FIFA: Fraudulent Idiotic Farcical Arseholes?

[sjamesb3466]

Well looks like our chances of hosting the 2018 World Cup are screwed.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/9157121.stm

How an organisation such as FIFA can be so openly corrupt, yet get away with it, amazes me. That personal bias and opinion are allowed to play such HUGE roles in making massive decisions is truely astounding. What makes me laugh is this quote from Sepp Blatter "One can ask whether such an action is appropriate, trying to set traps for people. It is a deeply rooted problem [with the English media]". WHAT?!? These people were corrupt and taking part in completely illegal activities. FIFA should be ripping them to shreds yet have the balls to slag off the press for catching them out. Amazing.

Sorry if fixtures btw.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Disgrace.

 

[Springal]

Who cares, don't want it here!!

 

[SurreySeagulls]

Does it really surprise you though?

FIFA is only around to line the pockets of its members allegedly.

 

[Robbie G]

Sepp Blatter: ""Who is benefitting from this situation and who is being harmed, we are asking ourselves why did it happen and why did it happen specifically by English journalists? We are looking at that." "

He really is an idiot.

 

[ali jenkins]

More importantly, why are Panorama sticking their noses in? FIFA or the Olympic Committie arent going to award anything to this country if they are going to get slagged off in the build up, yes its corrupt but lets atleast all play the same game and get the press to keep quiet!!!

 

[Superphil]

At least we won't have to endure staging an over hyped tournament, with astronomical ticket prices, which we will be expected to win, and embarassingly crash out in the first knock out round.

 

[drew]

Interesting that it is an American owned paper that has possibly blown our chances!! Just like the News of the Screws seriously affected our chances and preparation in the last world cup (obviously helped by the inept morals of the players) , when the USA were in our group. Hey but I don't believe in conspiracies!!!

 

[Barrel of Fun]

yes its corrupt but lets atleast all play the same game and get the press to keep quiet!!!

A corrupt organisation is running the international game.

Full credit to the British press for chasing them. The sooner the gravy train is obliterated the better.

 

[Springal]

A corrupt organisation is running the international game.

Full credit to the British press for chasing them. The sooner the gravy train is obliterated the better.

No chance, Blatter will get another term. Each employee at FIFA, just got a $218k bonus after the success of the world cup.... who wouldn't vote for him when he's paying out those kind of bonuses!

 

[Barrel of Fun]

No chance, Blatter will get another term. Each employee at FIFA, just got a $218k bonus after the success of the world cup.... who wouldn't vote for him when he's paying out those kind of bonuses!

Indeed. Charity starts in Switzerland, eh?

 

[beorhthelm]

isnt that all just based on an individuals opinion, one possible set up to create a reaction in FIFA to be seen not to prejudice our bid?

 

[Gwylan]

the Olympic Committie arent going to award anything to this country if they are going to get slagged off in the build up,

Er...I think you should be told about something

 

[Brovion]

A corrupt organisation is running the international game.

Full credit to the British press for chasing them. The sooner the gravy train is obliterated the better.

I must admit if it were a choice between FIFA getting 'cleaned-up' and us hosting the World Cup I'd rather clean up FIFA - not that I think either is very likely at the moment.

 

[Gritt23]

It does suggest that FIFA actively opposes any attempts to eradicate corruption from within it's organisation.

"Right, well I think we can all see that the damn English love to expose that sort of thing. I think we all agree they must be punished for that, or we'll end up having to be HONEST and I'm sure no-one want that."
"Hear hear."
"Too right."
"Down with honesty"
"Ban them, throw them out completely."

 

[Barrel of Fun]

I'd definitely take one for the team, Brovion, but as yo usay I can't see either happening.

Sepp: the Midas touch

• 2008: Sepp Blatter announces "historic partnership" with Indian IT provider Satyam. Sepp says the lucrative deal, signed by Satyam founder Ramalinga Raju to make Satyam a Fifa corporate-family member, headline 2010 World Cup sponsor and official Fifa IT partner until 2014, makes him "very proud". "Satyam share Fifa's ideals, and identify with our mission to use football as a tool to touch the world and build a better future for all."
• 2009: Ramalinga Raju admits overseeing "unprecedent fraud" at Satyam: corrupt accounting to the value of £660m. "I reveal this with regret. It got out of control. It was like riding a tiger, not knowing how to get off without being eaten." "We're monitoring this," say Fifa.

