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Sports => Football => Topic started by: truetrini on October 16, 2006, 07:56:54 PM

Title: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: truetrini on October 16, 2006, 07:56:54 PM
Changes coming to FIFA leadership strength?

By Darren Ennis

BRUSSELS, Oct 16 (Reuters) - FIFA, world soccer's governing body, is facing a possible challenge to the way the game is being run, one of the game's leading administrators told Reuters on Monday.

The move could result in a dilution of FIFA's powers in enforcing their decisions globally, according to the administrator who spoke to Reuters on the condition of anonymity.

He said: "The confederations will propose that FIFA is run by an executive purely made up from the six confederations which will be left to run the game in their own areas as they see fit.

"It is time for the confederations to have more say in how they run the game in their own regions."

Reuters has learned that FIFA's six continental confederations will meet before December's scheduled FIFA executive committee meeting to draw up proposals for how they would like to see FIFA run -- gaining themselves more autonomy in the process.

The catalyst for the change is a move within the European Union on how the governance of the game should be structured within the bloc.

UEFA supports the EU's proposals, FIFA, with the backing of the International Olympic Committee, do not.

The issue has been brewing since earlier this year when Lennart Johansson, the president of the European confederation UEFA, told FIFA president Sepp Blatter of their intentions.

A FIFA spokesman told Reuters: "The proposals are not new. It is quite an interesting idea and we have heard of this before."

FIFA, which celebrated its centenary two years ago, consists of six continental confederations. Its 207 member associations belong to both their parent confederation and FIFA.

The 207 members each have one vote and effectively decide on how soccer is run by voting on issues at the FIFA congress. The agenda for the congress is set by the 24-man executive committee headed by FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

The confederations, also made up of their own FAs, run the game on each continent but have no direct vote at the FIFA congress.

STIFF COMPETITION

If their meeting proves successful, the confederations intend to deliver their proposals via their associations to FIFA for discussion at its next congress in Zurich in May.

The confederations, however, are expected to face some competition from a number of their own associations.

Not all associations would necessarily want to risk changing the status quo which could limit the amount of aid and funding they receive from FIFA to help run the game in their countries.

But the confederations will argue that they are best qualified on a daily basis to develop and expand the game at an individual level. They also believe they have the backing of the majority of their individual associations.

"FIFA will still be in charge of the game at international level, such as running the World Cup, and so the revenue from that will still be divided evenly," the official said.

"But each confederation is different and needs to be treated as such. It cannot be just one size fits all."

POSSIBLE SHOWDOWN

At the heart of the problem is a looming showdown between FIFA and UEFA, backed by the European Union (EU), on how the game should be run in the bloc.

Last month FIFA president Blatter and International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge wrote to the European Commission and EU sports ministers protesting about proposed changes to the way sport will be governed in the EU.

A new draft of the review, due to be released later this week, will also call on soccer's governing bodies to "consider a restructuring and streamlining" of their organisations.

UEFA is seeking the adoption by the 25 governments of a European Sports Review completed in April which recommends closer control of sport in the EU including salary caps on soccer players and the monitoring of agents.

In their letter, FIFA and the IOC said they do not support the review and told EU lawmakers and politicians the governance of the sport should be left to soccer's own rule makers.

Copyright © 2006 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2006 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.

Title: Re: Changes coming to FIFA leadership strength?
Post by: WestCoast on October 16, 2006, 09:19:13 PM
within such a world wide organisation such as FIFA there will on occasion regional needs and demands that are brought forth. the secret is too be able to maintain the global feel yet address the regional uniqueness.
Title: Re: Changes coming to FIFA leadership strength?
Post by: Observer on October 17, 2006, 06:57:13 AM
With modern communication the word is out, FIFA dam corrupt and always has been. Now everyone knows the scam. Other Federations recognize they can gain benefits for themselves. FIFA come like the old Colonial masters and dear I say good old USA. They accountable to no one and making huge profits off of the International game, at the same time a handful of controllers making serious personal dollars.

By the way what happen to the FIFA report on Jack and other members???
Title: Re: Changes coming to FIFA leadership strength?
Post by: elan on October 17, 2006, 10:21:58 AM
That's all well and good, but how far does the various confederations arm reach? Many of the Europeans would like to see less third world countries in the WC, so this needs to be done in such a manner that FIFA (God help us) retains some presidential power. Also how would this move affect the leagues around the world and the releasing of international players on FIFA dates?
Title: Re: Changes coming to FIFA leadership strength?
Post by: WestCoast on October 17, 2006, 10:34:45 AM
By the way what happen to the FIFA report on Jack and other members???
The more and more i read about Jack and FIFA is de more and more I say "Jack RUNNIN FIFA"
dis man has got himself into a very powerful position resulting in him having the balance of power to get people like Sepp Blatter elected, therefore Jack has to die before anyone will be able to shake his hold over the people he has garnered support from.
Maybe I am reading to much from "in between the lines" of articles that i have read by Lasana Liburd and Andrew Jennings.
JMHO
Title: Re: Changes coming to FIFA leadership strength?
Post by: triniairman on October 17, 2006, 11:34:09 AM
That's all well and good, but how far does the various confederations arm reach? Many of the Europeans would like to see less third world countries in the WC, so this needs to be done in such a manner that FIFA (God help us) retains some presidential power. Also how would this move affect the leagues around the world and the releasing of international players on FIFA dates?
yuh right about that,if they have their way is only South American and European teams will be at the WC
Title: Re: Changes coming to FIFA leadership strength?
Post by: Mango Chow! on October 17, 2006, 03:18:53 PM
All ah allyuh raise some very good points here. Fifa need HONEST people in there (good luck to DAT!!) running the show, with the vision of Jao Havellange (spelling).  He was the one that initiated the modern day expansion of the World Cup.  Blatter and dem only want big teams to benefit even though he love to curry favour with the CAF.
Title: Re: Changes coming to FIFA leadership strength?
Post by: fatman on October 17, 2006, 04:00:44 PM
 elan and trini airman are correct fifa for all their corruption and short coming s have been fairly successful in making organised football a world game .the growpng importance of competitions such as gold cup ,caribbean cup and african nations cup are testimony to this .of course their is still racism and cultural superiority the running  of football those in power rarely abdicate .sports world wide are run by millionaire caucasions fifa included they must therefore be commended for their attempts at some sort of integration process however belatedly.the football loving world must watch any attempt by european power brokers to high jack the game .
   their has been an increase in conservative politics throughout europe we all know the views of people such as the french politician le pen who argues therer are too many immigrants  on the french national football team, the large european clubs have been trying to ride on the financial  success of the champions league by suggesting a super league to rival the world cup,and club teams are currently trying to gain compensation from  fifa for injuries to their players during international games the results of these cases can change the face of football as we know it ,can this be a case of jumping from the frying pan and into the fire.before taking sides we must give serious consideration to the polkitcs of euopean and world football .the hither to unheard of involvement of
us and russian multimillionaires in english football ,countries  like trinidad may not have the privlidge of seeing the next generation of yorkes and latapys play in their stadiums ,the world cup may be reduced to a competition for the second rate stars of national teams as the brilliant players are under contract of these new super clubs .think about these things.
Title: Re: Changes coming to FIFA leadership strength?
Post by: jamaica2099 on October 17, 2006, 08:17:35 PM
elan and trini airman are correct fifa for all their corruption and short coming s have been fairly successful in making organised football a world game .the growpng importance of competitions such as gold cup ,caribbean cup and african nations cup are testimony to this .of course their is still racism and cultural superiority the running  of football those in power rarely abdicate .sports world wide are run by millionaire caucasions fifa included they must therefore be commended for their attempts at some sort of integration process however belatedly.the football loving world must watch any attempt by european power brokers to high jack the game .
   their has been an increase in conservative politics throughout europe we all know the views of people such as the french politician le pen who argues therer are too many immigrants  on the french national football team, the large european clubs have been trying to ride on the financial  success of the champions league by suggesting a super league to rival the world cup,and club teams are currently trying to gain compensation from  fifa for injuries to their players during international games the results of these cases can change the face of football as we know it ,can this be a case of jumping from the frying pan and into the fire.before taking sides we must give serious consideration to the polkitcs of euopean and world football .the hither to unheard of involvement of
us and russian multimillionaires in english football ,countries  like trinidad may not have the privlidge of seeing the next generation of yorkes and latapys play in their stadiums ,the world cup may be reduced to a competition for the second rate stars of national teams as the brilliant players are under contract of these new super clubs .think about these things.
Simply put. This is a very scary scenario if UEFA succeeds. There are a lot, if not all, of European countires that are not aware CONCACAF has major FIFA tournaments like the Caribbean Digicel Cup & the Gold Cup. For those Europeans aware of our tournaments in CONCACAF they probably think of them as insignificant. A case in itself which would see European clubs not releasing our CONCACAF overseas players to participate in the Gold Cup.
Like Fatman pointed out if the player has value then those European powermongers will have the full support of UEFA on their side.       
Title: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: 1-868 on January 02, 2011, 05:04:18 PM
Moderator, should this be in the jokes thread ???

Sepp Blatter proposes Fifa anti-corruption committee

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/9333340.stm

Fifa president Sepp Blatter says he wants to set up an anti-corruption committee to police world football's governing body.

