Hat's off to the AG for having the sack to take these corrupt bastards on...
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
genuflected
had to look it up
@BrooksDT: Whoever arrests a majority of the FIFA Executive Committee gets to host the World Cup, right? Isn't that how it works?
I was laughing in recent days before these indictments when various online types were trying to compare Goodell with Sepp Blatter. Hell, if they were ever in the same room Sepp would be telling Rog to get his f-ing shine box.
No secret to even the casual observer of sports but the corruption in world soccer is breathtaking. For example:
@patersonjon: FBI says bribes associated with 2016 #Concacaf Gold Cup in US amounted to two thirds of costs of staging the tournament. #FIFAarrests #FIFA
Our friends from Nike are in some deep **** here, too. Brazilian FA is a particular target of this investigation and they've been basically bought and paid for by Nike who has been their official sponsor for the past 15 years.
All of this will be fun to watch. Still betting FIFA re-elects Sepp as President this Friday, though.
....and Sepp is completely blameless in all of this. 
Nothing like a good ol white guy dancing.
Of course FIFA and Sepp are corrupt. It's called supply and demand, and they have an event that has global demand, and they are the only one's who supply it. Matches have been fixed for a long time. But after the 2022 award to Qatar, you knew it was dirty, and then "negotiating" with the EPL to play in the winter. DURTY!!!!
The USA women might as well not even show up in Canada. They are doomed.
Won't change anything. Just force them to be a bit more discreet in the future. Maybe.
Too big to fail.
"Be more discreet? **** that. We're too big to fail!!!"
Kenneth Lay
Originally Posted by El-Ka-Bong:
genuflected
had to look it up
Never an altar boy, eh?
http://bigstory.ap.org/article...942bcfc3a988dec76ba/soccer-world-shocked-fifa-raids
And Louis Renault was shocked that there was gambling going on at Rick's.
And Louis Renault was shocked that there was gambling going on at Rick's.
Or born Catholic, never mind being an altar boy.quote:Never an altar boy, eh?
"I'm a recovering Catholic."
(caller to the old Tom Snyder Show)
"It's them cat-licks."
(for Stephen King readers)
FIFA President Sepp Blatter says FIFA will work hard with authorities to "root out any misconduct" after the arrest and indictment of several top officials in a far-reaching corruption investigation.
Well, I feel better now. Just a dozen or so bad apples really.
Here's what's gonna happen...
The corrupt CONCACAF officials who did dirty bidness on US soil are fukt.
Sepp may get some pressure to resign, but he won't. Ever. The dude will die in his office chair.
He owns too many of the small countries that have an equal vote under FIFA bylaws, to lose.
Spain, France, Italy, Germany, England, Brazil, Netherlands and Argentina account for something like 98% of FIFA's revenue...yet they only have 8 votes out of 209.
Sepp is no dum-dum. He set FIFA up so he could never lose...building a $20,000 soccer pitch for kids in Angola every few years is a cheap way to secure their vote. He was Dana White before Dana White.
Change will only happen IF, and only if the power 8 countries unilaterally boycott...and they won't do that because there is too much money at stake.
Who is this obese Santa Clause look-a-like **** from the US I keep hearing about that turned government informant? These are some seedy ****ers.
I'm reminded of the hotel guy in Bedtime Stories
That's Chuck Blazer. His bio is instructive.
In 1989, Blazer was unemployed when he went to Port of Spain in Trinidad and Tobago and convinced Jack Warner (one of the indicted parties in the 2015 FIFA corruption case) to run for CONCACAF president. Blazer managed Warner’s campaign, won, and became General Secretary.[3] It would quickly become a lucrative friendship for both men. Warner appointed Blazer general secretary of the organisation. The contract Blazer signed would result in his “Mr 10 per cent” moniker as it included an agreement to pay Blazer’s company a 10 per cent cut of a variety of sponsorship and TV rights fees. At the time the organisation’s coffers were virtually empty and its revenues, then measured in thousands of dollars a year, paltry. Blazer swiftly changed that. He moved Concacaf’s headquarters from Nicaragua to the US and began drumming up millions of dollars of business. More than 20 years later its revenues stood at more than $40m a year. According to US court documents, from 1996 to 2011, Blazer made $15.3m in commission from sponsorships, sale of TV rights, ticket sales and a host of other deals.[4]
He was a member of the FIFA Executive Committee from 1996 to April 2013, when Sunil Gulati was elected to replace him.[5][6] Also, Blazer served as Commissioner of the American Soccer League and Executive Vice President of the United States Soccer Federation.[7] He was the General Secretary of CONCACAF from 1990 until 2011.[8]...
