DoJ takes aim at FIFA and hits!

[Admiral Halsey]

http://screamer.deadspin.com/reports-justice-department-brings-the-goddamn-hammer-d-1707109298

Finally the bastards running FIFA get what was coming to them. Hopefully the 2022 World Cup will soon be leaving Qatar.

[HunterICX]

The real rammer blow would be it to cause FIFA to dissolve, but I doubt that'll happen anytime soon and since the member nations are spineless crooks who like FIFA see nothing else but...
http://i.imgur.com/gewUXvH.png

instead of boycotting the next couple of Europe Cups and World Cups it'll allow to continue on.:-?

[Betonov]

instead of boycotting the next couple of Europe Cups and World Cups it'll allow to continue on.:-?

The people will sooner gang up on fast food franchises or start taking active constructive parts in their governemnts columnating in a true democracy than boycott boringball.

Even more likely, they'd sooner lynch whoever might take FIFA down than help it fall.

[Jimbuna]

Blatter doesn't appear to be involved (officially thus far apparently) so the vote for the president will go ahead on Friday.

I'd like to think Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein will win the election and bring legitimacy and 'a sprit of freedom and independence' to Fifa but I doubt it.

[mapuc]

Dream on...there are so huge amount of money, that our justice have very little to say.

Yes maybe a FIFA-member or two will be accussed(lets call them scapegoat)

The real person behind-will go free.

Markus

[vienna]

New FIFA cry:

"JAILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!"

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/8AMIrxx3gx8/hqdefault.jpg



<O>

[STEED]

The bigger the criminals the bigger the money they have the less likely they will be punished.

[Admiral Halsey]

Well a friend of mine said Sky has reported that the Swiss have barred anyone of Swiss nationality working for FIFA from leaving. Also the UEFA has released a statement basically saying either postpone the vote for electing the president of FIFA or they'll boycott.








http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--PLQdrFN7--/lw6c3dru7yfzbokp8qfs.gif

[Bilge_Rat]

of course, the beauty of using RICO and treating FIFA as a "criminal enterprise" like the Mafia is that the U.S. will be able to seize 100% of the U.S. assets of FIFA as proceeds of crime, should make a nice dent on the U.S. deficit. :ping:

[mapuc]

The question for me is. Will there be a second vote( don't know the english name for a "re-vote" on the world cup in 2018 and 2022

Markus

[Aktungbby]

of course, the beauty of using RICO and treating FIFA as a "criminal enterprise" like the Mafia is that the U.S. will be able to seize 100% of the U.S. assets of FIFA as proceeds of crime, should make a nice dent on the U.S. deficit. :ping: It's conspiracy then fer sure...anything with football and money is open season:hmmm: for the Feds; Inflated balls sure didn't help the NFL either!The NFL has been tax exempt since 1942 under section 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code which grants tax exempt status to organizations with a goal “to promote the common business interest” with activities “directed to the improvement of business conditions of one or more lines of business as distinguished from the performance of particular services for individual persons.” http://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2015/05/01/fix-the-tax-code-friday-nfl-money-tax-exempt-status/ (http://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2015/05/01/fix-the-tax-code-friday-nfl-money-tax-exempt-status/)

[vienna]

The biggest mistake the NFL made was in not seeking anti-trust exemption and immunity when they formed. Major League Baseball has such exemption and immunity, but the elitists of the NFL thought it was beneath them. It became a really big issue when the Oakland Raiders moved to Los Angeles and the NFL tried to stop the move. The courts ruled against the NFL and the NFL, in turn, tried to get an exemption through Congress. The whole thing fell apart when the NFL insisted on having the exemption apply retroactively to the Raiders' move...


<O>

[Aktungbby]

:sign_yeah:either way:" the game'$ afoot Watson!" The Great Satan's a homin' in on 'filthy or untaxed Lucre':yep:

[Torplexed]

The irony in all this is that FIFA has been trying for years to get the United States interested in "soccer". The US Justice Department is interested. Bet they're regretting that now. :D

[Frömmler Vogel]

So the some of the piggies have been caught with their snouts in the trough. Blatter claims to not know anything and wants to carry on as if nothing is wrong. The regional Federations need to give him the boot, but I suspect they are worried about their respective snouts and will do nothing. At least the FA seems to have a pair and have called for his resignation. If any company had this sort of mess, the chairman or CEO would fall in their stupid. Can't see Blatter doing that though.

