FIFA's fantastic fantasy farce

[The Nihilistic view]

I don't have a problem with Budweiser being considered beer.
I have lots of problems with Bud bein considered Budweiser.

That too. Although I prefer to call the beer "Budějovický Budvar", as most people use "Budweiser" for the diluted piss.

Could be worse, the sponsor could be Fosters or Carling.

[The Nihilistic view]

FIFA are genius, they really just don't care at all, and why should they?

They could make the criteria 'the country that stuffs the most amount of money in this big bag' if they wanted to, not only are they not bound by any country, they can even bend the rules, change the law, within countries.

They had a special FIFA court in South Africa if I remember correctly.

I think it was an Australian who most harshly criticized them around the bidding process, and England always do.. and who's pointed out as corrupt.. England and Australia.

FIFA don't care, they're do what they like, they only conducted the report for a laugh as it is.

Anyway, fool England and Australia for complying, they should have followed Russia who basically said 'what? emails? umm.. we deleted them all, sorry, were they important?'

Well yes, it does seem that England and Australia were singled out for criticism because they made the mistake of actually complying fully with the investigation and sharing any and all documentation, including the embarrassing bits (in England's case) about Jack Warner.

Maybe next time they won't make the mistake of actually thinking that FIFA's idea of a fair and transparent independent investigation will actually result in a fair and transparent independent investigation.

Though in fairness, it looks like Garcia also believed he was undertaking a fair and transparent independent investigation instead of compiling a document that FIFA would then selectively cite in the hope that the problem would just go away.


I do think Garcia is making a mistake by attempting to appeal FIFA's decision via FIFA's own internal appeals process.

He should just leak his full report himself, and damn the consequences.

I hope we do keeping making the "mistake" (as if doing the right thing can ever be a mistake). If everybody starts doing it FIFA's way then it just makes the situation worse. Some doing it properly focuses more attention on the issue and whilst it's unlikely FIFA will change anytime soon they certainly won't if everybody plays their game.

[Ifreann]

I don't have a problem with Budweiser being considered beer.
I have lots of problems with Bud bein considered Budweiser.

That too. Although I prefer to call the beer "Budějovický Budvar", as most people use "Budweiser" for the diluted piss.

I might call it that if I could pronounce "Budějovický".

[MERIZoC]

Oh, FIFA. You truly are scumbags.

[Dayaar Mongol]

They'd they ever bother to look into that incident at the last FIFA when some Algerian fan was shining a laser pointer in the Russian players' faces? Or did they just pretend it didn't happen?

[Laerod]

They'd they ever bother to look into that incident at the last FIFA when some Algerian fan was shining a laser pointer in the Russian players' faces? Or did they just pretend it didn't happen?

How's that even remotely comparable in scale? And the answer is yes, Algeria got fined for the incident.

[Ethel mermania]

Not directly related to the thread topic, but an interesting tangent broadly relevant to Qatar's bid.

With Morocco pulling out of hosting the African Cup of Nations only two months before the event is held over fears of visiting fans from nations with an Ebola outbreak, it looks like Qatar is offering to step in to act as an emergency host (despite very obviously not being in Africa) "because of its strong relation with Issa Hayatou, president of the Confederation of African Football".

It looks like Qatar don't always get their way.

The 2015 African Cup of Nations will be hosted by Equatorial Guinea.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/30053859

It's the thought that counts.

[Yellow Yellow Red]

The FBI is on the job.

FIFA said its investigation found no corruption and has no reason to reopen the bidding process.

But the FBI, which is leading the U.S. probe, isn't ready to do the same. Investigators are moving ahead with their probe, which could result in charges against senior FIFA officials, the U.S. law enforcement officials said.

FBI agents based in New York are moving ahead with their 3-year-old investigation, which will likely benefit from the findings of a former U.S. prosecutor, Michael Garcia, who was hired by FIFA to do an internal probe. The FBI plans to seek access to Garcia's report, which FIFA hasn't yet released.