...On November 1, 2014, the New York Daily News reported that Blazer had been a confidential informant for the FBI and the IRS, and recorded key meetings between executives for FIFA and for the 2012 Summer Olympics. Blazer was compelled to inform for the FBI and IRS after they uncovered more than a decade of unpaid taxes on hidden, multi-million dollar incomes. It was also reported that Blazer is extremely ill with colon cancer.[19]
On May 27, 2015, several FIFA officials were arrested in Zurich, with Blazer having been a key cooperating witness in the investigation that led to the arrests.[20] In exchange for his cooperation, Blazer agreed to plead guilty to charges that include racketeering, wire fraud, income tax evasion and money laundering.[21]
Dude's turning state's evidence probably the key to yesterday's indictments.
Heard yesterday that Chuck was one of the strongest forces behind the initial successes of the U.S. Women's National Team. So he's got that going for him. I mean, if you're into that kind of thing.
Originally Posted by ChilliJon:
Who is this obese Santa Clause look-a-like **** from the US I keep hearing about that turned government informant? These are some seedy ****ers.
To the FBI he is Santa. Christmas in May yesterday. Lots of prezzies.
If they get this guy to roll (Jack Warner) Sepp is toast.
Even though the US investigation is focused on CONCACAF (it's the Swiss investigation that's zeroing in on the World Cup 2018 and 2022 bids), Soviet President Putin is caterwauling about the US.
Any chance the investigation can take some of the Russian oligarchs who have gotten involved in football like Abramovich?
Any chance the investigation can take some of the Russian oligarchs who have gotten involved in football like Abramovich?
Check this out, Fedya. May have started with something akin to that in mind.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05...nytcore-iphone-share
...Despite the broad nature of the charges, the case itself arrived at the Justice Department as something of a surprise. The four-year investigation grew out of an unrelated inquiry into aspects of Russian organized crime by the Eurasian Joint Organized Crime Task Force in the F.B.I.’s New York office, according to people with knowledge of the case’s origins. Authorities soon realized the potential scope of an investigation into the sporting world’s most powerful, secretive organization...
Originally Posted by Goalline:
Originally Posted by cuqui:
Why is that man wearing a bra?
Not a bra. FIFA blacked out his "Leaky Blatter" tattoo.
And doesn't "Sepp Blatter" sound like something you're diagnosed with because of heavy drinking?
.
What if the FBI investigated how Super Bowl cities are chosen ?
I bet there's more than a few puckered hinders at 345 Park Avenue today
Originally Posted by Satori:
.
What if the FBI investigated how Super Bowl cities are chosen ?
Same goes for any athletic events hosted in this country. Olympics, NCAA BB tournaments, NCAA football conference championships, track and field events...basically any event that is hosted at at a "neutral" location.
Originally Posted by Timmy!:
Originally Posted by Satori:
.
What if the FBI investigated how Super Bowl cities are chosen ?
Same goes for any athletic events hosted in this country. Olympics, NCAA BB tournaments, NCAA football conference championships, track and field events...basically any event that is hosted at at a "neutral" location.
Well, we know Salt Lake paid bribes to host the Winter Olympics not so long ago.
Originally Posted by PackFoo:
Here's what's gonna happen...
The corrupt CONCACAF officials who did dirty bidness on US soil are fukt.
Sepp may get some pressure to resign, but he won't. Ever. The dude will die in his office chair.
He owns too many of the small countries that have an equal vote under FIFA bylaws, to lose.
Spain, France, Italy, Germany, England, Brazil, Netherlands and Argentina account for something like 98% of FIFA's revenue...yet they only have 8 votes out of 209.
Sepp is no dum-dum. He set FIFA up so he could never lose...building a $20,000 soccer pitch for kids in Angola every few years is a cheap way to secure their vote. He was Dana White before Dana White.
Change will only happen IF, and only if the power 8 countries unilaterally boycott...and they won't do that because there is too much money at stake.
Excellent analysis, and exactly what happened.
This is how close the vote was...Prince Ali got 73 votes out of 206...3 were disallowed. Pretty much UEFA (minus Russia) and CONCACAF were his only votes...the majority of the money making soccer countries wanted Ali. But the African and Asian money suckers wanted Sepp.
This may actually be better off for the sport long term...this will keep the heat on, and may eventually lead to a WC boycott by the major powers. It's not just the FBI that's interested now in this...British, Swiss and German governments are all investigating.
The good news is, Sepp's days are numbered...he's 79. If changes aren't made, there is a real possibility UEFA pulls out of FIFA altogether. Good luck being a billion dollar entity without Spain, France, Germany, Italy, etc. And if UEFA pulls out, CONCACAF is probably next, and only a matter of time before CONMEBOL follows. F Africa and Asia...let Ghana and South Korea slug it out for the FIFA WC.
Thanks for the enlightenment dude
I knew you were a football savant, but now soccer too ?
Good stuff
Originally Posted by PackFoo:
The good news is, Sepp's days are numbered...he's 79.
