FIFA - Destined for Civil War?

TheTownie

I heard a quick headline of these latest allegations earlier this week without taking notice of the detail. The allegations were made by one ExCo member against another! :eek:

The normally coherent ExCo is starting to crack!

This article by Jamie Trecker discusses the possible motives for these fresh allegations. Hard to know who or what to believe anymore.

A week of scandal just got worse.

Explosive allegations about bribery at the highest level of FIFA pushed Manchester United Ryan Giggs off soccer’s front pages Wednesday, opening up the prospect of civil war in soccer’s top governing body.

Most critically, they were made by a member of the FIFA Executive Committee — American Chuck Blazer — against a man who had worked hand-in-hand with Blazer for over 20 years, CONCACAF President Jack Warner.

The action is unprecedented: Never before has an ExCo figure accused another of corruption.

The accusations, said to be backed up by eyewitness testimony and a private investigation headed up by Chicago legal firm Collins and Collins, have the potential to derail the pending presidential election, which pits incumbent Sepp Blatter against Mohamed bin Hammam of Qatar.

Blazer alleges that Warner and bin Hammam offered gifts equaling $40,000 in cash for votes at a meeting of the Carribean Football Union, one of the member states of CONCACAF. Both men issued denials, with bin Hammam calling the timing of the allegations suspicious.

Nine ExCo members have now been fingered in a spiraling corruption inquiry that kicked off last year when two members were suspended for soliciting bribes for ballots. These latest allegations leave fully one-third of the ExCo, which votes on key FIFA matters, under investigation for ethical lapses.

Wednesday’s revelations signal a profound shift in what had always been a lock-tight ExCo that managed to deflect shame and embarrassments in equal measure. FIFA — already rocked by admissions of vote-trading during the World Cup bid process and allegations of vote-buying that left two men barred from voting — now looks to be coming apart.

Most critically, the main power players at FIFA appear to have turned upon one another in a no-holds barred power grab. It’s anyone’s guess what will happen now in the halls of Zurich, but one thing is certain: FIFA is facing its own Olympic moment. The pressure may finally now be enough to clean up one of the world’s dirtiest sporting instititutions.

Warner is a key figure at FIFA, so adept at gathering votes and so good at making money that Blatter has long taken a lenient view toward the Trinidad and Tobago man’s long list of reported indiscretions. Warner was let off with a slap on the wrist after he was charged in a ticket-reselling scheme, but he has been dogged by investigations and allegations — most famously those leveled by Andrew Jennings and the BBC last year. Prior to the World Cup bids, he was said to have promised his vote to England then reneged. Last month, he was named on the floor of Parliament by Lord Treisman as requesting a $4 million bribe for his vote. Warner laughed all those allegations off.

Blazer, the only American on the ExCo, is wildly underestimated. His candor and exaggerated manners — he is host to a gleefully funny website and Twitter account — have charmed reporters worldwide, but conceal one of the keenest political minds in the sport. He has worked with Warner for decades, but was known to be deeply upset over the handling of the World Cup bid process. The fact that he is the man behind the investigation has long-time FIFA observers guessing whether he is truly fed up or has seen a political opening.

Bin Hammam angrily questioned the timing of the accusations, calling it a political tactic by Blatter. He might be correct: The Qatari, who heads up the largesse-dispensing Goal committee for FIFA, is locked in an ugly race with the incumbent, and Blatter, a ruthless campaigner, has reacted with an ever-increasing level of viciousness.

Blatter’s increasingly paranoid and dictatorial re-election campaign has some insiders believing that he is beginning to alienate even his long-time faithful. Even with his reputation for over-the-top statements, Blatter raised eyebrows two weeks ago when he claimed that were he not re-elected, a “black hole” would open up at FIFA. That put the lie to informal vote counting for the upcoming elections, which Blatter looked to easily win.

But Blatter was rattled last week by a tepid reception at a meeting of the African federations, a union of associations that had long formed the base of his support. And Wednesday’s allegations raised the prospect that Warner might have read the tea leaves and switched allegiances — and his crucial bloc of 35 votes — to bin Hammam.

If nothing else, this is just the latest in a series of sordid, sad tales of venality coming from a sport that looks morally bereft. In a week where many had hoped the focus would be on the greatest club game in Europe, instead we have been consumed by sex, blackmail and bribery. It’s a sad comment on how far off the rails this sport has really gone.

Paully D

FIFA - one of the main reasons why I'm falling out of love with football.

mike65

The big European FAs need to form the core of a new body and bury FIFA for good.

