FIFA

Thing is you need an overall body that the likes of ConCaf or UEFA are part of so this is FIFA. You retain the organization but you must replace the people running it so we can start over.

The likes of the IOC are also run on bribes and corruption so it requires an attitude change and determination in order to build a better institution.

UEFA have said that they will not boycott the vote tomorrow.

UEFA will give at least 45 votes for Prince Ali. But it could be as high as 53 votes

^ That probably wouldn't even be enough for him to win as Blatter has more support elsewhere

(28-05-2015 15:04 )Charlemagne Wrote:  UEFA have said that they will not boycott the vote tomorrow.

Shame.

The thing that strikes me more than anything that Blatter feels he is a law unto himself and untouchable. The Justice Department has stated he is their main target but I would think they would leave his arrest as a coup for the Swiss authorities
FIFA is finished IMO as being the world body of football
The problem UEFA has is getting other alliances and there are many countries who probably see UEFA also as not being fit to run world football. for UEFA to have clout in the election or to pull out of FIFA it has find enough allies in other countries or Confederations (which seems unlikely to happen) before even walking away from FIFA.
And IMO the FIFA World Cup is also tarnished to the point where the holders of that trophy could not be classed as true world champions
The sooner the FBI or the Swiss authorities pick up Mr Blatter the better

(28-05-2015 12:29 )Charlemagne Wrote:  It's just rhetoric from the sponsors.

Sadly, I agree with this. It is all just meaningless PR-driven stalling tactics until 'it all blows over'. How many times have we seen the same hollow statements from Visa and Coke and Adidas? FIFA scandal; corporate statement about concern and reform; rinse & repeat.

During the Watergate scandal, the Washington Post popularized a phrase about White House spin: the non-denial denial. I.e. deflect and distract, but don't actually deny accusations directly because you know they are true.

Well, all of these statements from World Cup sponsors are just non-threatening threats. The bottom line is that they would need to pay vast penalties for withdrawing from their deals, only to have one of their competitors nick an extremely lucrative sponsorship package on the eve of the next world cup. I would be amazed if any sponsor actually acted on any of the "threats".

(28-05-2015 15:42 )babelover48 Wrote:  The thing that strikes me more than anything that Blatter feels he is a law unto himself and untouchable. The Justice Department has stated he is their main target but I would think they would leave his arrest as a coup for the Swiss authorities
FIFA is finished IMO as being the world body of football

Unfortunately, I disagree with this too. I wish it were true, but I doubt it.

I suspect that Blatter is much too smart and too independently wealthy to run the risk of actually committing a crime himself. I think he is motivated by power and ego, but he is probably quite satisfied with his six figure salary and seven figure bonus -- which might be exorbitant, but not necessarily the fruit of a criminal enterprise.

I think he is probably guilty of willfully turning a blind eye to all of the corruption around him in exchange for presidential votes. But I seriously doubt that the American DOJ will manage to mount a real case against him.


All told, I think the UEFA-split scenario (though still unlikely) is the most realistic option, with the best outcome for football supporters -- especially if the USA (which is the world's most lucrative market for sponsors) splits as well.

Someone dropped a ricket putting comments on the live youtube feed of the congress haha

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pacpoFewBZg

Blatter's speech didn't exactly come across as an honest one

this is another scandal that hasn't gone away for FIFA too...
http://t.co/zhs38DDGVz

(28-05-2015 16:53 )babelover48 Wrote:  this is another scandal that hasn't gone away for FIFA too...
http://t.co/zhs38DDGVz

Yeah, while all this was kicking off, a BBC reporter and his crew were just being released from jail in Qatar. They were jailed for daring to try to investigate the conditions of workers on the stadium construction sites. Apparently when their equipment was returned, all their footage was wiped.
I also read that even Fifa had been appealing to the Qatar authorities to secure their release, and yet still they insist the World Cup will play there!

Fifa has clearly lost all credibility right now, and its hard to imagine it getting it back while Blatter is still around. They better start checking the swiss banks for accounts in the name of his dog, our 'Arry may have given him some pointers! No doubt he's already been on the phone to Bernie Ecclestone's lawyers as well.

In some ways it may actually be better if Blatter stays put in Fifa, as then there may be more likelihood of a split (however small), which may actually spell the end for this rotten organisation. I can't help feeling if he is simply voted out, that will be seen as a victory, and allow this whole business to be swept aside on a wave of promises and media soundbites, with the very real possibility that the corruption actually continues under the surface.