FIFA Bureaucrats Arrested, to be extradited to US

Our bid wasn't competitive. The crooks had already sewn up the votes. Even after everything has come out, 2/3 of FIFA members voted for Sepp. The Executive Committee (about 1/3 of whom have been arrested) are deeper in than yer average FIFA member. We had the best bid technically, but that was irrelevant. We never had a chance.

 

That simply reinforces my point that Blatter's standpoint was the key. Why is everyone assuming he preferred Russia's bid (prior to the scandal) when everything I saw in Europe suggested otherwise?

 

Now Jack Warner is going to "reveal all" That could not only convict a lot of others but could so damage FIFA that its very continued existence is in doubt. Of course that assumes anyone can understand a single word Warner says - I certainly can't.

 

I assume you know that only 22 people had a vote in where the World Cup was held right? Only 22. Of which we got 2, which I assume that one was Geoff Thompson.

Now I don't have time to go through that list of 22 to determine which have since been arrested, but Chuck Blazer is on that list, as is Jack Warner and of course Sepp Blatter. So there's at least two confirmed crooks on that list of people. One of which has admitted that he took bribes in relation to where the 1998 and 2010 World Cup's were hosted.

But nah, it was the British media that cost us hosting the World Cup, not the bunch of confirmed crooks that voted on it.

 

Prior to the FIFA Presidential election, we saw that Europe favoured Blatter not getting reelected.

He got reelected.

Prevailing opinion in Europe means jack ****.

If anyone honestly believes that an organisation now proven to be riddled with corruption didn't have its bidding process for 2018 and 2022 hijacked by bribes, then I've got some prime real estate in Florida to sell them. Corrupt men and women don't suddenly develop morals when it comes to World Cups.

 

Sadly, I agree. Given the amount of self-interest in the non-European delegates I rate the chances of real reform under a President with integrity as virtually nil. FIFA needs replacing and that isn't going to happen.

 

Not quite, UEFA have more major football countries than any other confederation plus most of the TV money comes from Europe. If UEFA picks up its ball and leaves FIFA then I'm certain CONCACAF will follow suit, the US may not be a big football power but most of the major FIFA sponsors are American companies. Take UEFA and CONCACAF out of FIFA, then FIFA will whither and die.

 

With the exception of Australia whatever votes we had lined up went with that exposé. No I don't know the numbers but nor do you and neither does the British press. But to the rest of the World it seemed we were trying to interfere with the voting process ... The British media cost us the chance of hosting the World Cup regardless of who was bunging who!

 

Think you misunderstood my context - it was in response to Godfather talking about how Europe thought we were going to win 2018 before the ST article. My point is that the view of the European man on the street means bugger all, because Europe can't carry anything by itself (even if you assume the European delegates aren't bent).

Sorry, I didn't really make that very clear.

Obviously if UEFA leave FIFA then the whole thing falls apart; most of the major footballing international powers are in Europe, whether FIFA likes it or not.

I agree that CONCACAF would likely follow UEFA if they left. CONMEBOL would probably follow shortly afterwards; I don't think Brazil nor Argentina would want to remain in a "world federation" mostly populated by backwater footballing nations who they'd frequently defeat 27-0 in the "World Cup" finals. I doubt the other South American nations would be happy about that either. The true glory lies in playing against the best, and neither Brazil nor the Argies would be content with being the megalodons in a pond of baby minnows.

 

The problem I have with that is without Fifa I can see Conacaf wrestling control. The yanks always wanted to have a world sport and have basically wasted billions trying to promote baseball and American football outside the US commercially. This may give them the chance and fifty years down the line you just know they'll be practically claiming they invented the game.

 

there are 50 odd states in europe. if all of them voted in one direction they would only need another 50 from the other members to get a change. the fact that they can't sell a coherent vision of a non-european-centric world football body says more about the state of football in europe than it does about the rest of the world i think

 

Your last comment speaks volumes. How would have made any difference if bribes were being passed. I've actually bothered to research the people bidding on the 2018 process and who wouldn't vote for us. As we don't hand out bribes, anyone that wanted/accepted them would automatically not vote for us.

Issa Hayatou - ongoing IOC investigation into bribery.
Julio Grondona - openly wouldn't vote for us due to the Falklands
Angel Maria Villar Llona - voted for Spain
Jack Warner - takes bribes
Sepp Blatter - Openly backed Russia's bid, is friends with Putin
Chuck Blazer - confessed crook - takes bribes
Michael D'Hooghe - given a valuable painting by Russia
Ricardo Teixiera - recently accused of bribes, under investigation
Mohammed bin Hammam - Life ban from football in 2011 due to paying members during the bid process
Worawi Makudi - wanted full TV rights to a friendly match between England & Thailand in return for our vote. We didn't agree.
Nicolas Leoz - currently on the run from police in relation to his receiving bribes
Vialy Mutko - voting for Russia

So that is, I make it, 12 people who would never have voted for us. Over half. Just because of the way we did business. Honestly. We were eliminated in the first round.

Seriously, GF, if that doesn't convince you nothing will. You won't back down even though the evidence is overwhelming that the conduct of FIFA and it's members that vote on these matters are to blame. Anyone left hovering would likely have followed Blatter to the Russian bid. We never ever stood a chance. But it's easier to blame the British media for doing a investigation that has now been vindicated.

Didn't take long to unravel that theory once I started a bit of research. I suppose that might be a bit harder than just saying 'bloody Sunday Times, always costing us the tournaments'.