See Mugabe, Robert and Castro, Fidel.
Old dictators never die. Eating babies keeps them alive forever.
Yeah, I keep my soccer knowledge close to the vest for fear of being lumped into a Kamp Kiel. But I love me some beautiful game. Next to football, I probably watch soccer the most.
Originally Posted by Goalline:
Originally Posted by PackFoo:
The good news is, Sepp's days are numbered...he's 79.
Old dictators never die.
I predict, unless he dies first, that he will live out his days in luxury in Russia or Qatar or some similarly enlightened, FIFA-endowed country, sneaking out of Switzerland before the Feds nail his slimy ass. Lord Blatter will never allow himself to be seen in cuffs or in the dock.
Originally Posted by Goalline:
Originally Posted by PackFoo:
The good news is, Sepp's days are numbered...he's 79.
See Mugabe, Robert and Castro, Fidel.
Old dictators never die. Eating babies keeps them alive forever.
Can we keep the Ray McDonald comments in the Ray McDonald thread please?
The goal Messi just scored...yikes!
Blatter is convinced Messi did it for him.
Blatter is convinced Messi did it for him.
Originally Posted by Goalline:
The goal Messi just scored...yikes!
Cheat code.
Best ever. And the greatest active player in any team sport.
Originally Posted by Goalline:
That goal gives me goose bumps.
It's like Viagra for you, isn't it?
Sweet shot. The great Zidane. Just be careful not to piss him off.
Originally Posted by Goalline:
Much better than Viagra.
better than Cialis ?
You are so brand conscious, Satan. Messi is better than all that stuff. Just ask my wife. Then again, don't. Unlike Cuiqui I have it in my vows that she is not to bother me during football or soccer games. Not even to do the dirty deed.
Unfortunately, these days I really regret it. Whenever Rodgers throws 4 TDs I get all randy and stuff. She reminds me of that stupid statement.
Just ask her to not bother you during the competitive portion of the games...
Where do you think the term "Blowout" comes from ? 
Originally Posted by Goalline:
Sweet shot. The great Zidane. Just be careful not to piss him off.
Can't have a discussion of "best ever" and not include this.
Love Messi, but had Maradona been around during YouTube and Social Media, we'd have a serious debate.
There would have been far more people complaining about the "Hand of God" goal.
Originally Posted by Satori:
Just ask her to not bother you during the competitive portion of the games...
Where do you think the term "Blowout" comes from ?
Just sent her your post. It is simply brilliant.
Originally Posted by PackFoo:
Love Messi, but had Maradona been around during YouTube and Social Media, we'd have a serious debate.
Agreed. Maradona would own Messi in the coke snorting contest, that's for sure.
Messi scores way more goals than Maradona did, but he does it on what is essentially an all-star team. On the other hand, Messi has never taken over a World Cup tourney the was Maradona did in '86.
Diego's most highly regarded goal is his +60 yard slalom versus England in the 1986 World Cup (#1 in PackFoo's video above, at the 2:00 minute mark).
Fellow Argentine Messi more-or-less duplicated it 21 years later. The similarities scream both genius and karma. Leo was 19 years old at the time.
I feel bad for Messi...that Argentina team was damn good enough to win in every other year...but they just ran into a buzzsaw in Germany that peaked at the exact right time. Frankly, Neuer was the difference maker in that game. Nothing was getting past him that day.
Had di Maria not been injured, Kun Aguero been in any form at all, or Higuain and Palacio missing total sitters, Argentina would have won that final IMO. For my money Mascherano was the best player in the tournament. Messi got them to the semis but by that point he'd been worn down to a nub. Can't wait to see a more in-form Albiceleste in this month's Copa America.
Originally Posted by cuqui:
Diego's most highly regarded goal is his +60 yard slalom versus England in the 1986 World Cup (#1 in PackFoo's video above, at the 2:00 minute mark).
Fellow Argentine Messi more-or-less duplicated it 21 years later. The similarities scream both genius and karma. Leo was 19 years old at the time.
My 2 favorite goals ever.
Originally Posted by Iowacheese:
Dream from heaven
He's 1 of the 3 Mouseketeers that all disappeared on or about the 1st of March this year. Unconfirmed reports are that they were abducted by former followers of Marshall Herff Applewhite.
Waiting in a secret location for the leg-humping aliens to beam them up to the mothership.
Godspeed IC.
Sepp about to have a hastily-arranged press conference at FIFA HQ. Looking like he'll fire his #2 and blame the South African bribe on him. Or blame the then-head of the Finance Committee who conveniently passed away last year.
The great Bob Ley weighs in:
@BobLeyESPN: Is today the 'tomorrow' that Sepp Blatter pledged yesterday he would change things?
