA.

http://time.com/3902835/fifa-officials-falls-for-o...

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/may/31/ex...

Edited by London424 on Monday 1st June 10:00

Have another :rolf:

That video is genuinely bizarre.

Interestingly swiss authorities seem more interested in how FIFA has been used as a money laundering vessell as opposed to actually prosecuting anyone from FIFA

[carinaman]

That Death Toll for a Pyramid Selling Scheme looks like the Death Toll for the Pyramids.

[cirian75]

carinaman said:

That Death Toll for a Pyramid Selling Scheme looks like the Death Toll for the Pyramids.

Bet that has the sponsors thinking.

[jmorgan]

cirian75 said:

Bet that has the sponsors thinking.

I expect the sponsors are trying to see if they have a way out, plausible deniability. Either way there is a lot of money in this and they want it, so its morals vs loot dived by deniability.

[jonby]

cirian75 said:

carinaman said:

That Death Toll for a Pyramid Selling Scheme looks like the Death Toll for the Pyramids.

Bet that has the sponsors thinking.

Yet another piece of ludicrous hype

It's been exposed as a complete load of rubbish - the total deaths in Qatar in the graphic are not all WC related and in fact relate to total deaths in Qatar of any description, of any Nepalese or Indian, regardless of profession let alone whether they were working on the world cup. The equivalent number in other countries would be far greater

That's not to say I don't agree with every single criticism of Qatar, but the graphic is deliberately misleading and factually, completely incorrect

[Chris Stott]

Blib said:

The Copa America begins in Chile in 2 weeks. It will be interesting to see whether Blatter decides to attend, or stays in Switzerland.

Chile has a long standing extradition treaty with the US.

I think they would have served charges against him last week if they had anything solid.

Plus I don't think he's allowed to leave Switzerland as part of the criminal proceedings the Swiss government instigated last week - sure I saw they had banned any Swiss employee's of FIFA from leaving the country.

[anonymous-user]

Derek Smith said:

Our best hope is, I think, that the USA doesn't lose interest. They are open to political pressure.

The evidence of the last few years is that US ditrict attorneys don't 'lose interest' in white collar crime. Quite the opposite. Have you read the indictment? 47 counts of racketeering, money laundering, wire fraud and conspiracy of all 3. The US is going for the jugular. Pity European authorities were too guttless.

[Derek Smith]

fblm said:

Derek Smith said:

Our best hope is, I think, that the USA doesn't lose interest. They are open to political pressure.

The evidence of the last few years is that US ditrict attorneys don't 'lose interest' in white collar crime. Quite the opposite. Have you read the indictment? 47 counts of racketeering, money laundering, wire fraud and conspiracy of all 3. The US is going for the jugular. Pity European authorities were too guttless.

I meant that they might be forced to lose interest from political pressure exerted by government on the DAs. There was a suggestion of that in the Armstrong case, although they got a second wind.

[Blib]

One difference is that Armstrong was seen by many Americans as an icon. Blatter and his mob don't have that kind of sentimental protection.

[anonymous-user]

Derek Smith said:

fblm said:

Derek Smith said:

Our best hope is, I think, that the USA doesn't lose interest. They are open to political pressure.

The evidence of the last few years is that US ditrict attorneys don't 'lose interest' in white collar crime. Quite the opposite. Have you read the indictment? 47 counts of racketeering, money laundering, wire fraud and conspiracy of all 3. The US is going for the jugular. Pity European authorities were too guttless.

I meant that they might be forced to lose interest from political pressure exerted by government on the DAs. There was a suggestion of that in the Armstrong case, although they got a second wind.

Foreign white collar criminals from Switzerland and the Cayman Islands involved in racketeering, money laundering, wire fraud in the US? So not the same thing as an American sporting hero 'defrauding his sponsors' by doping. If anything the political pressure will be to have them hung drawn and quartered.

[Derek Smith]

fblm said:

Foreign white collar criminals from Switzerland and the Cayman Islands involved in racketeering, money laundering, wire fraud in the US? So not the same thing as an American sporting hero 'defrauding his sponsors' by doping. If anything the political pressure will be to have them hung drawn and quartered.

Points by you and bilb well made.

[Russ35]

Been a busy day at FIFA today.

provisionally banned

Concacaf general secretary Enrique Sanz and

The Vice-President, Mr Jean Guy Blaise Mayolas, and the General Secretary, Mr Badji Mombo Wantete, of the Congolese Football Association (FECOFOOT)

from carrying out any football-related activities at national and international level.

[iambeowulf]

I read that the FBI's swift action has been applauded in South America, even by that fat fk Maradona.

One Argentinian ex president said "I haven't been so excited to watch the TV since Luke Skywalker fought Darth Vader in the Empire Strikes Back"

Only Putin says they are wrong and shouldn't get involved in anyone's business. Oh the irony.

[Cheese Mechanic]

Things getting decidedly warm for Sepp

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/fifa/116...

Well, if the Bosses deputy does not have the authority to pay out $10 mill, then who does that leave, oh hum?

[anonymous-user]

The smell of blood!!!!