Panorama tonight: investigation into FIFA (Merged)

[Tricky Dicky]

Absolutely NOT. The demands on the hosting government are nothing short of blackmail. Why the hell should I pay all my tax but a corrupt criminal like Blatter not have to pay tax ?? I really hope we don't win it. Having watched the programme I can see why it needed to be aired now - the affect after the vote would be close to nothing. I can't believe the bid team nor the government had the guts to take part in the programme - shame on them.

So, you're happy hosting the Olympics then ? The assertion in the program was that this is no different to other bidding processes (and I think he specifically mentioned the Olympics)

 

[Westdene Seagull]

So, you're happy hosting the Olympics then ? The assertion in the program was that this is no different to other bidding processes (and I think he specifically mentioned the Olympics)

No, no I'm not.

ADDITION - judging by the BBC breaking news the Olympics appear to have had their feathers ruffled ! A good thing IMHO.

 

[Twinkle Toes]

No - I am biased, but the process of stadium select itself was a joke and I truly hope we don't win the bid. The stadiums in Bristol, Liverpool and Nottingham are pie in the sky plans. In particular the Nottingham stadium, they don't know where it will be or how they are going to pay for it. The FA were very unclear about why exactly Derby was rejected. PPS has everything all the infrastructure in place, planning and funding in place for stadium expansion and several large new hotels opening in the next 12 months.

Obviously I'm in a right huff as Derby was rejected.

Still, at least we can all rejoice in the knowledge that the MK Franchisers are sitting pretty if the World Cup finally comes home...

 

[Billy the Fish]

I wish we wouldn't both applying for the WC. We're clearly never going to get it all the time we're playing by the rules, and we must be because if we weren't the media and OB would be all over them on corruption charges. Blatter and his cronies clearly hate us and will never have a world cup over here while they are in charge.

The fact the our spineless, chinless wonders at the FA have to brown nose and arse kiss FIFA makes me embarrassed. They need to grow some balls and tell FIFA where to stick their world cup. If I was part of the bid I'd be blowing the whistle on all the backhanders as soon as the result was announced.

 

[GOM]

I would like to have the world cup here.

That is all

 

[Gwylan]

Marvelous use of the term: "bent old gang of pensioners" there edna!

Btw, anybody know what that phrase would be in Latin? FIFA should use it as their official motto innit.

Senacti cupidi et venalises would be my shot (awaits Rex Cathedra's corrections)

I didn't see the programme but having read the reports covering it I'm heartily glad that we didn't win the bid. Someone has to clean the Augean stable that is FIFA and I'd like to think that England could take the lead. Unhappily, the administrators we have here seem to have little stomach for the fight but I'm glad the BBC is not so craven.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

We'll get the same bleating from the same fans who will blame the press for the failings of FIFA/The FA/John Terry et al.

It has been quite clear for years that FIFA exploit their position as a charity and as head of a very rich game, yet nothing is done. "FIFA will launch an investigation..." and then nothing happens.

I'd love it if we took them to task and withdrew from the World Cup and convince a few major countries to do so.

 

[mikeyjh]

Someone has to clean the Augean stable that is FIFA and I'd like to think that England could take the lead. Unhappily, the administrators we have here seem to have little stomach for the fight but I'm glad the BBC is not so craven.

Well put, David Mellor makes a similar point during the airing. You should watch the programme, the behaviour of (in particular) Jack Warner is just horrible.

BBC iPlayer - Panorama: FIFA's Dirty Secrets

 

[ROSM]

This wont be a popular opinion but I was appalled by the programme. There was nothing there that hadn't been covered in the FOUR previous Panorama exposes or in the Observer earlier this year. The only 'new' bit was the typed sheet from ISL detailing payments dating from 1989 to 2001....between 21 and 10 years ago!

So why was this broadcast now? Don't get me wrong I'm all for weeding our 'corruption' but we need to be clear what's the difference between greasing the wheels and downright embezzlement. The sums looked dreaful but as I said, nothing that jennings hasn't raised before.

As for the sancatmonious lines about we should withdraw etc. That ain't gonna happen all the time that the wider football world (including germany) benefit from the FIFA way.

The World Cup will bring 4bn GBP to the UK economy and unlike the Olympics, cost relatively little to stage. the tax breaks being asked for (repulsive as they are) are a drop in the ocean.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

The World Cup will bring 4bn GBP to the UK economy and unlike the Olympics, cost relatively little to stage

That wasn't what he said in the program - the Dutch had costed it out and came up with a loss, and I don't see their expenses being any greater than ours, unless they have to build a load of new stadia.

 

[zego]

The ripples have started - tsunami on the way?

International Olympic Committee have picked up on the bloke who is part of their set-up who was fingered for his part in FIFA.

Sepp Blatter is right in saying that FIFA members had not broken any Swiss law, when Swiss legal system was used to investigate accusations.

He fails to mention that Swiss were, as a result of that investigation, so embarrassed by their law in respect of commercial inducements that they quickly updated so more in line with most judicial systems.

If Sepp Blatter is so confident of the probity of FIFA position, then he should positively welcome a re-presentation of the evidence, and clear away any doubts about possible corruption.