[Betonov]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/11018784_10155616300280483_4410957043162098405_n.j pg?oh=bb1965115fe1dfd21bd68aaa310890ab&oe=55FAB4D7&__gda__=1441947048_19e8f199b0affeb2b62b012af908b38 a

[Jimbuna]

Russian president says US probe is "a blatant attempt to extend its jurisdiction" as Russia prepares for 2018 World Cup.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/05/putin-backs-fifa-blatter-corruption-scandal-150528090732032.html

No surprises there then :hmmm:

Of much more concern to FIFA...

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has chaired an emergency meeting, as the football world governing body is mired in crisis over a growing corruption scandal.
Mr Blatter is under pressure to step down and delay a vote due on Friday for the next Fifa president following the arrests of seven top Fifa officials.
Many of its key sponsors have expressed concern, including Coca Cola and Visa, which also says it may review its ties.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-32917364

It should only take a few of the bigger sponsors to withdraw their support and a couple of associations to follow the UEFA lead on a boycott (personally I'd prefer a breakaway organisation to be formed) to bring Blatter and his sycophants to their senses/knees.

[BossMark]

Well when I got up today and put the news on i was hoping that Blatter had been arrested. TBH he must have something to do with it?? if not he must have at least known about the corruption in FIFA after all he is the bloody chairman (hopefully not for much longer though)

[Oberon]

Well when I got up today and put the news on i was hoping that Blatter had been arrested. TBH he must have something to do with it?? if not he must have at least known about the corruption in FIFA after all he is the bloody chairman (hopefully not for much longer though)

I dunno, he's a bit of a Teflon Don, if he ever does leave it'll be with full retirement bonus and severance package.

[Jimbuna]

I dunno, he's a bit of a Teflon Don, if he ever does leave it'll be with full retirement bonus and severance package.

If that is what it takes then, so be it....most begrudgingly but life goes on.

[Wolferz]

FIFA will do what every other corrupt entity has done when the justice department comes after them...

Buy their way out of it.:-?

[HunterICX]

I dunno, he's a bit of a Teflon Don, if he ever does leave it'll be with full retirement bonus and severance package.

Which is just as criminal as what he shovels away now :nope:

[mapuc]

I bet 1 dollar, that in a few years from now, where we have forgot all this exceeding and thrilling news about bribery a.s.o

The life in FIFA, with it's normality(read bribery a.s.o) continues as usual

Markus

[Frömmler Vogel]

Blatter is either culpable or negligent. The man obviously doesn't know the words probity, audit or corporate governance.

[vienna]

Blatter is either culpable or negligent. The man obviously doesn't know the words probity, audit or corporate governance.

What?...Hold on...let me get my dictionary...


<O>

[Torplexed]

Putin said yesterday's arrests were a 'clear attempt' to sabotage Blatter's re-election campaign ahead of tomorrow's vote for FIFA President.

So, now you got Putin stepping in to defend Blatter. If that's not proof that Blatter's crooked then what is? :D

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CGFTjEtWIAABh-p.png:large

Ursine buddies 4evah.

[darius359au]

Blatter's probably just done a better job of hiding his bribes than the one's that got arrested:/\\!!

[Oberon]

No surprises there, the Teflon Don takes it after Ali pulls out.

[MGR1]

120 of FIFA's 204 member countries are from South America, Africa and Asia. FIFA has given these countries lots and lots of money in donations and support. Since they make up over 50% of the total, Blatter was bound to win.

This is the rest of the world telling "the West" to take a long walk off a short pier.

Mike.

[mapuc]

So what's going to happen now ?

Is UEFA going to do what they have "warned about" if Blatter was reelected ?


Markus

[BossMark]

In the aftermath of the recent scandals, Sepp Blatter has claimed he knows how to fix FIFA.

He couldn't have worded that better if he'd tried.

[Lionclaw]

It's almost like the law is different for the rich compared to the general public. :hmmm:

[MGR1]

Nope, just one law for the West and another for the rest of the world.

Mike.

[Jimbuna]

120 of FIFA's 204 member countries are from South America, Africa and Asia. FIFA has given these countries lots and lots of money in donations and support. Since they make up over 50% of the total, Blatter was bound to win.

This is the rest of the world telling "the West" to take a long walk off a short pier.

Mike.

