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Eff FIFA? (long vuvuzela note)
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The impossible has happened?
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/28/sp...mong-them.html
Swiss authorities conducted an extraordinary early-morning operation here Wednesday to arrest several top soccer officials and extradite them to the United States on federal corruption charges.
As leaders of FIFA, soccer’s global governing body, gathered for their annual meeting, more than a dozen plainclothes Swiss law enforcement officials arrived unannounced at the Baur au Lac hotel, an elegant five-star property with views of the Alps and Lake Zurich. They went to the front desk to get room numbers and then proceeded upstairs.
The charges, backed by an F.B.I. investigation, allege widespread corruption in FIFA over the past two decades, involving bids for World Cups as well as marketing and broadcast deals.
Several hours after the soccer officials were apprehended at the hotel, Swiss authorities said they had opened criminal cases related to the bids for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups — incidents that, more than any others, encapsulated FIFA’s unusual power dynamic.
The Department of Justice indictment names 14 people on charges including racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy. In addition to senior soccer officials, the indictment also named sports-marketing executives from the United States and South America who are accused of paying more than $150 million in bribes and kickbacks in exchange for media deals associated with major soccer tournaments.
The soccer officials charged are Mr. Li, Jeffrey Webb, Eugenio Figueredo, Jack Warner, Julio Rocha, Costas Takkas, Rafael Esquivel, José Maria Marin and Nicolás Leoz.
Thanks, Obama
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Those stupid vuvuzu- whatever the hell they're called, I hope they go after the creator of that thing.
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"Faster, faster! 'Till the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death." - HST
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Until they hold a re-vote for the next two, corruptibly-obtained World Cups, this story is much ado about nothing.
Blatter being unseated would serve as a warning for the next president but the voting process is bound to be corrupt every single time unless they receive severe punishments.
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Originally Posted by Jawbone54
Until they hold a re-vote for the next two, corruptibly-obtained World Cups, this story is much ado about nothing.
I wouldn't go that far. These people may no longer get to enjoy the fruits of their corruption. That's something.
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The only surprising thing is that it took so long.
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Originally Posted by The Final Dakar
I wouldn't go that far. These people may no longer get to enjoy the fruits of their corruption. That's something.
But you know who would get to enjoy the ROI of their metaphorical fruits? Qatar.
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Originally Posted by Jawbone54
But you know who would get to enjoy the ROI of their metaphorical fruits? Qatar.
I didn't say it was perfect.
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Long overdue, and I'm happy that someone finally decided to take in the corruption in big sports organizations.
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The new Mac Pro has up to 30 MB of cache inside the processor itself. That's more than the HD in my first Mac. Somehow I'm still running out of space.
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It means nothing until they get rid of Blatter. I expect he orchestrated the entire thing to get rid of people that were planning to vote against him in the election. Dude is a straight up scumbag and needs to go. Yesterday.
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I have plenty of more important things to do, if only I could bring myself to do them....
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UEFA is now putting the squeeze on FIFA to not re-elect Blatter.
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Some people surmise the timing of the arrests to was to disrupt the election, but so far I'm not sure it's going to have the intended effect.
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Originally Posted by The Final Dakar
Some people surmise the timing of the arrests to was to disrupt the election, but so far I'm not sure it's going to have the intended effect.
Figo was one of the better (philosophically-speaking) candidates, but he dropped out last week. I don't know much about Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein, but he's the only possible alternative at this stage.
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The problem is deeper than Blatter. It goes back to at least Havelange, his predecessor. Blatter was elected mainly to keep the dirty pool going - his main competitor, Lennart Johansson of UEFA, was going to clean house, and this had to be prevented. That this is coming up now is a sign that Blatter is losing control. That sort of backroom dealings was quite common in big sports organizations back in the day (cf IOC, IAAF) but is not tolerated anymore.
Platini at UEFA has a very interesting position. His candidacy was supported by the Blatter/Havelange team partially to get rid of troublesome Johansson, but he has been trying top put some air between himself and Blatter recently. I imagine he is not sleeping so soundly at the moment.
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The new Mac Pro has up to 30 MB of cache inside the processor itself. That's more than the HD in my first Mac. Somehow I'm still running out of space.
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Fifa crisis: Blatter refuses to quit as president after Platini request
The 79-year-old Swiss held an emergency meeting with key Fifa officials on Thursday after world football's governing body was subjected to yet more damaging corruption claims.
Platini then made a personal appeal for Blatter to quit.
He said he addressed Blatter "like a friend" but that the Fifa boss had told him it was "too late" to resign.
But Uefa, which governs European football, decided on Thursday not to boycott the election and will continue to back Prince Ali, although some member associations, like Russia, have said they will back Blatter.
No kidding, 2018 hosts.
"A big, big big majority of the European associations will vote for Prince Ali," said Platini.
"People have had enough, they don't want this president any more."
