FIFA

[Ouroboros]

Yeah, it is mental. What are they even being charged with?

It will be interesting to see how UEFA ranks this against racist chanting.

[Sutekh]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/

Beyond parody. I am not convinced that this isn't the work of Chris Morris (not the former Eire international).

Reported.....for peaceful protest against an organisation which no-one trusts or respects

Agreed, utterly ridiculous, just sums up everything about Europe though.

[ZacNaloen]

^

I was thinking of making the same joke, decided it was a bit too europhobic in the end.

[genome]

Our very own Tokyo Sex Whale is in the running for FIFA presidency

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34629726

[Kitsondinho]

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34657900

Who knew???!!

[Sanguine]

“In 2010 we had a discussion of the World Cup and then we went to a double decision,” said Blatter. “For the World Cups it was agreed that we go to Russia because it’s never been in Russia, eastern Europe, and for 2022 we go back to America. And so we will have the World Cup in the two biggest political powers.

“And everything was good until the moment when Sarkozy came in a meeting with the crown prince of Qatar, who is now the ruler of Qatar​. And at a lunch afterwards with Mr Platini he said it would be good to go to Qatar. And this has changed all pattern.

“There was an election by secret ballot. Four votes from Europe went away from the USA and so the result was 14 to eight. If you put the four votes, it would have been 12 to 10. If the USA was given the World Cup, we would only speak about the wonderful World Cup 2018 in Russia and we would not speak about any problems at Fifa.”

This just gets better and better.

House of cards is collapsing, but I didn't expect Blatter to be giving it a shove.

[Uke]

“In 2010 we had a discussion of the World Cup and then we went to a double decision,” said Blatter. “For the World Cups it was agreed that we go to Russia because it’s never been in Russia, eastern Europe, and for 2022 we go back to America. And so we will have the World Cup in the two biggest political powers.

“And everything was good until the moment when Sarkozy came in a meeting with the crown prince of Qatar, who is now the ruler of Qatar​. And at a lunch afterwards with Mr Platini he said it would be good to go to Qatar. And this has changed all pattern.

“There was an election by secret ballot. Four votes from Europe went away from the USA and so the result was 14 to eight. If you put the four votes, it would have been 12 to 10. If the USA was given the World Cup, we would only speak about the wonderful World Cup 2018 in Russia and we would not speak about any problems at Fifa.”

This just gets better and better.

House of cards is collapsing, but I didn't expect Blatter to be giving it a shove.

[6ft Kerplunk]

House of cards is collapsing, but I didn't expect Blatter to be giving it a shove.

Really? He's chucked Platini under the bus to try and save his skin. Exactly what I'd expect from a man that supposedly didn't notice anything dodgy happening under his presidency. Well until he gets his collar felt and suddenly he's remembered this incident.

[Sanguine]

House of cards is collapsing, but I didn't expect Blatter to be giving it a shove.

Really? He's chucked Platini under the bus to try and save his skin. Exactly what I'd expect from a man that supposedly didn't notice anything dodgy happening under his presidency. Well until he gets his collar felt and suddenly he's remembered this incident.

He's chucked Platini under a bus and then laid down in the road in front of it too, more like.

[Sutekh]

Looking to take over the can of worms that masquerades as football's governing body

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34655656

Fifa: Presidential election candidates confirmed

Seven candidates will stand in Fifa's presidential election on 26 February.

The candidates are: Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, Musa Bility, Jerome Champagne, Gianni Infantino, Michel Platini, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa and Tokyo Sexwale.

Trinidadian ex-footballer David Nakhid was not included on the list, despite saying he had submitted his candidacy.

The election is to find a successor to the suspended Sepp Blatter, who is under criminal investigation.

The Swiss 79-year-old announced he would be stepping down in June, with world football's governing body at the centre of a corruption scandal.

Who are the Fifa candidates?

Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, 39, is president of the Jordan Football Association
Musa Bility, 48, is president of the Liberian Football Association
Jerome Champagne, 57, is a former Fifa executive
Gianni Infantino, 45, is Uefa's general secretary
Michel Platini, 60, is Uefa president and Fifa vice-president
Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa, 49, is Asian Football Confederation president
Tokyo Sexwale, 62, is a South African former government minister

Platini, the head of European football's governing body, is also suspended, but Fifa's electoral committee says it may allow him to stand if his ban ends before the election date.

