What shall FIFA do now?

[Citius Altius Fortius]

What do you think?

What ideas do you have?

Edited May 31, 2011 by Citius Altius Fortius

[baron-pierreIV]

I think the Swiss authorities are stepping in; quickly I hope as FIFA has become an absolute circus. And if there's anyone to take Blatter out, it should be his own people. But I am sure the Swiss authorities are first looking at all their legal options so Blatter can't turn around and sue them.

How come none of the reporters present asked: if FIFA is supposed to be a democratic institution, then how can they hold an election with ONLY one candidate? I mean that went out with the last of the communist gov'ts. Even Mugabe and that Bagbo allowed token opponents to run? That is the biggest question for Wednesday.

Edited May 30, 2011 by baron-pierreIV

[Olympian2004]

Clearly yes to all questions (and yes to a repetition of both the 2022 and the 2018 election). This has been a farce from the very beginning, and this farce needs to come to an end quickly. Although I fear that nothing will happen at all, or not at least as soon as I hope.

Actually, I as a German feel quite uncomfortable that we have to host a FIFA tournament soon. Actually, I would prefer not to have anything to do with that assembly of sleazy scumbags.

[Faster]

Clearly yes to all questions (and yes to a repetition of both the 2022 and the 2018 election). This has been a farce from the very beginning, and this farce needs to come to an end quickly. Although I fear that nothing will happen at all, or not at least as soon as I hope.

Actually, I as a German feel quite uncomfortable that we have to host a FIFA tournament soon. Actually, I would prefer not to have anything to do with that assembly of sleazy scumbags.

Yea it makes you wonder what Germany had to do to get 2006 and what other successful bids have had to do to get their tournaments at various levels over the years. Obviously I am not accusing but it does make one uncomfortable, especially seeing how Canada is all but assured of the 2015 Women's World Cup.

[Sir Rols]

To be fair, Sportugal, Benelux, Japan and Korea should still be included in that list too.

How's the Spanish press reporting the crisis, considering their bid was well in bed with the Qataris?

[thatsnotmypuppy]

I think Sepp needs to go - however there is no one stepping up to take him on.

I do not think 2018/2022 needs to be re-run. Regardless of how Russia and Qatar won, contracts have been signed and if FIFA were to revoke them it would become a massive legal mess and we could very well see no World Cups in those years. I also did not want SLC stripped of 2002 and was very vocal about it. Why punish everyone in those countries for a few corrupt individuals actions? FIFA needs to fix the problem in time for 2026. That gives them most of a decade to get some new young (maybe female?) blood in to the ExCo and to attempt some clarity in their decision making processes.

I think Sepp will find the Swiss will go after FIFA. After the IOC scandals and their banking scandals (all those Arab despots having fat (though now seized) Swiss bank accounts has given them a bit of a black eye) they need to appear to be tough and anti-corruption. I see FIFA moving to Monaco quite soon. In fact I am pretty certain the paper shredders in their office are working overtime. There will be very few files for the Swiss authorities to seize if they get to raid the HQ - that is for sure!

Edited May 31, 2011 by thatsnotmypuppy

[monorail]

They most likely won't strip Qatar of its hosting duties for obvious reasons but somehow I wish they would be bold and strip them. I knew something was very fishy when this country ended up winning. What a joke! What's their national team ranked at? Anyways, the United States and Australia should have ended up 1 and 2 in voting for 2022

[Faster]

I think Sepp needs to go - however there is no one stepping up to take him on.

I do not think 2018/2022 needs to be re-run. Regardless of how Russia and Qatar won, contracts have been signed and if FIFA were to revoke them it would become a massive legal mess and we could very well see no World Cups in those years. I also did not want SLC stripped of 2002 and was very vocal about it. Why punish everyone in those countries for a few corrupt individuals actions? FIFA needs to fix the problem in time for 2026. That gives them most of a decade to get some new young (maybe female?) blood in to the ExCo and to attempt some clarity in their decision making processes.

I think Sepp will find the Swiss will go after FIFA. After the IOC scandals and their banking scandals (all those Arab despots having fat (though now seized) Swiss bank accounts has given them a bit of a black eye) they need to appear to be tough and anti-corruption. I see FIFA moving to Monaco quite soon. In fact I am pretty certain the paper shredders in their office are working overtime. There will be very few files for the Swiss authorities to seize if they get to raid the HQ - that is for sure!

Puppy I honestly don't think the legal issues are as severe as you implicate. I am not so much against Russia but against Qatar. It is unrealistic for them to host.

[baron-pierreIV]

There is an OUT Blatter site now on Twitter: #BlatterOut! Join the global chorus for the clown to step down!!

