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NFT: Prosecutors: FIFA took more than $150M in bribes since 1991

Modus Operandi : 5/28/2015 10:59 am
Quote:
Those indicted in the US case are accused of accepting bribes and kickbacks estimated at more than $150m (£97m) over a 24-year period beginning in 1991

BBC News - ( New Window )
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Pot meet  
kicker : 5/28/2015 1:53 pm : link
kettle.
Hey, leave Putin alone  
Ten Ton Hammer : 5/28/2015 1:55 pm : link
he paid a lot of money for the 2018 WC to be in Russia.

sum sounds  
Phil in LA : 5/28/2015 1:56 pm : link
light.
I look forward to  
JonC : 5/28/2015 1:58 pm : link
John Oliver's next FIFA rant, hopefully he'll get into the dirty details.
I'd imagine the real figure is much, much, much  
SanFranNowNCGiantsFan : 5/28/2015 9:40 pm : link
higher.
1200 people have been killed building facilities  
chris r : 5/28/2015 10:55 pm : link
for the World Cup in Qatar.
Link - ( New Window )
so what, who cares, and why is the US wasting  
HomerJones45 : 5/28/2015 10:57 pm : link
Resources on this shit?

$150 million over 24 years is 6 million a year- chump change in pro sports. There are businesses here that write off more than that on the Super Bowl.

If there are US citizens who didn't pay taxes, then get the tax money and be done with it.

Do we really give a rats ass if some prince in Qatar paid to get a sporting event? The NFL does this with their Super Bowl bids.
This is JUST the start. Only concacaf officials were targeted  
glowrider : 5/29/2015 12:19 am : link
Wait till the rest of the organization is rolled up. the Asian and African delegations will be far more lucrative $ wise.
And I support the premise of the argument that we have an  
glowrider : 5/29/2015 12:20 am : link
Interest since 1) we have the largest paying audience, 2) U.S. banks were used to facilitate this illegality, and 3) were the only country not beholden to these hucksters.
Apparently  
jv : 5/29/2015 7:50 am : link
there are no Brazilian FIFA members left in Zurich. One was arrested and the other one fled.
FIFA Election  
jv : 5/29/2015 1:13 pm : link
is going to the 2nd round of voting.

Blatter got 133 votes
Prince Ali got 73

Unless a TON of countries flip this is all but over. Blatter was 7 votes shy of winning it outright.

3 countries didn't vote at all.
RE: FIFA Election  
Del Shofner : 5/29/2015 1:17 pm : link
In comment 12306046 jv said:
Quote:
is going to the 2nd round of voting.

Blatter got 133 votes
Prince Ali got 73

Unless a TON of countries flip this is all but over. Blatter was 7 votes shy of winning it outright.

3 countries didn't vote at all.


I think it only takes 105 to win in the second round. Problem is, it's one country one vote (209 countries), which sounds fair except that about half the countries are third world countries whose votes easily can be, and have been, bought.
Cancel that  
jv : 5/29/2015 1:19 pm : link
Prince Ali has withdrawn.

4 more years of Blatter... Unless he gets arrested...
Not sure if they..  
FatMan in Charlotte : 5/29/2015 1:19 pm : link
ever release a breakdown, but my guess would be all of Africa and all 3rd world countries vote for Blatter. Most modern countries don't(with the exception of Russia). UEFA wants him out. The US wants him out.
Didn't Blatter..  
FatMan in Charlotte : 5/29/2015 1:21 pm : link
run unopposed in the last election because his opponent pulled out a few days before (with a lot of rumors circulating that he was incentivized to do so)?
RE: Not sure if they..  
Del Shofner : 5/29/2015 1:21 pm : link
In comment 12306064 FatMan in Charlotte said:
Quote:
ever release a breakdown, but my guess would be all of Africa and all 3rd world countries vote for Blatter. Most modern countries don't(with the exception of Russia). UEFA wants him out. The US wants him out.


It's secret votes, so they don't release a breakdown. You have it right about who votes how.

Can't blame Ali for withdrawing - handwriting on the wall with those initial numbers, revote futile.
RE: Didn't Blatter..  
Del Shofner : 5/29/2015 1:23 pm : link
In comment 12306070 FatMan in Charlotte said:
Quote:
run unopposed in the last election because his opponent pulled out a few days before (with a lot of rumors circulating that he was incentivized to do so)?


That sounds right. Things won't change a lot until he's gone. I think the US DOJ is leaving Blatter for the Swiss, since he's Swiss. I'm hoping the Swiss come through.
.  
Go Terps : 5/29/2015 1:23 pm : link
It's a good thing countries with rich footballing traditions like Central African Republic and Qatar get the same say on the president of FIFA as Spain, England, Argentina, etc.