Meanwhile

Suspended from "all football activity" last week by Fifa's ethics committee: former executive Ismael Bhamjee, caught up in the cash-for-votes sting. Fifa: the action proves "our zero tolerance to any alleged breach of ethics". (Bhamjee's record before last week, which hadn't earned a Fifa ban from all football activities: 2006 – caught in a sting touting tickets at the World Cup for three times face value, supplementing his £270 daily Fifa expenses. "I got myself in a mess," Bhamjee said. "I've been a fool.")
Quotes of the week

• Sepp on the biggest villains this month: "Is it appropriate how the media trapped some members of the executive committee? Why did they do it? We talk about fair play in sport – that must apply to the media too."
• Former executive committee member Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder on how the scandal has been over-played: "Look, Fifa is not a pile of corrupt people. It is just that some of them took a wrong turn."
• And Claudio Sulser on how life has turned out for him as head of Fifa's ethics committee: "I did not expect to be kept so busy."
And finally

New for Sulser this week: German magazine Kicker claiming they paid £1,700 to receive the full answers to FIfa's agents licence exam. Their reporter, posing as an agent, was sent the answers by text message the night before sitting the test. Fifa is yet to comment.

Why is it so

Man of the week: Fifa's Amos Adamu – suspended, but denying wrongdoing. Adamu's previous best views on corruption: July – tells four Nigerian officials to fight fraud charges and clear their names. "The public sees every football administrator as a corrupt person, and I cannot explain why it is so. We should be transparent and prove them all wrong." Plus, 2006 – says claims he bribed his way into Fifa are lies. "I am accountable. Corrupt people go to jail, not to Fifa."
Straight bat

Leading Fifa's defence last week after Adamu was stung: executive Chuck Blazer – saying there's "nothing dubious" about Fifa's World Cup bid process. "You can't say the system is bad. The newspaper created a scam, a trap, tempting [Adamu] to do something wrong."
Last time Chuck defended Fifa: 2006 – appearing in court to answer claims of deception in a sponsorship deal with Mastercard. The outcome: Fifa told to pay Mastercard $90m; four Fifa executives sacked; and Blazer criticised by the judge for lying: "Mr Blazer's testimony was generally without credibility." (Sepp's verdict: "The judgment was very biased.")
Devils

£500k: Amount Adamu allegedly wanted in return for his vote. Sepp: "Our society is full of devils, and you find them in football."
£500k: Amount Jack Warner's family firm made from touting 2006 World Cup tickets. Sepp: "Jack is a wonderful, loyal friend! He's a very competent man." (Blazer's view on Warner's 2006 troubles: "The whole nature of ticketing was in flux around that time. He addressed it. It sounds worse than it was.")

Socialist worker

New last week from Jack Warner: inaugurates a new academy in Jamaica paid for by a Fifa grant. Jack says Fifa are devoted to wealth redistribution for disadvantaged nations as part of a commitment to "equity and equality" in football. Fifa's grant to the centre: £250k. Amount paid in "bribes and kickbacks" to Fifa executives and contacts by Fifa's collapsed marketing agency up to 2001: £66m.
Family news

£16k: amount Fifa will donate to former Togo goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale, left unable to walk after being shot at the Africa Cup of Nations in January. Sepp told Obilale, who owes over £100k in medical bills: "I wish you a lot of courage". (£170k: Bonuses paid by Sepp to all 208 Fifa associations in June ahead of next year's Fifa elections. "Call it a gift!" said Sepp. "We are a united and happy football family!")
Plus: award of the week

Former Fifa vice-president Viacheslav Koloskov, in Asunción to lobby Fifa executive Nicolás Leoz for Russia's 2018 bid. Leoz presented Koloskov with an award for "services to football and its principles". (Principles: 2000 – Leoz named in court as taking £85k in bribes; 2002 – Koloskov given an unauthorised £65k payment from Sepp to cover "personal expenses". Sepp: "I reject all allegations of corruption.")
Meanwhile: last week's transparency round-up

• $81m: Public funds allocated to stadium refurbishment in Jack Warner's Trinidad for last month's Fifa U17 Women's World Cup. An inquiry has now been launched to "determine where the $81m went". Minister Anil Roberts said it would be "forensic": "We have a report which shows the money was misappropriated. We will solve this problem."