[Scotguy]

It appears that the main issue is the Qatar bid buying its hosting, so 2018 should not be rerun, Russia was a hot favourite and in terms of Europe, it has not hosted a major football tournament.

2022 could be ru-run but like puppy i think that there would be alot of fuss and outrage by doing this

I might cause a bit of controversy here but i am starting to think that Sepp Blatter, might have not known too much about all of this, i think that Bin Hamman and Jack Warner may have worked behind the presidents back, even to the extent to make the 2018/2022 turn out badly so that he would not be re-elected and Bin Hamman could take over.

[baron-pierreIV]

I might cause a bit of controversy here but i am starting to think that Sepp Blatter, might have not known too much about all of this, i think that Bin Hamman and Jack Warner may have worked behind the presidents back, even to the extent to make the 2018/2022 turn out badly so that he would not be re-elected and Bin Hamman could take over.

Well, except Bin Hamman is from Qatar so the backdeals his country involved him has pretty much brought him down and put Qatar's "victory" into question. If I were on there...even though I was greatly impressed by their presentation, if bribery was involved -- and really how can a small, FILTHY RICH state who has to import football players -- do it, other than to buy votes as well? What about the other nations that played fair? And the Qatar bid is/was ridiculous to begin with!! The arrogance of Bin Hamman has deservedly blown up in his face.

Edited May 31, 2011 by baron-pierreIV

[Rob2012]

There is an OUT Blatter site now on Twitter: #BlatterOut! Join the global chorus for the clown to step down!!

Hey, what's your Twitter account? Will follow you.

[thatsnotmypuppy]

Puppy I honestly don't think the legal issues are as severe as you implicate. I am not so much against Russia but against Qatar. It is unrealistic for them to host.

Qatar can host - they will build whatever is needed and it will be a well run event. I dont question that for a moment.

Legalities wise - the host contracts will only be revoked if FIFA can 100% prove the bid acted dishonestly. They would need affidavits, witnesses, proof etc etc. Then you could be faced with defamation claims. The sponsors could get pissed as the Middle East is a lucrative market. FIFA could get sued by the other federations if they can prove Qatar cheated and FIFA let them. Internal documents would need to be read. The Swiss Government is bound to get caught up in as well. It would be a massive mess and a HUGE legal drama.

[baron-pierreIV]

It would be a massive mess and a HUGE legal drama.

There's an 11-year lead time. Surely, it can be sorted out in 10.

[krow]

Qatar can host - they will build whatever is needed and it will be a well run event. I dont question that for a moment.

Legalities wise - the host contracts will only be revoked if FIFA can 100% prove the bid acted dishonestly. They would need affidavits, witnesses, proof etc etc. Then you could be faced with defamation claims. The sponsors could get pissed as the Middle East is a lucrative market. FIFA could get sued by the other federations if they can prove Qatar cheated and FIFA let them. Internal documents would need to be read. The Swiss Government is bound to get caught up in as well. It would be a massive mess and a HUGE legal drama.

if it gets this far, won't the sponsors be more worried about association with a bid that the court of public opinion has already swung against? the middle east may be lucrative but it is also highly unstable. i don't pretend to be an expert on mid east politics, but the tumult in bahrain, another one of those too-rich microstate monarchies, must be awfully disconcerting.

besides, the other markets being considered as replacements - ie the US - are also lucrative.

[Sir Rols]

if it gets this far, won't the sponsors be more worried about association with a bid that the court of public opinion has already swung against?

Yeah - that's already started. And when even Emirates is concerned about their association with FIFA, surely something's gotta give:

Emirates voices concern over Fifa bribery scandal

Dubai: Emirates airline has become Fifa's latest corporate sponsor to express concern about the corruption scandal within football's world governing body.

Dubai's flagship carrier said it was "disappointed" at the ongoing dispute, which centres around bribery allegations related to the Fifa presidency and the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar.

Global brands Coca Cola, Visa and Adidas have also voiced their concern after Fifa executives Mohammad Bin Hammam and Jack Warner were suspended on Sunday over bribery allegations in Bin Hammam's now-abandoned presidential bid.

"Emirates, like all football fans around the world, is disappointed with the issues that are currently surrounding the administration of this sport," Boutros Boutros, Emirates' divisional senior vice-president of corporate communications said yesterday.

Emirates' partnership with Fifa started with the 2006 World Cup in Germany and its contract as an official sponsor runs until the end of the 2014 tournament in Brazil.

Access

Boutros added: "Emirates' sponsorship of all Fifa tournaments, including the Fifa World Cup, aims to help promote football and ensure that it is accessible to the billions of football fans [across the world]; something Fifa has managed to do extremely well in recent years. "We hope these issues will be resolved as soon as possible and the outcome will be in the interest of the game and sport in general."

