RE: Banker admits 'accepting bribes' from Ecclestone

[Vocal Minority]

tommy vercetti said:

y2blade said:

toppstuff said:

The most interesting thing here is that no-one, absolutely no-one on the planet, is even a little bit surprised.

Of course the little fella is corrupt. Of course he pays bribes to get what he wants.

The big question is if anyone has the cahunas to do anything about it...

Well said

+1

True.

But he has sufficient legal clout to tie the prosecutors up in red tape for as long as he needs until nature takes its course and it will no longer be his problem.

(That said, I wouldn't put money against Bernie living forever)

[thewheelman]

A corrupt billionaire...........not exactly shocking news.

[housen]

this story is very old

[Madmatt74]

angusc43 said:

LordFlathead said:

griffdude said:

Hope they manage to convict the poisonous little dwarf.

+ 1,000,000

I hate this little man that has done nothing other than to turn what was a well respected motor sport into the equivalent of a pay per view cheesy TV show.

No doubt this act will tarnish further the F1 image and reduce the interest some more.

Ooh what a lot of negativity!

Thank God he no longer has anything to do with my local team, QPR. He and Flabbio left that in a right mess and couldn't give a t*ss. Nice guys.......

He still saved the R's from the brink of collapse, and although we had a few painful years we probably wouldnt have Tony Fernandes now, due to his connections with Bernie in F1.

As someone said i feel F1 is better for having Bernie control things and no one can deny this season looks like being the tightest for years and back to good racing too.

[M@1975]

In most countries these are known as 'facilitation payments' they are still bribes though. Unfortunately bernie is a horrible little moneygrabbing git in my book. Saw a chance to make money and went for it in a very cynical way. I'd not be surprised if he actaully hated F1 and was just in it for the cash. He will never get banged up though.
His comments about international politics recently should have been enough for someone in the sport to publically denounce him and if he was around back in the golden ages of the sport the drivers would probably have walked out on it and him years ago.

[toppstuff]

This COULD lead to Bernie's departure from the scene however, an excuse for the little goblin to retire.

Big corporations simply cannot afford to be associated with this sort of thing these days. Shareholders hate it.

This could be the catalyst that sees Bernie step down, to avoid the sport getting headlines for all the wrong reasons. The money men could insist on it.

[BSC]

toppstuff said:

This COULD lead to Bernie's departure from the scene however, an excuse for the little goblin to retire.

Big corporations simply cannot afford to be associated with this sort of thing these days. Shareholders hate it.

This could be the catalyst that sees Bernie step down, to avoid the sport getting headlines for all the wrong reasons. The money men could insist on it.

Exactly.

Today radio news in Germany reported that Mercedes is considering to pull out of F1 due to these things. Mercedes don't want to be part of it.

ETA article in well respected business newspaper Handelsblatt.

Edited by BSC on Tuesday 26th June 14:52

[zebedee]

Sicob said:

Still; Bernie has made F1 what it is today. Ok, a little too much control, and you could argue too much commercial consideration undoubtedly. But I think the breadth of coverage, tracks and the spectacle it is, is a lot down to him.

(nb doesnt really justify bribery if that's the case. Anyhow he can pay off anyone who disagrees).

what something that has disappeared so far up its own arse that no-one actually notices they aren't RACING anymore or don't seem to care? It isn't a spectacle watching Hamilton do 4 seconds a lap quicker than Alonso because of some tyres he had to use such that there is no actual tussle when it comes to the overtake. And breadth of coverage? Yes, well done Bernie, for the first time in my life I can't watch live Grand Prix (even if I wanted to). Bravo.

[zebedee]

Madmatt74 said:

no one can deny this season looks like being the tightest for years and back to good racing too.

I can deny it is back to good racing. Pressing a button to make your car go faster than someone else's isn't racing, nor is being forced to use a particular tyre such that someone ends up going 4s a lap faster than someone else. It is just theatre, not racing. I was at Le Mans where Corvette and Aston Martin (among others) were duelling lap after lap, swapping places several times a lap, tucking into slipstreams and out-braking each other, fantastic stuff.

Don't believe the hype about F1 having good racing, watch the GT class in the ALMS if you want to see proper good racing, it seldom disappoints.

[UltimaCH]

When is this guy going to make his final bow?

[cuda]

I'm sure his daughter would bail him out...

