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

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Locke

No, but having this whole sting happen right before the Presidential election was likely not an accident.

Is it bad that FIFA is so corrupt that I think theres a chance one of them got the US authorities to intervene so someone else gets elected President?

Its FIFA, its corruption is corrupt.

It was a strategic probe.

Swiss government knew all the people being investigated would be in the same hotel in advance of the vote.

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

It was a strategic probe.

Swiss government knew all the people being investigated would be in the same hotel in advance of the vote.

Great move. Otherwise, it would be hard to corner all these people in several jurisdictions with extradition treaties with the US.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by shermanator

The voting ballot for today's FIFA vote has been leaked:

I laughed unreasonably hard at that. Only 500? Cheapskate!

[atb]

So first ballot was 133 Blatter, 73 Ali. They're doing a second ballot.

Extremely boring livestream here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZX-gu9pdKyg

[CroFlames]

Wow 73 votes for Prince Ali Ababwa

In seriousness though, I thought he'd be getting 50 to 60 total.

[Locke]

Sky Sports News HQ's Bryan Swanson says there were "audible gasps" in the audience as the results were read out.

Is this nothing more than a bloodied nose for Sepp Blatter?

If he holds on to his current support in the second round of voting he will be re-elected. However, he has fallen short of the two-thirds majority he needed in the first round of voting.

http://www1.skysports.com/sky-sports-today

Audible gasp! As opposed to inaudible gasp!!

[Mccree]

Why even bother with the second vote if only two are running?

[Senator Clay Davis]

Why bother indeed. The Prince withdraws and it's over. Sepp is the ultimate escape artist.

[SuperMatt18]

So corrupt Fifa, elects a corrupt leader, on the votes from the Asian and African federations who have benefited from the corruption.

Shocking.

[polak]

Fifa is a joke. I really hope UEFA has some balls and that Canada and the US go with them.

[shermanator]

FIFA sure has a Blatter infection....

[sadora]

I have to say, though I knew this would happen, I'm extremely disappointed that Blatter got re-elected. How can the man at the top of the organization not have some or most of the responsibility with everything that happens at FIFA, good or bad but specially the bad. FIFA has already stated that despite the allegations the 2022 WC in Qatar, the have to maintain "integrity"....once they're bribed, they remain bribed!

[d_phaneuf]

Sepp to Swiss TV: ‘’I forgive everyone but I don’t forget.’’

the USA's 2018 group stage opponents

Brazil/Germany/Argentina

[Locke]

Originally Posted by sadora

I have to say, though I knew this would happen, I'm extremely disappointed that Blatter got re-elected. How can the man at the top of the organization not have some or most of the responsibility with everything that happens at FIFA, good or bad but specially the bad. FIFA has already stated that despite the allegations the 2022 WC in Qatar, the have to maintain "integrity"....once they're bribed, they remain bribed!

He is totally the single most responsible. I guarantee that hes the guy sucking back the most cash, no question.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

UEFA leaves FIFA

runs the Euro's every 2 years invites Brazil and Argentina and a few other South American squads

best possible outcome of this

The Europeans dont even wanted to do that. They would have a European championship and thats it. Invite nobody.

Euro Nations League 2018
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018%...Nations_League

[d_phaneuf]

The Nations league is different though, and a good idea, gives teams a chance to play against those in their level more often in competitive games

if UEFA did split from FIFA they would invite others to a tournament, too much tv money not too

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

The Nations league is different though, and a good idea, gives teams a chance to play against those in their level more often in competitive games

if UEFA did split from FIFA they would invite others to a tournament, too much tv money not too

I don't think UEFA will bother, they would make money anyways.
And I don't think South America will accept the invitation even if they did. South Americans won't be a junior partner to anybody. There is a reason they have voted in a block with Asia and Africa in the FIFA presidency for the last 41 years (Havalange's first election win in 1974).

UEFA has never broken away from FIFA because they would get no support.

[d_phaneuf]

I guess it depends on how next years Copa goes with CONMEBOL and CONCACAF

the one thing South America lacks is money, if next years tournament is successful I can see that becoming an every 4 year thing to rival the Euro's

North American TV Money + South American talent

[GirlySports]

I don't know if the South Americans will send their best players to that tournament. I think it'll will be a dud.

Theoretically Messi or Suarez or Neymar or Sanchez or Rodriguez could play in 6 summer tournaments in a row. That's alot of football.

2014 World Cup
2015 Copa America
2016 Copa America Centenario
2017 Confederations Cup
2018 World Cup
2019 Copa America

plus 18 rounds of World Cup qualifying.

[chemgear]

Round 2!