FIFA corruption arrests
Discussion
"Officials from football's world governing body Fifa took bribes totalling hundreds of millions of dollars over more than 20 years to allocate tournaments and rig elections, US law enforcement officials say."
No crap! Doesn't take Sherlock Holmes to have worked that out! My only surprise is that it is not 50 years.
No crap! Doesn't take Sherlock Holmes to have worked that out! My only surprise is that it is not 50 years.
Edited by Grumfutock on Wednesday 27th May 18:31
Derek Smith said:
One would think he could not but he has up until now.
Whilst we all say how corrupt it is, and the facts are out there for all to see, one must ask how much guilt should be leveled at national footballing groups for remaining in FIFA. It is just an organisation. There is nothing to stop national groups from forming another one. If a new rule book which included transparency was written and any team could sign up, then I'm sure there would be a number of countries taking out their pens.
Unless, of course, the money they get from the World Cup is too much of a draw.
It is prostitution: they go for the money.
Totally agree. The corruption has been such an open secret for so long that it seemed an obvious move for the honest nations to walk away and do their own thing. The fact that they haven't must be largely down to the money but another possibility is that the corruption is so widespread that pretty much every country is implicated in some way or another. Hopefully that guess is wide of the mark, but this investigation is going to be eye-opening. Whilst we all say how corrupt it is, and the facts are out there for all to see, one must ask how much guilt should be leveled at national footballing groups for remaining in FIFA. It is just an organisation. There is nothing to stop national groups from forming another one. If a new rule book which included transparency was written and any team could sign up, then I'm sure there would be a number of countries taking out their pens.
Unless, of course, the money they get from the World Cup is too much of a draw.
It is prostitution: they go for the money.
easytiger123 said:
Totally agree. The corruption has been such an open secret for so long that it seemed an obvious move for the honest nations to walk away and do their own thing. The fact that they haven't must be largely down to the money but another possibility is that the corruption is so widespread that pretty much every country is implicated in some way or another. Hopefully that guess is wide of the mark, but this investigation is going to be eye-opening.
Just been chatting to a friend about this. He agreed that the national football associations were complicit, and deserve blame, but also brought up the sponsors. They must have known what was going on - even I did and I'm a rugby fan - and yet they still pumped in the $millions. TV stations as well.One point he brought up: the sponsors could withdraw from FIFA deals if corruption is proved, and all that takes is for some of those involved to indicate they will plead guilty. They could also impose conditions on the FIFA, the first of which must be to kick out Blatter. Whatever, they could even sue the FIFA.
Whilst my first reaction was that this should have been Scotland Yard moving in, our laws are a bit different to those in the USA when it comes to fraud. Mind you, the leaders in exposing corruption is the UK, in papers and other media.
Wasn't there a backlash against a newspaper for printing allegations against the FIFA on the even of some vote or other? Their circulation dropped, albeit only for a while.
Lets have an International Football Association set up. Positions to be 4 years max and outside auditors.
Ayahuasca said:
Why has it taken the Americans to take this step?
Why didn't our Serious Fraud Office bother?
'we' are essentially too close and involved even if the UK has not be directly acting illegally it is deeply embedded in a group that as whole is immensely corrupt making for very muddy waters. The US is a much more separate entity and can act free from any repercussions. Why didn't our Serious Fraud Office bother?
It really shouldn't be the case but the UK is not enough of a political or military powerhouse to go against organisations like FIFA, they say shut up and we cower in fear. What if another small country like New Zealand had launched an investigation, would anyone have taken that seriously or would it have stopped the corruption? Nope.
As the UK's overall standing in the world diminishes so does our ability to apply our will on such events.
We do!roachcoach said:
Past precedent says they almost certainly will, it's like the opposite of the UK over there, the higher the profile of the criminal the greater the odds of them locking you up and tossing the key away if found guilty (as opposed to here, where being famous is a get out of jail free card for the most part).