Sums it up for me....may as well change the name to THIFA :yep:

[Jimbuna]

http://i.imgur.com/594aixY.jpg

[Mr Quatro]

Did you notice, the not small fact, that this has been going on for 24 years?


http://newsok.com/the-latest-us-fifa-officials-solicited-bribes-since-1991/article/feed/844517


The Latest on FIFA developments: U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch says bribery and corruption have been marring soccer for at least 24 years as FIFA officials solicited bribes from sports

[Frömmler Vogel]

Did you notice, the not small fact, that this has been going on for 24 years?


http://newsok.com/the-latest-us-fifa-officials-solicited-bribes-since-1991/article/feed/844517
Blatter obviously missed it. As did the so called Ethics Committee of FIFA.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Sport_and_Leisure

http://www.playthegame.org/theme-pages/who-took-the-bribes-fifa-corruption-and-the-isl/

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sepp_Blatter

[Betonov]

"FIFA is so bad they got arrested by the Swiss. A country who's official policy on Nazi gold was, and I quote, 'We'll allow it.'" -- Jon Stewart

[Jimbuna]

THE LATEST: Europe, US are likely bidders for 2026 World Cup :huh:

http://news.yahoo.com/latest-putin-congratulates-blatter-fifa-election-win-090221036--spt.html

[STEED]

BREAKING NEWS
SEPP BLATTER STEPS DOWN

:woot::woot::woot::woot::woot::woot:

http://news.sky.com/story/1495047/fifa-president-sepp-blatter-to-resign


http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32982449

[mapuc]

A thought why did he do that ? Not so many day back he strongly refuse to do so, when Platini asked him to step down. Has it something to do with his right arm(forgot his name) who was expelled yesterday ?

Markus

[STEED]

Are you standing for president of FIFA jim? :)

[STEED]

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3592/5779249419_4ded7323db_z.jpg

Dam you Jedi scum I will return, FIFA is mine I tell you.

[Threadfin]

A few months back I went on a bit of a rant about FIFA, corruption and Blatter.

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=2291240&postcount=904

I am thrilled to see this happening. It is the single best thing that could have happened to world football. Well, as long as reform actually occurs.

Blatter was quoted as saying after resigning 'FIFA needs extensive restrucuring'. That's the sort of thing a new incoming president says, not someone that just served several consecutive terms. If it needs restructuring, why the hell didn't you do it? Oh right, da money. What a farce he is, was and will always be. I rarely take pleasure in falls from grace, but this one is a laugh a minute.

I'm glad the US had the balls to pursue this. It's only the beginning. This will be one of the most entertaining stories of the year.

And now I'm hoping to see the unedited Garcia report. The one that only found wrongdoing in England and Australia according to FIFA in regards to the World Cup bid process. And I hope Qatar loses it's WC if found to have gotten it through bribes (duh)

[mapuc]

I have had an idea for years that would make money and/or bribery obsolete.

Markus

[Jimbuna]

Are you standing for president of FIFA jim? :)

Nah, they couldn't afford me :03:

Good riddance to bad rubbish.

[Oberon]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CGHsl3TWcAEZeX8.png

[Jimbuna]

Actually there was a woman on the BBC News last night who said that Blatter reminded her of a white Robert Mugabe :)

[BossMark]

Yes the corrupt bastard as resigned :D:D:D:D

[mapuc]

A question

Do you think there will be a re selection on Qatar ?

Markus

[BossMark]

^^^
There should be yes along with Russia

[Jimbuna]

A question

Do you think there will be a re selection on Qatar ?

Markus

I wouldn't have thought so, besides, who will pay the money back if they're all denying having been corrupted?

[Onkel Neal]

THE LATEST: Europe, US are likely bidders for 2026 World Cup :huh:

http://news.yahoo.com/latest-putin-congratulates-blatter-fifa-election-win-090221036--spt.html


I'm hoping a new FIFA will yank the next 2 WCs from Qatar and Russia (http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2015/05/29/blatter-says-vote-for-russia-qatar-the-root-of-fifa-crisis/28136607/), lol, and not give them a refund on their bribes :D

"I am willing to accept the president of FIFA is responsible for everything but I would at least like to share that responsibility with everyone," Blatter said in a presidential address on Friday morning. "We cannot constantly supervise everyone in football ... you cannot ask everyone to behave ethically."

[Jimbuna]

I'm hoping a new FIFA will yank the next 2 WCs from Qatar and Russia (http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2015/05/29/blatter-says-vote-for-russia-qatar-the-root-of-fifa-crisis/28136607/), lol, and not give them a refund on their bribes :D

Yes, that would be poetic justice indeed but what I am anxious to learn is the reason for his sudden change of mind. My guess is that he has been tipped the nod that evidence is forthcoming implicating him big style or some powerful sponsors have given him the stark choice regarding future deals.

