FIFA suspends executive committee members Amos Adamu and *Reynald Temarii over claims

[Easy 10]

Absolutely. I also don't like all this blame of the British Press if, as expected, we don't get it. Blame FIFA for being corrupt, not the press for highlighting it.

As I've said before, Russia was a done deal before the press started setting up all these stings to catch them out.

But personally I'd much rather have had a chance of seeing a World Cup held in this country then a "juicy exposé" on FIFA being corrupt, which on the scale of woop-de-dooo give-a-fuckometer registers around 0.27 mark, coming just between who makes Christmas number 1 this year and what colour carpet David Bobin has in his hallway.

 

[Easy 10]

Come on Easy, that doesn't stack up at all. Let's not forget who the villains are here, and it certainly isn't the BBC. If f**king FIFA can only award a tournament these days to a country where journalists get shot if they don't toe the party line (eg Russia) then it's not worth having, and I say that as someone who would love it be here. The problem is not the BBC, it is FIFA itself. I'd probably agree with you on the Mail on Sunday - although right now you'd have to say maybe Lord Triesman was right all along.

You can't have free speech and freedom of the press just when it suits, you either have it or you don't. Many people have turned a blind eye to FIFA over the years out of self-interest, personally I think it's something to be proud of that out country is exposing them for what they are. There could be a big price, but if the alternative is to play their corrupt game then it is a price well worth paying.

Timing wise, in news terms by far and away the best time to run such a programme is just before the vote. I don't see how delaying a week, potentially winning, showering FIFA with grovelling thanks for the honour, and then running it would show anyone in a better light.

All sound reasoning Tooting. But I'm afraid I'd still rather have seen a World Cup here then a boring programme about FIFA officials taking bungs. Its not even news.

But its always a complete carve-up anyway, thats the reason Russia will get it, not Panorama. Would've been nice to have a small chance remaining going into the vote though.

 

[Tooting Gull]

Don't get me wrong, I'll be absolutely gutted if we don't get it and it will feel like a defeat snatched from the jaws of victory. Again. We'll all look for scapegoats, that's human nature. Panorama will be an easy target, but as you say it won't be decisive. You can list all the possible scapegoats now: the bid team, the FA, FIFA, Panorama, the Sunday Times, Lord Triesman, the Mail on Sunday, Blatter....the list goes on.

But if we don't get it, I think the likes of the Sunday Times should keep going until they land a few direct hits and sink the bastards altogether.

 

[Biscuit]

Come on Easy, that doesn't stack up at all. Let's not forget who the villains are here, and it certainly isn't the BBC. If f**king FIFA can only award a tournament these days to a country where journalists get shot if they don't toe the party line (eg Russia) then it's not worth having, and I say that as someone who would love it be here. The problem is not the BBC, it is FIFA itself. I'd probably agree with you on the Mail on Sunday - although right now you'd have to say maybe Lord Triesman was right all along.

You can't have free speech and freedom of the press just when it suits, you either have it or you don't. Many people have turned a blind eye to FIFA over the years out of self-interest, personally I think it's something to be proud of that out country is exposing them for what they are. There could be a big price, but if the alternative is to play their corrupt game then it is a price well worth paying.

Timing wise, in news terms by far and away the best time to run such a programme is just before the vote. I don't see how delaying a week, potentially winning, showering FIFA with grovelling thanks for the honour, and then running it would show anyone in a better light.

Post of the day.

 

[Easy 10]

But if we don't get it, I think the likes of the Sunday Times should keep going until they land a few direct hits and sink the bastards altogether.

It'll be old news by then though. Russia will have the tournament, FIFA will have some kind of "internal investigation" by its laughingly-named Ethics Committee, which after months and months just results in (at best) maybe one or two dismissals, the rest will be a predictable whitewash, and everyone else will be so bored by the whole thing by then that its all forgotten and goes back to carrying on as normal.

 

[Collar Feeler]

If FIFA had any sense of ethics they would suspend the voting until a full independent investigation was conducted on their whole voting set up etc. The fact is we all know FIFA is corrupt, they know it, the media knows it and everyone else around the world knows it. An investigation would undoubtedly take far too long to conduct as the hosts need to be appointed therefore it isn't going to happen. I wouldn't be surprised however if England as expected don't get it and Russia do, that the media in this country go all out to link the Russian victory with the whole corrupt process and come up trumps with something that brings the whole deck of cards that is FIFA tumbling down and the decision into doubt and then contested through various courts etc (we can but hope!). Alas I feel that FIFA and the Russian Oligarch/Mafia backed bid will prove far too powerful an adversary and that dissent/investigation will be silenced by powerful men in bullet proof cars that own large Oilfields in Russia! Sounds far fetched? Ask yourself how the hell did South Africa ever get the last World Cup!