[...]

A U.S. law enforcement official said the probe is looking at a variety of alleged corruption issues, including the 2018 and 2022 bidding process.

The FBI investigation includes the cooperation of a former top FIFA official who has provided documents and recordings of meetings with colleagues, law enforcement officials said.

The New York Daily news, which reported on the cooperation of former FIFA official Chuck Blazer, quoted Blazer as saying: "I just can't talk about that."

For those who may not know, Chuck Blazer was the man who brought about the investigation into Jack Warner and bin Hammam. He was in hot water himself, though, and was under FBI investigation for tax evasion and potentially receiving money (wired to his bank accounts) in dubious (at best) conditions. He evidently turned informer at some point and has turned over transcripts of meetings, phone calls, and online exchanges.

He also may or may not be Santa Claus.

[img][http://www.bloomberg.com/image/iEeYbQPhoWoQ.jpg[/img]

[Buyan]

Not directly related to the thread topic, but an interesting tangent broadly relevant to Qatar's bid.

With Morocco pulling out of hosting the African Cup of Nations only two months before the event is held over fears of visiting fans from nations with an Ebola outbreak, it looks like Qatar is offering to step in to act as an emergency host (despite very obviously not being in Africa) "because of its strong relation with Issa Hayatou, president of the Confederation of African Football".

It looks like Qatar don't always get their way.

The 2015 African Cup of Nations will be hosted by Equatorial Guinea.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/30053859

Not entirely sure if it's a great choice, but I guess it's better than some alternatives...

[The Nihilistic view]

The FBI is on the job.

FIFA said its investigation found no corruption and has no reason to reopen the bidding process.

But the FBI, which is leading the U.S. probe, isn't ready to do the same. Investigators are moving ahead with their probe, which could result in charges against senior FIFA officials, the U.S. law enforcement officials said.

FBI agents based in New York are moving ahead with their 3-year-old investigation, which will likely benefit from the findings of a former U.S. prosecutor, Michael Garcia, who was hired by FIFA to do an internal probe. The FBI plans to seek access to Garcia's report, which FIFA hasn't yet released.

[...]

A U.S. law enforcement official said the probe is looking at a variety of alleged corruption issues, including the 2018 and 2022 bidding process.

The FBI investigation includes the cooperation of a former top FIFA official who has provided documents and recordings of meetings with colleagues, law enforcement officials said.

The New York Daily news, which reported on the cooperation of former FIFA official Chuck Blazer, quoted Blazer as saying: "I just can't talk about that."

For those who may not know, Chuck Blazer was the man who brought about the investigation into Jack Warner and bin Hammam. He was in hot water himself, though, and was under FBI investigation for tax evasion and potentially receiving money (wired to his bank accounts) in dubious (at best) conditions. He evidently turned informer at some point and has turned over transcripts of meetings, phone calls, and online exchanges.

He also may or may not be Santa Claus.

[Risottia]

That too. Although I prefer to call the beer "Budějovický Budvar", as most people use "Budweiser" for the diluted piss.

I might call it that if I could pronounce "Budějovický".

In IPA it's / 'bu dje jo vits ki: /

[The Archregimancy]

It looks like Qatar don't always get their way.

The 2015 African Cup of Nations will be hosted by Equatorial Guinea.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/30053859

Not entirely sure if it's a great choice, but I guess it's better than some alternatives...

One corrupt oil-rich state outbidding another corrupt oil/natural gas-rich state to stand in as emergency host of a major tournament?

What could possibly go wrong?

At least Qatar's current ruler isn't related to a past ruler who killed or exiled a third of the country's population, so they have that one over Equatorial Guinea; though Equatorial Guinea likely has better scenery, so these things balance out...

[Yellow Yellow Red]

Not entirely sure if it's a great choice, but I guess it's better than some alternatives...

