Qatar has likely lost the World Cup

[FlameOn]

Blatter says in an emergency meeting that he will not quit.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32917364

[Kavvy]

Originally Posted by FlameOn

Blatter says in an emergency meeting that he will not quit.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32917364

Guilty or not, he was the leader that is responsible for running the organization, and this happened under his nose.

He should resign.

[ernie]

Or...

Nike Exec: John did you finish that deal yet for the Brazil sponsorship?

Lowly John: Well no, because they want a...

Exec: What? I don't care what they want! Just do it!

John: They want a...

Exec: Just do it!

John: Bribe.

Exec: Whatever it is just do it! Quit wasting my time.

[Weitz]

Anyone know when the vote is today?

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Weitz

Anyone know when the vote is today?

#fifacongress

World News 24h ‏@WorldNews_24h#FIFA president election underway in Zurich, follow LIVE UPDATES http://on.rt.com/vf4w3r #FIFACongress …

14:50 GMT:
"I promise to throw open the doors of FIFA house. I will develop a FIFA development program and that is transparent and upholds human rights," Prince Ali has told the congress as the vote kicked off. "We cannot ignore the clamor outside our doors. Now it the time to show the world that we are hungry for the world’s respect. I call on you to join me."

15:06 GMT:
Sepp Blatter has promised to reform FIFA and step down in four years' time. He addressed the congress in French: "You know me already, I don’t need to introduce myself to you. You know who you’re dealing with. I also know I can count on you. We need to recover our good name. We will start tomorrow morning with this goal in mind."

15:07 GMT:
The vote starts. FIFA delegates are flocking to two booths set up either side of the stage. To gain victory in the first round, two-thirds of the vote - or 139 votes out of 209 - are enough. If this majority is not reached, voting will go to a second round, in which a simple majority will work.

[troutman]

~ ‏@sundowncyndrome 2m2 minutes ago #FIFACongress livestream https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZX-gu9pdKyg …

The "Bs" are voting now . . .

Rory Briggs ‏@RWABriggs The background music is like the reception at a Cryogenic Freezing company. #FIFACongress

Canada - Booth 2!

[Locke]

Sure he does. I think this is probably the fourth or fifth time hes promised this, usually right before Presidential elections.

If he gets voted back in FIFA is going to be right back to the same old FIFA.

Hell, most of the reasons for all the corruption is because Blatter realizes that hes in his prime bribe-earning years, he can take all the bribes he wants, step down and then its someone else's problem.

[Coys1882]

UEFA has all the leverage here. If Blatter comes through as winner - they need to remove themselves from FIFA and watch it crumble. Let's be honest - what's world cup with out UEFA? Argentina, Brazil and USA? The odd good African nation? The EUROs are already arguably the best international tournament there is.

[woob]

Originally Posted by troutman

14:50 GMT:
"I promise to throw open the doors of FIFA house. I will develop a FIFA development program and that is transparent and upholds human rights," Prince Ali has told the congress as the vote kicked off. "We cannot ignore the clamor outside our doors. Now it the time to show the world that we are hungry for the world’s respect. I call on you to join me."

15:06 GMT:
Sepp Blatter has promised to reform FIFA and step down in four years' time. He addressed the congress in French: "You know me already, I don’t need to introduce myself to you. You know who you’re dealing with. I also know I can count on you. We need to recover our good name. We will start tomorrow morning with this goal in mind."

Investigators come down on FIFA. Blatter now says he'll fix everything, he promises. Just re-elect me and we'll turn this around! Riiiiight.

Sounds like a guy desperate to retain his power.

[Weitz]

Word is he is going to win anyway. Would be a surprise if the Jordanian won.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Weitz

Word is he is going to win anyway. Would be a surprise if the Jordanian won.

I'm pretty sure thats why the raid was organized this way right before the Presidential election, if a contender cant win after all of this then there really is little to no hope.

The real shame is Platini. If Platini was running like he said he was going to then there could have been a real challenger.

[Coys1882]

Blatter owns Africa and Asia - there are a TON of votes there.

[troutman]

I heard someone the other day say that getting rid of Blatter will be like trying to pick up mercury with a fork.

[Coach]

Blatter's quote sounds like this to me:

"C'man. Huh? C'maaaaaan! You know this guy. You know this face. C'maaaaan!"

[Locke]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Blatter's quote sounds like this to me:

"C'man. Huh? C'maaaaaan! You know this guy. You know this face. C'maaaaan!"

Imagine exactly that but at the same time hes writing cheques.

Its the best, bribing people for votes with money that isnt yours!

[CroFlames]

From what I read, Canada, USA & UEFA voting for the Jordanian Prince. Everyone else voting for Seppy.

I wonder what this Jordanian Prince's human rights record is like. I don't mean to stereotype, but leaders from that part of the world typically have a bad track record.

[Hessen]

Originally Posted by Coys1882

UEFA has all the leverage here. If Blatter comes through as winner - they need to remove themselves from FIFA and watch it crumble. Let's be honest - what's world cup with out UEFA?

13:32 of the 2014 WC teams were from UEFA. If UEFA split the competition would lose:

England
France
Germany
Italy
Netherlands
Portugal
Spain

There are others of course but these are the incumbents and winners of 11:20 competitions.

The most interesting would be Russia IMO. If UEFA leaves what happens to the 2018 WC?

[PIMking]

Originally Posted by Coys1882

UEFA has all the leverage here. If Blatter comes through as winner - they need to remove themselves from FIFA and watch it crumble. Let's be honest - what's world cup with out UEFA? Argentina, Brazil and USA? The odd good African nation? The EUROs are already arguably the best international tournament there is.

Then they should just allow the top 2 or 3 teams from South America, top team in north america and one from africa and one from asia and do their own world cup.

Be better than allowing some of the others in the tourny

[Mccree]

Originally Posted by Coys1882

UEFA has all the leverage here. If Blatter comes through as winner - they need to remove themselves from FIFA and watch it crumble. Let's be honest - what's world cup with out UEFA? Argentina, Brazil and USA? The odd good African nation? The EUROs are already arguably the best international tournament there is.

I agree but what are the odds of UEFA leaving FIFA? I don't think it is personally really that high.

EDIT: Can we also merger this thread with the other one in other sports forum?

[Coys1882]

^^ You could be right - but they've never been higher.