The top 8-10 countries in the world should just break away and form their own governing body with their own World Cup. If they had a competing tournament with Germany, Italy, France, Spain, England, Netherlands, Brazil, Argentina and the US then which do you think the sponsors and TV companies would be more interested in? FIFA would be bankrupt overnight.
The top 8-10 countries in the world should just break away and form their own governing body with their own World Cup. If they had a competing tournament with Germany, Italy, France, Spain, England, Netherlands, Brazil, Argentina and the US then which do you think the sponsors and TV companies would be more interested in? FIFA would be bankrupt overnight.
That would be a dream that unfortunately will not come true due to politics. 8 previous World Champions plus the Netherlands would be the perfect starting point. I wouldn't even expand it by too many other nations.
Ringfencing international football to be the exclusive big boy's club would be worse than any brown envelope nonsense Sepp and his pals are up to. No super leagues of any kind please.
The top 8-10 countries in the world should just break away and form their own governing body with their own World Cup. If they had a competing tournament with Germany, Italy, France, Spain, England, Netherlands, Brazil, Argentina and the US then which do you think the sponsors and TV companies would be more interested in? FIFA would be bankrupt overnight.
Something like this should've happened the minute FIFA handed the World Cup to Quatar, I hope this investigation is the end for FIFA. Its rotten to the core and its time to start again.
Ringfencing international football to be the exclusive big boy's club would be worse than any brown envelope nonsense Sepp and his pals are up to. No super leagues of any kind please.
Why? I absolutely hate the expansion of the World Cup and now Euro Cup to the "smaller nations" who for the most part play dreadful football and whose referees are a usually highly incompetent or corrupt.
Because football should be competition, not a travelling Harlem Globetrotter exhibition with all the big stars doing big time tricks. Imagine if the Emirates Cup or any number of those mind-numbing pre-season tournaments were the norm.
One of the things I enjoy most about international tournaments is watching the underdogs triumph over big nations and make it to the later stages of a tournament. There are always nations and players that come out of the blue and provide interest. Cutting out everyone but the big cheese nations would mean there is less room for progression or decline in international football - it would just be quite boring.
Getting rid of FIFA isn't really the answer here, football needs a governing body. Individuals make an organisation and it's clear many of the current lot aren't up to the task. Once they're removed we can hopefully get some people in who are a little more in touch with the game and a little less likely to act as if they're in an episode of The Sopranos.
Sounds like the arrests might have gone wrong the big cheese at the top is not one of those.;-)
Have heard it rumoured that the only reason that Blatter and Platini were not arrested today was that as Swiss residents they can be summoned for questioning at any time, so no need to arrest.
Have heard it rumoured that the only reason that Blatter and Platini were not arrested today was that as Swiss residents they can be summoned for questioning at any time, so no need to arrest.
Yes, after the separate raid on FIFA headquarters, 10 individuals, all currently listed as current Fifa executive committee members, will now be questioned by Swiss authorities over the 2018/22 World Cup bids. Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini, as Swiss residents, are not included, but will also presumably be questioned.
They are: Issa Hayatou (president of the Confederation of African Football), Angel Maria Villar Llona (Spain), Michel D’Hooghe (Belgium), Senes Erzik (Turkey), Worawi Makudi (Thailand), Marios Lefkaritis (Cyprus), Jacques Anouma (Ivory Coast), Rafael Salguero (Guatemala), Hany Abo Rida (Egypt) and Vitaly Mutko (Russia – head of the 2018 World Cup and sports minister).
This all looks to have been well planned. Perhaps I'm being over-optimistic, but FIFA could be in for a shock.
I believe the US Attorney General is soon to address a press conference, 3.30pm our time ?
I am sure that FIFA will treat these ongoing investigations with the concern they feel they deserve. ;-)
Indeed I wouldn't be surprised if their first "concern" is to move their headquarters to a more "friendly" location - presumably one with no extradition treaties with the USA.
They act like a banana republic at times, so they shouldn't be short of willing hosts.
Press conference live on Sky News now. Two different investigations, but the US are cooperating "closely" with the Swiss authorities in their investigation into the 2018/2022 World Cup bids.
Press conference live on Sky News now. Two different investigations, but the US are cooperating "closely" with the Swiss authorities in their investigation into the 2018/2022 World Cup bids.
The US Attorney General herself was fielding questions, showing how seriously America are taking this.
I'd say Blatter's blood must be running cold at the moment. This is getting really grim and coming perilously close to the top of the organisation.
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Isn't that a ceremony where they renounce the devil? Bet they didn't expect him to turn up in person.
The top 8-10 countries in the world should just break away and form their own governing body with their own World Cup. If they had a competing tournament with Germany, Italy, France, Spain, England, Netherlands, Brazil, Argentina and the US then which do you think the sponsors and TV companies would be more interested in? FIFA would be bankrupt overnight.
That would be a dream that unfortunately will not come true due to politics. 8 previous World Champions plus the Netherlands would be the perfect starting point. I wouldn't even expand it by too many other nations.
Something like this should've happened the minute FIFA handed the World Cup to Quatar, I hope this investigation is the end for FIFA. Its rotten to the core and its time to start again.
CONCACAF issue. If Platini was found to be accepting bribes it would be Uefa's problem, not FIFA's.
Have you seen his PA ? She's a stunning looking statuesque woman . He's no fool
Why? I absolutely hate the expansion of the World Cup and now Euro Cup to the "smaller nations" who for the most part play dreadful football and whose referees are a usually highly incompetent or corrupt.
Getting rid of FIFA isn't really the answer here, football needs a governing body. Individuals make an organisation and it's clear many of the current lot aren't up to the task. Once they're removed we can hopefully get some people in who are a little more in touch with the game and a little less likely to act as if they're in an episode of The Sopranos.
Have heard it rumoured that the only reason that Blatter and Platini were not arrested today was that as Swiss residents they can be summoned for questioning at any time, so no need to arrest.
Obviously they had to wait till everyone was in the country.
Yes, after the separate raid on FIFA headquarters, 10 individuals, all currently listed as current Fifa executive committee members, will now be questioned by Swiss authorities over the 2018/22 World Cup bids. Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini, as Swiss residents, are not included, but will also presumably be questioned.
They are: Issa Hayatou (president of the Confederation of African Football), Angel Maria Villar Llona (Spain), Michel D’Hooghe (Belgium), Senes Erzik (Turkey), Worawi Makudi (Thailand), Marios Lefkaritis (Cyprus), Jacques Anouma (Ivory Coast), Rafael Salguero (Guatemala), Hany Abo Rida (Egypt) and Vitaly Mutko (Russia – head of the 2018 World Cup and sports minister).
This all looks to have been well planned. Perhaps I'm being over-optimistic, but FIFA could be in for a shock.
I believe the US Attorney General is soon to address a press conference, 3.30pm our time ?
Indeed I wouldn't be surprised if their first "concern" is to move their headquarters to a more "friendly" location - presumably one with no extradition treaties with the USA.
They act like a banana republic at times, so they shouldn't be short of willing hosts.
That's a bit of a cop out though. FIFA is the various confederations and two FIFA vice presidents are among those arrested.
Affiliated organisations.
It would be the equivalent of the Labour party being investigated for a union leaders actions.
Not saying it is right but it will be interesting to see the legal identity of the likes of CONCACAF etc.
The US Attorney General herself was fielding questions, showing how seriously America are taking this.
I'd say Blatter's blood must be running cold at the moment. This is getting really grim and coming perilously close to the top of the organisation.