One corrupt oil-rich state outbidding another corrupt oil/natural gas-rich state to stand in as emergency host of a major tournament?

What could possibly go wrong?

At least Qatar's current ruler isn't related to a past ruler who killed or exiled a third of the country's population, so they have that one over Equatorial Guinea; though Equatorial Guinea likely has better scenery, so these things balance out...

And hey, Qatar can also feel good about their coat of arms not being embarrassingly bad, like Equatorial Guinea's

[Vassenor]

BBC Sport: Fifa corruption report: Judge 'surprised' at Garcia criticism

Ethics judge Hans-Joachim Eckert says he is "surprised" by public criticism from Fifa colleague Michael Garcia over his report into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Eckert's report into allegations of corruption was published on Thursday.

A few hours later, Garcia, who spent two years investigating the claims of wrongdoing, publicly criticised it.

Garcia revealed to the BBC that he did not see Eckert's final report before it was released to the media.

Eckert's 42-page document cleared Russia and Qatar of corruption after they were chosen to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups respectively, but it criticised England of flouting bid rules.

But less than four hours after its publication, Garcia, an American lawyer, issued a statement claiming it was "erroneous".

Just what Garcia thinks is wrong in Eckert's report is not yet clear, but he said he intended to appeal to Fifa.

Eckert, chairman of the adjudicatory chamber of Fifa's independent ethics committee, responded: "I'm surprised, not shocked. I'm a long time in the job here. I don't think anything surprises me."

Dyke wants Garcia report published

He also defended his work.

"A lot of my report was word for word from the Garcia report," he said.

Garcia's criticism prompted a number of key football figures, among them English Football Association chairman Greg Dyke, to call for his original findings, which are contained in a document that runs to several hundred pages, to be published in full.

Those calls were echoed on Friday by Fifa executive committee members Jeffrey Webb and Sunil Gulati.

They claim that the "disagreement" between Eckert and Garcia as well as the need for "complete transparency" means the full report should be made public "as soon as possible".

They added: "Providing the entire independent report for inspection is in the best interest of the game and Fifa."

Despite these pleas, Eckert said he would not take that step.

"I don't think that's possible because I have to respect the rights of confidentiality for continental law," said the German.

"Maybe it's another thing in the US, but in continental law I can't do it, and I can't do it in total even by the Fifa code of ethics. I will not do it."

Following Garcia's statement, Dyke said Fifa's report into World Cup corruption was now pointless and "a joke".

Eckert, who said he planned to speak to Garcia later, rejected that claim.

Meanwhile, the man who led the technical bid inspections into the 2018 and 2022 World Cups is under investigation by Fifa for allegedly breaching its code of ethics.

Harold Maynes Nicholls, a Chilean national who is considering standing against Sepp Blatter in next year's Fifa presidential election, is under scrutiny for his links with a Qatari sporting academy.

[New England and The Maritimes]

Hammerfest 2026. Let's go Norway!

[Soled]

Hammerfest 2026. Let's go Norway!

That's the last place i'd put up, anything, to be exact.

[Bandwagon]

I vote for North Korea 2026.
I'll book this for the English team.
Way better than Rustenburg.
https://plus.google.com/113692373933202928828/about?hl=en&gl=ie

[Chestaan]

Not entirely sure if it's a great choice, but I guess it's better than some alternatives...

One corrupt oil-rich state outbidding another corrupt oil/natural gas-rich state to stand in as emergency host of a major tournament?

What could possibly go wrong?

At least Qatar's current ruler isn't related to a past ruler who killed or exiled a third of the country's population, so they have that one over Equatorial Guinea; though Equatorial Guinea likely has better scenery, so these things balance out...

Equitorial Guinea wins this match in the shitty tin-pot dictatorships' world cup.

[Czechanada]

I don't have a problem with Budweiser being considered beer.
I have lots of problems with Bud bein considered Budweiser.

