I still find it difficult to believe how Qatar, a small nation, with no real football history or infrastructure, and summer temperatures of +50C managed to pull it off for 2018.
I still find it difficult to believe how Qatar, a small nation, with no real football history or infrastructure, and summer temperatures of +50C managed to pull it off for 2018.
Not sure that UEFA are the people to do it though.
Getting a little more interesting now with Phaerda Al Majid's revelations threatening to undermine the report still further, and mentioning she was coerced into changing her statement. None of this is in the least surprising, and it seems only a matter of time before the WC is pulled from Qatar.
In the meantime we can enjoy watching Fifa and Qatar trying to ignore the rest of the planet and maintain this farce. I expect russia will keep very quiet during this phase.
they make Bernie Eccle$$$tone look like the very model of rectitude. :demon:
Russia (UEFA sponsor via Gazprom) is busy 'discussing' the future of football in occupied Crimea. I wonder how that will work out. ::-)
Nothing will happen.
Sorry to disappoint.
Releasing the full report - which is likely be heavily redacted to preserve witness confidentiality - is a change in Fifa policy.
However, it will only be released once ongoing investigations into five individuals are completed.
Quote from: Aunty BeebReleasing the full report - which is likely be heavily redacted to preserve witness confidentiality - is a change in Fifa policy.
However, it will only be released once ongoing investigations into five individuals are completed.
I guess "legally appropriate" becomes the new euphemism for "more blacking out than text", then. :demon:
Nothing will happen.
Sorry to disappoint.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/30491135
In spite of this I beleive it will all collapse for Fifa. This just is more evidence of them painting themselves into a corner.
Their standing is well below that of laughing stock.
UEFA, where most of the wealth is in football dont want a winter world cup in qatar, and seem to be ready to take on Fifa over this.
In a fight between UEFA and Fifa, Uefa could easily go it alone. Its a slow burner this story. We can enjoy watching it collapse piece by piece.
Nothing will happen.
Sorry to disappoint.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/30491135
In spite of this I beleive it will all collapse for Fifa. This just is more evidence of them painting themselves into a corner.
Their standing is well below that of laughing stock.
UEFA, where most of the wealth is in football dont want a winter world cup in qatar, and seem to be ready to take on Fifa over this.
In a fight between UEFA and Fifa, Uefa could easily go it alone. Its a slow burner this story. We can enjoy watching it collapse piece by piece.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32895048
;D
Once again, a USA led fight into corruption in a global (non-USA mainstream) sport.
Interesting day for WC football, & 'Fifa World Cup report pointless and a joke - FA boss Greg Dyke'... http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30044791
Clearly England can next expect to host the World Cup at some point after 2326.
I still find it difficult to believe how Qatar, a small nation, with no real football history or infrastructure, and summer temperatures of +50C managed to pull it off for 2018.
What next I wonder?
The Swiss are now launching their own investigation into the process of awarding the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Will they be as rigorous as the USA though? Seeing as they might have an interest in keeping FIFA happy in Zurich.
I'm not sure what to make of the fact that one of the arrested officials was led away with his possessions in plastic bags. Drug charges too?
Far more dramatic than the World Cup. I bags the film rights.
and McDonalds.
I can't think of a single large corporation where it wouldn't contravene good (or legal) business practice to receive such gifts.
Sad to see Jack Warner being indicted. Dock Green will never be the same again.The amateurism of some of the corruption is amazing. Warner's sons paid wads of cash into accounts in the USA, each payment being made via a different branch, & 7000 euros to keep it under the $10000 limit for money-laundering questions, proof of ID, etc. Didn't check the exchange rate, & one day one of 'em had to ask for money back to stay under the limit. As if that wouldn't arouse suspicion. :facepalm:
Sad to see Jack Warner being indicted. Dock Green will never be the same again.The amateurism of some of the corruption is amazing. Warner's sons paid wads of cash into accounts in the USA, each payment being made via a different branch, & 7000 euros to keep it under the $10000 limit for money-laundering questions, proof of ID, etc. Didn't check the exchange rate, & one day one of 'em had to ask for money back to stay under the limit. As if that wouldn't arouse suspicion. :facepalm:
Dammit, even I could have told them to vary the amounts, don't go too close to the limit, & vary the currencies even though you'll lose something on the change.
The amateurism of some of the corruption is amazing.
“They called me mad but thankfully today the truth is out and I am enjoying it,” said Maradona, who has long been at odds with the sport’s governing body.
“They hate soccer. They hate transparency. Enough shady dealings. Enough lying to the people,” the former midfielder told an Argentinian radio station.
He's probably emailling pat mcquaid just now asking for tips.Yes! Well, no. But after FIFA... the IOC?
Talking of blasphemy, it's a measure of FIFA's disrepute when even Maradona can put the boot in with both hands:Quote“They called me mad but thankfully today the truth is out and I am enjoying it,” said Maradona, who has long been at odds with the sport’s governing body.
“They hate soccer. They hate transparency. Enough shady dealings. Enough lying to the people,” the former midfielder told an Argentinian radio station.
Well Blatter cannot monitor everyone all of the time apparently.
Funny how we all seem to know but it went over his head. If he's not corrupt (stop laughing over there!) then surely that is negligent beyond belief. Either way it's gobsmacking that he still has the gall to carry on.
Can't see that Russia is too wrong as a choice for the World Cup.
Crater, though, that's just silly.
He's probably emailling pat mcquaid just now asking for tips.
Aaargh, that's the auto-blatter
Principles went out of the window a long time ago.
Just heard on the news that FIFA is.... wait for it .... a registered charity. ???
Indeed, you couldn't make this up.
Nothing will happen.
Sorry to disappoint.
And Blatter gets another massive majority !