The move comes after allegations of corruption dogged Fifa throughout the bidding process and voting for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Blatter said: "This committee will strengthen our credibility and give us a new image in terms of transparency.

"I will take care of it personally, to ensure there is no corruption at Fifa."

Blatter told Swiss newspaper SonntagsZeitung the committee would consist of seven to nine members "not only from sport but from politics, finance, business and culture".

And the Swiss confirmed he would not sit on the committee himself as he wanted to guarantee its independence.

The move to set up an anti-corruption unit will raise questions about the future of Fifa's ethics committee, which investigated claims of corruption last year.

Following the investigation, Fifa's executive committee members Amos Adamu and Reynald Temarii were suspended over allegations they offered to sell their votes during bidding for the World Cup, something the pair vehemently denied.

They both subsequently missed December's ballot in which Russia was chosen to host the 2018 tournament and Qatar the 2022 event, following a secret vote by the remaining 22 committee members.

During the bidding process for the World Cups, Fifa was also forced to investigate rumours of collusion between member associations and their bid committees in relation to the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding process.

At that time, Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke warned all countries that mutual voting deals were against Fifa rules.

The 2018 Spain-Portugal and 2022 Qatar bids were cleared of collusion in the investigation.

A BBC Panorama programme broadcast three days before the World Cup vote alleged three Fifa officials, Nicolas Leoz, Issa Hayatou and Ricardo Teixeira, took bribes in the 1990s.

Denying any wrongdoing, vice-president Hayatou has threatened to sue while Leoz and Teixeira are said to have also denied wrongdoing.

Fifa said at the time the case was "definitely closed" as allegations had already been investigated in Switzerland, with no Fifa officials being convicted.

Title: Re: Moderator, should this be in the jokes thread ???
Post by: weary1969 on January 03, 2011, 10:56:51 PM
Sepp Blatter proposes Fifa anti-corruption committee

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/9333340.stm

Fifa president Sepp Blatter says he wants to set up an anti-corruption committee to police world football's governing body.

The move comes after allegations of corruption dogged Fifa throughout the bidding process and voting for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Blatter said: "This committee will strengthen our credibility and give us a new image in terms of transparency.

"I will take care of it personally, to ensure there is no corruption at Fifa."

Blatter told Swiss newspaper SonntagsZeitung the committee would consist of seven to nine members "not only from sport but from politics, finance, business and culture".

And the Swiss confirmed he would not sit on the committee himself as he wanted to guarantee its independence.

The move to set up an anti-corruption unit will raise questions about the future of Fifa's ethics committee, which investigated claims of corruption last year.

Following the investigation, Fifa's executive committee members Amos Adamu and Reynald Temarii were suspended over allegations they offered to sell their votes during bidding for the World Cup, something the pair vehemently denied.

They both subsequently missed December's ballot in which Russia was chosen to host the 2018 tournament and Qatar the 2022 event, following a secret vote by the remaining 22 committee members.

During the bidding process for the World Cups, Fifa was also forced to investigate rumours of collusion between member associations and their bid committees in relation to the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding process.

At that time, Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke warned all countries that mutual voting deals were against Fifa rules.

The 2018 Spain-Portugal and 2022 Qatar bids were cleared of collusion in the investigation.

A BBC Panorama programme broadcast three days before the World Cup vote alleged three Fifa officials, Nicolas Leoz, Issa Hayatou and Ricardo Teixeira, took bribes in the 1990s.

Denying any wrongdoing, vice-president Hayatou has threatened to sue while Leoz and Teixeira are said to have also denied wrongdoing.

Fifa said at the time the case was "definitely closed" as allegations had already been investigated in Switzerland, with no Fifa officials being convicted.


CO-SIGNNNNNNN
ENTTTTTTTTTTTTT
Title: Re: Changes coming to FIFA leadership strength?
Post by: CK1 on June 09, 2014, 10:05:25 AM
i JUST CAME ACROSS THIS TODAY, FUNNY BUT TRUE.

http://www.thewrap.com/john-oliver-rips-into-fifa-over-world-cup-shows-us-his/
Title: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Flex on August 14, 2014, 08:26:24 PM
Welcome to the Fifa News Thread
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_s4LVkiTx8cI/TMdKpnhGW_I/AAAAAAAAARA/S7H0Y5tjhqA/s1600/fifa_logo.png)

FIFA sued for €1 billion over bad World Cup referees
By Ryan Rosenblatt (SB Nation).

.
Bad refereeing is worth €1 billion, apparently.

FIFA is getting sued for having bad referees at the World Cup. A Colombian lawyer has taken it upon himself to get justice on behalf of the globe. But mainly himself for the "distress" that the referees caused.

And how much does he want? €1 billion.

Yep, 74-year-old Aurelio Jimenez has sued FIFA for €1 billion because of his emotional and physical distress. That includes being taken to the hospital with cardiac problems, something that is apparently all Carlos Velasco Carballo's -- and thus, FIFA's -- fault.

Carballo was the referee in Brazil's quarterfinal win over Colombia, which saw both teams play very physically and Carballo come under fire for not getting the match under control. There were several bad tackles, many of them aimed at James Rodriguez, which caused Jimenez distress.

It is assumed that Brazil's Neymar was also caused distress when Colombia's Juan Zuniga kicked him in the back and broke a vertebrae, but the Colombians are the ones who were distressed.

"I decided to sue FIFA in the Colombian judiciary system because in the past world soccer championship in Brazil, there were many wrongdoings related to referees who damaged many countries and their selections, among them the Colombia team," Jimenez continued.

"Moreover, FIFA's referees caused big moral damages and distress to Chile, Uruguay, Colombia, England, Uruguay, Mexico and Costa Rica."

Jimenez has said that if he wins his lawsuit, he will give the money to a government organization aimed at helping Colombian children, which is nice. Bad World Cup referees can help kids!
Title: Re: Changes coming to FIFA leadership strength?
Post by: asylumseeker on September 07, 2014, 02:05:26 PM
FIFA financial watchdog Canover Watson arrested on suspicion of corruption and money-laundering

One of the eight members of FIFA's financial watchdog has been arrested by police on suspicion of corruption and money-laundering.

Canover Watson, a businessman from the Cayman Islands and vice-president of the Caribbean Football Union, has denied the allegations.

Watson sits on FIFA's audit and compliance committee, a body set up in 2012 to "ensure the completeness and reliability" of the world governing body's finances. He is a close friend of FIFA vice-president Jeffrey Webb, a fellow Cayman Islands resident and the president of the CONCACAF confederation of countries from central and North America and the Caribbean.

The 43-year-old was arrested by officers from the Royal Cayman Islands Police Anti-Corruption Unit and has been released on bail to report back to police on September 29.

The arrest follows following a police investigation into a hospital swipe-card billing system in the Cayman Islands.

According to a police statement, Watson's arrest was for "suspicion of breach of trust contrary to section 13 of the Cayman Islands Anti-Corruption Law, as well as abuse of public office... and conflict of interest", as well as "suspicion of money laundering contrary to section 133 of the Proceeds of Crime Law".

A statement from Watson to media in the Cayman Islands said he denied any wrongdoing.

The statement said: "I make this brief statement following my arrest in relation to suspected offenses contrary to the Anti-Corruption Law.

"The allegations are denied. In due course, at the proper time and in the appropriate forum, I look forward to setting out my position in greater detail. For present purposes since the police investigation is ongoing, I have been advised by my attorneys that it would be inappropriate for me to make further comment."

http://www.itv.com/sport/football/article/2014-09-06/fifa-financial-watchdog-canover-watson-arrested-on-suspicion-of-corruption-and-money-laundering/
Title: Re: Changes coming to FIFA leadership strength?
Post by: asylumseeker on September 07, 2014, 02:10:01 PM
Canover Watson: Fifa member asked for corruption claims explanation

Fifa wants an explanation from a member of its financial watchdog who was arrested on suspicion of corruption and money-laundering in the Cayman Islands.

Canover Watson is one of eight members of Fifa's audit and compliance committee and a vice-president of the Caribbean Football Union.

He has denied the charges and has been released on bail.

Domenico Scala is the head of the committee and said he had asked Watson for details.

The allegations against Watson concern his time as head of the Cayman's Health Service Authority.

Under his bail terms he is scheduled to report back to police on 29 September.

"Once we have more information we will consider appropriate measures," said a Fifa statement.

The audit and compliance committee is in charge of ensuring the "completeness and reliability of the financial accounting" of world soccer's governing body.

Source: The BBC
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: asylumseeker on September 19, 2014, 03:47:42 AM
Now we have Watchgate.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Flex on November 27, 2014, 03:11:14 PM
5 investigated in FIFA WCup bid corruption probe
By GRAHAM DUNBAR (AP)


GENEVA (AP) — Five officials, including three long-serving FIFA executive committee members, are being investigated in the corruption probe into the bidding contests for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

A person familiar with the cases confirmed the names Thursday to The Associated Press after the five were identified in European media reports. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the FIFA probe is confidential.

The current FIFA board members under investigation are FIFA vice president Angel Maria Villar of Spain, Michel D'Hooghe of Belgium and Worawi Makudi of Thailand.

