FIFA

[ZacNaloen]

I need to find it again, but I read on my twitter feed Saturday that Germany bought the vote of Saudia Arabia by giving them weapons...

*edit*

Here it is

http://www.theguardian.com/football/201 ... land-henry

FIFA just needs taking apart and a new organisation created.

[Sanguine]

This is beginning to look more and more Tour de France in nature, in so much as it's not some World Cups tainted by scandal, but potentially all of them.

[Sanguine]

The leaked email connected to the payment was sent on 7 December 2007, from Fifa Secretary General Jérôme Valcke to then South African Deputy Minister of Finance Jabu Moleketi. It appears to show Valcke chasing Moleketi over the payment, and suggests that Blatter knew about the deal.

In the email, Valcke writes: "I have never received confirmation but more important I would like to know when the transfer can be done."

He goes on to write: "This is based on discussion between Fifa and the South African government and also between our President and H.E President M'Beki."

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 04119.html


Speaking to The Telegraph, a spokeswoman for Fifa said that the messages did not prove that Valcke and Blatter were involved.

She said: "It is simply referring to an update given by the then President of South Africa to the Fifa President about the South African government's formal request."

"That constitutes information, not involvement.

FIFA spokeperson's in danger of becoming the new Comical Ali. They'd be better off saying nothing.

[ZacNaloen]

"I would like to know when the transfer can be done" is pretty explicit

[multisync1830]

Oh come on we all knew for years FIFA were corrupt but what is amusing is how deep it goes and how desperate politicians were to get a WC holder tick on their CV.

It must have been like taking candy from babies with countries falling over themselves to gazump bribe officials. I doubt there is anyone connected with any bid for any cup who isn't somehow somewhere involved. Beckham and Prince William being the only two possible exceptions which spring to mind.

My mrs asked me if I was there would I have taken money to cast a vote? and I said "Yep 100% g.tee'd" and still would given the chance, so probably best I don't put my name forward if we want to clean FIFA up

[Kitsondinho]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-33050289

[Sutekh]

Only on 10 screens in the US but all the same

"...taking just $607 (£397) in its opening weekend."

in Pheonix the cinema concerned took just $9 as one person watched it

Still, never going to get an audience in the US was it.....

[Sutekh]

Meanwhile, UK Culture Secretary John Whittingdale has said England is ready to host the 2022 World Cup if Qatar is stripped of the tournament.

One of the leading people involved in England's world cup bid said on newsnight about a week ago that, contrary to popular belief, FIFA had nothing to do with England not winning and that we lost out as there is an issue between the PL and the FA that was unresolved and while it is unresolved it would not be possible for us to host it, hence we were not really considered in the end.

He didnt say what the issue was but if it remains then you assume we still cant host it.

What sort of issue is there that could cause that I wonder.

Believe though that rather than it's general whining about things and lambasting the BBC and Times, the FA should have pulled the plug on the 2018 bid and cited the behind the scenes "shenanigans" as being unacceptable. Would have had much more effect in the long run.

[Silver Fox]

Lovely stuff on FIFA from John Oliver on Last Week Tonight. Blatter's resignation should make for an interesting follow up based on what he said he'd do if Blatter quit.

He tweeted a pic of a bucket of bud light limes and captioned it champagne yesterday

No welching from that John! Although he could have made more of an effort at the Maccy D's

[Kitsondinho]

Only on 10 screens in the US but all the same

"...taking just $607 (£397) in its opening weekend."

in Pheonix the cinema concerned took just $9 as one person watched it

Still, never going to get an audience in the US was it.....

True enough, but what kind of person funds a film about football where the administrators are the stars.....Who could possibly think that highly of themselves?

[Dai Brainbocs]

One snag for the FA is if it rocks the boat too much, e.g. by leading a campaign to replace FIFA outright, it might find the IFAB, the custodian of the laws of the game, gets sucked into it. FIFA has 50 per cent of the votes and all four "home nations" have permanent seats, like being a permanent member of the UN Security Council. That could come under question if all bets on the administration of football worldwide are off.

[Uke]

One snag for the FA is if it rocks the boat too much, e.g. by leading a campaign to replace FIFA outright, it might find the IFAB, the custodian of the laws of the game, gets sucked into it. FIFA has 50 per cent of the votes and all four "home nations" have permanent seats, like being a permanent member of the UN Security Council. That could come under question if all bets on the administration of football worldwide are off.

The UK having four votes is probably one area we have benefitted from the (ahem) "system"

[Dai Brainbocs]

It's a shocking anachronism, though.

[6ft Kerplunk]

No welching from that John! Although he could have made more of an effort at the Maccy D's

Yeah full marks for not welching on a technicality but not convinced that was the full 99c menu let alone a full bite of each. Decent attempt at downing the bottle without his taste buds rebelling.

[Kitsondinho]

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/33099881

[Sutekh]

Well he should certainly be rehired as soon as the current FIFA "management" have gone.

[Uke]

Well he should certainly be rehired as soon as the current FIFA "management" have gone.

No they haven't

[Uke]

Missing Nobber spotted

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-33127146

[Sutekh]

Oh god no...

Sepp Blatter could be open to the possibility of standing for re-election as Fifa president, the BBC understands.

The 79-year-old said he was standing down as the head of world football's governing body less than two weeks ago, just four days into his fifth term.

A new president was expected to be elected, probably in mid-December.

But a source close to Blatter has told the BBC the Swiss could make an audacious bid to stay on if no suitable alternative candidate emerges.
"Everything is open," said the source.

Blatter will hold meetings over the coming days when he will gauge whether he still retains enough support to seek an astonishing sixth term as president.

Fifa has officially referred inquiries over Blatter's intentions to his resignation speech on 2 July, in which he promised to start work on new reforms and said "I shall not be a candidate" in the next election.

However, in 2011 Blatter also claimed his fourth term would be his last, only to renege on the pledge. It is now possible he could attempt a similar, but even more controversial U-turn.

Any attempt by Blatter to cling to power will be met with fierce opposition in the wake of the FBI-led corruption investigation that has plunged Fifa into turmoil and seen the arrest of several senior football officials.

Many critics have demanded that Blatter steps down immediately, rather than wait until an extraordinary meeting of the Fifa Congress in the winter.

[Ian Royal]

Testing the waters on doing a Farage. Can he dig enough dirt to force a more emphatic win?