TheTownie

Paully D wrote: »

FIFA - one of the main reasons why I'm falling out of love with football.

My hope is that a major bust between the lot of them will lead to an actual clean up of the organization!

Might be a bit optimistic though!

Gillington

I hope so

dr.bollocko

We can't qatar everyone in FIFA with the same brush.
Oh wait. No. We can.

MUSEIST

FIFA are a joke

Headshot

Its pretty funny that the people that are investigating FIFA representatives Warner and Hammam are FIFA themselves, such a corrupt organisation.

I watched the latest BBC Panarama show (aired during the week) on fifa's latest stuff. The Swiss politicians are doing there best to clean up fifa

GavRedKing

The levels of corruption that go on behind the scenes in FIFA is beyond a joke IMO. The sooner it all comes out the better, they are a shady organisation that represent the game and they are dragging it into the ground.

alchemist33

mike65 wrote: »

The big European FAs need to form the core of a new body and bury FIFA for good.

A tricky thing to do, but FIFA is so inherently corrupt that I think it's the only cure.

Chucky the tree

You'll never get a corruption free FIFA, everyone there and in the FA's are all corrupt.

Devilman40k

All of this just shows up Blatter for what he actually stands for, he bleats about how everything is for the good of the game - lack of technology,financial fair play, quotas etc. etc. - yet all he is really interested in is his own power. And all the rest of the FIFA committee are interested in, is pushing their own self interests, all the while making the sport look grubbier and grubbier.

The English FA had the right idea, vote for no one

interestingly the author of this article pointed out that based on the exit polls he conducted it looks like 104/103 in favour of Bin Hamman (with 1 abstension)

Desperate measures??

Pauleta

Devilman40k wrote: »

All of this just shows up Blatter for what he actually stands for, he bleats about how everything is for the good of the game - lack of technology,financial fair play, quotas etc. etc. - yet all he is really interested in is his own power. And all the rest of the FIFA committee are interested in, is pushing their own self interests, all the while making the sport look grubbier and grubbier.

The English FA had the right idea, vote for no one

interestingly the author of this article pointed out that based on the exit polls he conducted it looks like 104/103 in favour of Bin Hamman (with 1 abstension)

Desperate measures??

To be honest i think they should have actually nominated a real candidate rather than just abstain from voting. Its a step in the right direction though. The game is up for FIFA's execs. They are all trying to bury each other to save themselves.

Sgt Pepper 64

TheTownie wrote: »

I heard a quick headline of these latest allegations earlier this week without taking notice of the detail. The allegations were made by one ExCo member against another! :eek:

The normally coherent ExCo is starting to crack!

This article by Jamie Trecker discusses the possible motives for these fresh allegations. Hard to know who or what to believe anymore.

And all because England didnt get the World Cup!

Paully D

Devilman40k wrote: »

The English FA had the right idea, vote for no one

Another ''jobs for the boys'' club that is full of people with no interest in developing football and has its hand well and truly in the cookie jar.

It's a pointless stand IMO and FIFA won't give a ****.

What needs to happen is someone like England pulls out of the next World Cup as it would hurt FIFA where it hurts most for them - in the pocket. Other FA's might decide to hop on board then but there's not a chance of it happening though.

Sgt Pepper 64

Paully D wrote: »

Another ''jobs for the boys'' club that is full of people with no interest in developing football and has its hand well and truly in the cookie jar.

It's a pointless stand IMO and FIFA won't give a ****.

What needs to happen is someone like England pulls out of the next World Cup as it would hurt FIFA where it hurts most for them - in the pocket. Other FA's might decide to hop on board then but there's not a chance of it happening though.

Not going to happen I think.

If you thought Roman A's obsession with the CL cup was bad, then x 100 for England and the World Cup.
I mean, they even turned the original Black and White film into colour!

What do Fifa do all day anyway?

Paully D

Sgt Pepper 64 wrote: »

Not going to happen I think.

If you thought Roman A's obsession with the CL cup was bad, then x 100 for England and the World Cup.
I mean, they even turned the original Black and White film into colour!

What do Fifa do all day anyway?

Nah it won't happen, it's the only thing to combat the corruption though.

Ride prostitutes and launder money would be my guess mate.

pickarooney

FIFA foes fume - blood smelled

Devilman40k

The biggest threat to FIFA in all of this (in my opinion) will be from the clubs, there are already rumours that some of Europes top clubs are about to take cases against FIFA to pay players wages while they are away and that European judges may look favorably on it, also that the old G14 are back and want a closed league with salary caps.