Villar and Makudi risk losing their FIFA seats within months as even provisional suspensions from all football duty can block them standing in scheduled confederation elections.

The others under suspicion are German great Franz Beckenbauer and Harold Mayne-Nicholls of Chile.

Beckenbauer was a FIFA voter when the board chose Russia to host the 2018 World Cup and Qatar secured the 2022 tournament. He was provisionally suspended during the World Cup in June for initially refusing to help Garcia's probe.

Mayne-Nicholls inspected the bids for FIFA ahead of the December 2010 polls, and reportedly sought placements for family members at Qatar's influential Aspire youth academy.

Last week, FIFA ethics committee chairmen Michael Garcia and Joachim Eckert said "a number of formal cases" had been opened against unidentified individuals.

FIFA also filed a criminal complaint to Swiss federal prosecutors against unnamed individuals cited in Garcia's investigation report, adding to a sense of disarray about the wider World Cup investigation.

The probe was revived after Eckert tried to close the cases against Russia and Qatar — a decision Garcia quickly appealed to FIFA.

On Thursday, FIFA said it "cannot confirm or deny any such information" about the five named, and referred questions to the ethics panel. The Kirkland & Ellis legal firm in Manhattan where Garcia is a partner was closed Thursday for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Individuals were identified Thursday despite strict confidentiality rules in FIFA's code of ethics sealing details of who is under investigation, and for which alleged offenses.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter has backed Eckert's view that evidence in a 430-page report submitted by Garcia's investigations team cannot be disclosed. They cited privacy rights to protect suspects and witnesses.

Some members of FIFA's board who joined since the World Cup votes are calling for full disclosure. Garcia and UEFA President Michel Platini want "appropriate publication" with some redactions.

Villar, who was elected to FIFA's ruling board 16 years ago, was a leader of the Spain-Portugal bid that was among four candidates in the 2018 contest. It lost despite a widely reported voting pact with Qatar, in breach of FIFA rules to prevent collusion.

A former Spain player and chairman of FIFA's legal committee, Villar was previously identified in March as trying to remove Garcia from the investigation.

One bidder was "particularly uncooperative" with Garcia's requests, Eckert noted in his investigation summary. Only Spain-Portugal among nine bidders was not examined in Eckert's 42-page document.

D'Hooghe, the longest tenured board member with 26 years' service, previously acknowledged accepting a painting from a Russian former FIFA colleague during the campaign. He has said he voted only for his native Netherlands-Belgium bid in the 2018 contest.

D'Hooghe, whose FIFA mandate expires in 2017, did not respond to messages requesting comment Thursday.

Makudi joined FIFA's board in 1997 and was a longtime ally of Mohamed bin Hammam, the now-disgraced Qatari who was a key FIFA power broker.

Makudi was alleged in Britain's Parliament to have sought favors from England's failed 2018 bid. He denied the claims, which a FIFA ethics panel dismissed in 2011 before Garcia and Eckert were appointed.

Even if the FIFA prosecutions fail against Villar and Makudi, the cases could potentially remove them from high office.

Garcia and Eckert typically impose provisional suspensions on football officials when cases are pending, and both board members are due for re-election.

Villar has a late-January deadline to declare in UEFA elections for four of its eight delegates on the FIFA board. The vote of European football federations is March 24 in Vienna.

Makudi's latest four-year mandate from the Asian Football Confederation also expires soon. Those elections are expected in May.

The FIFA board, likely including the implicated trio, meets Dec. 18-19 in Marrakech, Morocco, and could get the Garcia dossier to review.

Amid the turmoil last week, Garcia and Eckert agreed that FIFA's independent audit and compliance official, Domenico Scala, should decide what evidence to give the board to help decide next steps in a saga that has dogged football's governing body for more than four years.

Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Spursy on November 28, 2014, 07:41:30 PM
Brilliant Orange, boosts for France, Norway


A massive few days on the international stage was undoubtedly highlighted by Netherlands securing the second last ticket on offer to the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup™. Elsewhere, Canada 2015 participants continue to jostle for form and bragging rights with France, Norway and the hosts all enjoying morale-boosts.

Dutch claim long-awaited prize
Verona was the unlikely venue to earn a place in the history annals of Netherlands women’s football as the Oranje Leeuwinnen achieved a landmark high by qualifying for the Women’s World Cup for the first time. The Netherlands did it the hard way by surviving a quartet of teams vying for one additional European ticket to Canada 2015. With Scotland and Ukraine out of the picture, it seemed Italy had the inside running heading into the final 90 minutes of a marathon UEFA campaign. The Azzurre secured a 1-1 draw in The Hague last weekend, but the home side were immediately on the back foot in Veneto. Prolific teenage striker Vivianne Miedema grabbed a first-half double to have the Netherlands well on their way, however a Stephanie van der Gragt own goal set up a nerve-wracking second half before the Dutch eventually clung on.

"The team has made history, not me,” said Netherlands coach Roger Reijners. “We have achieved a number of milestones since 2009. There has been so much progression. After the last European Championship (2013) we clearly discussed what we wanted and what we needed to improve. And you see that we really have taken steps since the beginning of this year.” While the Dutch celebrated, the heart-breaking defeat leaves Italy without an appearance at the Women’s World Cup since 1999. “The heart wanted to bring it home but that was not enough,” said Italy coach Antonio Cabrini. “We faced a well organised team that plays good football, we have done everything possible, but we must acknowledge that the Netherlands were superior.” The final berth to Canada 2015 will be determined next week when Trinidad & Tobago face Ecuador in the return leg of the intercontinental play-off.

Tight margins for Canada, Sweden
2015 Women’s World Cup hosts Canada continued their tough series of warm-up matches for next year’s event with two outings against traditional European power Sweden. The Canadians turned in a strong performance on Monday to secure a 1-0 win courtesy of a Jonelle Filigno strike just before half-time. Sweden looked set to reverse the scoreline on Wednesday thanks to Linda Sembrant’s goal just after the interval, but the nation’s leading scorer Christine Sinclair equalised to ensure the spoils were shared.

Boosts for France, Norway
France and Norway both enjoyed morale-boosts in the final game before learning their opponents for Canada 2015. Goals in each half from Eugenie Le Sommer and Kenza Dali in Lyon saw Les Bleues see off Brazil, after the pair had played out a scoreless draw in their last meeting in June. It ends a strong period for France who defeated European champions Germany by the same scoreline a month ago. Meanwhile, Norway narrowly got the better of New Zealand in their two-match series. Two goals in the final ten minutes from sisters Andrine and Ada Hegerberg got Norway over the line in Stavanger, while the home side rescued a draw in the opener thanks to Isabell Herlovsen’s late goal.
(http://www.fifa.com/mm//Photo/Tournament/Competition/02/48/03/94/2480394_FULL-LND.jpg)
Source:
http://www.fifa.com/womensworldcup/teams/index.html
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Spursy on December 02, 2014, 01:57:21 AM
Leaders show class, Japan clubs show style


This week in women’s club football was highlighted by a massive match-up in Germany where Wolfsburg saw off 1.FFC Frankfurt to leap to the pack of the pack at the midway point of the season. Australian leaders Perth Glory continued their winning form led by the irrepressible Sam Kerr, while it is the nation’s youngsters that are coming to the fore in New Zealand. Finally to Japan and the opening matches in the International Women’s Club Championship as the local sides turned on a show of strength.

Germany: Wolfsburg halfway there
Reigning German queens Wolfsburg have taken another step towards claiming their third successive domestic crown after defeating seven-time winners 1.FFC Frankfurt to be ‘halfway champions’. First-half goals from Martina Muller and Lena Gossling were enough for the European champions to hold off the visitors’ all-star attacking line-up including Celia Sasic, the league’s runaway leading goalscorer. The result combined with a surprise scoreless draw for Bayern Munich at Essen, saw Wolfsburg open up a two-point lead at the summit. Turbine Potsdam joined traditional rivals Frankfurt in a share of third but only after a hard-fought 3-2 comeback win at Jena, which required a late Julia Simic winner
Top three: Wolfsburg (29 points), Bayern Munich (27), 1.FFC Frankfurt, Turbine Potsdam (both 25)

Australia: Kerr maintains Perth’s glory
Runaway league leaders Perth Glory maintained their stunning form by inflicting a record 5-0 defeat on perennial title challengers Sydney FC. Pacy forward Sam Kerr, following a breakthrough season in USA’s NWSL, turned in a virtuoso performance scoring her maiden league hat-trick including two superb individual goals. Canberra United saw their semi-final hopes suffer a blow with a 2-1 defeat at Brisbane Roar as Katrina Gorry cracked home a spectacular 35-metre effort just hours before jetting out to Manila where she was crowned AFC Player of the Year. Heading into the final round Glory and second-placed Melbourne Victory have nailed down a finals berth leaving Sydney FC, Canberra United and Newcastle Jets fighting for two remaining spots.
Top three: Perth Glory (30), Melbourne Victory (20), Canberra United, Sydney FC (both 17)

New Zealand: Future looks bright
The New Zealand Development side moved into next weekend’s season decider against champions Mainland Pride after an impressive 5-1 win over Capital Football. The NZ Development squad – a team featuring elite U-18 players who hope to form the basis of the 2016 U-20 FIFA Women’s World Cup side – impressed with a four-goal second-half showing against their older opponents. The young side earned their final berth courtesy of a hat-trick from New Zealand youth international Martine Puketapu.

