Swiss police arrest 10+ FIFA officials: indicted by US Dept of Justice

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/dyke-blatter-result-isnt-over-180608979.html#XnJeGJB

Dyke says this isn't over. As said, if Blatter cared about football he'd resign. I think Blatter is a man riding a tiger...he daren't dismount. The only way he can keep even more crap hidden is if he stays in charge. No way does he want everything opened up.

 

Gary Lineker hosted "Have I Got News For You" this evening, that was fun, as you'd imagine.

 

I'm not surprised by the result but think that the UEFA have probably contributed to the re-election of Blatter as the vote ultimately came down to whether the interests of European or developing countries should have a say in the running of the game. Without doubt Blatter has overseen the development of football in countries where it had previously found it difficult to establish itself as well as promoting the game in places like the remote Pacific Islands that previously had not bearing on the sport. It is ironic that the significance of football around the globe has been made more democratic around the globe but that it appeals to have been done by some pretty undemocratic means. Part of my feels like the UK should take FIFA's ball away as we invented the game and generally it if the FA and the SFA who have acted as guardians to the original tenets of football's founding fathers. I never really appreciated just why it took a French man to devise the World Cup nor quite how come England seemed so unenthusiastic about it until 1950. Although the FA often faces criticism, I wonder if the UK had been more of a domineering force in international football from the start then FIFA might not be the laughing stock that it has become.

It is easy to criticise FIFA but I think the gam prostituted itself years ago and sold it's soul to the capitalist system well before Blatter's tenure. The Corinthian ideals of football have long since departed and the huge sums of money tied up with sponsorship and national interests have transformed football in to a divisive and political scenario that sport was initially supposed to transcend. What amazes me that the officials singled out for corruption frequently come from countries with no historical or little cultural association with football. FIFA is just a reflection of the current geo-political issues that taint the world.

I would like to see other countries have a greater say in global football but greater responsibility comes with greater influence and I think that is developing nations are to have a piece of the cake that it is equitable to distribute, this most to done in a way that reflects greater ethics and morals. Whilst Putin is right about American's over-reaching their authority on the world stage and meddling in these matters, I think most football fans will vote with their feet and not travel to countries like Russia where there are grave questions to be asked regarding both foreign and domestic policies.

 

Just saw this.

Well worth the retweet!

 

Ron. <3

 

Hard to make me like Ron even more but he keeps finding ways. It is a shame.

 

He was rather good, I thought. Even managed a dodgy moment where he insinuated that Alan Shearer might sexually abuse a sheep. Even Hislop and Merson didn't quite know what to make of that.

 

I do think the Blatter lead FIFA have done a tremendous job of promoting football around the world.
Increasing the size of the World Cup and taking its prestigious tournament to non traditional territories.
Football is in a stronger position because of those actions, but it's clear that personal greed and arrogance of those at the top of FIFA is out of control with the award of the Qatar World Cup, which went against all sensible thinking.

As far as Blatter, he is either a clever criminal mastermind or the incompetent leader overseeing widespread corruption.

I can't work out which one it is.

 

Both

 

heating up nicely......

 

John Oliver on last week's FIFA events...

 

Bud light light??? I didn't even know they did one!!

 

Blatter has confirmed that he is going to the US for a conference....I wouldn't if I was him. I know he'd look even guiltier if he didn't, but also sensible. I know we are all enjoying this, but I have little faith in American justice...ordinary business men trying to get contracts against American companies end up in the ****.

On the other hand, it is Blatter....

 

Think it's called water.

 

I have every faith in US justice. This is a country whose justice department brought down Richard Nixon while he was still in power. They're not afraid to go after the powerful. Few other countries can be trusted to do that, our own included.

 

I agree with that, but I'm more concerned with the little guy that gets caught up in the courts. Their courts are so busy that plea bargains are pushed to save time...innocent people or those with extenuating circumstances asking for justice are pushed into guilty pleas to save court time. Nothing wrong with encouraging people to plead guilty if it is in their interests, but scaring the poor and disadvantaged is hardly justice.