Fifa and Swiss prosecutors are investigating reports that a £1.35m payment was made in 2011 for work Platini did as Blatter's adviser.

Both men deny any wrongdoing and are appealing against their 90-day bans.

All candidates had to obtain the written backing of five football associations under Fifa electoral rules.

[Ian Royal]

So a mix of those already up to their eyeballs in FIFA and therefore at best closed eyed to the corruption, plus small FA representatives from areas not necessarily known for being bastians of integrity and morality.

I may be a touch harsh on one or two there.

[Sutekh]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34671834

It seems we have confirmation that the Russia 2018 vote was indeed wholly bent/fixed :

Fifa's 'big players' were behind 2018 Russia agreement

The agreement to hand Russia the 2018 World Cup before the vote took place involved "big players" in Fifa, says president Sepp Blatter's adviser.

Klaus Stohlker said there were "behind-the-curtain" talks involving members of the Fifa executive committee.

The suspended Blatter has suggested there was an agreement to give the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and the USA respectively.
Play media

The 2022 event was later awarded to Qatar after a swing in the voting.

"Before the decision was taken, in the case of Russia and the USA there were 'behind-the-curtain' talks," said Stohlker, who is acting as Blatter's spokesman during his 90-day ban.

"It was not everyone in the Fifa executive committee but it was the big players that had these talks."

The head of the organising committee for Russia 2018, Alexei Sorokin, said he was not aware of it having been rigged in any way.

"If there were people who had a clear position on who to vote for, it's their right, they are entitled to that. It's their business to make decisions about world football," Sorokin told World Football Insider in an interview.
"All I know is we did not know the outcome of the vote until after the vote."

The bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments is the subject of an ongoing Swiss criminal investigation. It was begun alongside a US inquiry following the arrest and indictment of several top executives by the US Department of Justice on corruption charges.
Swiss Blatter, 79, is serving a 90-day ban alongside Uefa president Michel Platini, 60. Both deny any wrongdoing.

The Football Association spent £21m, including £2.5m of public money from local authorities, on England's attempt to host the 2018 tournament.

Hugh Robertson, sports minister at the time of the vote in 2010, has accused Fifa of having been "dishonest" with England.

He said: "We were encouraged to run by Fifa and we have now found that the whole thing appears to have been cut up beforehand. Fifa were effectively dishonest with us.

"A considerable amount of time and expense went into preparing the bid, we had the best inspection report quite easily out of all the bidders.

"It also means a considerable number of Fifa executive committee members lied through their teeth to us."
'I felt abhorrence over Blatter revelation'

Former FA vice-chairman David Dein said he had a feeling of revulsion when he learned what Blatter said about the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

"I felt astonishment and abhorrence," he said.

"We wanted a clean joust and it has transpired it was anything but. It appears that the game was being played with a loaded dice."




I trust that if this is the case the FA (and all other unsuccessful bidders) will sue FIFA for the cost of their bids plus interest.

Finally, if you have a quiet 2.5 hours (well today is Sunday) here's the link for the full FIFA select committee hearing

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0 ... -committee

[6ft Kerplunk]

I see Blatter has been admitted to hospital for early onset of notfittostandtrialitis.

[exileinleeds]

Sepp Blatter is Earnest Saunders....

[Sutekh]

I see Blatter has been admitted to hospital for early onset of notfittostandtrialitis.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34787547

Sepp Blatter: Fifa president in hospital after 'small breakdown'

Suspended Fifa president Sepp Blatter is in hospital after what has been called a "small emotional breakdown".

Blatter, 79, who has led world football's governing body for 18 years, was provisionally suspended for 90 days last month amid a corruption scandal.

It is understood he suffered what has been called "a nervous shock" but is expected to make a full recovery.

Blatter is set to remain in hospital until next Tuesday after being admitted initially for a check-up last week.

Five days ago, Blatter's lawyer Richard Cullen said the Swiss had undergone stress-related health checks in hospital, but added: "He is fine and expects to be home shortly."