Brazil didn't vote  
WideRight : 5/29/2015 1:25 pm : link
Because its two designated executives couldn't attend. One was arrested and the other went on the lamb.
Sepp Blatter  
PaulBlakeTSU : 5/29/2015 1:25 pm : link
is untouchable
Nothing is going to ever change  
jv : 5/29/2015 1:26 pm : link
even when Blatter leaves another one of his corrupt cronies will replace him. Status quo
Think about..  
FatMan in Charlotte : 5/29/2015 1:26 pm : link
what a joke it will be to have Qatar be in the World Cup. Somehow, FIFA would probably ensure they didn't have a 14-0 match against the hosts by enacting certain rules prior to 2022 about "fair play"
jv..  
FatMan in Charlotte : 5/29/2015 1:27 pm : link
the one caveat is that Blatter tends to turn on his cronies too.

He's gotten rid of more deputies and allies than a 20th century dictator.
I still don't think it will be played in Qatar  
Go Terps : 5/29/2015 1:29 pm : link
All the major European leagues, as well as the Champions League, changing their entire calendar to accommodate an unpopular tournament?. A big ask.
also - the big money in the game (UEFA, the USA) hate Blatter -  
Del Shofner : 5/29/2015 1:31 pm : link
I understand that FIFA has big revenues itself but they can't go on forever alienating their big money constituents. I mean, who doesn't think having the World Cup in Qatar is a complete joke resulting from bribes? Now that the indictments have surfaced (and there will be more), the corporate sponsors of the world are going to want change as a condition of continued sponsorship.
RE: .  
Deej : 5/29/2015 1:32 pm : link
In comment 12306077 Go Terps said:
Quote:
It's a good thing countries with rich footballing traditions like Central African Republic and Qatar get the same say on the president of FIFA as Spain, England, Argentina, etc.


Yeah. Those countries should get three-fifths of a vote.
I also think...  
FatMan in Charlotte : 5/29/2015 1:33 pm : link
the Cup in Qatar will never take place, but imagine if it does? It would be like having Mozambique play Germany for every first round game.

Plus, those stadiums will never get used after the Cup leaves - not that this is anything new or shocking.
Deej..  
FatMan in Charlotte : 5/29/2015 1:34 pm : link
based on the fact those countries have accepted bribes year after year - perhaps they should get no vote.
Gotta love Blatter  
jv : 5/29/2015 1:34 pm : link
saying in his speech that the Oceania region needs an automatic world cup bid. Surely at the expense of UEFA. Just keeps appealing to the small dogs that make up the majority and saying fuck you right back to the big dogs that oppose him.
RE: Gotta love Blatter  
Del Shofner : 5/29/2015 1:37 pm : link
In comment 12306109 jv said:
Quote:
saying in his speech that the Oceania region needs an automatic world cup bid. Surely at the expense of UEFA. Just keeps appealing to the small dogs that make up the majority and saying fuck you right back to the big dogs that oppose him.


Your last sentence is completely correct, but it won't be at the expense of UEFA. Oceania gets in or doesn't based on a playoff with the 4th place team in CONCACAF, the USA's federation. You know who's going to lose the spot.
Blatter..  
FatMan in Charlotte : 5/29/2015 1:38 pm : link
really has no shame. It takes a special person to act completely like nothing has ever happened under his watch and if it has that he's had no knowledge. The guy is a megalomaniac - he prides himself on knowing everything and has made a living by getting rid of people close to him to deflect blame.

I still can't believe he claims the Russia and Qatar bids weren't rigged. That is the epitome of arrogance.
Nah he needs those tiny CONCACAF votes  
jv : 5/29/2015 1:39 pm : link
Most of CONCACAF votes for Blatter. It would come out of UEFA. They are nearly entirely against him.
RE: Blatter..  
Del Shofner : 5/29/2015 1:42 pm : link
In comment 12306124 FatMan in Charlotte said:
Quote:
really has no shame. It takes a special person to act completely like nothing has ever happened under his watch and if it has that he's had no knowledge. The guy is a megalomaniac - he prides himself on knowing everything and has made a living by getting rid of people close to him to deflect blame.

I still can't believe he claims the Russia and Qatar bids weren't rigged. That is the epitome of arrogance.


This is why he and Putin are perfect for each other. Very similar personalities IMO.
RE: RE: .  
Go Terps : 5/29/2015 1:43 pm : link
In comment 12306100 Deej said:
Quote:
In comment 12306077 Go Terps said:


Quote:


It's a good thing countries with rich footballing traditions like Central African Republic and Qatar get the same say on the president of FIFA as Spain, England, Argentina, etc.




Yeah. Those countries should get three-fifths of a vote.


Blow me. They shouldn't get a vote at all. Their only contribution to the game is corruption.

I guess maybe Kiribati will get the next World Cup.
i hope  
Les in TO : 5/29/2015 1:48 pm : link
that one of those arrested officials cuts a deal to spill incriminating evidence against the Step Ladder.
Look at the attached list..  
FatMan in Charlotte : 5/29/2015 1:50 pm : link
of countries. Bhutan and the Cook Islands are future juggernauts!
Lots of tiny bribe targets for Blatter - ( New Window )
RE: RE: RE: .  
rsjem1979 : 5/29/2015 1:51 pm : link
In comment 12306143 Go Terps said:
Quote:

I guess maybe Kiribati will get the next World Cup.