International Women’s Club Championship: Hosts open on course
The third edition of the annual Japan-based international club tournament started in positive fashion for Japan’s two representatives. Nadeshiko League opening stage champions Okayama Yunogo Belle eased to a 5-0 win over Australian counterparts Melbourne Victory. Manami Nakano and Saori Arimachi both scored doubles, while AFC Player of the Year nominee Aya Miyama was also on the scoresheet, as the Mimasaka side set up a meeting with Arsenal. In Sunday’s second match Urawa Red Diamonds claimed a comfortable 5-1 win over China PR side Jiangsu Huatai, with South American champions Sao Jose awaiting in the midweek semi-final.

(http://www.fifa.com/mm//Photo/FootballDevelopment/Women/02/45/44/07/2454407_FULL-LND.jpg)

Published: (FIFA.com) Tuesday 2 December 2014
Link: http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/footballdevelopment/women/news/newsid=2487067/index.html
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Spursy on December 02, 2014, 02:01:31 AM
Women’s round-up: November 2014

FIFA.com rounds up the key events from women’s international and club football in November.
International football
And the winner is...
While many players can only hope to one day participate at a FIFA Women’s World Cup™, for the Dutch women’s national team that dream will come true after they qualified for the tournament for the first time in their history. The Netherlands beat Italy 3-2 on aggregate in the play-off final to secure the last European berth at the competition, with Vivianne Miedema scoring all three goals for the victors. “We had an objective which we’ve now achieved and it’s fantastic,” said the striker, who plays in the Bundesliga for Bayern Munich, after the two-legged tie. Meanwhile, the first leg of the intercontinental play-off between Trinidad and Tobago and Ecuador finished in a goalless draw. The decisive second leg to determine which side will book the final place at Canada 2015 will take place on 2 December.

Asian Player of the Year crowned
Australia’s Katrina Gorry and Japanese duo Aya Miyama and Nahomi Kawasumi were the three finalists for the AFC Women’s Player of the Year award 2014. Both Kawasumi and Miyama, who won the prize in 2011 and 2012, were part of the triumphant Japan side that lifted the title at the eight-team Asian Championship this year, where they beat Australia in the final as both teams qualified for Canada 2015. Gorry had an outstanding tournament, scoring three goals from central midfield and was rewarded for her fine performances by being named AFC Women’s Player of the Year on 30 November. The AFC Women’s Coach of the Year award went to Asako Takemoto, who led the Japan U-17 side to the world title.

Gearing up for the World Cup
There were numerous international friendlies on the calendar in November as teams began warming up for next year’s showdown. Coach Philippe Bergeroo’s France side sent out a strong statement of intent by following up a 2-1 win over New Zealand with a 2-0 victory over Brazil a few days later. Sweden were not as successful in their two encounters with World Cup hosts Canada in Santa Monica, California. The Damlandslaget lost the first game 1-0 and drew the second 1-1, with Jonelle Filigno and Christine Sinclair on target for Canada and Linda Sembrandt finding the net for Sweden. Another two of next year’s World Cup participants, Norway and New Zealand, also locked horns last month. In the first game Amber Hearn put the Football Ferns in front, only for Isabell Herlovsen to equalise late on and secure a 1-1 draw. In the second meeting, sisters Andrine and Ada Hegerberg both scored to give Norway a 2-0 victory.

Germany silence Wembley
Germany rounded off the year in style last month by easing to a 3-0 triumph over England at the legendary Wembley stadium. Coach Silvia Neid was deprived of the services of Fatmire Alushi, Nadine Kessler, Saskia Bartusiak, Lena Lotzen, Leonie Maier and 2013 FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year Nadine Angerer, but the reigning European champions nevertheless began the match strongly and went in front after just six minutes from Alex Scott’s own goal. Celia Sasic doubled their lead shortly afterwards following a sensational run in which she skipped past two defenders, and added a third just before half-time for a dominant German side.

Club football
Champions League quarter-final ties complete
VfL Wolfsburg have taken another step towards a third UEFA Women’s Champions League title after brushing aside Austrian champions Neulengbach 11-0 in the Round of 16 to set up a quarter-final tie with newly-crowned Swedish champions FC Rosengard. The second German representatives, FFC Frankfurt, will face Bristol Academy in the last eight following their 9-0 rout of Torres Calcio. Glasgow City have the unenviable task of playing Paris Saint-Germain, who knocked out Olympique Lyon in the previous round, while Linkopings FC and Brondby IF will meet in the remaining quarter-final encounter. The first leg matches are set to take place on 21/22 March 2015, with the return fixtures kicking off a week later.

Silverware for Urawa Reds
Despite suffering a 1-0 defeat to Albirex Niigata on the final matchday of the season, Urawa Reds Ladies lifted the Japanese title for the first time in five years after a nail-biting finale to the campaign. Urawa finished level on 24 points with NTV Beleza but were crowned champions due to their superior goal difference. Urawa’s Michi Goto was named as the league’s Player of the Year, while Jeff United forward Yuika Sugasawa ended the season as top scorer with 20 goals.

Cup success
It is not only in the Champions League that Wolfsburg and Frankfurt have made headway, as the duo also eased into the next round of the DFB Pokal at the start of November. The Wolfinnen showed Cloppenburg no mercy in an 8-0 thrashing, while Frankfurt knocked out Bayer Leverkusen with a 3-0 victory to set up what promises to be a thrilling quarter-final against current Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich. In Denmark, Brondby’s 3-0 win over Slovbakken sealed their place in the semi-finals of the 3F Cup, where coach Peer Lisdorff’s charges will face a familiar opponent in Odense BK. The sides met in the 2013/14 cup final, which Brondby won 3-1. Glasgow City have already lifted the SWF Scottish Cup after defeating Spartans 5-0 in the final.

The stat
16 - Dutch attacker Miedema finished as top scorer in European zone qualifying for Canada 2015 after netting 16 times in 982 minutes of play. France’s Gaetane Thiney was second in the chart with 13 strikes in 715 minutes.

The quote
“I saw him in the room and I remember thinking, 'I have to speak to him', but I needed to pick the right moment. I didn’t want to interrupt and be rude. If the moment didn’t arrive it would have been fine. I would have just been happy to see him, but there was a moment where he was walking towards me as I was heading to the bathroom and I said, ‘Sir Alex, sorry to interrupt but I just wanted to say ‘Hi.’ He was great.” England international Lianne Sanderson on meeting Sir Alex Ferguson

(http://www.fifa.com/mm//Photo/FootballDevelopment/Women/02/47/96/85/2479685_FULL-LND.jpg)
Link: http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/footballdevelopment/women/news/newsid=2485363/index.html
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Spursy on December 06, 2014, 04:49:16 PM
Canada 2015 hopefuls learn fate in Ottawa
(FIFA.com) 06 Dec 2014
The FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™ moved ever closer on Saturday, as the Final Draw in Ottawa gave a clearer picture of what the prestigious tournament will look like next summer. The 24 qualified teams discovered which nations they will face in the group stage, while their fans, who will travel from all over the globe to support their heroines, now know which stadiums in Canada they will need to attend.

During an hour-long ceremony at the Canadian Museum of History, punctuated by wonderful vocal, musical and cultural performances showcasing the host nation, FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke, and Tatjana Haenni, FIFA Deputy Director of the Competitions Division and Head of Women’s Football, determined the fate of competing countries.

The only thing that was certain prior to the decisive event was that Canada would be the seeded team in Group A and would play its first two matches in Edmonton. The hosts now know that they will lock horns with China PR in the opening match on 6 June, before taking on New Zealand and the Netherlands.

Reigning champions Japan were placed in Group C and will kick off their World Cup campaign in Vancouver, as will section rivals Switzerland, Cameroon and Ecuador. United States and Germany, who have both previously lifted the trophy twice, will be regarded as favourites to win Groups D and B respectively, although the Americans will likely be wary of the threat posed by dark horses Sweden and Nigeria. France, serious challengers for the title, will first need to negotiate duels with England, Colombia and Mexico in a group that will be principally based in Moncton.

Of all the pools drawn on Saturday, the hardest one to predict appears to be Group D, and the most highly-anticipated clash of the first round is likely to be USA-Sweden.

Groups:

Group A
Canada
China PR
New Zealand
Netherlands

Group B
Germany
Côte d'Ivoire
Norway
Thailand

Group C
Japan
Switzerland
Cameroon
Ecuador

Group D
United States
Australia
Sweden
Nigeria

Group E
Brazil
Korea Republic
Spain
Costa Rica

Group F
France
England
Colombia
Mexico

The 52 scheduled matches at Canada 2015 will be held between 6 June and 5 July in six host cities, namely Ottawa, Moncton, Montreal, Winnipeg, Edmonton and Vancouver.

