FIFA arrests (now with improved Blatter/Platini bans!)

[Yumyumsuppertime]

Corruption charges are being dropped and an off season world cup is being held in the US.

http://www.theonion.com/article/fifa-fr ... up-u-50525

Jack Warner, is that you?

[Shofercia]

Corruption charges are being dropped and an off season world cup is being held in the US.

http://www.theonion.com/article/fifa-fr ... up-u-50525

Sorry Onion, New Yorker beat ya to it

Corruption charges are being dropped and an off season world cup is being held in the US.

http://www.theonion.com/article/fifa-fr ... up-u-50525

Jack Warner, is that you?

[Scandavian States]

Even if that were true, so what?

It would mean the motivation for fighting corruption in FIFA by the Americans are not honest nor moral, but it would mean that politics is behind this. Would not be better if the US did not made this earlier like in 2010 in SA, especially know as we know that the head of the SA FA admitted to paying bribe?

Your source is Putin? LOL. This investigation has been going on for years and the reason the charges were filed now was just about everybody being together at the same place and coming up against the statute of limitations. Besides, it was the Swiss that did the arresting, they don't roll over for anybody. My final point is that Europeans get so caught up in the similarities between our societies that they miss the genuinely alien way we do a lot of things, the DOJ isn't going to screw up one of its key law enforcement abilities (the RICO Act) with a bad charge. If they've been charged, it's because the evidence is air tight and they're looking to move up the food chain.

[The Archregimancy]

That not only gets COMNEBOL more votes in FIFA, but also weakens the Brazilian national team to the advantage of just about everyone else. It's a win-win situation.

Did you miss the recent World Cup held in Brazil? In the first game, the ref had to fake a penalty for Brazil to get them the win. In the last game they were humiliated. In between they barely won with ref support.

It's a шутка, Shofercia; you're not supposed to take it seriously.

[The Blaatschapen]

Did you miss the recent World Cup held in Brazil? In the first game, the ref had to fake a penalty for Brazil to get them the win. In the last game they were humiliated. In between they barely won with ref support.

It's a шутка, Shofercia; you're not supposed to take it seriously.

Like the English national football team

[New Skaaneland]

Englishmen's strong interest in their many clubs might have created some tensions at England games but I think that played a part in creating a better atmosphere. It's not quite the same as not taking the national team seriously - at least not in most cases - but sure, having club as priority number one is good for the football culture. Especially if there are tons of clubs with that kind of support.

[The Matthew Islands]

Well I wish there were more canditates because I was not convinced by the prince either. I don't understand how only 2 people were candidates to run such a large organization like FIFA. This really is a closed inner circle thing I guess.

As surprising as it is, I completely agree with you on this point. Even amongst the final four candidates, the choices were amazingly poor. FIFA really needs to do a better job during the nomination process, because the final quartet was...

Yes, I'm sure UEFA will struggle without all those massive global Russian heavyweight clubs, like, you know, that one team from Moscow who make the Champions league final 16.

Poor old UEFA would have to rely on the Premier league (The most watched league in the world), La Liga, Series A, the Bundesliga, the Ligue 1 and the Primeira Liga. The Premier league alone probably provides more income for UEFA than the Russian Premier leauge has in its entire lifetime.

It's not just about the money. It's also about the fanbase and potential fanbase. Russia has roughly 20% of current and potential European fan base. Can Europe survive without Russian teams? Yes. Can Europe continue to remain a dominant league after Asia develops in 2/3 decades without Russia? That's a much more complicated question.

Coincidence? You may not have been aware, but there have pretty much been calls for investigations into the 2018 and 2022 world cups since they were first announced. Perhaps the Swiss have decided to do it as part of the corruption investigation as it gives them more leverage for negotiating deals and gleaning information from the suspects.

Also, if Ali's education doesn't matter, why mention it in the first place. Also he apparently won the election for VP of the AFC.

I mentioned his education to show potential bias, not to talk about his qualifications. And yes, originally he was AFC's VP, but AFC didn't want him as FIFA's leader, that much was clear. And yes, there were calls, so why not timely answer said calls, instead of waiting for the week of the election?

Unlike Blatter who, of course, had a very successful soccer career.

Blatter has been the head of FIFA for 16 years. Usually when your president for 16 years, people might call you corrupt, but inexperienced is simply not the first, or second, or last word that comes to mind.

Forum coding on a phone is so difficult to use...

1: I'd argue that the European leauges have nothing to fear regarding their dominance. I'd argue that there is likely more Man United fans in Russia than there are CSKA Moscow fans.

Hell, even is south east Asia it's known that Man U have a large well established fan base already set up.

The European leauge (especially the premiere leauge) already have a firm dominance globally both financially and in terms of supporters. I can't see Russia leaving UEFA having any effect at all because I would argue Russia gets more out of UEFA (the chance to bring publicity and revenue into Russia by competing with the biggest clubs in the world) than UEFA gets from Russia.

