Monday 22nd February Man of the day: Gianni Infantino, flying to South Africa for short-notice talks with Tokyo Sexwale. Infantino denies he’s there for a deal – “I have nothing to hide”; Sexwale tells reporters: “I’m open to deals … it’s a secretive process.” Most off-message: Prince Ali, shipping a set of transparent voting booths to Zurich. The brother of Jordan’s semi-absolute monarch says the booths will safeguard democratic integrity; Fifa reject them. Quote of the day: Interim president Issa Hayatou – Sepp’s vice-president since 1992, disciplined for taking kickbacks in 2011 while denying unrelated links to alleged Qatari bribes – setting the week’s tone: “Let us embrace this new dawn. I look forward to playing my part.” Tuesday 23rd February Most off-message: Prince Ali’s transparent booths campaign reaches the Court of Arbitration in Sport, Question of the day: “What kind of democracy should be run by one man?” – leading the calls for an end to Fifa’s opaque autocratic open-to-abuse structure, Bahrain’s Sheikh Salman. Wednesday 24th February Man of the day: Infantino, railing against Sheikh Salman’s “bankrupt” claims. He denies he’s using his policies to buy support, and says he can make Fifa “financially stable as never before” – even while doubling grants to voters to $5m each (plus $1m for travel expenses, “if required”). Most off-message: Fifa’s ethics committee cut the corruption bans handed to Sepp and Michel Platini: reward for “their services to football”. Thursday 25th February Man of the day: Infantino takes the presidency in the second round, having earned an ovation by reminding delegates about his $5m grants plan. He tells the hall: “The money of Fifa is your money.”Man of the day: Infantino visiting Concacaf, whose past three presidents were all arrested, Infantino reassures delegates he can “easily” up their grants to $5m each, “just by looking at the cost structure of Fifa”. Most off-message: Liberia’s Musa Bility – barred from standing after failing an ethics test - urging colleagues to vote down reforms. Bility says the changes would neuter the new president: “These reforms just send the wrong signal.” Friday 26th February: Congress Two delegates vote against removing Cayman Islands executive Canover Watson from Fifa’s internal financial watchdog committee despite him being in prison for fraud; 28 delegates vote against Fifa’s reforms; Best tribute: Infantino on his banned mentor: “I thank him for everything he has given and taught me. I have strong, dear thoughts for Mr Platini right now.” • And the best endorsement: Sepp, giving his nod: “I’m glad Gianni is president, he has all the qualities to continue my work. I had mulled wine with him at Christmas. I gave him tips.” Credit where credit is due as usual to the Gruniard. Nice to see that little seems to have changed!!!
I see what you've done ____________________________________________ some people have more time on their hands than others or was it that the burgling in Scumderland was off last night
I guess if it has made Sunderland a safer place for one night then we should be grateful. Took me about 5mins to resurrect the threads we want and I found that boring. Cant believe how much time he must have wasted on this. There are 8 pages of them.
I'm not from Sunderland, I'm a Geordie My bipolar has been causing havoc with me lately, another sleepless night, thought I'd spend an hour on here to pass the night away...
Apologies for the insult then. As long as you enjoyed yourself in the small hours - that's what matters. Hopefully you are not going to have any more sleepless nights!
nobody mentioned you were from Scumberland I just said you may of been burgling in Scumberland I said it must of been called off last night
Yeah it didn't get mentioned directly, but that's clearly what you thought and meant. Nice dodge though, I'll give you a high 5 for that