(http://img.fifa.com/mm/photo/tournament/competition/02/48/85/80/2488580_full-lnd.jpg)
Source: http://www.fifa.com/womensworldcup/news/y=2014/m=12/news=canada-2015-hopefuls-learn-fate-in-ottawa-2488364.html
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Spursy on December 10, 2014, 04:07:18 PM
Group A: Familiarity for Canada's Herdman
(FIFA.com) 07 Dec 2014
The Official Draw was conducted in Canada's capital, and notably, the hosts' Group A was confirmed, which included China PR, New Zealand and the Netherlands. FIFA.com takes a closer look at the group.

The big game
Canada - New Zealand, 11 June 2015, Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton, 19:00 local time
Canada's head coach John Herdman could not hold back a beaming smile when his former team New Zealand were confirmed to be in the hosts' Group A. Herdman coached the Football Ferns from 2006 to 2011, guiding the team to the 2007 and 2011 Women's World Cups, and he will now face his former side in an unfamiliar role as the host country's man in charge.

"I get a chance to play against my old team New Zealand, which I was hoping was going to happen," Herdman said minutes after the draw. "I’ve only coached two groups of players in the women’s game. The New Zealand girls meant a lot to us, so to be able to share a moment in Canada is going to be really cool."

Tony Readings, Herdman's successor, will be looking to lead The Antipodeans past the group stage for the first time in the nation's competition history. New Zealand have yet to win a group stage match in the tournament, and while a victory against the hosts would be an upset, it would be immediately inserted into New Zealand women's football folklore. 

What else to expect
While the Canada-New Zealand meeting will take most of the headlines, China PR and the Netherlands both offer intriguing narratives. China PR head coach Hao Wei takes a side that will surely be hungry to make a positive early impression on the proceedings after the country missed out on Germany 2011, the only edition they failed to qualify.

While the world welcomes back a tournament regular in China PR, the Netherlands will be one of eight new faces to participate at Canada 2015. Head coach Roger Reijners' side were the last European team to qualify, doing so in dramatic fashion in a two-leg play-off against Italy. Reijners will be leading a side that represents the first ever Dutch team to play in a FIFA women's competition. If the OranjeLeeuwinnen are able to use their momentum from UEFA qualifiers, they could very well book a place in the Round of 16.
(http://img.fifa.com/mm/photo/tournament/competition/02/48/86/32/2488632_full-lnd.jpg)
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Spursy on December 12, 2014, 06:57:18 PM
The Lawman remembers, 50 years on
(FIFA.com) 12 Dec 2014
(http://img.fifa.com/mm/photo/ballon-dor/general/02/48/96/12/2489612_full-lnd.jpg)

"Fifty years ago? Sorry, I can't remember that far back."

Denis Law begins with a wind-up. His 75th birthday may be just a couple of months away, but the Scotland legend quickly proves that his wit is as sharp as ever, and his enthusiasm as boundless. And there is nothing wrong with his memory.

When it comes to recalling 1964, the year in which he became the first Manchester United player - and the only Scot - to win the Ballon d'Or, a vivid picture emerges. "In those days, there was no big announcements like there are now," he told FIFA.com. "You tended to find out from a local journalist about everything: when you were called up for Scotland, when there was a club in for you and so on. The Ballon d'Or was no different.

"There was no fuss, and receiving the award was the same. You see the Gala they have now and it's all very glitzy, with the big stars there and TV broadcasting it across the world. When I won, the Ballon d'Or was presented to me before a match at Old Trafford later in the season. The crowd gave me a little cheer and that was it. But one thing hasn't changed and that's the fact it's always been a special award to win. That's still the case today, and I'm very proud to be able to say I'm one of the few who has done it."

Law was a worthy recipient. Having returned to England from Torino two years earlier, the then 24-year-old had scored 30 goals in season 1963/64 and was en route to grabbing 28 more and inspiring United's first league title since the Munich Air Disaster. He was fearless, full of flair, and loved by supporters. Among those adoring fans was Sir Alex Ferguson, who described as "my idol" the man nicknamed 'The Lawman' and 'The King'. “He was the finest player that Scotland has ever produced and one of the greatest the world has ever seen," added the legendary United manager.

"Electric" was George Best's preferred adjective for his Red Devils team-mate. "Denis was the best in the business," said Best, himself a future Ballon d'Or winner. "He could score goals from a hundredth of a chance, never mind half of one."

That ability had already been recognised the year before Law's Ballon d'Or win when was named in a World XI to face England, this in a match marking the Football Association's centenary. Alongside him were the likes of Lev Yashin, Alfredo di Stefano, Raymond Kopa, Djalma Santos and Eusebio. Ferenc Puskas could only make the bench. Yet despite that experience of rubbing shoulders with the game's elite, and scoring this all-star side's only goal, Law's delight at the honour that followed was matched only by his astonishment.

"I knew I was playing well around that time, but the Ballon d'Or never so much as came into my head," he said. "I honestly didn't even think about it; didn't consider that I could possibly be in the reckoning with the Di Stefanos and the like. It was a wonderful surprise and I think the biggest pleasure of all came from knowing the fantastic players I was up against. I'd had a really great thrill playing in that World XI beside two of my heroes in Di Stefano and Puskas. To me, those were the kind of guys who won the big awards. They were the superstars.

"Even when I looked around Britain, I would see one of my all-time favourite players, John Charles, and a magnificent goalscorer in Jimmy Greaves. And in Scotland, I knew from the national team that we had two real geniuses playing at Celtic and Rangers in Jimmy Johnstone and Jim Baxter. Then there's Bobby Charlton across the dressing room from me at Man United and, a bit later, Besty (George Best). And that's before you even start on all the other greats who won it around the same time. It must have been so difficult to pick a winner, particularly in that era, and I was so grateful - and genuinely surprised - that I was given the nod."


Law certainly had plenty of competition. Either side of his triumph, there were wins for Yashin and Eusebio, while the likes of Gianni Rivera, Josef Mospust and Luis Suarez - runner-up in 1964 - all made for impressive contenders. Look beyond Europe, the Ballon d'Or's then area of focus, and one suspects that Pele, Garrincha and one or two others might just have come into the reckoning.

This dizzying array of winners and would-be winners stands in stark contrast to the picture today. These days, discussion on football's top award tends to centre on just two men, with either Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo having prevailed in each of the last six years. And while Manuel Neuer is a goalkeeper for whom Law has the utmost esteem, he expects a continuation of this unprecedented period of pre-eminence.

"They're extraordinary; two of the best we've ever seen," he said of Messi and Ronaldo. "I don't envy the people voting, trying to separate those two. It's completely different to my era as we didn't have two players dominating in the way these guys have. And in a way, it might be nice to see someone else win it. Neuer is a great keeper and a world champion, after all. But it's not like he's up against two ordinary players.

"It would actually be nice if there could be a joint-winner because it's so hard to split Messi and Ronaldo this year. They're both fantastic, exciting players to watch and play and score goals at such a consistent level. When you think of Messi, the size he is and the tackles he has to face every game, I'm full of admiration for him. But then Ronaldo is outstanding too, and has that physical presence too. Whichever of them wins will deserve it, and whichever of them loses can consider themselves very unfortunate."

Like most football enthusiasts, Law considers himself well versed on the various attributes of Messi, Ronaldo and the world's other foremost footballers. Access to live football has never been greater than it is at present, and geographical location no longer determines how closely fans can follow their favourites' fortunes. Again, this situation is unrecognisable from the era in which Law played and grew up, when names such as Di Stefano, Yashin and Pele were accompanied by an air of mystery and mystique.

"That's a huge change," he acknowledged. "There's so much football on the TV that everyone knows these players inside-out. I was out in Chile a couple of weeks ago on behalf of Manchester United and there were hundreds of United fans there to meet us. And you're thinking, 'This is the other side of the world'. But because of television, that doesn't matter now.

"It's the same with Messi and Ronaldo. Back in the '50s and '60s, it was very rare to see the great players likes Di Stefano and Puskas on TV. I still remember being at Hampden for that famous European Cup final - Real Madrid's 7-3 win over Eintracht Frankfurt - and being blown away. But there's a deeper knowledge these days and football is available to watch whenever you watch it. That means these guys, the Ronaldos and Messis, are under the microscope and it makes what they're doing all the more impressive. I take my hat off to them."

Given the chance, this year's FIFA Ballon d'Or candidates would surely return the compliment. Football may have changed beyond recognition in so many ways, but respect for its all-time greats - whether from five years or five decades ago - survives and endures.


Link: http://www.fifa.com/ballon-dor/news/y=2014/m=12/news=the-lawman-remembers-50-years-on-2491045.html?intcmp=fifacom_hp_module_news
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: asylumseeker on December 12, 2014, 07:07:06 PM
So de Swiss pass legislation with Blatter in mind ... took dem long enough?
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Spursy on December 16, 2014, 12:49:42 PM
Henry confirms retirement
Thierry Henry has announced his retirement from football and will return to London to take up a role in the media.

The 37-year-old former Arsenal striker left the New York Red Bulls at the start of the month after they were knocked out of the MLS play-offs, but there was speculation he might choose to play on at another club - with a return to the Gunners mooted.

However, the former France international and FIFA World Cup™-winner has instead called time on a trophy-laden career which included spells with Monaco, Juventus, Arsenal, Barcelona and the Red Bulls.

