FIFA

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 12:00 pm

govmentchedda wrote:I wish there was an over/under on when Blatter will be out as head of FIFA. I think it happens in 2015.

Called it.

rass · Post by **rass** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 12:04 pm

Whoa

Order up some Bud Light Limes for John Oliver....

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 12:08 pm

AB_skin_test wrote:Shit. Blatter resigns!

Must be a typo. The press release should have read Sepp re-signs. After being reelected, he signed a new contract to reflect the overwhelming approval for his leadership. Sepp raised his own salary an additional $75 Million a year. A modest raise compared to his previous salary.

tennbengal · Post by **tennbengal** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 12:11 pm

But Fifa is more good than bad on balance...

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 12:11 pm

Figo for President.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 12:27 pm

"This is HUGE news", is all I keep thinking. I love watching this happen.

ESPN has Bob Ley on it, and it's fantastic TV.

tennbengal · Post by **tennbengal** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 12:30 pm

I am still stunned. Stunned.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 12:35 pm

Excellent, hope there will be good candidates in the next election and clean this organization up.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 12:46 pm

degenerasian wrote:Excellent, hope there will be good candidates in the next election and clean this organization up.

No kidding. Do the voting parties go clean and do what is best for the sport, or do they remain the same dirty, bribe-able fuckers they are? Can a corrupt African dude make some deals and benefit the small guys? Can the resulting structure be worse?

Looks like all of our hypothetical situations are moot.

According to ESPN, it will take 4-6 months to convene a congress to elect a new President. They need 1,700 delegates present. Sepp expected to remain in charge until a congress can be convened.

tennbengal · Post by **tennbengal** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 12:50 pm

Just get 2022 out of Qatar, for the sake of the humans dying there. Start there. Don't have to move it here, but move it somewhere where people don't have to die by the thousands. They could at least do that in the short term.

Tom 1860 · Post by **Tom 1860** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 12:53 pm

It is pretty hard to know who will be the next President, but it would be great to have a proper contest, it will be 8-9 months before a vote takes place.

I would like to see a South or Central American President, but they don't have a great vote count (especially with South America having 10 votes of 209).

Any ho, hopefully the Qatar thing will get dealt with...

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 1:05 pm

I would vote for Landon Donovan.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 1:06 pm

Qatar is gonna happen. But i bet it is played in the winter. And that the US gets a Cup soon thereafter. probably england, too.

tennbengal · Post by **tennbengal** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 1:11 pm

AB_skin_test wrote:Qatar is gonna happen. But i bet it is played in the winter. And that the US gets a Cup soon thereafter. probably england, too.

The issue for me isn't when it is played - it is that is shouldn't happen in Qatar because the literal human cost to do it there at this point is beyond shocking. They can fix that by moving it, I don't care where, just someplace that can handle it without people having to die.

Bensell · Post by **Bensell** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 1:17 pm

I don't see them taking away Russia but I bet that Qatar is gone by the end of this year, with the US or England taking over host duties.

Tom 1860 · Post by **Tom 1860** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 1:19 pm

The issue with when it is played is massive as it impacts the league seasons before and afterward.

Playing the WC in Qatar is a joke for lots of reasons, but then having to move the event schedule due to the mad weather conditions means that leagues around the world get screwed twice.

It won't get moved and will get played in the winter and everyone is worse off except for the money men.

tennbengal · Post by **tennbengal** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 1:21 pm

Tom 1860 wrote:The issue with when it is played is massive as it impacts the league seasons before and afterward.

Playing the WC in Qatar is a joke for lots of reasons, but then having to move the event schedule due to the mad weather conditions means that leagues around the world get screwed twice.

It won't get moved and will get played in the winter and everyone is worse off except for the money men.

I get that - but that complaint can be run over - Euro-centric complaint and all that (even thought it clearly affects more than champions leagues).

The fact that people are having to die to make it happen, that should be harder for FIFA to keep ignoring.

joeyclams · Post by **joeyclams** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 1:26 pm

Bensell wrote:I don't see them taking away Russia but I bet that Qatar is gone by the end of this year, with the US or England taking over host duties.

If that happens you can bet that neither the US or England will get a WC anytime in the next 100 years. A lot of smaller countries will look at the US or England getting the WC over Qatar as the big countries stepping on the smaller ones. Not that it's true but put a Euro as president and then see them move the WC will damage a lot of opinions.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 1:26 pm

Tom 1860 wrote:It is pretty hard to know who will be the next President, but it would be great to have a proper contest, it will be 8-9 months before a vote takes place.

I would like to see a South or Central American President, but they don't have a great vote count (especially with South America having 10 votes of 209).

Any ho, hopefully the Qatar thing will get dealt with...

