Post: #1

So he finally resigns.

Seems that those opposed to him finally have him cornered. $10 million payment to someone in the Caribbean from a FIFA bank account.

I have mixed feelings about this. Bribery is everywhere. He is likely no more or less guilty than any other figure in his position and his "enemies" likely have a neo conservative agenda to move the 2018 World Cup from Russia. I'm not a fan of neo-con's.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsn...andal.html

PS: I am betting on the 2018 World Cup being moved to England.

Post: #2

Mixed feelings? This is FANTASTIC news. Break open the champagne!

Post: #3

football's coming home

Post: #4

(06-02-2015 12:21 PM)dreambig Wrote:  Mixed feelings? This is FANTASTIC news. Break open the champagne!

Mixed feelings because I suspect the motivation of the prosecution. The FIFA officials, including Blatter are all likely guilty as hell, but the prosecutors likely have a bigger agenda that has nothing to do with bribery or football. One being the removal of the 2018 World Cup from Russia. Probably to England.

Post: #5

England deserves a World Cup more than Russia does.

Post: #6

Seriously though, I think 99% of world football fans want to see Qatar lose the World Cup in 2022. Let's hope.

Post: #7

2018 is staying in Russia. 2018 is not far away, and Russia is not some little bitch country that can be easily pushed around.

2022 will be moved from Qatar, either to United States or a compromise candidate like Australia.

Post: #8

(06-02-2015 12:38 PM)dreambig Wrote:  England deserves a World Cup more than Russia does.

That is true, but like I say the bigger picture may have something to do with the new cold war of Western Neo-Con's vs Russia. Frankly I really don't understand that conflict, but wouldn't be happy with a neo-con win. They seem a bit unhinged to me.

But of course I may be overreacting.

I agree on Qatar. It's just ludicrous that they won the 2022 bid. They are about to lose all the billions of Petro $'s they've spent on stadiums to date.

Post: #9

(06-02-2015 12:44 PM)VolandoVengoVolandoVoy Wrote:  2018 is staying in Russia. 2018 is not far away, and Russia is not some little bitch country that can be easily pushed around.

2022 will be moved from Qatar, either to United States or a compromise candidate like Australia.

There were contingency plans to move the 2010 World Cup out of South Africa right until the last year or so. A country like Germany could organise such a tournament in as little as a year. England too, but it would be a bit more disorganised.

What will Russia do if world soccer, or at least soccer bodies from countries that have money, decide that they have to move it away because of ethical(ha) concerns regarding bribery? And without a shadow of a doubt Russia paid money that could be legally considered bribes. Everybody is guilty, but the question is who has legal authority, and to some extent media bodies behind them, to expose the "right" guilty parties.

Post: #10

(06-02-2015 12:55 PM)Bad Hussar Wrote:  There were contingency plans to move the 2010 World Cup out of South Africa right until the last year or so. A country like Germany could organise such a tournament in as little as a year. England too, but it would be a bit more disorganised.

What will Russia do if world soccer, or at least soccer bodies from countries that have money, decide that they have to move it away because of ethical(ha) concerns regarding bribery? And without a shadow of a doubt Russia paid money that could be legally considered bribes. Everybody is guilty, but the question is who has legal authority, and to some extent media bodies behind them, to expose the "right" guilty parties.

Legal authority is not the issue here. There is no such thing as international law. There is only force and leverage.

And Russia has ample amounts of potential leverage and no political checks and balances to restrain exercising that power.

The EU is quite fond of getting major amounts of energy from Russia. Would be a shame if something were to happen to that...

The EU might get some sort of face saving humanitarian gesture on the part of Russia regarding Ukraine, but unless the EU wants a major confrontation they will not push hard against Putin on the World Cup.

Russia, unlike Qatar, can more or less competently host a major event in a suitable fashion, so the risk of a fight is just not worth it.

With Qatar, they are completely unsuitable, don't have leverage, and I think this will cause tournament to be moved.

Post: #11

Neither 2018 or 2022 will move. Mainly because its Russia and Middle east

Post: #12

I was just thinking about FIFA and reforms.

Obviously it's a problem that each country no matter its size, gets the same amount of money and the same number of votes.

One, I think money should be shared according to a formula that takes into account both the population of a country and the popularity of football there (maybe define popularity based on attendance at professional football games).

Two, I think the voting system could be reworked in one of the following ways:

a) Have a bicameral legislature, with a house of representatives where more population = more representatives, and a senate where every country gets one or two representatives regardless of size.

b) A UN style system with a General Assembly where 1 country = 1 vote. And a Security Council with supreme power/veto ability. I would say that only countries that have either won or at least played in a World Cup final could be on a hypothetical FIFA Security Council.

Post: #13

About time indeed! Time to clean up all the mess there and start afloat. Platini would be a great candidate to start afresh.

Removing the 2018 WC from Russia could have major impacts and trigger the start of a global conflict. Let's all hope for the sake of humanity that the powers to be are smart enough to know the limits of how far they can go with their leftist fucked up policies and decisions.