In a statement released to Press Association Sport, Henry said: "After 20 years in the game I have decided to retire from professional football. It has been an incredible journey and I would like to thank all the fans, team mates and individuals involved with AS Monaco, Juventus, Arsenal FC, FC Barcelona, the New York Red Bulls and of course the French National Team that have made my time in the game so special.

"It is now time for a different career path and I am pleased to say that I will be returning to London and joining Sky Sports. I will hopefully share some of the insights, observations and experiences I have learnt over the years with you guys.

"I have had some amazing memories (mostly good!) and a wonderful experience. I hope you have enjoyed watching as much as I have enjoyed taking part. See you on the other side..."

Goal-laden career
Henry will always be most closely associated with Arsenal, where he is the all-time goalscorer with 228 goals in 377 games across two different spells.

Arsene Wenger, who had known him as a young player at Monaco, signed him from Juventus for £11million in 1999, and immediately shifted him from the wing to a central striking position.

His blend of pace and power made him one of the most feared forwards in English football, and Henry won the Premier League title twice with the Gunners, as well as the FA Cup three times.

Henry left Arsenal in 2007 and joined Barcelona, where he won the UEFA Champions League in 2009. He also added two La Liga titles, the Copa del Rey, Spanish Supercopa, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup to his honours list in three seasons at the Nou Camp.

His medal collection also includes a Ligue 1 title and Trophee des Champions with Monaco, his first professional club.

He spent the final five years of his playing career with the Red Bulls, returning to Arsenal to make four appearances on loan in early 2012.

With France, Henry scored 51 goals in 123 appearances - only Lilian Thuram has more caps with Les Bleus. He was a member of the 1998 World Cup winning squad, while also being a runner up in 2006. Henry was a European champion in 2000 and was part of the team that won the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2003.

http://www.fifa.com/world-match-centre/news/newsid/249/310/8/index.html?intcmp=fifacom_hp_module_news_top (http://www.fifa.com/world-match-centre/news/newsid/249/310/8/index.html?intcmp=fifacom_hp_module_news_top)
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Spursy on December 16, 2014, 04:08:28 PM
Blanc: Henry's legacy hard to imagine
(http://Blanc: Henry's legacy hard to imagine)
Laurent Blanc believes the next generation of French footballers will struggle to truly comprehend the extent of what retiring striker Thierry Henry achieved in his playing career.

On Tuesday morning, the 37-year-old confirmed he will return to London to take up a role in the media with Sky Sports "as a football expert and ambassador" from the start of 2015. Henry will always be most closely associated with Arsenal, where he is the all-time highest goalscorer with 228 goals in 377 games across two different spells, but he is also a FIFA World Cup™ winner.

Alongside former defender Blanc and the likes of Zinedine Zidane and Didier Deschamps, Henry was part of the squad that were crowned world champions following their victory at France 1998. Current Paris Saint-Germain manager Blanc told L'Equipe: " He was a very, very good player. It's very hard for the children of today to imagine just how much Thierry Henry did across his football career.

"He did an enormous amount - with the French team but of course, most of all, with Arsenal. He has left an extremely big impression at Arsenal. He was an exceptional player with exceptional qualities. He had great goal-scoring ability and impressive durability. He still has an incredible physique but now he has decided it's time to stop. So I must congratulate him for the career he has had and say 'bravo' to him."

The Essonne-born forward won 123 caps for France - he is the second most capped player behind Lilian Thuram - and scored a nation's-best haul of 51 goals. Arsenal also paid a fitting tribute to Henry, as did a number of his soon-to-be new colleagues.

Team-mates pay tribute to "The King"
On their official website, the Gunners brought attention to their 'Greatest 50 Players' list which named Henry at number one. The list, which was determined by tens of thousands of Gunners fans from across the world in 2008, has Dennis Bergkamp in second place, with Tony Adams, Ian Wright and Patrick Vieira rounding off the top five.

Gunners midfielder Theo Walcott, who made his debut for the north London club a year before Henry departed the first time, said he was truly inspired by his former team-mate. England winger Walcott posted a photograph of himself with Henry from their playing days together below a tweet, which read: "A true inspiration to me in my career. Thank you @Thierryhenry & good luck in your new path with @skysports".

Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas, who played alongside Henry for four years at the Gunners, listed his former team-mate as "a true legend". Above a photograph of the duo in a post-match interview from their playing days, the Spain international wrote on Twitter: "Sad to see the end to the career of one of the best players I've ever played with. A true legend @thierryhenry!"

Former England man Wright tweeted a photograph of Henry with a simple message saying: "The king." Henry left Arsenal in 2007 and joined Barcelona, where he won the UEFA Champions League in 2009. He also added two La Liga titles, the Copa del Rey, Spanish Supercopa, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup to his honours list in three seasons at the Camp Nou.

Henry spent the final five years of his playing career with the New York Red Bulls, returning to Arsenal to make four appearances on loan in early 2012. Henry left the Red Bulls at the start of the month after they were knocked out of the MLS play-offs.

Another player he came up against whilst in England on the field, who he will also work alongside in his new career, is another ex-rival in former Manchester United captain Gary Neville. The former defender praised Henry for his outstanding playing career and admitted he is looking forward to working with the Frenchman.

"We were blessed in this country to see Thierry playing at his peak, potentially one of the greatest players in the world and even if you supported another team you couldn't help but enjoy watching him play," Neville said. "It's always a shame when such a career comes to an end, but it's very much Sky Sports' gain and I look forward to working with him."
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: FF on December 17, 2014, 10:38:34 AM
Michael Garcia resigns from Fifa ethics committee over handling of report
UK Guardian


The American lawyer who led the investigation into the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bid process has resigned from the Fifa ethics committee in protest over the handling of his findings.

Michael Garcia cited a “lack of leadership” at the top of Fifa in a resignation statement on Wednesday. He also says he lost confidence in the independence of his ethics committee colleague, the German judge Joachim Eckert, and questioned how Fifa can truly change after years of scandals and criticism.

The former US Attorney resigned a day after the Fifa appeals panel rejected his challenge of Eckert’s summary of the confidential 430-page investigation dossier. Russia won the right to host the 2018 World Cup and Qatar was awarded the 2022 tournament.

On Wednesday, Garcia claimed that Eckert misrepresented his work, writing: “[The] Eckert Decision made me lose confidence in the independence of the adjudicatory chamber, [but] it is the lack of leadership on these issues within Fifa that leads me to conclude that my role in this process is at an end.

“No independent governance committee, investigator, or arbitration panel can change the culture of an organisation.”

Garcia also revealed that the Fifa executive committee led by Sepp Blatter tried to have disciplinary proceedings opened against him in September. The attempt was rejected by the chairman of Fifa’s disciplinary panel.

Garcia was appointed in July 2012 with the priority of probing the controversial 2018-2022 World Cup bidding contests. The investigation was designed to help reveal the willingness of Blatter’s organisation to confront some of its deep-rooted problems.

“For the first two years … I felt that the ethics committee was making real progress in advancing ethics enforcement at Fifa,” Garcia wrote. “In recent months, that changed.”

Since Garcia and his investigation team submitted their work in early September, clear splits emerged between the prosecutor and the judge. Eckert has seemed closer to Fifa in his approach and belief in how the ethics panel could use its powers, much to Garcia’s increasingly obvious frustration.

Their working relationship was damaged by Eckert’s 42-page report published by Fifa last month which suggested that the World Cup bidding probe should be closed for lack of strong evidence of wrongdoing.

“When viewed in the context of the report it purported to summarise, no principled approach could justify the Eckert Decision’s edits, omissions, and additions.”

Eckert said any corrupt and rule-breaking acts were of limited scope and did not influence the result of the December 2010 votes of the Fifa executive committee.

Still, with Garcia’s work kept sealed against his wishes by strict Fifa code of ethics rules, critics and others have relied only on Eckert’s word about the evidence against Russia, Qatar and the seven other bid candidates.

“It now appears that, at least for the foreseeable future, the Eckert Decision will stand as the final word on the 2018/2022 Fifa World Cup bidding process,” Garcia wrote.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Spursy on December 17, 2014, 11:58:24 AM
US lawyer Michael Garcia quits as head of FIFA's ethics committee
 US lawyer Michael Garcia has resigned as FIFA's independent ethics investigator after losing his appeal challenging the findings to clear Russia and Qatar to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
Garcia has issued a statement criticising FIFA's "lack of leadership", saying he cannot change the culture of the world governing body.
He said: "Accordingly, effective today, December 17, 2014, I am resigning as independent chairman of the investigatory chamber of the FIFA ethics committee."
Garcia, who discovered on Tuesday that he had lost his appeal against the findings by ethics judge Hans-Joachim Eckert, said it would have been "impractical" to take the appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
His statement adds: "The appeal committee also overlooked the Eckert decision's self-described 'findings', including one stating that "the evaluation of the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cups bidding process is closed for the FIFA ethics committee.
"FIFA president [Sepp] Blatter recently reaffirmed that 'finding' during an interview published by FIFA, stating: 'Furthermore, there is no change to Judge Eckert's statement that the investigation into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups is concluded.'
"I disagree with the appeal committee's decision. It now appears that, at least for the foreseeable future, the Eckert decision will stand as the final word on the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup bidding process."
Garcia's investigation into the bidding had seen him deliver a 430-page report to Eckert, and FIFA's executive committee meeting in Marrakesh on Thursday and Friday are due to vote on whether that should be published but with the names redacted.