I'll be more shocked if 2022 WC actually takes place in Qatar than I was upon seeing Sepp resign. I've felt from the original announcement that the 2022 Cup wouldn't take place in Qatar. The logistics and the heat are just too insane. I forget the square mileage between all of the stadiums, but squeezing that many fans into such a small area would be a disaster. It couldn't be more obvious the vote was rigged, or enough voters bribed into voting for Qatar. Throw the human rights violations on top (I need to finish watching Jeremy Schaap's documentary), and there is no way this can happen. I'm surprised there hasn't been more of a movement to shame sponsors out of backing FIFA, but I guess we are far enough out that it wouldn't work. As it got closer, I can't see McDonald's and others sponsoring a WC built on the deaths of thousands of slave laborers. The idea of playing the WC in the Winter, fucking up all of the European leagues' seasons is a major roadblock, too.

We are still 7 years out, and most World Cups hosts are decided 6 years out. There is plenty of time to allow countries to present their cases and vote for a new host. All of the media attention surrounding the fraud and criminal indictments, this has to happen soon.

Tom 1860 · Post by **Tom 1860** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 1:28 pm

tennbengal wrote:
Tom 1860 wrote:The issue with when it is played is massive as it impacts the league seasons before and afterward.

Playing the WC in Qatar is a joke for lots of reasons, but then having to move the event schedule due to the mad weather conditions means that leagues around the world get screwed twice.

It won't get moved and will get played in the winter and everyone is worse off except for the money men.
I get that - but that complaint can be run over - Euro-centric complaint and all that (even thought it clearly affects more than champions leagues).

The fact that people are having to die to make it happen, that should be harder for FIFA to keep ignoring.

The whole Qatar thing is a screw up and I don't care about the European perspective.

If this helps, I would not want Wales to play in Qatar and would prefer they boycotted rather than played even if they qualified for the 1st time since 1958. I hate the Qatar situation, I just don't think it will get changed. I hope I am wrong.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 1:31 pm

tennbengal wrote:
AB_skin_test wrote:Qatar is gonna happen. But i bet it is played in the winter. And that the US gets a Cup soon thereafter. probably england, too.
The issue for me isn't when it is played - it is that is shouldn't happen in Qatar because the literal human cost to do it there at this point is beyond shocking. They can fix that by moving it, I don't care where, just someplace that can handle it without people having to die.

Australia was one of the more logical options floated, though I think heat might be an issue in terms of game play. But it keeps the competition within the AFC, which might be a means of placating the ExComm folks doing the voting from the Asian region. (Looking at the rest of the region, other viable but unlikely options are China, Japan or S. Korea.)

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 1:33 pm

Bensell wrote:I don't see them taking away Russia but I bet that Qatar is gone by the end of this year, with the US or England taking over host duties.

I agree that Qatar is over, but I can't see it coming to US or England, considering how much the media and governments of those countries (UK) have been involved in this shakeup. Just not good optics for either country to "steal" the World Cup.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 1:34 pm

Nonlinear FC wrote:
tennbengal wrote:
AB_skin_test wrote:Qatar is gonna happen. But i bet it is played in the winter. And that the US gets a Cup soon thereafter. probably england, too.
The issue for me isn't when it is played - it is that is shouldn't happen in Qatar because the literal human cost to do it there at this point is beyond shocking. They can fix that by moving it, I don't care where, just someplace that can handle it without people having to die.

Australia was one of the more logical options floated, though I think heat might be an issue in terms of game play. But it keeps the competition within the AFC, which might be a means of placating the ExComm folks doing the voting from the Asian region. (Looking at the rest of the region, other viable but unlikely options are China, Japan or S. Korea.)

North Korea! Makes about as much sense as Qatar. Australia wouldn't be bad, as it is winter there, right?

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 1:35 pm

It's the Michael Garcia report that is going to doom Qatar 2022.

ETA - that, and all the dead migrant workers.

Post by **brian** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 1:37 pm

You guys act like it is white people dying building those stadiums or something.

Tom 1860 · Post by **Tom 1860** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 1:41 pm

Mostly people from Nepal and other poorer nations I think...

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 1:46 pm

The Sybian wrote:
Nonlinear FC wrote:
tennbengal wrote:
AB_skin_test wrote:Qatar is gonna happen. But i bet it is played in the winter. And that the US gets a Cup soon thereafter. probably england, too.
The issue for me isn't when it is played - it is that is shouldn't happen in Qatar because the literal human cost to do it there at this point is beyond shocking. They can fix that by moving it, I don't care where, just someplace that can handle it without people having to die.

Australia was one of the more logical options floated, though I think heat might be an issue in terms of game play. But it keeps the competition within the AFC, which might be a means of placating the ExComm folks doing the voting from the Asian region. (Looking at the rest of the region, other viable but unlikely options are China, Japan or S. Korea.)
North Korea! Makes about as much sense as Qatar. Australia wouldn't be bad, as it is winter there, right?

Good Lord, of course, you're right. Would be in the mid-50s to low 60s in a place like Sydney. More like mid-60s or higher in Perth. Low 60s in Brisbane... Pretty damn nice, actually, compared to some of the insanely hot weather in Brazil... Not even in the same discussion as Qatar.

(BTW, even in the winter, Qatar has average high temps in the low 80s and high 70s.)

