Civil war at FIFA now, Warner opens the box...

[beorhthelm]

In theory great idea. Sadly Brazil, Russia and Qatar are just as corrupt as FIFA!!

which given the amount of money they make off hosting the WC, might make them think of it too?

 

[Seagull over Canaryland]

Personally I don't see what the problem is, if Mr. Blatter is happy with things at FIFA then that's good enough for me, and whats more he can have another 4 years in charge. By the way he assures me that the cheque is in the post.

However would someone please sort out the clods at the FA and in the Premier League and the peverse rules about creditors etc so that the crooks here get their come uppance (Pompey & Palace take note) and domestic grass roots footie does not implode, so that Plymouth, Rushden and Wrexham to name a few get a level playing field. But for Tony Bloom et al we would be on the latter list. It was only 2-3 weeks ago we were bemoaning the Alan Sugar TV 'expose' on footie, but what has happened since? Lets get our domestic footie in order before we get too precious about FIFA (although that clearly needs purging too).

 

[Triggaaar]

It might not be people from the 'football family' that have the clout to get FIFA to change but there was an article on one of the sites that said Coca Cola & Adidas were very upset at the situation. I'm sure the same is true of all the other major sponsors, who would be worried that their products would be damaged by association. The US Government also imposes massive penalties on companies found to be involved with corruption. When the big-money sponsors threaten to up and leave then this is only heading one way.

Interesting points, thanks. So what can we do? We (the fans) need to seize the momentum - get a facebook group (like rise against the machine) and FIFA should collapse by the morning.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Personally I don't see what the problem is, if Mr. Blatter is happy with things at FIFA then that's good enough for me, and whats more he can have another 4 years in charge. By the way he assures me that the cheque is in the post.

However would someone please sort out the clods at the FA and in the Premier League and the peverse rules about creditors etc so that the crooks here get their come uppance (Pompey & Palace take note) and domestic grass roots footie does not implode, so that Plymouth, Rushden and Wrexham to name a few get a level playing field. But for Tony Bloom et al we would be on the latter list. It was only 2-3 weeks ago we were bemoaning the Alan Sugar TV 'expose' on footie, but what has happened since? Lets get our domestic footie in order before we get too precious about FIFA (although that clearly needs purging too).

Funny thing is, it would take comparatively little orchestrated effort to have Blatter consigned to the dustbin of history. Football is far far bigger than that corrupt c unt.

 

[Gwylan]

It might not be people from the 'football family' that have the clout to get FIFA to change but there was an article on one of the sites that said Coca Cola & Adidas were very upset at the situation. I'm sure the same is true of all the other major sponsors, who would be worried that their products would be damaged by association. The US Government also imposes massive penalties on companies found to be involved with corruption. When the big-money sponsors threaten to up and leave then this is only heading one way.

I think you'll find that something similar happened within the IOC after the Salt Lake City voter bribery incident.

This.

I've seen articles that said Adidas was concerned about it and there'll be a lot of commercial pressure. Maybe it's not a Facebook revolt against FIFA that's needed but a FB revolt against Adidas, Budweiser, Coca Cola and all the other commercial partners that FIFA has. FIFA would reform itself pretty quickly if the funds dried up.

Similarly, it's not the likes of England and Australia that FIFA should be worried about - it's the US. If the Septics called for a action, then it would be taken more seriously. Money really talks in this situation.

 

[Jimbo.GRFC]

I heard a spokesman for FIFA state they could not delay the election despite the outstanding issues because it was always on that date, then the current chairman is cleared in one day, it just get worse.

I say pull out of FIFA anyway, they need us more than anyone. Don't think the other nations will see it that way !!

 

[Jimbo.GRFC]

Personally I don't see what the problem is, if Mr. Blatter is happy with things at FIFA then that's good enough for me, and whats more he can have another 4 years in charge. By the way he assures me that the cheque is in the post.

However would someone please sort out the clods at the FA and in the Premier League and the peverse rules about creditors etc so that the crooks here get their come uppance (Pompey & Palace take note) and domestic grass roots footie does not implode, so that Plymouth, Rushden and Wrexham to name a few get a level playing field. But for Tony Bloom et al we would be on the latter list. It was only 2-3 weeks ago we were bemoaning the Alan Sugar TV 'expose' on footie, but what has happened since? Lets get our domestic footie in order before we get too precious about FIFA (although that clearly needs purging too).

Are you for real I raised this issue about 18 months ago. The stench of rats was overwhelming at the time and and has continued to do so.....

 

[Peever]

Going to be a long drawn out saga. The Owen and Murray saga's will seem like peanuts in comparison.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

I say pull out of FIFA anyway, they need us more than anyone. Don't think the other nations will see it that way !!

The UK football associations withdrew from FIFA in 1919 and didn't return until 1946. The period without the UK associations in membership saw a massive advance in the organisation of world football - including the introduction of football to the Olympic Games and the setting up of the World Cup.

I can't see an FA withdrawal today having any greater effect than the last time they did it.