[mapuc]

If it's big if, the new FIFA chose to drop Qatar and Russia because they got the world Cup through bribery

I presume when it come to Russia, the diplomatically crisis we have will get worse.

Markus

[Frömmler Vogel]

Best news I've heard today.

[mapuc]

In every Danish and Swedish News Paper the headlines are like

"Qatar can be deprived of the World Cup"

If they do, will they then choose the country that came second in that election ? or will it be a re-election ?

Markus

[Oberon]

Yes, that would be poetic justice indeed but what I am anxious to learn is the reason for his sudden change of mind. My guess is that he has been tipped the nod that evidence is forthcoming implicating him big style or some powerful sponsors have given him the stark choice regarding future deals.

He's under investigation by the Fed, chances are that someone let slip to him that they've got something that will stick, so it's better to jump ship now rather than go down with it.

http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/media/images/83384000/png/_83384985_america.png

[Torplexed]

Is it possible he ran one last time just to give himself a few months to try and cover his tracks while still in office? He bought himself time and one has to wonder what he is doing with that time behind closed doors. Maybe he just didn’t have enough time as president to sufficiently cover his tracks in FIFA internal documents.

Wouldn't be surprised if Blatter is already on his way to Qatar to call in a few favors.

[Jimbuna]

He's under investigation by the Fed, chances are that someone let slip to him that they've got something that will stick, so it's better to jump ship now rather than go down with it.



Aye, someone may have stumbled across a 'smoking gun'.

[Von Tonner]

Aye, someone may have stumbled across a 'smoking gun'.

Spot on Jimbuna. Here is your smoking gun that came out into the open yesterday. This is why he resigned. More is on the way and I am hoping the Feds have our SA corrupt officials by the shorts to follow him.

http://www.rdm.co.za/politics/2015/06/02/why-safa-s-letter-to-fifa-is-so-incriminating

The letter

http://www.rdm.co.za/sport/2015/06/02/safa-letter-instructing-fifa-to-pay-us10m-bribe---read-the-full-text

[Jimbuna]

Yeah, it was all over the news here in the UK yesterday but I don't see how this incriminates Blatter directly in person.

[Von Tonner]

Yeah, it was all over the news here in the UK yesterday but I don't see how this incriminates Blatter directly in person.

Its getting too close to the throne. He is, as you know, Blatter's deputy. It is becoming harder and harder for Blatter not only to deny having his hand in the cookie jar but his closet side-kick is implicated which would in any event bring into question Blatter's competency let alone complicity. Add to the mix the reports that the FBI are now investigating Blatter as well and wriggle room just became an illusion.

[Jimbuna]

Its getting too close to the throne. He is, as you know, Blatter's deputy. It is becoming harder and harder for Blatter not only to deny having his hand in the cookie jar but his closet side-kick is implicated which would in any event bring into question Blatter's competency let alone complicity. Add to the mix the reports that the FBI are now investigating Blatter as well and wriggle room just became an illusion.

Rgr that, I copy now :yep:

[Frömmler Vogel]

I wonder if he'll be spending the next 4 months getting cosy with his office shredder. If he lasts that long. Looks like one of the accused has already put his hands up. Reckon his evidence is what has caused the whole house of cards to fall. He coughed up back in 2013!

http://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2015/jun/03/sepp-blatter-reports-fifa-president-us-corruption-probe-live

[Schroeder]

Once they are done with the FIFA they can continue with the FIA and clean house for Formula 1. Oh well, a man can dream.:sunny:

[darius359au]

I'm not a soccer fan but with the amount of money that gets thrown around in the game it seems that corruption would be inevitable ,people see the kind of cash thrown around in this story from last year http://www.forbes.com/sites/christinasettimi/2014/05/07/the-worlds-highest-paid-soccer-players-3/
and they have to say "I'll have some of that" - like i said earlier Blatters just been better at hiding his cash than the others ,but I can see some of the high ranking people that have been grabbed turning him in for a lesser sentence!

[Jimbuna]

http://s8.postimg.org/jyp4n3qxx/image.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/dl01jum1t/full/)

The FIFA boardroom would make a great setting for a Bond movie.
It is almost the double of the meeting room in Thunderball.
Of course FIFA and SPECTRE have a lot in common - one is a cruel and evil organisation, corrupt to its very core, masterminded by an egomaniac determined to take over the world at any price, quick to take bribes, the cost of human life meaning nothing to its members.... the other is SPECTRE.

[Oberon]

I was thinking more...

http://www.american-buddha.com/astrangecover17x.jpg

[Catfish]

OT, but regarding corruption everywhere.