@BobLeyESPN: .@SamBorden Well, consider this. Sepp Blatter has been a lot more available to the media than @nflcommish.
Originally Posted by antooo:
Must be goat cheese.
While IowaCheese is fond of all farm animals, I know he's strictly a sheepo-phile these days.
He and the goat had a messi break up .
Whoa. Sepp stepping down! (Excerpts below from press conference, ongoing, as reported by the Guardian.)
Sepp Blatter will call extraordinary meeting for a new election to replace him!
Sepp Blatter: “My mandate does not appear to be supported by everybody. This is why I will call an extraordinary meeting.”
Sepp Blatter is to resign. He continues: “I will organise extraordinary congress for a replacement for me as president. I will not stand. I am now free from the constraints of an election. I will be in a position to focus on profound reforms. For many years we have called for reforms. But these are not sufficient.” Yes, Sepp Blatter really is going to resign as Fifa president. It’s true.
@netw3rk: "there's no reason I could not do both." - V. Putin upon entering the race for FIFA President.
Originally Posted by cuqui:
Whoa. Sepp stepping down! (Excerpts below from press conference, ongoing, as reported by the Guardian.)
Sepp Blatter will call extraordinary meeting for a new election to replace him!
Sepp Blatter: “My mandate does not appear to be supported by everybody. This is why I will call an extraordinary meeting.”
Sepp Blatter is to resign. He continues: “I will organise extraordinary congress for a replacement for me as president. I will not stand. I am now free from the constraints of an election. I will be in a position to focus on profound reforms. For many years we have called for reforms. But these are not sufficient.” Yes, Sepp Blatter really is going to resign as Fifa president. It’s true.
Wow, just wow! He is in deep legal doodoo.
IBT, FIFA bylaws require a four month notice for an election.
Methinks Sepp is trying to buy time to bury the bodies.
Yank his sorry ass out of the chair now.
WOW!!!
It would be interesting to see how much pressure UEFA put on him. You don't have a mandate when the biggest league and teams don't support you.
@poniewozik: So excited for when Interpol turns the tables and investigates the NFL. #FIFA
Originally Posted by PackFoo:
Said it before, but Sepp got LYNCHED!
Its also possible that the investigators showed him the evidence they have against him and then made him an offer he couldn't refuse
Plausible Satori...I believe this dude had to know something was coming, but I do think he found out late, and planned this whole thing for a while.
He has a crony in mind to succeed him, and if he bowed out of the election last week, there wasn't enough time to get his crony up for the election to secure enough votes (read, re-up bribes to Asia and Africa) to beat Prince Ali.
His successor will be hand-picked to keep this garbage truck rolling. On the surface it's enough to give every Limey (and Goalline) wood for a fortnight...but I am skeptical real change will happen quickly.
A fortnight is longer than 4 hours, better consult a physician.
I wonder who/what got to him. I doubt the threat of an indictment changed this guy's mind. He seemed pretty self-convinced that he did nothing wrong... kind of like a guilty person that knows they are guilty but wants to convince everyone of the opposite.
I wonder if it was due to threats to his family ect. by gamblers and high profile politicians world-wide that do not want to be implicated in bribery, corruption, and potentially worse (4000 expected to die in putting up the stadiums in Qatar). I would think he would be much more scared of these people than the legal system which he could muck up for years and probably die before a verdict ever came in.
Originally Posted by Diggr14:
I wonder who/what got to him...
I wonder if it was due to threats to his family...
Hmmm.
@richard_conway: Exclusive: Corinne Blatter - Sepp's daughter and advisor reacts to his resignation: "I am both sad and relieved."
From the Boris-link:
"Sepp Blatter, who was re-elected last week for a fifth term as president of world soccer’s governing body, said Tuesday that he would resign his position as law enforcement officials confirmed that he was a focus of a federal corruption investigation."
Amazing how defiance becomes compliance as the noose gets tighter. Sepp knew his co-conspirators would sell him down the river for a Ham (& Swiss) sandwich.
I wonder if they'll re-vote the Qatar WC now
Originally Posted by Satori:
I wonder if they'll re-vote the Qatar WC now
USA here we come!
If the plug gets pulled on Quatar after this has taken place, then Sepp, and every one of his cronies, needs to do hard time in a Federal pound me in the ass prison.
Quatar never should have received a WC. But at this point I hope some responsible adults step in and make sure things get done right, workers are treated fairly, and that WC costs Quatar billions more than they bargained bribed for.
Originally Posted by The Ref fka Blair Kiel:
Originally Posted by Satori:
I wonder if they'll re-vote the Qatar WC now
USA here we come!
Chill your follicles.
There is no way 'Merica gets WC 2022 even if a re-vote. People are complaining already this was a USA vendetta. But there are other alternatives to Shatar. England, Germany, Spain are all better than Hell's Litter Box.