[UltimaCH]

cuda said:

I'm sure his daughter would bail him out...

Guess she is a vampire and could have more venom than he does

[angusc43]

Madmatt74 said:

angusc43 said:

LordFlathead said:

griffdude said:

Hope they manage to convict the poisonous little dwarf.

+ 1,000,000

I hate this little man that has done nothing other than to turn what was a well respected motor sport into the equivalent of a pay per view cheesy TV show.

No doubt this act will tarnish further the F1 image and reduce the interest some more.

Ooh what a lot of negativity!

Thank God he no longer has anything to do with my local team, QPR. He and Flabbio left that in a right mess and couldn't give a t*ss. Nice guys.......

He still saved the R's from the brink of collapse, and although we had a few painful years we probably wouldnt have Tony Fernandes now, due to his connections with Bernie in F1.

Fair enough, they did stave off collapse, get Rangers promoted and ultimately sell to TF. Why let the facts get in the way of a wave of emotion? :-)

Still don't like the way they let the club drift dangerously through the pre-season, though, and their general demeanour around the club.

[F1GTRUeno]

Sicob said:

coverage, tracks and the spectacle it is, is a lot down to him.

Not a good thing then.

Selling out the rights so that it's not free to air (tried the PPV thing before as well without success)

New tracks that are bloody awful and butchered old ones all in the name of money.

F1 would be a spectacle no matter what, only we'd still be going to older better tracks if Bernie wasn't such a tt with fees.

[Parabola]

There's about as much chance of Bernie going to jail as there is for Tony Blair doing porridge.

Both disgusting weasels who will always manage to bribe/bully/charm their way out of any awkward situation.

[toppstuff]

BSC said:

Exactly.

Today radio news in Germany reported that Mercedes is considering to pull out of F1 due to these things. Mercedes don't want to be part of it.

ETA article in well respected business newspaper Handelsblatt.

Edited by BSC on Tuesday 26th June 14:52

This is a pretty big deal.

Big corporates have seriously powerful internal compliance departments these days. If you have ever worked for a company with a powerful compliance department, then you will know how they operate ! If the big corporates decide that it would be too uncomfortable to be associated with F1 in the event that the bribery trial drags on for months and months, then Bernie will end up having to leave. Simple. Without the backing of the corporates, he is toast.

He must be tired by now for gods sake. He should step down and let that paragon of noble thinking , Jean Todt, take over.

[sinbaddio]

It'll be interesting to see how it pans out. If he is convicted of some malpractice then he will surely have to resign? If he is found innocent then for many he will be guilty by association? At the end of the day, he's not atcually on trial for anything at the moment, but is part of the equation. This could and probably will go on for years!

[carmental]

What a wker.

[will261058]

epom said:

I notice Bernie never denied it... however he did make a pretty smart statement in relation to the guy saying he would say anything to save himself, therefore even though most would probably believe to be true that statement makes you think. 2 weeks time this will be another non story !!

You are right that he does not appear to deny it but I see nothing smart in his statement as its exactly what I would expect him to say.

Nor do I think it is a foregone conclusion that BE will not be charged. It seems to me that the powers that be are a lot more willing to chase the rich and powerful in these times of austerity and a lot of the dodgy dealing is going to come back and bite them where the sun dont shine. Just look at Rangers FC and their fall from grace.

[Madmatt74]

angusc43 said:

Madmatt74 said:

angusc43 said:

LordFlathead said:

griffdude said:

Hope they manage to convict the poisonous little dwarf.

+ 1,000,000

I hate this little man that has done nothing other than to turn what was a well respected motor sport into the equivalent of a pay per view cheesy TV show.

No doubt this act will tarnish further the F1 image and reduce the interest some more.

Ooh what a lot of negativity!

Thank God he no longer has anything to do with my local team, QPR. He and Flabbio left that in a right mess and couldn't give a t*ss. Nice guys.......

He still saved the R's from the brink of collapse, and although we had a few painful years we probably wouldnt have Tony Fernandes now, due to his connections with Bernie in F1.

Fair enough, they did stave off collapse, get Rangers promoted and ultimately sell to TF. Why let the facts get in the way of a wave of emotion? :-)

Still don't like the way they let the club drift dangerously through the pre-season, though, and their general demeanour around the club.

Completely agree they they nearly destroyed the club after saving it.
Its nice to see the badge on the F1 car tho.