Has anyone an idea where the 500 million dollars went, to help Haiti ?
Haiti government and local helping services do not know it. And no, it did not vanish in Haiti, but the sum has mysteriously vanished, on its way from the donors, to the Red cross, to Haiti..

[Oberon]

To be fair, most things disappear on the way to or in Haiti. It wasn't exactly the most stable area, and that was before the quake. :doh:

[mapuc]

Here's an example from my country.

Some years ago there were a huge charity, which ran over several months and ended with a big show. The Danes had given 110 million Danish kroner
(about 16.7 million $) to Africa.

About 1 year later it was revealed that only 38 million (about $ 5.8 million) arrived to its destination.

Markus

[eddie]

Over here Markus, professional fundraisers ( the jerks that keep calling your house every 5 minutes asking for money, and the never ending crap they send you in the mail!) make more money then the charities they work for! And its all pretty much legal!:doh:

[BossMark]

Sepp Blatter says that he is resigning as president of Fifa because he no longer feels that he has a mandate from the entire world of football.

Oh well, at least he's honest.

[Onkel Neal]

Here we go! (http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2015/06/07/fifa-russia-qatar-could-lose-world-cup.html) :arrgh!:

http://s3.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20150607&t=2&i=1054375442&w=&fh=&fw=&ll=644&pl=429&r=LYNXMPEB5608O

Domenico Scala, the independent chairman of FIFA’s audit and compliance committee told a Swiss newspaper on Sunday that Russia and Qatar could have their World Cup hosting rights taken away if evidence of bribery emerges. "If evidence should emerge that the awards to Qatar and Russia only came about thanks to bought votes, then the awards could be invalidated," Scala told SonntagsZeitung.

[Jimbuna]

If this guy is truly 'independant' then there is still hope of a justifiable outcome and a return of a little credibility to THIFA.

[mapuc]

Russia and Qatar is in high risk for losing their World Cup if there's prof of bribery, says Domenico Scala

I can't or haven't got enough imagination to figure out what will happen if this should be the case.

And what if it has been "paid under the table" for holding the World Cup before(e.g 2002, 2006, 2010 etc). what about these countries ? Will they be punished in some way or ?

Markus

[Oberon]

Putin is preparing the Russian team for their match...

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/08/28/article-0-0271899900000578-384_468x286.jpg

[mapuc]

Putin is preparing the Russian team for their match...

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/08/28/article-0-0271899900000578-384_468x286.jpg

My first thought, are Putin using this as a "Don't take away the World Cup from us or wil will" attitude

Markus

[Oberon]

I'd say no...but then I think about that certain war between El Salvador and Honduras (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_War)...

http://cdn.meme.am/instances/500x/58001892.jpg

[Jimbuna]

http://i.imgur.com/cZe01GI.jpg

[Oberon]

http://i.imgur.com/cZe01GI.jpg

I think there's a typo there.... :03:

[mapuc]

This I am convinced of.

If FIFA decide to take away the World Cup from Russia it will turn into some political crisis it will go from being a sports issue to a political issue.

Markus

[Jimbuna]

Putin will certainly make political mileage out of such a decision, of that there should be no doubt :yep:

[mapuc]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-33088747

The information was seized at the Zurich headquarters of world football's governing body from offices which included that of its president Sepp Blatter, the BBC understands


Markus

[BossMark]

The bidding process for the 2026 World Cup has been postponed.

Because FIFA have now realized Blatter may not be around!

[Jimbuna]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-33088747




Markus

It may be notable that the data was handed over and not actually seized.

[STEED]

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3592/5779249419_4ded7323db_z.jpg
Dark Force Rises

I shall be President again and crush you jedi scum!

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/sepp-blatter-could-stay-fifa-president-115751096.html#UcP8HPh

[Torplexed]

In light of the FIFA findings, Russia now wants to investigate the Apollo moon landings. According to the article, they're not questioning the reality of the landings. They just want them investigated. Riiigght. Check under every moon rock guys.

http://www.examiner.com/article/russian-official-calls-for-international-investigation-of-the-apollo-program


According to a Tuesday article in the Moscow Times, a spokesman for Russia’s Investigative Committee named Vladimir Markin suggested that an international investigation be mounted into some of the “various murky details surrounding the U.S. moon landings between 1969 and 1972.” Markin would particularly like to know some of the missing moon rocks went to and why the original footage of the Apollo 11 moon landing was erased. Markin hastened to add that he is, of course, not suggesting that NASA faked the moon landings and just filmed the events in a studio