Officials arrested at a Swiss hotel on suspicion of "Voting irregularities" relating to 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
It's going to be interesting to see the fallout from this. Still expect Blatter to be re-elected - unfortunately!!!!1
The vote on Friday will now be very interesting. Anyone supporting Blatter could be seen to be endorsing corruption. Those arrested are facing extradition to the US. Did Garcia pass his report on to their authorities?
The times was saying that they could arrest up to 14 Fifa executives FIFA needed this, they've got to see they can't commission a report. Not release it, say everything was fine and carry on. Glad the US have finally had enough. Probably best it plays out over there as they don't have such a connection to the sport.
Could we not extradite all of FIFA? They are all corrupt as hell. Voting iregularities? You are joking, I thought Qatar was a great shout, lots of avid fans, easy access, moderate Government, perfect weather, relaxed humanitarian environment, liberal drinking laws what are the USA bleating about?
What is striking about this is the timing! I doubt very much the FBI would be doing this at this time without sufficient evidence to back it up. Lets all hope its the beginning of the end of Blatter and a regime that has been involved in more (alleged) corruption and bribery than the American government themselves. World football needs and deserves a governing body and president befitting of its title. Interesting times ahead..
But Blatter will blithely sail on regardless. They claim the investigation was requested by themselves, but " we are not involved, we are innocent " . If they are so pure white why have they refused to make the Garcia report public. And why did Garcia quit when they refused to do so. Garcia is an American citizen and subject to their laws. If the FBI wants to know the contents is his report they already know, or soon will.
Ok, maybe a slight exaggeration The potential fallout from this though could have massive ramifications within the game. And I honestly believe we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg emerging at the moment.
Would this be the moment for several of the wealthier countries to breakaway, if it was done right it could declare FIFA irrelevant pretty quickly. Sponsors would follow so would most nations. We're only subject to FIFA because we let ourselves be.
Excellent piece in The Telegraph http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...its-face-then-we-are-in-a-very-bad-place.html
"When you are knee deep in massive financial losses and bribes and see nothing, you are either a fool or a thief". Love it, tells it like it is. The election cannot go ahead on Friday, but it will. Blatter is so arrogant he will not care about alienating the footballing world. Hopefully this is the beginning of the end of this corrupt organisation.
This is fundamentally why I cannot see how Blatter can survive this. The net is closing and its is only a matter of time before one of these weasels blab to the FBI in order to get a leaner sentence
Personally I think latter will cling on until the last. If he stays, which he will, it will result in FIFA being destroyed remember they need the money from sponsors and TV rights almost all of which come from Europe. If UEFA left FIFA it would end especially if they brought some of the larger and better footballing nations with them. If Blatter goes and a new head can drive the changes it might survive but will struggle.
UEFA needs to take the lead for world football and refuse to take part in this mockery of an election. If changes, and major changes, are not made then UEFA needs to quit FIFA and start a rival organisation. This would obviously need to be sanctioned by the member nations, but I would imagine that would be a formality. The rest of the world's important national FA' s would quickly follow.
The only downside to all of this for me was that it had to be the USA that brought the action and what did their spokesperson say? Something about the people that run 'soccer' - FFS! Followed by some lame American joke about giving FIFA a red card. Hilarious! What a World!!