Unbelievable.
Over on F1 journalist Joe Sawrd's blog the possibility has been motted of an Investigation into the governance of F1 under the EU's anti-monopoly legislation. I have suggested that a USAnian-led investigation migjt be the way forward with the bonus of raising public awareness of the sport Over There.
Bonus points if they could get it fronted by Norman Schwarzkopf, Chuck Norris or Alice Cooper.
And Blatter gets another massive majority !Oh no! Entirely believable.
Unbelievable.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/may/29/corruption-fifa-blatter
I find Marina Hyde to be one of the most entertaining and insightful commentators. I wonder how correct that comparison will prove to be.
Tigerrr,Yes, but historical detail probably isn't relevant to the attention span of the audience. I would bet that very very few americans are even aware that there was a president called carter, let alone that they boycotted, let alone didn't win most of the medals at the 1980 olympics. The American story today is what concerns america.
is that the same USA that boycotted the 1980 Olympics?
Now lets see if UEFA has the balls to boycott the World Cup.
Now lets see if UEFA has the balls to boycott the World Cup. I am not holding my breath.
Hmm - and if UEFA suggested to Brazil that a 'world cup' be held in Brazil (again) instead of Qatar?Now lets see if UEFA has the balls to boycott the World Cup. I am not holding my breath.
It would work if the U.S. And Brazil joined them.
It doesn't need Brazil and the USA. Most of the money that FIFA gets is generated by UEFA. UEFA can turn of the tap if they have the will.
"My mandate does not appear to be supported by everybody."
Indeed, it would be nice if that were true, what's the betting he's going to end up in a country with no extradition treaty with the USA...
Indeed, it would be nice if that were true, what's the betting he's going to end up in a country with no extradition treaty with the USA...
But he's not going till December at the earliest, when the EGM is held to elect his successor.
I reckon pcolbeck has it; someone is going to dob him in.
It's great to wake up in the morning and turn on radio 4 and hear about little else than football administration. There isn't enough of it in my life!
Wont you spare a thought for jack warner ?? His life is at risk.
not really a bad deal for the Irish in the end
not really a bad deal for the Irish in the end
Money vs a place at the World Cup ???
not really a bad deal for the Irish in the end
Money vs a place at the World Cup ???
I still don't get what the FAI could have done. Sue FIFA for what?.
Fans getting shafted is kind of de rigeur in most sports.
... It's not so much a shafting as 'an experience'
not really a bad deal for the Irish in the end
Money vs a place at the World Cup ???
I still don't get what the FAI could have done. Sue FIFA for what?.
I think they were going to claim the ref had been got at by FIFA to ensure France went through. It was a a blatant double hand ball and very offside. Even the French were stunned that the goal was allowed.
The scale of the FBI takedown of Fifa is vast. England is like a diner in one of the ground-floor restaurants of the Towering Inferno building, wondering how what’s going on upstairs is going to affect its drinks order. Odd how they underplay the fact that England’s bid team gave the wives of the executive committee – their wives! – Mulberry handbags. This isn’t being “above” bribery. It’s being unable to get out of the group stages of bribery.
We appear to be out of effluent Mr Holmes
We appear to be out of effluent Mr Holmes
Far more dramatic than the World Cup. I bags the film rights.
I think you'll find there are ways of doing that.
Far more dramatic than the World Cup. I bags the film rights.
I think you'll find there are ways of doing that.
Fifa film flops at the box office (http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-33050289)
If only they had waited..
The American side of the FIFA scandal is getting the movie treatment with Ben Affleck among those bringing story to the big the screen.
Capping off eight days of negotiations, Warner Bros. has won a bidding war for Houses of Deceit, a book by BuzzFeed investigative reporter Ken Bensinger that is being seen as the definitive account of American FIFA exec Chuck Blazer and his role in the largest sports and public corruption scandal in history.
Disgraceful scenes during FIFA press conference:
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jul/20/sepp-blatter-fifa-dollar-bills-press-conference-lee-nelson
He won't have to buy a bike.
Someone will give him one.
Where would their oodles of cash come from?
New FIFA president elected, and not Sheikh Yerbouti either, but rather one Gianni Infantino, a.k.a. "Who?"
Two FIFA presidents of vice - I'm sorry, I'll say that again...
Two FIFA vice-presidents have had their collars felt by the Swiss fuzz today, and they are on a list of a further 16 officials (on top of the ones already charged) named in a 92-page indictment released by the US Department of Justice. It's yet another gift that keeps on giving.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34991874
Juan Ángel Napout, a high-level figure in international soccer, was sentenced today in federal court in Brooklyn by United States District Judge Pamela K. Chen to nine years’ imprisonment following his trial convictions of conspiratorial racketeering and two counts of wire fraud conspiracy. The crimes of conviction related to Napout’s participation in schemes to accept millions of dollars in bribes in exchange for the media and marketing rights to various soccer tournaments. The Court also ordered Napout to pay $3,374,025.88 in forfeiture and imposed a fine of $1 million. A hearing on victim restitution is scheduled for October 4, 2018.
At the time of his arrest in December 2015, Napout was the president of CONMEBOL, the confederation responsible for soccer in South America, a FIFA Vice President and a member of the FIFA Executive Committee. He had previously served as the president of the Paraguayan Soccer Federation, known as the Asociación Paraguaya de Fútbol, or APF. Napout was convicted following a six-week trial in November and December of 2017.
The Swiss have taken Blatter in for questioning and Platini is also implicated in a 2,000,000 swiss franc bung.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/sep/25/sepp-blatter-criminal-investigation-swiss-attorney-general
Former Fifa president Sepp Blatter has begun legal proceedings against football's world governing body for "moral damage" and to reclaim around 60 of his watches he says are still in its possession.