 

[ROSM]

That wasn't what he said in the program - the Dutch had costed it out and came up with a loss, and I don't see their expenses being any greater than ours, unless they have to build a load of new stadia.

The dutch and belgians made a loss on their euro championships whilst 4 years earlier we made a profit. They need major stadium development and have fears of unsold tickets which England aren't as worried about

 

[Tricky Dicky]

The dutch and belgians made a loss on their euro championships whilst 4 years earlier we made a profit. They need major stadium development and have fears of unsold tickets which England aren't as worried about

Maybe, sounds reasonable. It's all moot anyway as we stand not a cat in hells chance of getting it.

 

[nwgull]

I fully agree with the BBC's decision to show it last night. I don't see why our bid comittee should be complaining, it's as if they would prefer that the corruptness of the whole process remained swept under the carpet. Why should bidding countries have to bend over backwards and arse kiss a bunch of crooks??

I reckon the Russians will have had it stitched up long ago anyway, regardless of FIFA being pissed off by the Panorama programme. The best chance we have is for Spain/Portugal to win, and then have to move it here in 2-3 years time because they're both in a financial mess and won't complete the stadiums and other infrastructure in time.

 

[ROSM]

I fully agree with the BBC's decision to show it last night. I don't see why our bid comittee should be complaining, it's as if they would prefer that the corruptness of the whole process remained swept under the carpet. Why should bidding countries have to bend over backwards and arse kiss a bunch of crooks??

I reckon the Russians will have had it stitched up long ago anyway, regardless of FIFA being pissed off by the Panorama programme. The best chance we have is for Spain/Portugal to win, and then have to move it here in 2-3 years time because they're both in a financial mess and won't complete the stadiums and other infrastructure in time.

who says anything about sweeping it under the carpet? But it was old news, nothing new and the timing was less likely to embarrass fifa than it was to hole our bid below the water line.

another country will win the bid and the English if they complain will be seen by the rest of the world as sore losers who've fallen foul of a self inflicted gun shot wound.

 

[Dave the OAP]

if this does go the the russians, it will be a nightmare for fans. Do you remember the chaos that unsued when Manu and Chelsea reached the Champions league final where up until the 11th hour, fans had to apply for visas....is that going to happen for the amount of fans that headed to Germany and South Africa?

Spain and Portugal are almost bust, so they couldnt afford it, so that only leaves England who have the infrastructure and Grounds.....if we do not get it it will be political and the fact that FIFA wanted Wimbledon cancelled as you cant have two great events happening at the same time ...as if the Wimbledon Tennis fans give a toss about football.

 

[Willow]

I couldn't bring myself to watch the program, but if it contained mostly old news, what was the BBC's reason for airing it three days before the winner is to be announced? I don't understand their motivation for derailing any last hope we may have had.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

another country will win the bid and the English if they complain will be seen by the rest of the world as sore losers who've fallen foul of a self inflicted gun shot wound.

It is indeed self inflicted but not in the way you're suggesting. It was self inflicted the moment we agreed to go along with the corrupt bidding process and the blackmail of governments. Our bid team, and to a lesser extent our Government, are implicit in this corruption as they have chosen to go along with it rather than attempt to bring FIFA to account.

Lots of crimes are old news but it shouldn't stop the press continually highlighting them in some, often vain, attempt to bring the criminals to justice.

Just because there is allegedly £4bn for us to make doesn't mean we should participate in potentially illegal acts. If we sell our morals that easily then we might as well stop banging on about the banks and their misdemeanour's because what they did wasn't strictly illegal.

 

[ROSM]

It is indeed self inflicted but not in the way you're suggesting. It was self inflicted the moment we agreed to go along with the corrupt bidding process and the blackmail of governments. Our bid team, and to a lesser extent our Government, are implicit in this corruption as they have chosen to go along with it rather than attempt to bring FIFA to account.

Lots of crimes are old news but it shouldn't stop the press continually highlighting them in some, often vain, attempt to bring the criminals to justice.

Just because there is allegedly £4bn for us to make doesn't mean we should participate in potentially illegal acts. If we sell our morals that easily then we might as well stop banging on about the banks and their misdemeanour's because what they did wasn't strictly illegal.

have we taken part in a corrupt bidding process this time around? have we actually bribed governments? the answer i suspect is no and the greatest way to have shown up the issues would have been to have won the bid fairly and squarely which I'm sure we would have.

But we're talking about over 20 years ago in some cases. Should we be saying that beckham shouldn't be an ambassador as he got sent off in '98, or that cameron shouldn't be involved as he worked for Carlton communications when ITV digital declared itself bankrupt so it didn't have to pay league clubs their part of the deal they'd signed. Or indeed that as our fans had a record for hooliganism in the 80's that we shouldn't get the tournament? It's all as relevent as issues with ISL from the last century.

And by lumping all FIFA together you are making the same big mistake as you do by lumping all bankers together.

 

[Pavilionaire]

One of the worst aspects about the process is that there are 2 bids with the 2022 World Cup on the table as well. That gives all sorts of scope for 'horse-trading' and 'double-dealing'. England may find that we are simply too clean and honest to ever get the World Cup again whilst Blatter and the present regime remains in place.

I fully expect Russia and then Qatar to be the next two hosts.