That too. Although I prefer to call the beer "Budějovický Budvar", as most people use "Budweiser" for the diluted piss.

This post is approved by Czechanada.

[The Archregimancy]

I believe Garcia has a way of publishing his report without breaking relevant laws.

He could, hypothetically, provide a copy to a member of parliament in a Westminster-style democracy that has the legal concept of parliamentary privilege. This would encompass the UK, Australia, and Canada - though the case is of most direct interest to the first two.

That member of parliament could then release the contents of the report in the course of his or her normal legislative duties without fear of criminal prosecution.

I'd be grateful (seriously) if anyone could point out a potential flaw in this, other than the opprobrium FIFA would likely launch at the relevant MP.

For reference (lightly edited from Wikipedia):

Parliamentary privilege (also absolute privilege) is a legal immunity enjoyed by members of certain legislatures, in which legislators are granted protection against civil or criminal liability for actions done or statements made in the course of their legislative duties. It is common in countries whose constitutions are based on the Westminster system. A similar mechanism is known as parliamentary immunity.

In the United Kingdom, it allows members of the House of Lords and House of Commons to speak freely during ordinary parliamentary proceedings without fear of legal action on the grounds of slander, contempt of court or breaching the Official Secrets Act. It also means that members of Parliament cannot be arrested on civil matters for statements made or acts undertaken as an MP within the grounds of the Palace of Westminster, on the condition that such statements or acts occur as part of a proceeding in Parliament—for example, as a question to the Prime Minister in the House of Commons. This allows Members to raise questions or debate issues which could slander an individual, interfere with an ongoing court case or threaten to reveal state secrets.

There is no immunity from arrest on criminal grounds.

Similar rights apply in other Westminster system countries such as Canada and Australia. In the United States, the Speech or Debate Clause in Article One of the United States Constitution provides for a similar privilege, and many state constitutions provide similar clauses for their state legislatures.

Parliamentary privilege is controversial because of its potential for abuse; a member can use privilege to make damaging allegations that would ordinarily be discouraged by defamation laws, without first determining whether those allegations have a strong foundation. [/quote]

[Risottia]

I believe Garcia has a way of publishing his report without breaking relevant laws.

He could, hypothetically, provide a copy to a member of parliament in a Westminster-style democracy that has the legal concept of parliamentary privilege. This would encompass the UK, Australia, and Canada - though the case is of most direct interest to the first two ...

Garcia is an American citizen; isn't he bound to observe American laws even when outside the US jurisdiction, at least in some way?

Also, since the FIFA HQ is in Zuerich, his contract with the FIFA is likely to fall under the jurisdiction of the Cantonal Court - let's say in the case of a civil lawsuit.

[Laerod]

I believe Garcia has a way of publishing his report without breaking relevant laws.

He could, hypothetically, provide a copy to a member of parliament in a Westminster-style democracy that has the legal concept of parliamentary privilege. This would encompass the UK, Australia, and Canada - though the case is of most direct interest to the first two ...

Garcia is an American citizen; isn't he bound to observe American laws even when outside the US jurisdiction, at least in some way?

Also, since the FIFA HQ is in Zuerich, his contract with the FIFA is likely to fall under the jurisdiction of the Cantonal Court - let's say in the case of a civil lawsuit.

The question would then be whether his confidentiality agreement allows him to pass on information to parliamentarians or not. Probably not.

[Maineiacs]

I can't imagine Russia 2018 is going to be much if any better than Qatar in terms of rampant corruption and lack of preparedness.

[Estenia]

Nice people, interesting cuisine. Good hockey.

We shall host the FIFA World Cup some day. We have just yet to perfect the physics of playing soccer in 20+ metres of snow.

Canada must host the Olympics again.

[Laerod]

We shall host the FIFA World Cup some day. We have just yet to perfect the physics of playing soccer in 20+ metres of snow.

Canada must host the Olympics again. :p

Canada is hosting the World Cup next year. What more do you want?