So as much as we go on about world cups/ FIFA corruption and civil war in the organisation....what we may get is the death knell of international football as we know it, and all caused by one man, Sepp Blatter

If the international feds don't move now, eventually the clubs will !

Paully D

Devilman40k wrote: »

The biggest threat to FIFA in all of this (in my opinion) will be from the clubs, there are already rumours that some of Europes top clubs are about to take cases against FIFA to pay players wages while they are away and that European judges may look favorably on it, also that the old G14 are back and want a closed league with salary caps.

Personally I'd love to see the big clubs go and create a super league and let the rest of us get on with things.

parker kent

Sgt Pepper 64 wrote: »

And all because England didnt get the World Cup!

I actually don't think that is finished yet. Blatter has put out there the notion of a further bidding process for 2022. Qatar are not over the line yet. This row with Bin Hammam obviously caused him to say that, but I'll believe a summer World Cup in Qatar when I see it.

Dempsey

mike65 wrote: »

The big European FAs need to form the core of a new body and bury FIFA for good.

Thats exactly what football needs, an elitist group serving their own interests.

Sgt Pepper 64

Dempsey wrote: »

Thats exactly what football needs, an elitist group serving their own interests.

Just appoint Rupert Murdoch!

jmayo

mike65 wrote: »

The big European FAs need to form the core of a new body and bury FIFA for good.

Except they won't because probably most of them are run by dudes just as bent as blatter and warner.

Headshot wrote: »

Its pretty funny that the people that are investigating FIFA representatives Warner and Hammam are FIFA themselves, such a corrupt organisation.

Any organisation that has jack warner high up most be dodgy.

Sgt Pepper 64 wrote: »

And all because England didnt get the World Cup!

Ah come on, even if you don't like English or the continous bleating about how great they are prior to every tournament you have to say it has to be one of the biggest jokes in world sport that they couldn't get a WC but Qatar could.

England is a country with one of the biggest football leagues, with some of the best stadia, with some of the world's best infrastructure and a track record as a tolerant safe tourism destination, whereas Qatar has ... oh yeah lots of sand, camels and a scorching summer sun.

Paully D wrote: »

Personally I'd love to see the big clubs go and create a super league and let the rest of us get on with things.

So what exactly would be left for the rest of us ?
Would you like to continue to see your country play or would you just rather shout for a team based in Manchester populated by over paid primma donnas from around the world ?

Because the more powerful clubs become the more they want to limit international soccer.

_blank_

Paully D wrote: »

Personally I'd love to see the big clubs go and create a super league and let the rest of us get on with things.

I wonder would fans of this new "G14 SuperZOMGZ!!!11!!League" look down on fans of the teams not invited.

I'd imagine away support would be pretty non-existent too, just like in the other continent-wide Leagues currently in existence (A-League, MLS)

Paully D

jmayo wrote: »

So what exactly would be left for the rest of us ?
Would you like to continue to see your country play or would you just rather shout for a team based in Manchester populated by over paid primma donnas from around the world ?

Because the more powerful clubs become the more they want to limit international soccer.

An opportunity to realistically challenge for silverware. An opportunity to have a fair and much more balanced league where the rich don't continue to get richer and the poor don't continue to get poorer.

I would like to see my country continue to play but I wouldn't lose any sleep over it either. Club over country any day of the week for me. I wouldn't support a team based in Manchester either, I'd continue to support my home town club - Sunderland

Des wrote: »

I wonder would fans of this new "G14 SuperZOMGZ!!!11!!League" look down on fans of the teams not invited.

I'd imagine away support would be pretty non-existent too, just like in the other continent-wide Leagues currently in existence (A-League, MLS)

To be fair Des, a lot of people will say that fans of the ''G14'' clubs do look down on others anyway so not much will change in that regard. It will be the same as always, the sensible fans won't and those that just support clubs for the sake of it will keep doing what they do.

Reganio 2

Paully D wrote: »

An opportunity to realistically challenge for silverware. An opportunity to have a fair and much more balanced league where the rich don't continue to get richer and the poor don't continue to get poorer.

It will be like that for the 1st 5 seasons then say 4 teams will always finish top and players will just join them, its impossible to have a perfectly fair league, players want to join the top teams simple as that.

Sure looking at the G14, or G18 with the 4 non original members. Borussia Dortmund would get whipped. PSG are the same, PSV wouldn't be far off, Marseille, Bayer Leverkusen and Valencia. Those 6 IMO would be struggling right off the bat. Barcelona, Real Madrid and Man U are already miles ahead of the rest. Do you leave Chelsea out as well for Arsenal? So that means the Premier League would be won by Chelsea every year, give or take Man City.