Garcia himself called for his report to be published back in September - but has now revealed he found himself reported to FIFA's disciplinary committee for doing so, though no action was taken.
The American attorney has raised questions over the findings by Eckert, a German judge.
He said: "The issues raised by Mr Eckert's selection and omission of material from the report, and his additional comments, went far beyond the initial transparency concerns. "
Garcia also cast doubt on Eckert's independence, saying: "No independent governance committee, investigator, or arbitration panel can change the culture of an organisation.
"And while the November 13, 2014, Eckert decision made me lose confidence in the independence of the adjudicatory chamber, it is the lack of leadership on these issues within FIFA that leads me to conclude that my role in this process is at an end."
UEFA president Michel Platini described Garcia's resignation as a "failure" for FIFA.
Platini said: "FIFA's ethics committee was created to increase transparency at the organisation, that's what we wanted, but in the end it has just caused more confusion. Mr. Garcia's resignation is a new failure for FIFA."
Jerome Champagne, the former FIFA executive who plans to stand for the FIFA presidency, said: "Michael Garcia's resignation is a step backwards.
"We needed to know what happened before and after the 2 December 2010 [World Cup] vote. Today more than ever we need to know.
"When will the facts be known fully, transparently and above all without suspicion? When will we be able to start rebuilding FIFA's image?"
FIFA president Blatter expressed his surprise and said the executive committee will appoint an acting chairman this week with a successor elected by the FIFA Congress in May.
He said in a statement: "I am surprised by Mr Garcia's decision. The work of the ethics committee will nonetheless continue and will be a central part of the discussions at the ExCo meeting in the next two days."

http://www.foxsports.com/soccer/story/us-lawyer-michael-garcia-resigns-as-head-of-fifa-ethics-committee-121714 (http://www.foxsports.com/soccer/story/us-lawyer-michael-garcia-resigns-as-head-of-fifa-ethics-committee-121714)
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Spursy on December 18, 2014, 12:32:12 PM
Allegri ban lifted
(http://www.fifa.com/mm//Photo/world-match-centre/ClubFootball/02/49/38/13/2493813_FULL-LND.jpg)
Juventus have been successful in their appeal to have the one-match touchline ban for coach Massimiliano Allegri lifted.

Allegri was punished by Serie A after insulting officials during Juve's 1-1 draw against Sampdoria last weekend.

Juve's emergency appeal was partially accepted by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and Allegri will take his place on the bench at the Sant'Elia stadium in Thursday's league match at Cagliari.

A statement from the FIGC read: "The Sporting Court of Appeal has partially accepted the petition presented by Juventus, lifting the one-match touchline ban given to coach Massimiliano Allegri and instead handing the manager a 10,000 euros fine."

Juve have drawn their last two league games to see their lead at the top of Serie A cut to just one point heading into the 16th week of the season.

After Thursday night's game in Sardinia, Juve travel to Qatar, for the last game of the year - the Italian Super Cup final against Napoli in Doha on Monday
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: kounty on December 18, 2014, 02:04:43 PM
I haven't been looking closely, but anybody know about Platini's record when it comes to corruption in FIFA?
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: asylumseeker on December 18, 2014, 05:04:12 PM
I haven't been looking closely, but anybody know about Platini's record when it comes to corruption in FIFA?

Why didn't Platini challenge Blatter? Why did he take a step back?

On the surface, he has the veneer of no taint ...

His son works for Qatari interests and while this hasn't captured the attention of the popular press, I gather it raised a question regarding influence and the vote in Qatar's favour.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: ANC2 on December 18, 2014, 06:10:26 PM
I haven't been looking closely, but anybody know about Platini's record when it comes to corruption in FIFA?

Why didn't Platini challenge Blatter? Why did he take a step back?

On the surface, he has the veneer of no taint ...

His son works for Qatari interests and while this hasn't captured the attention of the popular press, I gather it raised a question regarding influence and the vote in Qatar's favour.

Platini in the best place right now. Why move to FIFA? Europe dominates all football. Money galore, Best organization bar none, best Leagues, best competitions yearly.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Spursy on December 19, 2014, 11:40:07 AM
Statement from the FIFA President on the 2018/2022 bid process investigation
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Based on the recommendation from Domenico Scala, the independent Audit and Compliance Committee Chairman, I have asked the FIFA Executive Committee to vote in favour of the publication of the 2018/2022 inquiry report by the investigatory chamber. The FIFA Executive Committee unanimously agreed to ask the Adjudicatory Chamber of the independent Ethics Committee to publish the report in an appropriate form once the ongoing procedures against individuals are concluded. I am pleased they have agreed. It has been a long process to arrive at this point and I understand the views of those who have been critical. We have always been determined that the truth should be known. That is, after all, why we set up an independent Ethics Committee with an investigatory chamber that has all necessary means to undertake investigations on its own initiative. At the same time we also need to remember that while the report is complete, the investigations flowing from it are not. We must ensure that we do not jeopardise those investigations and the proceedings against various individuals already initiated by the independent Ethics Committee. Participants in the investigation also deserve to have their rights respected.

It is clear that while a summary of the report was issued, the publication of this report has become a barrier to rebuilding public confidence and trust in FIFA. Part of this is due to the fact that we have been deliberate in the way that we have moved through the process. We need to ensure that we respect the rules of our organisation and that we do not breach confidentiality in a way that will prevent people from speaking out in the future.

Now it is important that the work of the Ethics Committee continues and that any instances of wrongdoing are fully investigated and their perpetrators pursued and sanctioned. I have been informed that various cases against individuals for alleged rule violations have been opened by the investigatory chamber and are currently under review by the adjudicatory chamber. The organisation fully supports the rigorous pursuit of these cases. And, while FIFA as an organisation does not have prosecutorial powers, we have provided information and the full report from Mr. Garcia to the Swiss General Attorney’s Office and have pledged our cooperation.

But the report is about history and I am focused on the future. We will not revisit the 2018 and 2022 vote and a report by independent, external legal experts commissioned by Mr. Scala supports the view that there are no legal grounds to revoke the Executive Committee’s decision on the award of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. We are already in the process of incorporating recommendations made by independent experts including the Ethics Committee for how the FIFA World Cup selection process can be improved so that everyone can be confident that the 2026 bidding process will be fair, ethical and open.

The work over the past two years of the investigatory committee led by Mr. Garcia has played a valuable role in ensuring that FIFA rules are upheld and has resulted in a series of sanctions against individuals. Although we are disappointed that our work with Mr. Garcia has ended this way, I want to make it clear that our commitment to ethical standards is stronger than ever. As such I am pleased that the FIFA Executive Committee today appointed Cornel Borbély as acting Chairman of the investigatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee. Mr. Borbély will be responsible for leading the ongoing procedures and ensuring that they are pursued to the fullest extent.

Mr. Borbély is an outstanding lawyer, an expert in forensics who also plays a key legal role in the Swiss military. He has worked closely with Michael Garcia as his deputy and his appointment ensures consistency and quality in the investigatory chamber’s ongoing proceedings. Mr. Borbély serves pending the election of a new chairman, which will take place at the FIFA Congress’s next session on 29 May 2015 in Zurich.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Spursy on December 19, 2014, 11:42:27 AM
Ethics: Executive Committee unanimously supports recommendation to publish report on 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup™ bidding process
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Chaired by FIFA President Blatter, the FIFA Executive Committee today completed its last meeting of the year in Marrakech, on the eve of the final of the 2014 FIFA Club World Cup.

The Executive Committee unanimously supported the recommendation expressed by the chairman of the independent Audit and Compliance Committee Domenico Scala in his report to the Executive Committee today that the chairmen of the Ethics Committee (both chambers) publish the report on the inquiry into the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup™ Bidding Process prepared by the investigatory chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee.

The Executive Committee stressed that such a publication must of course fully adhere to the provisions of the FIFA Code of Ethics (FCE), notably the obligation of confidentiality (art. 36 of the FCE).

It also recommended that such a publication should only occur after cases against individuals have been concluded, as also recommended by Mr Scala.

Furthermore, the Executive Committee took note of Domenico Scala’s report and legal opinion regarding the 2 December 2010 decisions (i.e. the vote for the hosts of the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups™), notably that “the members of the FIFA Executive Committee – given the findings of the report of the chairman and deputy chairman of the investigatory chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee on the inquiry into the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup™ Bidding Process – do not have to revoke the decisions taken by the Executive Committee on 2 December 2010.”

The Executive Committee also welcomed the recommendations of the Ethics Committee, supported by the independent Audit and Compliance Committee chairman, regarding future bidding processes, with the aim now being to focus on the 2026 FIFA World Cup™.

Following the resignation of the chairman of the investigatory chamber of the Ethics Committee, Michael J. Garcia, the Executive Committee appointed the current deputy, Cornel Borbély, to chair the chamber until the next FIFA Congress in May 2015.