And there's the problem. Too many inconsequential (in regards to soccer) nations like Trinidad and Tobago, who are given the same voting power as a national like Spain, have heads who are directly benefiting from the bribery and corruption.
One of FIFA's greatest qualities is its universalism. It's also one of its weaknesses.
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Blatter: 133 votes
Prince Ali: 73 votes
Needed 140 to win.
Now goes to second round of voting, a simple majority is all that's required to win.
Looks likely Blatter remains.
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Yep, it's over. Except for me having Aladdin's Prince Ali song stuck in my head.
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From ESPN.com:
Sepp Blatter was re-elected to a fifth term as FIFA president, when Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein withdrew from the race following the first round of voting in Zurich.
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What a shock. Kept in by the nations that like the fact they can bribe him.
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I have plenty of more important things to do, if only I could bring myself to do them....
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I have plenty of more important things to do, if only I could bring myself to do them....
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Originally Posted by Waragainstsleep
Was a brilliant take. Loved it.
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He is right too. This is a massive opportunity for US-foreign relations.
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I have plenty of more important things to do, if only I could bring myself to do them....
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And Blatter just resigned.
My dad actually broke the news to me with a text: "Breaking news, the bladder has resigned FIFA."
Of course this means that he knows he's about to be charged.
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Seth Bladder: (His American name)
"I appreciate and love FIFA more than anything else, and I only want to do the best," Blatter said in a news conference this afternoon in Zurich. "I am very much connected to the interests of FIFA ... and this is why I've taken to this decision."
"FIFA needs profound restructuring. Although members have given me the new mandate, this mandate does not seem to be supported by everyone."
So why allow yourself to be re-elected in the first place? Because you're about to get locked up, and you know it's coming soon.
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Originally Posted by Waragainstsleep
For a Scouse supporter, you're alright. I'd never heard of John Oliver before, cheers.
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Originally Posted by Jawbone54
And Blatter just resigned.
My dad actually broke the news to me with a text: "Breaking news, the bladder has resigned FIFA."
Of course this means that he knows he's about to be charged.
My favorite comment thus far has been the asshole got re-elected as a power move just so he could leave on his own terms.
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Loved the Reddit comments:
"FIFA cleansed of its Blatter infection."
Several "Sepptic tank" jokes in there as well.
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Truly fantastic news. Blatter has been a blight on football since day one of his presidency. Good job America.
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I have plenty of more important things to do, if only I could bring myself to do them....
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Originally Posted by mattyb
For a Scouse supporter, you're alright. I'd never heard of John Oliver before, cheers.
You have a rich back catalog to go through. I particularly loved his take on Net Neutrality.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpbOEoRrHyU
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When keeping it real, goes wrong (FIFA Edition)
FIFA Communications Head Quits After Making Sepp Blatter Joke
“FIFA president Sepp Blatter, the director of communications, and the secretary general [Jerome Valcke] are all sitting in a car – who is driving?
“The police.”
In a surprising move, FIFA announced today that director of communications Walter De Gregorio has “decided to relinquish his office.” De Gregorio has been FIFA’s front-facing man throughout this crisis—it was he who spoke at a hastily arranged press conference on the morning of the Zurich busts. But did De Gregorio actually resign? Or was he fired after making this joke on a Swiss TV show three days ago?
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If you're gonna bow out, do so with a good joke. Mission accomplished.
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KER-POOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWW!
I'm giddy.
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Originally Posted by Jawbone54
KER-POOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWW!
I'm giddy.
Laughing my fcuking arse off!! All the froggies were going on about how Platini would clean up FIFA. Corruption is in their DNA.
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Coke and McDonald's suddenly calling for Blatter's resignation. I can only assume they know about something coming down the line.
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Its also Visa and Budweiser too I think.
I'm not sure there is anything prescient there. Its public the Swiss authorities are investigating him, the public and everyone further down the sport (except those he was taking bribes from like Russia and Africa) hate him. His position is as untenable as it gets yet he won't go. Seems they will have to lock him up to get rid of him. I can see him sneaking into Russia to avoid jail at this rate.
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Provided exactly what we think will happen (incriminating evidence will cause his downfall) comes to pass, just how much of a villainous character will Blatter be in sports history?
He abused the system, sold the World Cup to human rights abusers, vehemently and repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, and threw the middle finger to all of his critics (not to mention FIFA's sponsors) when they screamed in unison, "We know you're dirty! Resign!"
He makes Goodell look like a saint.
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Oddly, I think it's apples to oranges. Blatter's corruption is monetary on a global scale, but does it affect the actual players? Goodell's is the opposite.
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Originally Posted by The Final Dakar
Oddly, I think it's apples to oranges. Blatter's corruption is monetary on a global scale, but does it affect the actual players? Goodell's is the opposite.
Players, no.
These guys? Yes.
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Originally Posted by Jawbone54
Like I said, apples and oranges. Blatter's corruption kills people.
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