Its a great idea, for a football game, not for real life.

Son Of A Vidic

I would just settle for Blatter losing his position, at least that would be a start. I just can't stand the guy.

parker kent

Paully D wrote: »

Personally I'd love to see the big clubs go and create a super league and let the rest of us get on with things.

The Super League would fail after a few years. Think how boring a league would be for everybody else with just 4 or 5 teams challenging for the title. No relegation, no competing to get into Europe etc. It would also be without the local rivalry that ensures the current league system thrives. Football originally gained mass popularity due to the FA Cup. The Champions League offers the same thrill. It would be lost were it to become the bread and butter (bread and butter that requires weekly continental travel for players and fans as well)

The teams left behind would also suffer. In short, it would be a complete and utter disaster for all involved.

parker kent

Corvus Maximus wrote: »

I would just settle for Blatter losing his position, at least that would be a start. I just can't stand the guy.

Better the devil you know. Bin Hammam is dodgier than watches you buy in a train station. In short, we know Blatter is dodgy, but we don't know how bad Bin Hammam would be.

FatherTed

Noe Bin Hamman is calling for Blatter to be investigate. This stuff is fascinating to watch.

KeithAFC

Only interested in themselves. Old, corrupt men who are only interesting in earning money from it.

Yakult

That organization should be torn apart immediately. Nothing but **** from them which is destroying the game.

CharlesHaughey

Can someone list the top reasons in which FIFA are corrupt?

Paully D

CharlesHaughey wrote: »

Can someone list the top reasons in which FIFA are corrupt?

Too long to do, read this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Foul-Secret-Bribes-Rigging-Scandals/dp/0007208111

parker kent

Paully D wrote: »

Too long to do, read this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Foul-Secret-Bribes-Rigging-Scandals/dp/0007208111

Weird I was just about to write the exact same post when I read his post. That is a pretty good book.

Devilman40k

And as if by magic, Blatter is being investigated by FIFA link

What does this mean for the president elections??

_blank_

Devilman40k wrote: »

And as if by magic, Blatter is being investigated by FIFA link

The "investigation" will of course show that he is a paragon of virtue.

Blatter

Lol, Blatter being investigated by FIFA.

It reminds me of the Catholic Church ''investigating'' allegations of child abuse years ago....nothing to see here, of course.

jmayo

Paully D wrote: »

An opportunity to realistically challenge for silverware. An opportunity to have a fair and much more balanced league where the rich don't continue to get richer and the poor don't continue to get poorer.

But you would still have the rich clubs dominating.
The likes of Man Utd, Chelsea, Real, Barca, Juve, Milan, Inter, Bayern would dominate a super league.
And the money they would be raking in would create an even bigger distance between them and the ones even winning the national leagues.

I think the days have gone where small clubs challenge for big honours, unless those clubs have a very rich sugar daddy like Dietmar Hopp who will pour money in.
Even then you need a sugar daddy with patience.

Nowadays small clubs are really only feeder clubs to the big guys.
If a club manages to assemble a decent squad, do well and maybe even win something, the team is probably dismantled within a couple of years.

Look at Braga this year who had a pretty successful run, even if their brand of football wasn't great.
But before they had even played the final, they had lost their manager and some of their best players.

Paully D wrote: »

I would like to see my country continue to play but I wouldn't lose any sleep over it either. Club over country any day of the week for me. I wouldn't support a team based in Manchester either, I'd continue to support my home town club - Sunderland

I think that is sad that you wouldn't care if your country no longer had a national team.

Anyway I reckon most united fans aren't form Manchester so you would be ideal fan.

Sorry are you a Sunderland native ?

parker kent wrote: »

The Super League would fail after a few years. Think how boring a league would be for everybody else with just 4 or 5 teams challenging for the title. No relegation, no competing to get into Europe etc. It would also be without the local rivalry that ensures the current league system thrives. Football originally gained mass popularity due to the FA Cup. The Champions League offers the same thrill. It would be lost were it to become the bread and butter (bread and butter that requires weekly continental travel for players and fans as well)

The teams left behind would also suffer. In short, it would be a complete and utter disaster for all involved.

I think it would almost end up like the US where team franchises are bought and then moved to another city.

parker kent wrote: »

Better the devil you know. Bin Hammam is dodgier than watches you buy in a train station. In short, we know Blatter is dodgy, but we don't know how bad Bin Hammam would be.

