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

[Vassenor]

Well, one FIFA bigwig thinks it's still possible that Russia might lose its host rights.

[Laerod]

Well, one FIFA bigwig thinks it's still possible that Russia might lose its host rights.

Basically, yeah. The main reason for it not being an option yet is that there's no mechanism for revoking it, thus opening up FIFA to massive lawsuits for damages. Evidence of bribery by the recipients would shield against that.

[Calimera II]

Well, one FIFA bigwig thinks it's still possible that Russia might lose its host rights.

They should make a decision as soon as possible. Because I am planning to go to the 2018 world cup and I want to know whether I have to go to Russia, England, Spain or stay here in The Netherlands...

[Geilinor]

You do realize that Uruguay had the best football team in the world at the time, having won the Olympic football tournaments of 1924 and 1928?

Yes, I do. Hence it was a good test case.

[Pushing Goalpost]Or ISN'T a government official in a country that likely scored a World Cup due to bribery?[/Pushing Goalpost]

That's a bit unfair, since, (I'm guessing here,) all of the countries used bribery, except Uruguay

I'm just going to laugh when someone gets pissed off at the US and publishes everything about the 1994 World Cup.

I thought one of the reasons they gave it to the US was wanting to popularize soccer in the first place?

[Dooom35796821595]

Yes, I do. Hence it was a good test case.




That's a bit unfair, since, (I'm guessing here,) all of the countries used bribery, except Uruguay

I'm just going to laugh when someone gets pissed off at the US and publishes everything about the 1994 World Cup.

I thought one of the reasons they gave it to the US was wanting to popularize soccer in the first place?

That's the first phase in getting america to recognise it's football, not soccer and to get them to name american football something else. Possibly american rugby, or handball, as both are more accurate.

[DesAnges]

I thought one of the reasons they gave it to the US was wanting to popularize soccer in the first place?

That's the first phase in getting america to recognise it's football, not soccer and to get them to name american football something else. Possibly american rugby, or handball, as both are more accurate.

Do you know the etymology of the word 'soccer'? And why the English Rugby administrators are called the RFU?

[Spoder]

I thought one of the reasons they gave it to the US was wanting to popularize soccer in the first place?

That's the first phase in getting america to recognise it's football, not soccer and to get them to name american football something else. Possibly american rugby, or handball, as both are more accurate.

'Soccer' was a word used to refer to people who played in Association Football. The same way rugby players were referred to as 'ruggers', associationers (?) were called 'soccers'.

[Scandavian States]

That's the first phase in getting america to recognise it's football, not soccer and to get them to name american football something else. Possibly american rugby, or handball, as both are more accurate.

Never going to happen. First of all, in America football (our football) is seen as God's sport. Second, America is fairly unique in that even the fourth most popular sport can make billions of dollars. Soccer won't ever be the most popular sport in America, it's foreign, but there's plenty of room for it at the table (and in our wallets). Besides, you don't really want us to commit to soccer, the men's team will end up like the women's and win every third world cup.

[Scandavian States]

also because 2018 isn't too far away, three years is a short period in which to organize a major sporting event.

It is. On the other hand, the UK and US already have massive sports infrastructure and plenty of experience organizing major sporting events. The US would have more difficulty than the UK, because a big part of the US' bid was pointing out that every team would have a home stadium and naturally you want to place the foreign teams in the cities with the highest concentration of their ethnicity.

[Gauthier]

That's the first phase in getting america to recognise it's football, not soccer and to get them to name american football something else. Possibly american rugby, or handball, as both are more accurate.

Never going to happen. First of all, in America football (our football) is seen as God's sport. Second, America is fairly unique in that even the fourth most popular sport can make billions of dollars. Soccer won't ever be the most popular sport in America, it's foreign, but there's plenty of room for it at the table (and in our wallets). Besides, you don't really want us to commit to soccer, the men's team will end up like the women's and win every third world cup.

And nobody wants to add Americans to the looming pool of hooligans.

[Vassenor]

BBC: Fifa crisis: Russia & Qatar 'may have bought votes'

Russia and Qatar may have had to pay bribes to secure their World Cups, Sepp Blatter's former special advisor has suggested.

Guido Tognoni worked "extremely closely" with the Fifa president during Blatter's second term.

"In Fifa, for many years, you could only reach your goal by taking dollars in your hands," Tognoni told BBC Sport.

Keep in mind this is a "I think it's likely based on my past experiences", not a definite "they did this".

[Minoa]

Man, United Passions could not have come out at a worse time. It was always destined to be an illustration of FIFA's attempts to polish a turd, but now it gets to be an ironic object lesson about hubris too. It seems that film reviewers are really enjoying trying out new bon mots upon its still-warm corpse.

That film is worse than a joke. It is not just total rubbish, but an absolute piece of propaganda junk that has received complete universal censure from nearly all fronts. Considering the Metacritic Metascore of 1, the User Metacritic score of 0.5, and the Rotten Tomatoes rating of a big fat 0%, one may wonder if it can get any worse – it already has.