 

Are you actually saying that Russia bribed all of these or just that they are amenable to bribes?
Where did Blatter openly back Russia before the ST scandal?

 

"You can't deny Russia if they bid for something. They are more than a country. They are a big continent, a big power,” said Mr Blatter.

FT, Aug 2010.

All that Blatter said about our bid was that it was the 'easiest choice' due to the stadiums. Sadly, with no new stadiums required, less embezzlement would happen.

I've just read also that Beckenbauer openly supported Russia, so that's 13 that definitely wouldn't vote for us and yes, I'm saying that the members that could vote that were amenable to bribes got bribes and as we dont bribe people, they weren't voting for us.

 

Will be interesting to see if he's involved in bribes. In 2014 he denied he accepted bribes but also refused to cooperate with a 'FIFA investigation' (for all that's worth).

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/11146165/Franz-Beckenbauer-denies-being-offered-bribe-to-vote-for-Russia-or-Qatar-to-stage-the-World-Cup.html

 

To be honest this is the first I've seen of this and it does paint a poor picture of our chances ... But why the fck did the ST not go after Russia if it was that bloody obvious?

 

Because FIFA.

 

Interesting view, and I take your point very well about the rather patrician viewpoint the traditional powerhouses seem to take over the emerging world but it seems to me much of the problem with the manner of corruption as practiced at FIFA has been how cheaply votes can be bought in tiny countries of CONCACAF, AFC and CAF. It seems like this would still be an issue with regional voting blocks. How is this to be addressed?

Edit: Just a note on the regional block voting method. This concept is like the 'Electoral College' for electing the US president. When a voter votes and a candidate wins a state, some states give a proportion of the delegates to one and a like proportion to the other, while other states give all delegates to the winning candidate overall.

 

Warner is going to roll over and say he has documents proving corruption occurred, including documents implicating Blatter.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-33002674

 

'Merica, plea bargaining their way to victory since RICO.

 

A pretty blunt interview with Greg Dyke:

http://www.theguardian.com/media/20...-keep-saying-well-done-you-got-rid-of-blatter

Some interesting info in there, not the least the fact that he knows the FBI are definitely investigating both the Qatar and Russia wins.

 

Thing is while you lot are all high fiving each other over Blatter's resignation he's probably just lined himself up 5-6 month stint to do whatever the hell he wants. When people look back on the upcoming period they will realise it was almost as ruinous for FIFA as anything that came before. Let the shredding commence...

 

Blatter is a lame duck. People will already be looking at what comes next and he'll have nowhere near the pull he did prior to resigning. Dyke is spot on with that.

If he's stupid enough to try and destroy evidence while the Swiss and the FBI are actively investigating FIFA then that'll be good for a laugh, at least.

 

Pull amongst...? For most things he only needs to carry the Exec Committee, most of whom are his bestest best buddies in all the world, with him to get things through.

 

In the same way as any other company, you mean?

His exec committee should be looking over their shoulders and keeping their distance from Septic, if they've got any sense.

I've seen what happens when top execs leave before, up close and personal. He'll have a harder time getting things through than you think. There is no point doing a favour for someone who is on his way out. Couple that with the fact he's got the looming threat of arrest over him and I doubt anyone is going out of their way for him.

The highest echelons of power in large organizations are highly political. There's simply no benefit to helping dear ol' Sepp rush through some ill thought out changes just so he can desperately attempt to rewrite his legacy. He'll probably find that out soon enough.

 

I think Blatter started his damage control/"shredding" immediately upon the arrests last week but... I don't think he's smart enough to know what is useful evidence and what isn't, and I think there is an entire lazy stupid organizations' worth of documentary evidence to choose from.

Also not to make Jack Warner a hero, but I suspect everyone has their own "mountain of evidence" the IRS, FBI and Swiss authorities can sort through.

That Volcke letter about giving $10m to Warner from the SA football organization is a great example. At least three parties have the letter. Blatter can't get them all even if he knew where to look.

 

Shredding what for? ... unless it's done on a typewriter the FBI will find it and even shredded docs can be put back together. I bet he cant even phone someone to get stories straight.

 

Like UEAHornet probably meant it, I used shredding figuratively. That said, it wouldn't surprise me a bit if Blatter IS literally shredding paper.

 

Here is a twist:
http://www.theguardian.com/football...eal-saudi-valcke-warner-delaney-ireland-henry
Germany involved in a deal to ship RPG's to Egypt in exchange for consideration towards their ultimately successful 2006 World Cup bid.

Totally not surprised to hear Blatter wrote a check to FA Ireland over the Henry handball, either.

 

I am not trying to exonerate FIFA in any way, but I assume there were lawyers involved with this payment and documents signed.

So surely this was just an out of court settlement in order to avoid a possible long and protracted court case; which I believe is common practice, so what's the problem?

 

Mainly transparency, but also, if you are an aggrieved Ireland fan, the money is not the damn point. Know what I mean?

 

Pretty damning article from the BBC about how the £10m from South Africa went to FIFA then to Jack Warner, money laundered through a local supermarket in Trinidad and cash payments to Warner.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-33039014

This is one reason why Blatter is as guilty as anyone. He was in charge of the cover up and NFA regrading these shenanigans, and others.

 

Seeing the grinning platini hand over the medals at the champions league final makes me worry just as much about the future of the game as blatter.

 

Be careful what you wish for, eh?