Johnny Carwash · Post by **Johnny Carwash** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 1:52 pm

Australia would have been such a logical, natural choice for a World Cup by an organization that had its shit together and/or was not drowning in corruption. For all the outrage over England and the U.S. getting passed over for Russia and Qatar, Australia not being chosen was arguably the biggest crime.

e: And I normally think Australians are annoying as shit.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 2:03 pm

How long until someone makes the "but then they would have died in vain / you have to honor the dead workers" argument for keeping it in Qatar.

Tom 1860 · Post by **Tom 1860** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 2:10 pm

mister d wrote:How long until someone makes the "but then they would have died in vain / you have to honor the dead workers" argument for keeping it in Qatar.

Fuck that, just look after their families financially and publicly apologise.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 2:39 pm

Well, you do have to wonder... These guys are dying doing what? IOW, Qatar is going to ask to be compensated for whatever work they've already put into this effort. I don't think it should be a deal breaker, but the longer this stuff drags out, the stronger Qatar's case is going to be.

And I'll just reiterate what others have said. There is 0% chance 2022 goes to the US or England. England is out because Russia makes it almost ridiculous in terms of keeping any semblance of a rotation in tact. But as has been stated by others, it would be horrible politically to put it in either England or the US.

Blatter resigning doesn't mean jack squat in terms of altering the existing political landscape and its underpinnings. Take corruption out of the equation and you still have the issues degen has pretty accurately laid out there. Asia, Africa and CONCACAF countries are distrustful of Europe, for good reason. South America has even more of a gripe on this front... And you're talking about a region that has almost as many World Cup winners as UEFA.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 3:00 pm

mister d wrote:How long until someone makes the "but then they would have died in vain / you have to honor the dead workers" argument for keeping it in Qatar.

I was tempted to make that joke. And WTF is up with using Chedda's avatar? Fucked me up when I quoted this comment, and your name came up when I was expecting Chedda's.

Tom 1860 wrote:
Fuck that, just look after their families financially and publicly apologise.

Tom, this is an argument made constantly by the Rightwing hawks and Tea Party types to justify continuing our pointless wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now it is more of an argument to bash Obama for bailing before we "won" the wars, pissing on the legacy of all the soldiers who gave their lives in these wars.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 3:04 pm

I'd give them that silly club world cup that they hold every winter, on a permanent or semi-permanent basis, if there were some way to ensure, within reason, the health and safety of workers involved in building any stadium to be used for it.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 3:06 pm

The Sybian wrote:And WTF is up with using Chedda's avatar? Fucked me up when I quoted this comment, and your name came up when I was expecting Chedda's.

He wouldn't assign me an avatar after the ECF so I took it upon myself. Confuses me too.

Rush2112 · Post by **Rush2112** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 3:59 pm

some redditor wrote:Black smoke rises from the back of FIFA HQ indicating the ceremonial burning of the documents.

Tom 1860 · Post by **Tom 1860** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 4:15 pm

mister d wrote:How long until someone makes the "but then they would have died in vain / you have to honor the dead workers" argument for keeping it in Qatar.

Tom 1860 wrote:Fuck that, just look after their families financially and publicly apologise.

The Sybian wrote:Tom, this is an argument made constantly by the Rightwing hawks and Tea Party types to justify continuing our pointless wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now it is more of an argument to bash Obama for bailing before we "won" the wars, pissing on the legacy of all the soldiers who gave their lives in these wars.

Hang on here, a I being called a proper right winger?

I think that the deaths of workers in Qatar is terrible, but that moving the WC will not help them or their families. Unless those responsible for the deaths are held to account through legal means, the best situation is that the dead worker's families are supported financially and apologised to by those responsible (if that is an option, I do not know much about the law in Qatar).

If a member of my family died on a construction job due to a health and safety breach, I would not care if the building was completed and used in the manner it was being constructed for... I would want someone/persons to be held responsible, to apologise and to help out financially.

Have I missed something...

Tom 1860 · Post by **Tom 1860** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 4:16 pm

Rush2112 wrote:
some redditor wrote:Black smoke rises from the back of FIFA HQ indicating the ceremonial burning of the documents.

Or is the Pope running for President of FIFA?

howard · Post by **howard** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 4:18 pm

FIFA corruption prosecutions and Blatter out - Obama has a (positive) legacy!

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 4:27 pm

Tom 1860 wrote:If a member of my family died on a construction job due to a health and safety breach, I would not care if the building was completed and used in the manner it was being constructed for... I would want someone/persons to be held responsible, to apologise and to help out financially.

Have I missed something...

Something like "maybe quadrupling the current death toll as a means of compensation for the first 1,000 dead isn't the best plan"?

Tom 1860 · Post by **Tom 1860** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 4:32 pm

mister d wrote:
Tom 1860 wrote:If a member of my family died on a construction job due to a health and safety breach, I would not care if the building was completed and used in the manner it was being constructed for... I would want someone/persons to be held responsible, to apologise and to help out financially.

Have I missed something...
Something like "maybe quadrupling the current death toll as a means of compensation for the first 1,000 dead isn't the best plan"?

Ok, sorry for being thick... I just assumed that the health and safety issues would be addressed and if not then obviously all construction stops until they are. I know naive as hell.