However, Qatar has absolutely no business hosting the biggest sporting event in the world, bigger than the Olympics, the 2022 Football World Cup. Time to put an end to that masquerade! The US, Australia would be great alternatives. China, Canada would be strong outsiders.

All in all, a good day for football that this thief is getting out of the picture!

Blatter still will be the head if FIFA until next March when the new elections will be held. Question I have is, in light of these extraordinary events, why not have that election earlier, like say within the next 2 months?

Post: #14

FIFA's statutes require a four-month notice for presidential elections and, also requiring time to vet candidates.

Post: #15

Meh, Russia is a good choice for the 2018 cup. Qatar was mind-boggingly stupid.

Post: #16

(06-02-2015 01:48 PM)chyamor Wrote:  FIFA's statutes require a four-month notice for presidential elections and, also requiring time to vet candidates.

Yes, FIFA must uphold the rigorous ethical standards for which it is now globally famous.

Post: #17

Qatar can go and get fucked. 1000+ slaves dead building stadiums in the middle of nowhere.

Australia would be a solid choice. It might seem too politicised if USA were to win it having already hosted before in 1994 and bringing down the FBI on FIFA.

Post: #18

Any ideas as to whom will be the replacement? How much influence does the USA wield over FIFA really? I guess we'll find out with the new president

Post: #19

(06-02-2015 02:35 PM)NomadofEU Wrote:  Any ideas as to whom will be the replacement? How much influence does the USA wield over FIFA really? I guess we'll find out with the new president

My vote is England in 2018, though I acknowledge that it would be a very bid deal to take it away from Russia.

Not sure about 2022. Maybe a South American nation with money. Chile, maybe?

Post: #20

To be honest, Germany should just become the permanent host of the World Cup and the European Championship. No other country has the same infrastructure conducive to host a month long football tournament that is friendly to all those involved - fans, players, teams, staff, sponsors, media partners etc.

It really is that simple.

The US is too hot for summer football and too large of country (stadia are too far spread apart) with poor public transport and not a supportive footballing culture.

England is decent, but second to germany.

Post: #21

(06-02-2015 12:38 PM)dreambig Wrote:  England deserves a World Cup more than Russia does.

England doesn't deserve anything. In fact, England deserves nothing for being an embarrassment in international football given how big football is in the country.

Russia should definitely keep 2018.

Post: #22

This is exactly the reason why neither 2018 or 2022 will be relocated.

Give it to one country and another will have shit fit about why not us

Germany, US, England, France, Australia, etc

(06-02-2015 02:58 PM)floor7 Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 12:38 PM)dreambig Wrote:  England deserves a World Cup more than Russia does.

England doesn't deserve anything. In fact, England deserves nothing for being an embarrassment in international football given how big football is in the country.

Russia should definitely keep 2018.

Post: #23

(06-02-2015 02:49 PM)Bad Hussar Wrote:  

(06-02-2015 02:35 PM)NomadofEU Wrote:  Any ideas as to whom will be the replacement? How much influence does the USA wield over FIFA really? I guess we'll find out with the new president

My vote is England in 2018, though I acknowledge that it would be a very bid deal to take it away from Russia.

Not sure about 2022. Maybe a South American nation with money. Chile, maybe?

I was referring to who will replace Blatter.
Russia 2018 won't be moved but hopefully something can be done about Qatar

Post: #24

(06-02-2015 02:56 PM)floor7 Wrote:  To be honest, Germany should just become the permanent host of the World Cup and the European Championship. No other country has the same infrastructure conducive to host a month long football tournament that is friendly to all those involved - fans, players, teams, staff, sponsors, media partners etc.

It really is that simple.

The US is too hot for summer football and too large of country (stadia are too far spread apart) with poor public transport and not a supportive footballing culture.

England is decent, but second to germany.

Europe cannot have two consecutive world cups. If they give to Russia in 2018 and strip Qatar from 2022, the 2022 world cup will go to either the U.S. or Australia.

Post: #25

2018 isn't getting moved.

Real dollers and shovels are already in the ground. It wasn't the first WC awarded on bribes and such, this all goes back 10-15 years. Qatar will get moved as everything relating to that bid is a farase. From the unrealistic stadium budgets, the state attempting to peddle modesty laws for tourists, the slave labour, the fact it will have to be hosted in November, etc. It has little to stand on and the gluttonous Gulf Arabs will have to learn the hard way that you can't just throw money at things like they attempted with this folly. What uproar will Qatar cause if its WC is removed? Russia can cause a lot of headaches for having to loose face internationally but nobody will give a shit about little Qatar loosing its WC.

Behind the scenes they are reeling from the stupid overly expensive stadium projects they proposed (open air stadiums with money sucking HVAC/AC systems for example). Even with scaling back plans I don't think they could pull it off, especially not with oil prices so low and them scraping by for cash.

2022 will be in USA as it was supposed too, Russia won't give a shit if it keeps 2018 and will say nothing, Blatter already said last week that UEFA can bid on 2026 so Europe will host then.