Probably depends on their willingness to exterminate an entire ethnicity and eradicate any of their native animal species.
RE: Nah he needs those tiny CONCACAF votes  
Del Shofner : 5/29/2015 1:51 pm : link
In comment 12306129 jv said:
Quote:
Most of CONCACAF votes for Blatter. It would come out of UEFA. They are nearly entirely against him.


CONCACAF would lose the 4th play-in spot, because Oceania would have an automatic bid. Blatter's not going to give CONCACAF an automatic 4th spot. So CONCACAF is harmed no matter what happens with UEFA.
That would have fucked over..  
FatMan in Charlotte : 5/29/2015 1:54 pm : link
Mexico last Cup. I'm not so sure Blatter wants to mess with CONCACAF though. He probably gets all their votes outside of the US and Canada. Not sure how Mexico feels.
And just for perspective..  
FatMan in Charlotte : 5/29/2015 1:55 pm : link
Oceania's highest ranked squad is New Zealand at 118th in the World.

Qatar is ranked 96th
So a whole country  
Deej : 5/29/2015 1:56 pm : link
should love a vote because soccer officials took a bribe? What's the standard of proof?

Does the US still get to vote? We bribed our way into getting the 2002 Winter Olympics. Japan did too in their losing 2002 bid.

So what is going to be the test? Means based or the old brown paper bag?

Link - ( New Window )
I'm not sure..  
FatMan in Charlotte : 5/29/2015 1:57 pm : link
I see how what happens in the IOC is applicable to FIFA.

For the record, countries bribing the IOC should face sanctions as well.
RE: So a whole country  
Del Shofner : 5/29/2015 2:05 pm : link
In comment 12306188 Deej said:
Quote:
should love a vote because soccer officials took a bribe? What's the standard of proof?

Does the US still get to vote? We bribed our way into getting the 2002 Winter Olympics. Japan did too in their losing 2002 bid.

So what is going to be the test? Means based or the old brown paper bag? Link - ( New Window )


I don't think they should lose their vote. I do think the voting should be proportional in some way related to population or some other relevant criteria - as in the House of Representatives. It is objectively stupid for Qatar to have the same voting power as Germany.
and not just objectively stupid but, in hindsight, a structure  
Del Shofner : 5/29/2015 2:07 pm : link
that encourages bribery and fraud, and bizarre outcomes like the World Cup in Qatar. At the end of the day the sport is for the fans, and I have yet to hear of one fan in any country in the world, even Qatar, who thinks that this is anything other than a terrible idea.
Italian Papers  
jv : 5/29/2015 2:25 pm : link
are linking Jack Warner to possible match fixing at the 2002 World Cup. If there's any truth to this then there goes the thought that at least FIFA isn't fucking with results.
Link - ( New Window )
Ctrl F Slavery... 0 results  
Osi Osi Osi OyOyOy : 5/29/2015 2:37 pm : link
That word needs to be mentioned in every FIFA thread. What they're doing to those foreign workers in Qatar is absolutely disgusting. Major human rights violations going on. All to create a stadium that will be useless after the event.

FIFA is disgusting on so many levels and I'm happy that Team America is atleast trying to put them in their place.
RE: Ctrl F Slavery... 0 results  
Les in TO : 5/29/2015 2:41 pm : link
In comment 12306293 Osi Osi Osi OyOyOy said:
Quote:
That word needs to be mentioned in every FIFA thread. What they're doing to those foreign workers in Qatar is absolutely disgusting. Major human rights violations going on. All to create a stadium that will be useless after the event.

FIFA is disgusting on so many levels and I'm happy that Team America is atleast trying to put them in their place.


yup, not to mention arrests and harassment of journalists trying to report on the conditions of the slaves in Qatar.
RE: Ctrl F Slavery... 0 results  
Go Terps : 5/29/2015 2:42 pm : link
In comment 12306293 Osi Osi Osi OyOyOy said:
Quote:
That word needs to be mentioned in every FIFA thread. What they're doing to those foreign workers in Qatar is absolutely disgusting. Major human rights violations going on. All to create a stadium that will be useless after the event.

FIFA is disgusting on so many levels and I'm happy that Team America is atleast trying to put them in their place.


Not sticking up for FIFA, but when it comes to the plight of the workers I'm wondering:

- why there isn't more international focus on the kafala practice in Qatar
- why do men from Bangladesh, Nepal, and other countries in that part of the world view working in those conditions in Qatar as a preferable option to staying home

This stuff has been happening long before FIFA was ever in the picture. You don't build a city of shitty buildings out of the sand in Dubai overnight by following industry best practices.
yes this has been  
Osi Osi Osi OyOyOy : 5/29/2015 2:46 pm : link
going on for a loong time before FIFA, those foreign workers get treated like absolute dogs in places like Qatar.

Still doesn't excuse FIFA's actions. They either didn't care to ask how the stadiums were being built, or they know and they still don't give a crap about the potential thousands of deaths.
they knew not they know  
Osi Osi Osi OyOyOy : 5/29/2015 2:48 pm : link
.
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