The English and Scottish football associations called yesterday for Fifa's presidential election to be postponed following the corruption allegations.

Current Fifa President Sepp Blatter is the only candidate standing in today's vote after Bin Hammam, who is president of the Asian Football Confederation, withdrew from the contest.

Several of Fifa's corporate sponsors have expressed concern at the corruption claims, which have continued to deepen over the last few months. "The current allegations being raised are distressing and bad for the sport," said a spokesperson for Coca Cola. "Adidas will be an official sponsor of Fifa World Cup 2014 in Brazil. Having said that, the negative tenor of the public debate around Fifa at the moment is neither good for football nor for Fifa and its partners," said a spokesperson for German sportswear manufacturer Adidas.

"Adidas enjoys a long-term, close and successful partnership with Fifa that we are looking forward to continuing," the spokesperson added.

Qatar beat Australia, Japan, South Korea and the United States to host the tournament and its bid team has denied any wrongdoing.

Gulf News

[krow]

Yeah - that's already started. And when even Emirates is concerned about their association with FIFA, surely something's gotta give:

translation: emirates was disappointed when sepp said that no neighboring countries like the UAE would be given a chance to host some matches that instead would take place in lavish white elephants built outside oilfield outposts.

Edited June 1, 2011 by krow

[baron-pierreIV]

translation: emirates was disappointed when sepp said that no neighboring countries like the UAE would be given a chance to host some matches that instead would take place in lavish white elephants built outside oilfield outposts.

Well, plus as soon as Bin Hammann was censured, you can be sure all it took was a 15-second call to the paisanos in the neighboring sultanate to fire off their PR machines.

It gets more incredulous by the minute. 1st Chuck Blazer was fired by the new acting CONCACAF head, a Mr. Austin from Barbados. Now Austin apparently overstepped his bounds because he COULD NOT fire Chuck Blazer. So Blazer is still in!!!

http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2011/5/31/2199899/fifa-concacaf-chuck-blazer-fired-corruption

There are more twists to this than a Kafka novel!!

Edited June 1, 2011 by baron-pierreIV

[Scotguy]

Samaranch did not go after the 2002 voting scandal, what makes Blatter different

[baron-pierreIV]

Samaranch did not go after the 2002 voting scandal, what makes Blatter different

But the bribery issues of the IOC did not reach or go near Samaranch's level as it has Blatter. And when the facts were laid bare at the IOC, they immediately dealt with it. Even the Salt Lake City guys were at first charged by the U.S. Justice Dept (altho a judge dismissed charges later).

Warner & the Qataris just seem so greasy all of a sudden. Where there's smoke, there's usually fire.

[Rob2012]

Disgusting, ugly, brutal show from FIFA Congress this morning.

Head of the FA, David Berstein addressed congress to call for election to be postponed.

Four speakers after that laid into England for "dividing FIFA", the press for their "lies", the head of the Cyprus FA decided said "allegations, what a beautiful English word", the Argentinian delegate (who yesterday called England "pirates" and in the past has said Jews can't referee because they don't like hard work) appealed for England to "please leave the Fifa family alone!"

Bernstein was brave today but FIFA doesn't want to know. Still, nothing wrong with being hated when you know you're in the right. I think it's time the FA pulled all their development funds from FIFA now and spend the money instead on English football.

[baron-pierreIV]

well, 4 countries VOTED to change the agenda; and there were 2 abstentions...but the tally board does NOT show that.

Boy, Septic really has this organization locked down, doesn't he? It's now up to the Swiss authorities to light a fire under the old fool.

[Citius Altius Fortius]

Blatter is reelected - the clock is ticking for the "downfall" of FIFA and Blatter - I wonder which sleights of hand he has up his sleeve to rescue "his family" - it is time that the sponsors and the responsible persons in the European national parliaments build pressure on their football federation - the chairman of the German sport council of the parliament has already asked Zwanziger to investigate in that mess - that should be just the first step - the parliaments should withdrew the public support...

[Faster]

The problem is, any country that tries to do anything will be threatened with suspension from FIFA.

[Citius Altius Fortius]

in the german news it is demanded that Zwanziger (that is the president of the DFB) - he replaces Beckenbauer in the excecutive board - has to clean up the mess in the FIFA, since Enlands FA action are seen by FIFA has revenge for the lost bids for 2018 and 2022...

Germany had its two WCs and Germany won't see another WC during the "reign" of Zwanziger - therewith the media are building pressure on Zwanziger to clean up the FIFA.

I don't like that Zwanziger voted for Blatter, but maybe that this was tactic, since FIFA hasn't to rely on political corruption laws, since it is a club according Swiss law.