Author Topic: Fifa officials arrested in Zurich after dawn raid (Read 22227 times)

Hope · « **on:** May 27, 2015, 07:15:23 AM »

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32895057

I suppose the big question is when will Sepp Blatter join those who have been arrested!!

Hope · « **Reply #1 on:** May 27, 2015, 08:08:56 AM »

It would be interesting to compare the extent/number of corruption charges/allegations brought during Sepp Blatter's time as FIFA President compared to those during other Presidents' tenures.

Nearly Sane · « **Reply #2 on:** May 27, 2015, 09:24:40 AM »

Quote from: Hope on May 27, 2015, 08:08:56 AM

It would be interesting to compare the extent/number of corruption charges/allegations brought during Sepp Blatter's time as FIFA President compared to those during other Presidents' tenures.

Not entirely sure it would be like with like as football was nit anywhere near as big a business, which does not necessarily mean that it was less corrupt, just that it wasn't' noticed as much.

That said there was certainly a lot of talk of corruption under Havelange and before that you are back to 1974

Rhiannon · « **Reply #3 on:** May 27, 2015, 10:10:49 AM »

Good.

It's difficult to think of a more corrupt institution. If FIFA were a country it'd be a basket case dictatorship.

wigginhall · « **Reply #4 on:** May 27, 2015, 02:31:22 PM »

Incredible that Blatter will probably be re-elected on Friday; it reminds me of Mugabe being re-elected, while around him a country collapses. Still, apparently Blatter remains 'very calm'.

Gordon · « **Reply #5 on:** May 27, 2015, 02:50:05 PM »

I don't know much about football, but wouldn't the normal course of events in cases of high-level corruption like this be for the head-honcho (Blatter) to fall on his sword as a matter of honour?

Nearly Sane · « **Reply #6 on:** May 27, 2015, 02:55:38 PM »

Quote from: Gordon on May 27, 2015, 02:50:05 PM

I don't know much about football, but wouldn't the normal course of events in cases of high-level corruption like this be for the head-honcho (Blatter) to fall on his sword as a matter of honour?

Honour/Blatter, nope sorry, not computing.

Rhiannon · « **Reply #7 on:** May 27, 2015, 03:05:59 PM »

Quote from: Gordon on May 27, 2015, 02:50:05 PM

I don't know much about football, but wouldn't the normal course of events in cases of high-level corruption like this be for the head-honcho (Blatter) to fall on his sword as a matter of honour?

Hahahahahahahaha.

Rhiannon · « **Reply #8 on:** May 27, 2015, 03:10:04 PM »

Quote from: wigginhall on May 27, 2015, 02:31:22 PM

Incredible that Blatter will probably be re-elected on Friday; it reminds me of Mugabe being re-elected, while around him a country collapses. Still, apparently Blatter remains 'very calm'.

Yes, if Fifa were a country we'd be discussing whether to issue sanctions. Not buy from them, have our companies support them, expel them from sporting competitions. That kind of thing.

Fifa are the main reason I have little interest in international football. Every tournament under its remit comes at the enrichment of Blatter and his cronies.

Nearly Sane · « **Reply #9 on:** May 27, 2015, 03:18:01 PM »

Of course those companies supporting what is going on need questioned. See below on rejigged logos for sponsoring the Qatar WC

http://tinyurl.com/qehzm5o

wigginhall · « **Reply #10 on:** May 27, 2015, 05:30:23 PM »

I'm trying to figure out how it's the US Attorney General who is announcing these arrests, although I think the Swiss are also investigating. Is it because no European power had the clout, or the nerve, so over to you, FBI? It feels a bit like the Mafia going unchecked for decades. Blatter has no shame.

Hope · « **Reply #11 on:** May 27, 2015, 05:34:27 PM »

Quote from: wigginhall on May 27, 2015, 05:30:23 PM

I'm trying to figure out how it's the US Attorney General who is announcing these arrests, although I think the Swiss are also investigating. Is it because no European power had the clout, or the nerve, so over to you, FBI? It feels a bit like the Mafia going unchecked for decades. Blatter has no shame.

I think it has something to do with the fact that this particular corruption accusation seems to have something to do with the FIFA representative for N. and Central America.

splashscuba · « **Reply #12 on:** May 27, 2015, 06:45:55 PM »

Quote from: Hope on May 27, 2015, 05:34:27 PM

Quote from: wigginhall on May 27, 2015, 05:30:23 PM
I'm trying to figure out how it's the US Attorney General who is announcing these arrests, although I think the Swiss are also investigating. Is it because no European power had the clout, or the nerve, so over to you, FBI? It feels a bit like the Mafia going unchecked for decades. Blatter has no shame.
I think it has something to do with the fact that this particular corruption accusation seems to have something to do with the FIFA representative for N. and Central America.

I think it's more to do with the flow of corrupt funds through US banks.