Blatter and Uefa president Michel Platini were given 90-day bans by Fifa's ethics committee in the wake of a Swiss criminal case investigating financial misconduct at the governing body.

Blatter is reported to be "fully fighting against the ethics committee decision" and has told friends "no committee can put me out of the game".

An aide, Walter Gagg, said the Swiss hoped to host the Ballon d'Or award ceremony in Zurich on 11 January after the suspension expires.

The criminal case centres on whether Blatter misused Fifa money by making a 2m euros (£1.35m) payment to Frenchman Platini for consultation work. They both deny any wrongdoing.

Seven candidates will stand in Fifa's presidential election to succeed Blatter on 26 February.

[Sutekh]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34783181

Greg Dyke: FA chairman concerned by World Cup 'bungs'

Football Association chairman Greg Dyke has questioned if any World Cup bid has been won without "a pile of bungs".

Wolfgang Niersbach quit as president of the German football federation (DFB) amid claims payments were made to officials at world football's governing body Fifa during the bidding process for the 2006 World Cup.

Germany beat England, South Africa and Morocco to host the 2006 event.

"It is like The Archers. Every week something is happening," said Dyke.

"You begin to be convinced almost no World Cups have been allocated without a pile of bungs," Dyke added.

The Germans beat South Africa by one vote after New Zealand delegate Charles Dempsey abstained.

Niersbach denies any wrongdoing but said he had taken the decision to quit in order to "protect the DFB". He remains a member of Uefa and Fifa executive committees.

In October, the head of Germany's organising committee, Franz Beckenbauer, said he made a "mistake" in the bidding process to host the 2006 World Cup, but denied that votes were bought.

The 70-year-old denied sending "money to anyone in order to buy votes" in a statement on 18 October, but gave further details after being questioned by a law firm hired by the DFB to investigate the claims.

"In order to get a subsidy from Fifa [for the organisation of the 2006 World Cup] those involved went ahead with a proposal from the Fifa finance commission that in today's eyes should have been rejected," he said.

Beckenbauer has also recently been investigated by Fifa as he was one of 22 men to vote on the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. He was provisionally banned by Fifa for "failing to co-operate" with its ongoing inquiry into the bidding process.

Dyke's comments come after a World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) commission report recommended Russia should be banned from athletics competition.

Wada's independent commission examined allegations of doping, cover-ups, and extortion in Russian athletics.

Dick Pound, author of the damning report, has said Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko - who is also on Fifa's executive committee - must have been aware of the level of cheating.

Mutko has denied knowledge of any wrongdoing, but Dyke questioned whether he should stay on the board of world football's governing body.

"I don't know where it ends," said Dyke. "You need a completely reformed organisation because you can't carry on like this.

"Whether someone who is involved in all that can stay on the board of Fifa is something Fifa needs to address very quickly. There has to be a question mark."

Nations seek compensation over World Cup 2018

Russia 2018 World Cup bid Russia won the vote to secure the 2018 World Cup back in 2010

Two weeks ago, suspended Fifa president Sepp Blatter suggested there was an agreement in place for Russia to host the 2018 World Cup - before the vote took place.

And now England, the Netherlands and Belgium are seeking legal advice over whether to claim compensation for the cost of their respective failed bids.

The Dutch and Belgian bid, which cost 10m euros (£7m), went up against another joint venture from Portugal and Spain, as well as individual entries from England and Russia.

England were eliminated after the first round of voting, while the Dutch-Belgian bid finished third in the second round, and Russia went on to be declared winners.

Belgian FA president Francois de Keersmaecker said: "In agreement with our Dutch colleagues we have asked a legal firm to see if we can claim for compensation.

"It was unethical to allow us to incur unnecessary costs while the outcome of the bidding process had already been determined."

[CountryRoyal]

I'm dissappinted no ones picked up on the name Tokyo Sexwale yet

[TFF]

I'm dissappinted no ones picked up on the name Tokyo Sexwale yet

You're not even new here

http://hobnob.royals.org/forum/memberli ... le&u=29466

[CountryRoyal]

I'm dissappinted no ones picked up on the name Tokyo Sexwale yet

You're not even new here

http://hobnob.royals.org/forum/memberli ... le&u=29466

It was a really shit joke

[stealthpapes]

shots fired.