FIFA

[DC47]

That would be the risk. But if you could get together with federations from major soccer countries, which also carry tremendous economic weight in the world, and you had the potential to bring law enforcement from those countries, I'd say you'd have a fighting chance of removing the hornets nest.

I am not suggesting this would have been easy. But I am surprised that over the past 10 to 15 years there have been no apparent signs of seriously organized resistance. More than what I take to be merely symbolically supporting the obvious loser versus Blatter in the last FIFA election.

It seems to me that -- just one example -- a group of countries could threaten to opt out of the next World Cup due to strong ethical, legal, and human rights concerns. They would organize their own tournament. If the countries included most of UK, Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Poland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan then this sounds like a serious threat. The legitimacy of the World Cup as an international championship would be diminished. But more important, consider the stance of the corporate sponsors. Many are headquartered in those nations. And many would have concerns over being associated with the FIFA event due to the chance that this could be considered a pariah event, and even one that blew up due to law enforcement action.

Note that I said 'threaten' in the first sentence above. The threat of this scenario might have been enough to get Blatter et al. to turn over the FIFA keys, perhaps with some form of legal deal limiting their liability. Or perhaps they agree to leave at a time certain, with immediate major reform of governance rules and some specific immediate reforms (e.g., re-bidding the Qatar event). If this threat was accompanied by law enforcement action, as we've recently seen, all the better.

There are of course challenges to every reform effort. But I'm curious as to why nothing like what I've described above got off the ground. It may well be that the leaders of the 'clean' federations were actually not all that clean. Or at least that they were satisfied as to what they were getting out of the Blatter-led FIFA soccer world, and unwilling to take any personal risk at all.

[rass]

https://vine.co/v/e65zmXInjUl

[Sabo]

So that's what Gunpowder Jones looks like in Europe ...

ETA: According to Twitter posts, that guy is Simon Brodkin, and the dollar bills he showered Blattner with were on behalf of "North Korea 2026".

[Rex]

"Make sure he throws the money before you whisk him away"

[Pruitt]

Fantastic.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/201 ... lee-nelson

This picture will live on...

[DC47]

One of the great throw-ins in international soccer history.

[brian]

The National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement is adding an exhibit about FIFA

[Sabo]

[govmentchedda]

Fuck yeah!

[Pruitt]

Great news - but how much incriminating data has he been able to get rid of since the first FIFA arrests were made?

[Johnny Carwash]

Might be on the verge of something actually happening: sponsors (Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Budweiser, Visa) now calling for Sepp to step down.

[Pruitt]

Blatter pulls back the curtain...

http://www.theguardian.com/football/201 ... d-cup-vote

“In 2010 we had a discussion of the World Cup and then we went to a double decision,” said Blatter. “For the World Cups it was agreed that we go to Russia because it’s never been in Russia, eastern Europe, and for 2022 we go back to America. And so we will have the World Cup in the two biggest political powers.

“And everything was good until the moment when Sarkozy came in a meeting with the crown prince of Qatar, who is now the ruler of Qatar​. And at a lunch afterwards with Mr Platini he said it would be good to go to Qatar. And this has changed all pattern.

[rass]

[A_B]

I like Turd's Punch Out Fighters better.

[rass]

I like Turd's Punch Out Fighters better.

I didn't get that far during my twitter/shitter session. Sorry?

[A_B]

I like Turd's Punch Out Fighters better.

I didn't get that far during my twitter/shitter session. Sorry?

It was from a few weeks ago, so if you did, you'd need to see a doctor.

[rass]

I like Turd's Punch Out Fighters better.

I didn't get that far during my twitter/shitter session. Sorry?

It was from a few weeks ago, so if you did, you'd need to see a doctor.

I do poop every day, you know.

[Pruitt]

More arrests at FIFA.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/03/sport ... f=cta&_r=0

[Sabo]

U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch bringing the smack down on FIFA today.

[degenerasian]

is this the man that will save FIFA?

http://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2016/02 ... t-election" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[degenerasian]

First Ballot Results
Infantino 88
Salman 85
Prince Ali 27
Champagne 7

[mister d]

We-ah have-ah a winner!!!

[degenerasian]

Very good choice, one that UEFA, CONMEBOL and CONCACAF backs. Should clean up FIFA.

[Johnny Carwash]

I was hoping Prince Ali would win so that he could recreate the entry scene from Aladdin.

[Rex]

Tokyo Sexwale will always be my FIFA president.

[Johnny Carwash]

So seriously, what's the deal on Infantino? Is he considered good for people who are hoping for less corruption? The Sultan guy was the Blatter camp's choice, right?

[wlu_lax6]

Of course Infantino is connected to the Panama Papers (UEFA TV rights deal).

[wlu_lax6]

Down goes Plantini

[degenerasian]

Fifa Appoints New Secretary-General

Non-football lady from Senegal. Looks like a good move.

[mister d]

Fraudulent
Italians
Frauding
Alot

Deadspin: FIFA's New President Has A Couple Huge Scandals Brewing Already

[Sabo]

Police raid FIFA's offices again, and apparently Blatter, Valcke and Kattner awarded themselves $80 million in bonuses in a five-year span.

[pruitt2]

Police raid FIFA's offices again, and apparently Blatter, Valcke and Kattner awarded themselves $80 million in bonuses in a five-year span.

5 years later...

Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini charged with fraud in Switzerland over £1.35m payment