Rhiannon · « **Reply #13 on:** May 27, 2015, 07:38:00 PM »

God I hope one of them drops Blatter in it.

Hope · « **Reply #14 on:** May 28, 2015, 07:55:28 AM »

Don't know how many of us are on Twitter, but I wonder whether those who are could work out a form of words encouraging Blatter to step down with immediate effect. He's due to address the FIFA Congress later today, so if we could get something going pretty soon, ...

floo · « **Reply #15 on:** May 28, 2015, 08:45:36 AM »

I think it is absolutely DISGUSTING that this topic is the one leading the news, when it only concerns a mere sport!

Yesterday Queen's Speech outlining the Government legislation for the next five years, which is much more important to the future of the UK, was the second item! Football should be relegated to a weekend kick around instead of big business, rife with corruption, and players paid stupid sums of money!

Nearly Sane · « **Reply #16 on:** May 28, 2015, 08:52:02 AM »

While I can understand Floo's point, there are real tragic consequences as a result of the corruption.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/05/27/a-body-count-in-qatar-illustrates-the-consequences-of-fifa-corruption/

Hope · « **Reply #17 on:** May 28, 2015, 08:55:08 AM »

Quote from: Floo on May 28, 2015, 08:45:36 AM

I think it is absolutely DISGUSTING that this topic is the one leading the news, when it only concerns a mere sport! Yesterday Queen's Speech outlining the Government legislation for the next five years, which is much more important to the future of the UK, was the second item! Football should be relegated to a weekend kick around instead of big business, rife with corruption, and players paid stupid sums of money!

But it doesn't just concern a mere sport, Floo. It concerns finance houses, multi-national companies, and the global industry that is World Football. Perhaps above all, it concerns corruption of the highest level amongst businessmen and politicians of all sorts.

Rhiannon · « **Reply #18 on:** May 28, 2015, 09:09:04 AM »

Yes, it's massive. It involves governments, companies on every high street - many of them popular with children - and the exploitation of the poorest. And FIFA has condoned the censorship of this too - just last week a BBC TV crew were arrested in Qatar and had their equipment seized.

It's not inaccurate to liken FIFA to a corrupt nation state run by a dictatorship and the effects of its disgusting activities are every bit as bad.

Gordon · « **Reply #19 on:** May 28, 2015, 09:22:32 AM »

It is notable that some of the big commercial partners, such as Visa and McDonalds, are very quickly expressing concern, so I'd imagine that faced with the risks of them pulling their finance that Fifa will be encouraged to be quite radical. I can't see that Blatter can hang on, and by now an honourable person in his position would have stepped down.

wigginhall · « **Reply #20 on:** May 28, 2015, 09:25:53 AM »

I think it's a valid complaint that football has become a mega-industry, but it has. I don't think you can force it back to the amateur days, jumpers for goalposts, although it still exists in that way as well.

So if it is a huge industry, it has to be run properly, which it obviously isn't. See NS's point that many men have been killed building the stadia in Qatar.

wigginhall · « **Reply #21 on:** May 28, 2015, 09:43:40 AM »

Presumably, the FBI have a supergrass who has been going into meetings with a wire. This explains why they look so confident, and had all the big guns out yesterday, they must have solid evidence.

jeremyp · « **Reply #22 on:** May 28, 2015, 10:47:10 AM »

Quote from: Hope on May 27, 2015, 07:15:23 AM

I suppose the big question is when will Sepp Blatter join those who have been arrested!!

Have you got evidence that he has committed a crime?

I think, perhaps, the worst thing he has done is allow a culture of corruption to develop for which, of course, he should resign, but it's not a criminal offence.

ETA it wouldn't surprise me if some criminal activity by Mr Blatter wasn't discovered, but the evidence isn't there yet AFAIK.

jeremyp · « **Reply #23 on:** May 28, 2015, 10:58:29 AM »

Quote from: Floo on May 28, 2015, 08:45:36 AM

I think it is absolutely DISGUSTING that this topic is the one leading the news, when it only concerns a mere sport! Yesterday Queen's Speech outlining the Government legislation for the next five years, which is much more important to the future of the UK, was the second item! Football should be relegated to a weekend kick around instead of big business, rife with corruption, and players paid stupid sums of money!

Get off your high horse.

This is about corruption in a big business associated with an activity that billions of people around the World participate in, follow and spend money on.

Rhiannon · « **Reply #24 on:** May 28, 2015, 11:07:48 AM »

Quote from: wigginhall on May 28, 2015, 09:43:40 AM

Presumably, the FBI have a supergrass who has been going into meetings with a wire. This explains why they look so confident, and had all the big guns out yesterday, they must have solid evidence.

They have - Chuck Blazer.

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Author Topic: Fifa officials arrested in Zurich after dawn raid (Read 22227 times)

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