FIFA officials indicted for corruption. UPD: Sepp Blatter will step down as FIFA pres

[Locke]

It gets better and better....

FIFA president Sepp Blatter says a £1.35 million payment to Michel Platini which has seen the pair provisionally suspended by FIFA's ethics committee was part of a "gentleman's agreement" between the two of them.

http://www.espnfc.us/fifa-world-cup/...mans-agreement

A Gentleman's agreement? Hopefully Blatter at least had the goddamn decency to give him a reach-around.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

Typical Germans

Haha! Oh boy...

Typical Germans, they're very conscientious and concerned about the Culture of World football, the funds were very clearly and carefully accounted for and run through the correct accounts.

Beckenbauer and Niersbach declined to comment on the Spiegel report, with the DFB instead releasing a statement categorically denying the claims.


It said on Friday it had paid €6.7m to FIFA in April 2005 for the world governing body's "Cultural Programme."


It said it had "become aware" that the funds may not have "been used for their intended purpose" but categorically denied wrongdoing in the bidding process.


"The DFB has not found any indications of irregularities at all during our investigations," the statement published on dfb.de read. "Furthermore, there have been no indications at all of delegates' votes being bought as part of the bidding process.

You cant make this stuff up.

1. FIFA Cultural Programme? That screams 'Bribe Fund' to me.

2. The DFB have investigated the DFB and found that the DFB acted in an exemplary and professional manner and the DFB have determined that the DFB have done nothing wrong. Danke.

[Johnny199r]

It seems the only way a country had a chance to host the World Cup in the last decade was with bribes...

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Johnny199r

It seems the only way a country had a chance to host the World Cup in the last decade was with bribes...

I think it actually goes back to 1994. Or maybe even longer, who knows ... after all, Blatters predecessor Havelange was a shady and corrupt SOB as well.

1998 ... bribery surely happened here, Chuck Blazer admitted that he and other members received money for their votes.

2002 ... not sure if actual bribery happened here but Japan and South Korea initially made seperate host bids and surprisingly joined forces very late. Not sure what happened there.

2006 ... well IIRC Africa was widely expected to be in line back then and South Africa had a lot of support to host the 2006 World Cup. I'm not surprised that Germany apparently improved their chances a little bit.

2010 & 2014 ... were probably pretty clean in comparison because Africa and South America were due to host a tournament thanks to the rotation rule. Implementing that rule in the first place was probably when bribery happened though.

2018 & 2022 ... well we all know what happened.

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by Locke

I dont know if its typical, but if you're a Brit you've got a legit reason to be pissed, it seems like the Brits and the Americans were the only ones playing the game straight.

I guess they didnt get Blatter's memo where bribery was in the rules of the game.

20 second mark

[GirlySports]

more arrests!

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/03/sp...land.html?_r=0

[Locke]

Arrest 'em all and let God sort 'em out.

No, seriously, let Robbie Fowler sort this all out.

[troutman]

They should stop staying at the Baur au Lac hotel in Zurich.

[Locke]

Platini's ban upheld. Its only 90 days you whiny brat.

Suspended UEFA president Michel Platini will not be present for Saturday's Euro 2016 draw after he had the 90-day ban imposed on him by FIFA upheld on Friday following an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Platini took a case to CAS after being banned for 90 days by the ethics committee of world football's governing body in October. Platini and outgoing FIFA president Sepp Blatter were both provisionally suspended over a two million Swiss franc (£1.35m) payment made to the UEFA chief in 2011 for work said to have been carried out more than nine years previously.

http://www.espnfc.us/blog/fifa/243/p...-upheld-by-cas

[GirlySports]

still for him to not be present at the euro draw hosted in france is a big deal

[CroFlames]

So much corruption. Yet we all still follow this crap. When will we learn?

[cam_wmh]

Platini and Sepp banned 8 years!!!

[Locke]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

Platini and Sepp banned 8 years!!!

Is that it? Platini could theoretically make a comeback. It should have been for Life plus some jail time. Or is jail time still on the table?

[nik-]

I don't think the FBI is going to care that FIFA banned them if they decide they want jail time.

[troutman]

As FIFA comes together for elections, everyone in the hotel nervously expects another 5:30 am raid by the authorities

[GirlySports]

i do hope that this is the beginning of the FIFA cleanup

[troutman]

#FIFAelection: USA back Prince Ali, Canada endorse Infantino. Read more here: goo.gl/AIdg9N

[getbak]

Originally Posted by troutman

#FIFAelection: USA back Prince Ali

Prince Ali - glamorous he - Ali Ababwa!

[Locke]

Tokyo Sexwale withdraws.

FIFA presidential candidate Tokyo Sexwale has dramatically withdrawn his candidacy on the day of the presidential vote in Zurich.

http://www.espnfc.us/blog/fifa/243/p...awal-from-race

He would have been great as the next President of FIFA, really has the name for it.

[GirlySports]

it looks like the Caribbean will decide the election.

Sounds like Salman and Infantino will go to a 2nd ballot. Salman has Asia and Africa. Infantino has Europe and South America.

USA's vote should switch to Infantino