Also, IIRC there was a prompt investigation into the world cup bids, and the person who wrote the report claimed FIFA had run a whitewash and that the Russians had conveniently had all the data from the computers they used wiped when they returned them to the company they hired them from.

They did all the arrests before the election because they knew that they would be in Zurich at the same time and this gives the authorities the best chances of getting evidence by trying to get them all to throw each other under the bus.

[New Skaaneland]

I'd say most of those Russian Man Uniteds aren't real supporters.

[Sebastianbourg]

I'd say most of those Russian Man Uniteds aren't real supporters.

From what I gather, most fans aren't real supporters per your definition. I don't know too many people - Russian, Congolese or whatever - who put their team above sex, their country and God.

[Frenline Delpha]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9hk7Lg4dzY

Also, how do I post a video to be viewable on the forums?
Also, look at the content creator's post

FIFA... Football Illuminati Finally Apprehended?

I find it hilarious.

[New Skaaneland]

I'd rather play Contra.

[The Blaatschapen]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9hk7Lg4dzY

Also, how do I post a video to be viewable on the forums?

You don't.

You can only link to a video.

This is intentional.

[Frenline Delpha]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9hk7Lg4dzY

Also, how do I post a video to be viewable on the forums?

You don't.

You can only link to a video.

This is intentional.

Okay. Thanks.

[Camicon]

Oh, John Oliver, of course your show last night was about FIFA. And yes, it was fantastic.

[New Skaaneland]

He doesn't hold back and he's quite energetic in his speeches, but he doesn't understand football.

[DesAnges]

He doesn't hold back and he's quite energetic in his speeches, but he doesn't understand football.

What about it, in your view, does he not understand?

[New Skaaneland]

It's just that he doesn't seem to be into football in any other way than saying that 'FIFA is bad' over and over. It's like watching an alien make jokes about the level of salt in your local sea, taking for granted that it'd be the main topic of concern among earth's inhabitants. Then expecting to actually have a say about our living standards.

[Camicon]

It's just that he doesn't seem to be into football in any other way than saying that 'FIFA is bad' over and over. It's like watching an alien make jokes about the level of salt in your local sea, taking for granted that it'd be the main topic of concern among earth's inhabitants. Then expecting to actually have a say about our living standards.

So... what? You want video of him attending a soccer game before you'll believe that he loves the sport?

[Nurkama]

Well that's good, ever since I heard Qatar got the 2022 World Cup, I said bullshit and was displeased. Qatar has never even qualified for a World Cup and is definitely too hot to hold one.

[Constaniana]

Well that's good, ever since I heard Qatar got the 2022 World Cup, I said bullshit and was displeased. Qatar has never even qualified for a World Cup and is definitely too hot to hold one.

True love bribery conquers all.

[Scandavian States]

He doesn't hold back and he's quite energetic in his speeches, but he doesn't understand football.

... It's a comedy show.

[New Skaaneland]

It's just that he doesn't seem to be into football in any other way than saying that 'FIFA is bad' over and over. It's like watching an alien make jokes about the level of salt in your local sea, taking for granted that it'd be the main topic of concern among earth's inhabitants. Then expecting to actually have a say about our living standards.

So... what? You want video of him attending a soccer game before you'll believe that he loves the sport?

It could help if Americans in general started to do that and if the support for each local little club was handed down from generation to generation, in defiance against the other clubs and without looking up to anyone, be it the police, the club's board of directors or players who don't perform well enough. Until then USA might not deserve to have more of a say than Montserrat, wherever that is. England would by right have more power when it comes to football, but that critique from an American is just ridiculous.

[Constaniana]

So... what? You want video of him attending a soccer game before you'll believe that he loves the sport?

It could help if Americans in general started to do that and if the support for each local little club was handed down from generation to generation, in defiance against the other clubs and without looking up to anyone, be it the police, the club's board of directors or players who don't perform well enough. Until then USA might not deserve to have more of a say than Montserrat, wherever that is. England would by right have more power when it comes to football, but that critique from an American is just ridiculous.

He's...do you not hear his accent? His name? I'm fairly sure it's impossible for someone named Oliver to not be English.

[Zeinbrad]

So... what? You want video of him attending a soccer game before you'll believe that he loves the sport?

It could help if Americans in general started to do that and if the support for each local little club was handed down from generation to generation, in defiance against the other clubs and without looking up to anyone, be it the police, the club's board of directors or players who don't perform well enough. Until then USA might not deserve to have more of a say than Montserrat, wherever that is. England would by right have more power when it comes to football, but that critique from an American is just ridiculous.

John Oliver is British.

[New Skaaneland]

Oh.. What team does he support?