Ahh that is a depressing attitute to take.

Des wrote: »

The "investigation" will of course show that he is a paragon of virtue.

You old cynic.
You know sometimes internal investigations can bring out the unflattering truth.
I just for the life of me can't think of an example at the moment

jmayo

SOCCER4LIFE wrote: »

Lol, Blatter being investigated by FIFA.

It reminds me of the Catholic Church ''investigating'' allegations of child abuse years ago....nothing to see here, of course.

So will they recommend we canonise blatter ?

Mr. Presentable

jmayo wrote: »

Ah come on, even if you don't like English or the continous bleating about how great they are prior to every tournament you have to say it has to be one of the biggest jokes in world sport that they couldn't get a WC but Qatar could.

.

How many votes did England get?

So was every other voter bribed then?

This is all because England failed to get the WC. Even if there was no corruption they wouldn't have got it - it is a smokescreen to hide the shortcomings of their own association.

jmayo

Mr. Presentable wrote: »

How many votes did England get?

So was every other voter bribed then?

This is all because England failed to get the WC. Even if there was no corruption they wouldn't have got it - it is a smokescreen to hide the shortcomings of their own association.

I can't comment on the exact politics of it, but I do remember they were particularly peeved at Thai delegate and mr warner.

But leaving aside how corrupt or not the process was, can you seriously say that it is not a joke that Qatar gets a WC finals and England do not.
And yes Qatar beat Australia, Japan, South Korea, and the United States.
Now we know some of these have had recent finals, but dear God does that mean that they give to the most unsuitable venue.

And yes I know all the sh**e about whose continent's turn it is.
I am waiting for Antartica to stage finals ahead of England.

Perhaps FIFA should take into account what continents have biggest football leagues, most stadia and most advanced infrastructure.
Oh wait they have a weighting system to measure the latter two areas, which they supposedly totally ignored.

Mr. Presentable

England weren't up for 2022, they got 2 votes for 2018 - one of those I presume from their own FA. They called in the big guns, the top politicians, their top PR, sportsmen, and could only produce one other vote.

Whether Qatar hosting a WC is suitable or not, this remains an attempt by the FA to save face.

Let's be honest here. Football is corrupt all the way down to the way the players behave on the field. If the FA are happy to let players cheat in their own auspices, there should be no surprise there's cheating outside of it.

TheTownie

For all our condemnation of the ethics committee, I've just heard its an independent committee! :eek:

Whether it always has been or has just become one I don't know.

Its been chaired by a Namibian judge. His predecessor stepped down recently due to a conflict of interests.

Can't wait to see how this turns out!

With a bit of luck they will all be fúcked out!

Brussels Sprout

Bin Hammam pulls out of presidential election.


This is really strange as it seemed liked he had nothing to lose. The cynic in me says that the chances of him being found not guilty later on today have risen exponentially as a result of this news

parker kent

Brussels Sprout wrote: »

Bin Hammam pulls out of presidential election.


This is really strange as it seemed liked he had nothing to lose. The cynic in me says that the chances of him being found not guilty later on today have risen exponentially as a result of this news

He's as dodgy as they come. Both him and Blatter are 2 sides of the same coin.

TheTownie

His statement has a feel of, everyone is falling back into line. He talks about not wanting to drag down the reputation of FIFA.

This coupled with Beckenbauer's backing of Blatter just seems like everyone might be retreating.

I wouldn't put it past FIFA to have said to Bin Hammam, 'Pull out of the election or we will charge you with corruption'.

And why isn't Blatter pulling out too? Bin Hammam says his withdrawal has nothing to do with whether he is guilty or not, surely Blatter should do the same.

Those lot have no shame.

Brussels Sprout

TheTownie wrote: »

He talks about not wanting to drag down the reputation of FIFA.

lol

mike65

TheTownie wrote: »

His statement has a feel of, everyone is falling back into line. He talks about not wanting to drag down the reputation of FIFA.

This coupled with Beckenbauer's backing of Blatter just seems like everyone might be retreating.

I wouldn't put it past FIFA to have said to Bin Hammam, 'Pull out of the election or we will charge you with corruption'.

And why isn't Blatter pulling out too? Bin Hammam says his withdrawal has nothing to do with whether he is guilty or not, surely Blatter should do the same.

Those lot have no shame.

I heard him on BBC radio this morning, the man is now a fully paid up cog in the machine. Depressing.

LuckyGent88

FIFA have suspended Bin Hamman and Warner

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/default.stm