 

[Seagull over Canaryland]

Not expecting Blatter to face up to reality while his destiny remains within the closed shop at FIFA. No doubt the media will kick up another shitstorm after todays performance but he has years of practice at shrugging off allegations from the media, FA and governments, and now thinks he has dealt with his rivals / accusers within FIFA too. Today he kicked the latest FA and Sunday times allegations into touch. BBC Panorama raised ethical issues about FIFA in 2006 but surprise surprise here we are still.

Blatter is like a sad and spent old politician out of touch with reality and public opinion that has stayed around beyond his sell by date. Not sure it is within his arrogant character to withdraw / retire and allow a fresh start within FIFA so will have to be pushed. I hope that sponsors really do threaten to pull the plug. How ironic the very thing that is the root of the problem in FIFA ie money and power maybe be his own nemesis. Then have an 'IOC' style purge of FIFA.

I still think we need a fundamental review of how we regulate domestic footie too ie 'fit and proper' persons in control of clubs, creditors rules, agents fees, cash flows down through the leagues etc.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

There are TWO major figures running football today. Blatter and Murdoch. They both have the same personal agenda - keep things murky and the money will roll in.

If we think we can get rid of Blatter, while still stumping up our cash to keep Murdoch in charge, we are deluding ourselves.

 

[Tooting Gull]

Apart from Blatter's Comical Ali performance, the most depressing thing was that the supposed English exposes of the wrongdoing crumbled away a bit under pressure. The FA have cleared everyone (making Triesman look a right tit) and the Sunday Times haven't pressed home their allegations, while whistleblowers have taken cover.

It would be a supreme irony if we all have to rely on Jack Warner to do the real damage, but I can't see where the knockout blow is coming from.

But seriously, how mad was he? 'It was a great Champions League final, which proves FIFA isn't corrupt'. Completely loony-tunes.

 

[GT49er]

In the short term, unless FIFA implodes (which sadly I don't think it will) I don't think there's much that can be done. Snouts in troughs have snaffled away enough money to pay to stay with their snouts in the trough.

Long term, I think the FA should announce after we are eliminated from the 2018 WC (at whatever stage that might be) that we just aren't going to bother to enter 2022 in Qatar - if other nations joined us, we would then either have two governing bodies (one trying to sell WCs to Somalia, Cambodia, Burkhino-Fasso, Western Samoa, Ruanda and the like, and the new one that actually mattered) or it would just blow FIFA out of existence. Bring on either option, I say!

 

[Tim Over Whelmed]

It will be interesting to see what happens now that both Coca Cola & Adidas have stepped in to express concern. I think the vote will get postponed now, surely even Blatter can't let this go ahead? He will try to cling to power because he knows he's in the shot if he doesn't as all this comes out in the wash.

 

[El Presidente]

The problem is that Coca Cola and adidas can easily be replaced. Unlike the Tiger Woods scenario, where the sponsors could transfer their allegiance to another player, there is only one World Cup, and it is a very lucrative competition.

 

[Questions]

To be honest allegations against FIFA of corruption have been going on long before Blatter came to the helm. We in this country are making a bigger fuss than normal though because of the decision to give Russia the nod to host the World Cup.
When Havelange was in charge countless books and accusations (read Andrew Jennings views) were levelled against him and the organisation but no one cared then. There is a definate taste of sour grapes here though and of course the ludicrous decision to give the football mad country of Qatar the 2022 one gets a bit of a mention.
Corruption in a world governing body ? Noooooo. Whatever next ? Bribing Olympic host selection commitees ?

 

[essbee]

Let slip the dogs of war.

I love it!

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Funny thing is, it would take comparatively little orchestrated effort to have Blatter consigned to the dustbin of history. Football is far far bigger than that corrupt c unt.

And who exactly is going to do that. I'm sure Blatter thinks it's just the British causing problems, due to sour grapes - notice it was virtually only Brit journos asking questions. Can you imagine the Chairman of he FA of Burkino Faso voting against him, I think not. They are a law unto themselves (literally), and turkeys don't vote for Christmas.

 

[Questions]

There are TWO major figures running football today. Blatter and Murdoch. They both have the same personal agenda - keep things murky and the money will roll in.

If we think we can get rid of Blatter, while still stumping up our cash to keep Murdoch in charge, we are deluding ourselves.

Addidas and Coca-Cola put a lot more into a world cup than Murdoch.

I trust you will boycott Falmer and all Albion matches when we take our pieces of silver and line up against Murdock`s millionaires in a season or two.

 

[Triggaaar]

I've seen articles that said Adidas was concerned about it and there'll be a lot of commercial pressure. Maybe it's not a Facebook revolt against FIFA that's needed but a FB revolt against Adidas, Budweiser, Coca Cola and all the other commercial partners that FIFA has.

Good point. It doesn't sound like a pipe dream, it seems achievable.

It would have to be a completely new FIFA though, not just the odd change. It's weird how England only got 2 votes in the vote for 2018 after FIFA said ours was the best bed, I can't remember what the excuses were for us not getting more, something like us being over-confident - as if that is part of the selection criteria.