Also new from Fifa

1) August: Sepp says he'll use Fifa's charitable status to help Pakistan overcome the flood disaster. "Contributing to alleviate suffering and maintain human dignity after disasters within the football family is a responsibility Fifa takes very seriously."

September: Sepp clarifies how much of Fifa's £670m reserve fund will be spent on aid. "We cannot use Fifa funds for humanitarian projects. But we will help replace pitches, little by little..."

2) Best use of Fifa World Cup income so far: four former Nigeria FA executives bailed on charges of embezzlement and financial mismanagement. Among the alleged spending: £520,000 on travel costs to South Africa for 47 delegates plus 173 "friends and girlfriends", with 1,263 complimentary tickets for "associates". All four deny the charges.

3) And one to watch: Manuel Burga - attempting to change Peruvian FA election rules to secure an extra year as president. Paper Correo Lima says Burga's plan for an extra year comes "without the least bit of shame about being so widely despised" and is intended to "help him secure a subsequent job with Fifa". (Burga's last big interaction with

Fifa: 2006 – Sepp intervening to stop Peru's government prosecuting Burga over alleged "gross ongoing corruption". Fifa: "We cannot allow governments to interfere in football affairs.")

Fifa: for the game

New from the 2018 bid process last week: leaked documents from the joint Holland/Belgium bid setting out what's in it for Fifa. On the list: Fifa, its officials and partners will receive full tax exemption, covering "all revenues, profits, income, expenses, costs, investments and any and all kind of payments in cash or otherwise" for an "unlimited time period". (Fifa's estimated profit from this year's tournament, via a similar tax exemption in South Africa and charitable status in Switzerland: £2.5bn.)
Meanwhile

June: A World Cup court jails a Nigerian for three years for touting 30 tickets. Fifa's official ticket agency Match pledges to break the international touting network exploiting fans. "Our enforcement unit has a list of names; we are working closely with police."

August: Norwegian paper Dagbladet uncovers a list of 250,000 names and passport numbers of Match customers, allegedly sold on the black market to high-end organised international ticket touts by a rogue Match employee. Fifa: "We are aware of this report. Match is investigating."

...and so on.

 

[Tooting Gull]

There was only one way for FIFA to act in this, even if they hate the British press. State that the allegations were very serious, initiate a full internal inquiry, if they really want to be seen to be clean, an external inquiry of some sort, suspend the two, don't let them vote, or postpone the vote pending the result. They have done some of these, but there is no other way to proceed.

Contrast that with Hearn in snooker. He grasped the nettle, said if there was anything to root out, he would. You could argue he was let down badly by the independent tribunal over Higgins, but that was not his decision, and he himself did all the right things. There are parallels with the newspaper tactics as well from that case, though I doubt the FIFA guys can plead intimidation. Other than from Blatter himself, perhaps.

 

[Easy 10]

It was always going to be Russia anyway, its a done deal. Palms will have been greased LONG ago to make that happen, you can guarantee it.

England present the fact that we could stage the World Cup tomorrow as a positive. And from a FANS point of view, of course it is. We've got the stadiums and the infrastructre all in place, we've got a nation obsessed with the game, geographically England is ideal, and we'd be able to put on one hell of a tournament.

But thats not what FIFA want. It suits their agenda to give it to a nation that requires VAST investment in order to stage the World Cup. Multi-million pound contracts being dished out to corporations to build or improve stadiums, upgrade infrastructure, improve travel links etc etc. The rich oligarchs will have done their deals with the FIFA bigwigs to ensure all that investment, all that cash, will be flooding towards Russia.

This whole bid process is just a load of fluff, bluff and nonsense. We all know Russia would be a horrendously difficult venue for the fans, both geographically and for visas etc. But thats really not the issue. FIFA can dress it up as "spreading the game to the world" etc etc, but we all know its basically boiling down to who pays the backhanders. With Russians involved, and the inherant corruption of FIFA, this thing was stitched up long, long ago. I'd bet my right bollock on it.