According to VICE Sports, "if you were to submit United Passions in film school, you'd be expelled, even if the building had your father's name on it".

[DesAnges]

Man, United Passions could not have come out at a worse time. It was always destined to be an illustration of FIFA's attempts to polish a turd, but now it gets to be an ironic object lesson about hubris too. It seems that film reviewers are really enjoying trying out new bon mots upon its still-warm corpse.

That film is worse than a joke. It is not just total rubbish, but an absolute piece of propaganda junk that has received complete universal censure from nearly all fronts. Considering the Metacritic Metascore of 1, the User Metacritic score of 0.5, and the Rotten Tomatoes rating of a big fat 0%, one may wonder if it can get any worse – it already has.

According to VICE Sports, "if you were to submit United Passions in film school, you'd be expelled, even if the building had your father's name on it".

Thing is, all that actually makes me want to watch it, just to see how shite it is.

[The Archregimancy]

The opening weekend results are in for the US release of United Passions.

It grossed $607.

Not $607 thousand.

Just six hundred and seven dollars.

And you have to wonder what that figure would be if you discounted media reviewing the film...


For the record, the film cost $25m - $32m to make, with FIFA stumping up about 75% of the budget.

[The Qeiiam Galaxy]

The opening weekend results are in for the US release of United Passions.

It grossed $607.

Not $607 thousand.

Just six hundred and seven dollars.

And you have to wonder what that figure would be if you discounted media reviewing the film...


For the record, the film cost $25m - $32m to make, with FIFA stumping up about 75% of the budget.

http://www.espnfc.com/international-fri ... 68-million

AP reported that Russia -- where takings were $144,000 -- was the main market.

Not even Putin can save you now, FIFA!

[Scandavian States]

And nobody wants to add Americans to the looming pool of hooligans.

Have you ever attended a sporting event in America? Booing is generally frowned upon and being excessively rowdy will get you thrown out of a stadium. If hooligans tried the crap they pull in Europe they'd end up with a boot on their neck and a gun to their head courtesy of a pissed off police officer.

[The Carlisle]

The opening weekend results are in for the US release of United Passions.

It grossed $607.

Not $607 thousand.

Just six hundred and seven dollars.

And you have to wonder what that figure would be if you discounted media reviewing the film...


For the record, the film cost $25m - $32m to make, with FIFA stumping up about 75% of the budget.

GG no re FIFA.

Cosmic justice has been partially served.

[Camicon]

The opening weekend results are in for the US release of United Passions.

It grossed $607.

Not $607 thousand.

Just six hundred and seven dollars.

And you have to wonder what that figure would be if you discounted media reviewing the film...


For the record, the film cost $25m - $32m to make, with FIFA stumping up about 75% of the budget.

GG no re FIFA.

Cosmic justice has been partially served.

Consider that they have billions of dollars in reserve as a "rainy day fund". While running a $27 million dollar loss may seem like a lot, to FIFA, it really isn't.

[The Carlisle]

GG no re FIFA.

Cosmic justice has been partially served.

Consider that they have billions of dollars in reserve as a "rainy day fund". While running a $27 million dollar loss may seem like a lot, to FIFA, it really isn't.

I know. I'm a bit of an optimist. So to me, its millions they wasted and not stuffing into their or other shady peoples pockets.

[Vassenor]

And now BBC News is interviewing someone who's going on about how all this talk about Russia maybe losing their hosting rights is just the English being sore losers.

[The Carlisle]

And now BBC News is interviewing someone who's going on about how all this talk about Russia maybe losing their hosting rights is just the English being sore losers.

"Yes I do think we shouldn't punish nations who give bribes. Also, English sucks lol!"

[Souseiseki]

two world wars and one FIFA head removed in an international conspiracy with american backing to strip russia of its rightful cuppiness and make football come home for real

[DesAnges]

two world wars and one FIFA head removed in an international conspiracy with american backing to strip russia of its rightful cuppiness and make football come home for real

I don't want an English World Cup. I'm currently in a support boycott of the useless gits but I don't want the humiliation by association of us emulating South Africa.

[Eastfield Lodge]

two world wars and one FIFA head removed in an international conspiracy with american backing to strip russia of its rightful cuppiness and make football come home for real

I don't want an English World Cup. I'm currently in a support boycott of the useless gits but I don't want the humiliation by association of us emulating South Africa.

Don't worry, we can bribe the drawers to give us an easy group.

[DesAnges]

I don't want an English World Cup. I'm currently in a support boycott of the useless gits but I don't want the humiliation by association of us emulating South Africa.

Don't worry, we can bribe the drawers to give us an easy group.

South Africa had an argumentative France and a mediocre Mexico to contend with and still didn't manage to get out of the group as hosts.