 

[Gritt23]

If FIFA had any sense of ethics ...

But they haven't, unless there is some big wedge of cash it in for them to be.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

FIFA Squirming

Looks like FIFA are trying to get themselves out of a sticky situation .... very strange rambling if you ask me.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

FIFA Squirming

Looks like FIFA are trying to get themselves out of a sticky situation .... very strange rambling if you ask me.

Claudio Sulser on how life has turned out for him as head of Fifa's ethics committee: "I did not expect to be kept so busy."

 

[Lindfield by the Pond]

I would so have loved to have seen the WC in England. We are/were going for 2018. Fail that, and we are now talking 2026, as we have already agreed not to contest 2022.

Everyone knows FIFA is corrupt. They have been for years. What annoys me is the timing. Why didn't Panorama, Sunday Times, start their digging, when it would'nt have damaged, what would have been a real feel good factor for the nation. The country would have come alive, the economic benefits / tourism etc. The outlay would have been minimal.

I guess the world will travel and watch Russia 2018. They will see a "cleansed" side of the Russian nation, paid for by men in black bullet proof limo's and enjoy a festival of football.

We, on the other hand, will sit watching Russia 2018 on the tele, snug in the knowledge that we hold the moral high ground. Bit like the person waiting to cross the road on a Zebra crossing - waiting to step out in front of the speeding car, safe in the knowledge they were right. f***ing muppets.

Hope the BBC aren't permitted the rights to broadcast it.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

The Observer have been digging for years. Trouble is, no-one wants to know really. The corruption has an invisible effect on the game as we are told it is fine and it is the richest sport in the world.

 

[Collar Feeler]

Anyone who thinks the Russian bid isn't corrupt must be either Russian or a member of FIFA. They need to build 13 new stadiums, hotels and vastly improve the transport system and infrastructure. Who is that going to benefit? The huge Russian building industry controlled of course by the mob. Bribes and favours to FIFA members to secure their votes will be peanuts to these people.

 

[Westdene Wonder]

The majority of football supporters in this country would not have been able to attend matches if the competition had been held in this country so I am glad that we have not looked away from the corruption that goes on.
If only we had upset the officials who are running the Olyimpics,again a minority could have attended but a huge amount of people have been affected by the disruption to railway and underground services at weekends which is causing problems to many business`s who could well fail before the games commence.

 

[Easy 10]

Anyone who thinks the Russian bid isn't corrupt must be either Russian or a member of FIFA. They need to build 13 new stadiums, hotels and vastly improve the transport system and infrastructure. Who is that going to benefit? The huge Russian building industry controlled of course by the mob. Bribes and favours to FIFA members to secure their votes will be peanuts to these people.

Exactly.
The fact that this country could hold a World Cup tomorrow is NOT the advantage it has been touted as in the bid. Fact is, theres monstrous amounts of money to be made in upgrading stadiums and infrastructure, so its very much in FIFA's interest to award the tournament to a country that needs to do a SHITLOAD to get ready for it.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Said Done | David Hills | Football | The Observer

Fifa: clean

Sepp's final word on Fifa's big clean-up: "I'm very satisfied. Not happy, but satisfied. All the doubts have been cast aside." General secretary Jérôme Valcke says the six long-term bans send a clear signal to dishonest officials: "People must be careful."
• Last time Fifa cleaned up: 2006 – sacking Jérôme Valcke after a New York court ruled he had "lied repeatedly" to potential sponsors. "Fifa cannot accept such conduct among its own employees." Eight months later: Valcke "delighted" to be rehired by Sepp. "I just want to look to the future!"

(Also criticised in court in 2006: Chuck Blazer, accused by the judge of offering testimony "without credibility". New for Chuck last week: appointed Fifa's head of marketing.)
Meanwhile

More highlights from Fifa's big purge:
• Qatar's 2022 bid, reacting to being cleared of vote-trading. "We were always confident of this outcome. This puts an end to the rumours and hearsay. We have maintained a dignified silence throughout." (October: Qatari Fifa executive Mohammed Bin Hammam tells the press: "The other members on the committee are saying: 'OK, if you vote for [my bid] I will vote for yours.' That must not surprise anybody!")

• Ismael Bhamjee: banned from "all football activities" – four years after being caught in another press sting touting World Cup tickets. Bhamjee said in 2006 his action was out of character: "I got myself in a mess. I will donate double what I made to charity."
Plus: fine of the week

£6k: Nigerian Premier League fine for Niger Tornadoes after their goalkeeper wore the wrong shirt during a match.
£6k: Fifa's fine for Amos Adamu for allegedly trying to sell his World Cup vote.