What like O J Simpson ? Sky are reporting that investigators have said that all Swiss nationals who work for FIFA are not allowed to leave the country including Blatter.
I'd probably say that's about 12 hours too late. I'd still be very surprised if he didn't have a very important, last minute meeting about football for the disabled in either Russia or Qatar yesterday evening & he was flown there by private jet. The Russians especially would be delighted to tell the Americans they couldn't have him. Unless of course, they could be guaranteed to keep their tournament in return.....
The Qatar tournament will now be like the players would have been if it had gone ahead.
Toast.
I'd probably say that's about 12 hours too late. I'd still be very surprised if he didn't have a very important, last minute meeting about football for the disabled in either Russia or Qatar yesterday evening & he was flown there by private jet. The Russians especially would be delighted to tell the Americans they couldn't have him. Unless of course, they could be guaranteed to keep their tournament in return.....
The Qatar tournament will now be like the players would have been if it had gone ahead.
Toast.
easytiger123 said:
Totally agree. The corruption has been such an open secret for so long that it seemed an obvious move for the honest nations to walk away and do their own thing. The fact that they haven't must be largely down to the money but another possibility is that the corruption is so widespread that pretty much every country is implicated in some way or another. Hopefully that guess is wide of the mark, but this investigation is going to be eye-opening.
Just been chatting to a friend about this. He agreed that the national football associations were complicit, and deserve blame, but also brought up the sponsors. They must have known what was going on - even I did and I'm a rugby fan - and yet they still pumped in the $millions. TV stations as well.One point he brought up: the sponsors could withdraw from FIFA deals if corruption is proved, and all that takes is for some of those involved to indicate they will plead guilty. They could also impose conditions on the FIFA, the first of which must be to kick out Blatter. Whatever, they could even sue the FIFA.
Whilst my first reaction was that this should have been Scotland Yard moving in, our laws are a bit different to those in the USA when it comes to fraud. Mind you, the leaders in exposing corruption is the UK, in papers and other media.
Wasn't there a backlash against a newspaper for printing allegations against the FIFA on the even of some vote or other? Their circulation dropped, albeit only for a while.
Lets have an International Football Association set up. Positions to be 4 years max and outside auditors.
Godalmighty83 said:
Please tell me one of those arrested also happens to have dirt on Bernie Eccelstone... pretty please.
Not a hope, Bernie keeps it in the family, pays everyone in Euros and is far too astute to let a bunch of greedy bar stewards like FIFA get anywhere near him.Like the Titanic, he will go on.
Derek Smith said:
easytiger123 said:
Totally agree. The corruption has been such an open secret for so long that it seemed an obvious move for the honest nations to walk away and do their own thing. The fact that they haven't must be largely down to the money but another possibility is that the corruption is so widespread that pretty much every country is implicated in some way or another. Hopefully that guess is wide of the mark, but this investigation is going to be eye-opening.
Just been chatting to a friend about this. He agreed that the national football associations were complicit, and deserve blame, but also brought up the sponsors. They must have known what was going on - even I did and I'm a rugby fan - and yet they still pumped in the $millions. TV stations as well.One point he brought up: the sponsors could withdraw from FIFA deals if corruption is proved, and all that takes is for some of those involved to indicate they will plead guilty. They could also impose conditions on the FIFA, the first of which must be to kick out Blatter. Whatever, they could even sue the FIFA.
Whilst my first reaction was that this should have been Scotland Yard moving in, our laws are a bit different to those in the USA when it comes to fraud. Mind you, the leaders in exposing corruption is the UK, in papers and other media.
Wasn't there a backlash against a newspaper for printing allegations against the FIFA on the even of some vote or other? Their circulation dropped, albeit only for a while.
Lets have an International Football Association set up. Positions to be 4 years max and outside auditors.
For my two penny worth I'd go for your IFA body. Reclaim the game from self-serving FIFA.
Just now, UEFA have called for the presidential vote to be postponed so perhaps the palace walls are crumbling?
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