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

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by Locke

And the crazy thing to me is that Wacko Blatter and his flunky Valcke could totally have gotten away with it if they'd even made a slight effort beyond obviously vapid lip-service to keep it even marginally discreet or, if they'd quit and run right before that last election.

But now? Now their asses are well and truly in the sling.

But if you take down Blatter, you take down Valcke and if that happens everyone goes with them. Including Platini.

Yeah, the whole thing should crumble. These guys aren't career criminals just very corrupt individuals that once any significant heat is put on them, they'll sing like canaries.

What is the "unfavourable" contract?

This is the big question, which in all likelihood will be tied to the sale of TV rights for the World Cup and other tournaments. Essentially, Fifa owns the rights for the tournament as whole, but hands them to individual regional associations to sell.
The associations then keep the profits. The implication is that Mr Blatter allegedly sold the rights for less than their market value in order to win favour with the Caribbean football association (Concacaf).

Who did he sell them to?

The deal that the Swiss authorities have highlighted involves a 2005 contract between Fifa and Concacaf. Its head at the time was Jack Warner, who is now awaiting extradition to the US on corruption charges relating to the sale of TV rights.
Mr Warner was famously close to Mr Blatter and was well known as one of world football's leading powerbrokers. Two of Mr Warner's sons have already pleaded guilty to corruption and are cooperating with the FBI.
Earlier, this month the Swiss broadcaster SRF uncovered a 2005 contract between Fifa and Concacaf for the sale of the rights for the 2010 and 2014 World Cups for $600,000 (£395,269; €537,080). Concacaf's president Jack Warner then reportedly sub-licensed the rights to his own company before selling them for about $18m in 2007 - a tidy profit.
It is unclear whether this is the deal that the Swiss authorities are referring to, but it does seem to show that Fifa had grossly undervalued its own TV rights. By anyone's calculation, this would be an "unfavourable" deal for the company.

How is Michel Platini involved?

Michel Platini, the head of the European federation UEFA, is expected to succeed Mr Blatter in February. It is not clear if he is in legal jeopardy. The Swiss say they have questioned him and that he received a payment of 2m Swiss francs (£1.3m, €1.8m, $2m) from Mr Blatter. Although the payment was not made until 2011, the Swiss say it relates to work between 1999-2002. Mr Platini first became a senior member of Fifa in 2002. Because this payment is one of the charges against the Fifa president, it is unclear where it leaves his European counterpart.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34363560

Interesting days ahead. I still hold out hope that Qatar will lose the WC.

[Locke]

Doesnt anyone have any sympathy or compassion for the Swiss Legal System?

I mean, that judge and those lawyers....you know, I dont think they really thought this all the way through, they are going to be wading through the sewers of hell sifting the wheat from the chaff of FIFA's documents.

You'd probably have to start with the premise that every document you get is complete and utter BS and work your way back from there.

[Locke]

Sepp Blatter is like a bad STD, no matter how hard you try he just wont go away.

Sepp Blatter has said he will remain as president of FIFA, reiterating that "he had done nothing illegal or improper" after criminal proceedings were opened against him last Friday by the Swiss attorney general.

But the 79-year-old Blatter was back in his office that was raided on Friday, attempting to continue running FIFA while embroiled in a criminal investigation.

http://www.espnfc.us/fifa-world-cup/...gn-immediately

[Locke]

Oh no! Banned for life from FIFA?

FIFA's ethics committee has banned Jack Warner from football-related activity for life following an investigation into the bidding contest for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

"Mr Warner was found to have committed many and various acts of misconduct continuously and repeatedly during his time as an official in different high-ranking and influential positions at FIFA and CONCACAF.


"In his positions as a football official, he was a key player in schemes involving the offer, acceptance, and receipt of undisclosed and illegal payments, as well as other money-making schemes.

http://www.espnfc.us/fifa-world-cup/...hics-committee

Thats like banning me for life for all the good it does.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Locke

This is going to be brutal, once they start peeling back the lawyers

I hate when that happens.

[Blaster86]

Originally Posted by troutman

I hate when that happens.

You knew what you signed up for.

[MissTeeks]

Took them long enough:

Sky Sports News HQVerified account ‏@SkySportsNewsHQ4m4 minutes ago

BREAKING: Fifa sponsors Coca-Cola & McDonalds issue statements calling for president Sepp Blatter to step down immediately #SSNHQ

[Locke]

About goddamn time. Come on Budweiser.

[devo22]

good, should have happened a lot sooner. Not even Blatter can stay when the big sponsors threaten to pull out.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by devo22

good, should have happened a lot sooner. Not even Blatter can stay when the big sponsors threaten to pull out.

He probably could, but whats the point? Whose money do you think hes bilking? If the cash isnt there then the guy isnt going to kick around for the prestige...

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Locke

About goddamn time. Come on Budweiser.

they are joining the party as well, it seems.

CNBC Now ‏@CNBCnow
Budweiser parent AB InBev joins sponsors' calls for FIFA Chief Sepp Blatter's resignation

[Locke]

Originally Posted by devo22

they are joining the party as well, it seems.

CNBC Now ‏@CNBCnow
Budweiser parent AB InBev joins sponsors' calls for FIFA Chief Sepp Blatter's resignation

There we go. Thats the big money. Blatter is done.

[devo22]

Mr Blatter's lawyer said in a statement on Friday night that the 79-year-old Swiss "will not resign".

"While Coca-Cola is a valued sponsor of Fifa, Mr Blatter respectfully disagrees with its position and believes firmly that his leaving office now would not be in the best interest of Fifa nor would it advance the process of reform and therefore, he will not resign," the statement said.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...McDonalds.html

lol

only mentions Coca Cola though, if indeed McDonalds and Budweiser put pressure on him as well, it's probably too much for him to carry on. Might as well convince Visa to get on board too, just to make sure he finally pisses off.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by devo22

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...McDonalds.html

lol

only mentions Coca Cola though, if indeed McDonalds and Budweiser put pressure on him as well, it's probably too much for him to carry on. Might as well convince Visa to get on board too, just to make sure he finally pisses off.

No way, Budweiser is the Big Gun, if they say 'go' he has to go. If all 3 pull theirn cash then theres no more for him to embezzle.

[devo22]

yeah, but the more the merrier and indeed, Visa now too:

Rob Harris Verified Account ‏@RobHarris
VISA follows fellow FIFA sponsors McDonald's and Coca-Cola in demanding Blatter goes immediately. Blatter is defying those calls

[Locke]

Originally Posted by devo22

yeah, but the more the merrier and indeed, Visa now too:

Rob Harris Verified Account ‏@RobHarris
VISA follows fellow FIFA sponsors McDonald's and Coca-Cola in demanding Blatter goes immediately. Blatter is defying those calls

Gotta give Coke credit, they had the balls to be the first Domino.

[CroFlames]

This whole Fifa mess would be comical if it didn't affect so many people. Their reach is global, and their corruption is costing people lives.

I can't believe Qatar is still a go. Shameful.

[rubecube]

He's probably banking on new sponsorship from Burger King, Pepsi, Mastercard, and....um Guiness?

[devo22]

Originally Posted by rubecube

He's probably banking on new sponsorship from Burger King, Pepsi, Mastercard, and....um Guiness?

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Locke

Gotta give Coke credit, they had the balls to be the first Domino.

No you don't. They pretty much ignored the slavery building the Qatari stadiums when they were asked to pull out over those reasons.