2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™
The Executive Committee approved the tournament dates, with the opening game to be played on14 June and the final on 15 July 2018. The FIFA Confederations Cup 2017 will kick off on 17 June and end on 2 July 2017.

It also agreed that the AFC and CONCACAF could start their preliminary competitions prior to the Preliminary Draw (scheduled to take place in St Petersburg on 25 July 2015), with the first games kicking off in March next year.

Furthermore, thanks to the good financial results of the 2014 FIFA World Cup™, a proposal from the Finance Committee for each member association to receive a contribution of USD 300,000 to the costs of qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup™ – subject to audit – was approved.

2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™
The Executive Committee confirmed that the dates of the competition would be decided at their next meeting in March 2015. The Task Force for the International Match Calendar 2018-2024 and the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™, which is chaired by AFC President Shk. Salman bin Ebrahim al Khalifa, will hold its next meeting in Doha on 23 February.

Regarding the issue of labour rights in Qatar, the Executive Committee confirmed its strong support for the creation of an independent body – as recommended in the relevant DLA Piper report – to oversee the implementation of the reform programme in the country. It also mandated FIFA President Blatter, with Dr Theo Zwanziger, to discuss this issue with the political authorities of the country and make sure that FIFA was represented on this body.

Israel-Palestine
The Executive Committee heard a detailed report from Cyprus FA President Costakis Koutsokoumnis, who was appointed to observe the implementation of the approved parameters concerning the movement of players and officials into, out of, and within Palestine (see FIFA circular 1385). While the report expressed its satisfaction on the progress achieved during the last six months, it also stressed that FIFA’s ultimate objective was the full implementation of circular 1385 – which had not yet been achieved – as soon as possible. As a result, the Executive Committee clearly expects the pace of implementation to accelerate during the coming months. In order to further improve the situation, the Executive Committee has decided to invite the DCO (Palestinian District Coordination Offices) and COGAT (Israeli Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories) to participate in the working group together with the Palestinian FA, the Israel FA and FIFA, in order to ensure full implementation of the said circular.

Furthermore, FIFA President Blatter stated: “I condemn the recent raid on the offices of the Palestinian Football Association. Such actions are not only a blow for the international football community but it also puts the whole process at risk. Football shall unite. I encourage the Palestinian FA to continue its successful work for football in Palestine, which culminated with their qualification for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup.”

Regarding other FIFA member associations, the following decisions were taken:

 - Cyprus: the Executive Committee commended and expressed its support for the considerable efforts of the President of the Cyprus Turkish Football Association (CTFA) relating to the arrangement signed by the Cyprus Football Association (CFA) and the CTFA last year aiming to unify and facilitate the progress of football within the football communities on the island of Cyprus. It called upon the CTFA to apply for membership of the CFA as soon as possible.

 - Togo (FTF): appointment of a normalisation committee to revise the FTF statutes and to organise elections by 30 November 2015 at the latest

 - Iraq: independent group to travel to Iraq with FIFA Vice-President HRH Prince Ali bin al Hussein to assess the security situation in view of the possibility of international matches being played there

- Ratification of the recent decisions of the FIFA Emergency Committee on the situation in Maldives and Cameroon.

Third-party ownership of players’ economic rights
Following its decision of general principle that third-party ownership of players’ economic rights (TPO) shall be banned with a transitional period, the Executive Committee approved the following measures:

 - The ban will come into force on 1 May 2015

 - Existing agreements shall continue to be in place until their contractual expiry

 - New agreements made between 1 January and 30 April 2015 will be subject to a time limit (one year maximum)

Protection of minors
In order to strengthen the protection of minors and due to the increased number of international transfers of players younger than 12, the Executive Committee has approved a reduction in the age limit for which an international transfer certificate (ITC) is required to the age of 10.

Fight against Ebola
The Executive Committee commended the “11 against Ebola” campaign supported by top international players, FIFA, CAF and the World Bank to support the fight against the current Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

Other decisions:

 - FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™ : approval of an increase by 50% of the prize money (from USD 10 million in 2011 to USD 15 million for the 2015 edition), with USD 2 million for the winning team

- FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2017: appointment of the Bahamas as hosts

 - Refereeing: regarding the age limit for FIFA international referees, the Executive Committee approved the proposal from the Referees Committee that every FIFA referee over the age of 45 shall be carefully evaluated by the Referees Committee every year according to technical assessments, medical examinations and fitness tests

- Futsal: approval of the 2016-2020 Futsal International Match Calendar

The next meeting of the FIFA Executive Committee will be held in Zurich on Thursday 19 and Friday 20 March 2015.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Spursy on December 19, 2014, 11:45:29 AM
FIFA will not reopen World Cup votes, agree to release Garcia report
Defiantly declaring that FIFA is no longer in crisis, Sepp Blatter said Friday the decision to hold the next two World Cups in Russia and Qatar won't be revoked and the governing body will publish a confidential probe into the process that picked those countries as hosts.
The decision by the FIFA executive committee to publish ethics investigator Michael Garcia's report, with witnesses' names taken out, is aimed at lifting the cloud of suspicion that has dogged the 2018 and 2022 tournaments in Russia and Qatar and the December 2010 vote that sent the World Cup to those countries for the first time.
Blatter said only if major new evidence of bidding irregularity comes to light could those votes be reconsidered.
''There is no reason to say that our decisions were wrong. So we will go on sticking to our decisions,'' Blatter said, speaking through a translator. ''There must be huge upheaval, new elements must come to the fore, in order to change this.''
The 78-year-old Blatter, who is seeking a fifth term as president, said the decisions by the FIFA executive committee will allow the governing body to move on from four years of controversy.
''We have been in a crisis,'' Blatter said. ''The crisis has stopped because we again have the unity in our government.''
All 25 voting members of the executive committee, including three of them placed under investigation by Garcia before he suddenly resigned in protest this week, agreed that the findings of the American lawyer's two-year probe into the 2018 and 2022 voting should be published, Blatter said.

http://www.foxsports.com/soccer/story/fifa-agree-to-publish-appropriate-parts-of-garcia-world-cup-report-121914 (http://www.foxsports.com/soccer/story/fifa-agree-to-publish-appropriate-parts-of-garcia-world-cup-report-121914)
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Flex on December 22, 2014, 06:40:55 AM
Fifa and Sepp Blatter in secret talks about president's future
Richard Conway BBC RADIO 5 LIVE SPORTS NEWS CORRESPONDENT


Secret talks between Fifa officials and Sepp Blatter have taken place over his future as the president of football's world governing body, BBC Sport has learned.

The discussions, involving representatives from a number of football confederations, are understood to have started in October 2013, at the celebrations for the English Football Association's 150th anniversary.

Blatter has since confirmed his intention to stand in May's presidential election and seek a fifth term of office.

However, with the 29 January deadline looming for candidates to declare their interest, there is mounting concern amongst several Fifa executives over the governing body's future direction and leadership.

Speaking in Manilla earlier this month, Blatter reaffirmed he has support from five of the six confederations that constitute Fifa.

But BBC Sport has been told the recent crisis within the governing body, stemming from an investigation into alleged World Cup bidding corruption that culminated last week in the resignation of ethics committee investigator Michael Garcia, could yet have far-reaching effects.

Garcia quit citing a lack of independence in Fifa's judicial processes and his belief the organisation's culture was beyond reform.

Speaking to BBC Sport, one source described 78-year-old Blatter as being increasingly "weary" following years of fire-fighting multiple scandals, a hectic work schedule and the acrimonious fall-out from the decision to award the next two World Cups to Russia and Qatar.

Fifa sources have also spoken of how, in light of recent events, a number of potential challengers are now weighing their candidacy options.

Blatter on 2022 World Cup:
"It would really need an earthquake, extremely important new elements, to go back on this World Cup in Qatar."

The question being posed within Fifa circles is whether Blatter, if he opts to stand aside ahead of May's election, would back the candidacy of one of the five publicly supportive confederation presidents.

Uefa, the European confederation, remains the most vocal critic of Blatter's desire to continue on as president.

European football association chiefs, including FA chairman Greg Dyke, told Blatter he should stand aside for the good of the sport during a stormy meeting in Sao Paulo in June.

Yet Uefa has yet to propose a candidate of its own, with president Michel Platini ruling himself out of the running in July.

Fifa executive committee member Prince Ali of Jordan is understood to be one potential candidate Uefa would consider supporting.

However, given that the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), under the leadership of Shaikh Salman of Bahrain, has declared strong support for Blatter, it is thought he would struggle to secure the necessary votes to win.

In addition, Ali is facing his own fight to remain a Fifa executive, with AFC elections looming, and may yet choose to focus his attention on that objective instead.

He is not expected to announce his decision until late January and declined to comment last week when asked if he would stand.
With former Fifa official Jerome Champagne the only other person to publicly state his wish to be on the presidential ballot paper, attention amongst Fifa insiders is starting to turn to Jeffrey Webb.

He was appointed president of Concacaf, the football confederation for North, Central America and the Caribbean, in 2012 in the wake a major financial scandal involving the former Fifa vice-presidents Chuck Blazer and Jack Warner.

Since then, he has stabilised the organisation's finances and has led Fifa's anti-discrimination taskforce, which has introduced tough new sanctions for racism offences within the game.

Webb has stated he does not intend to run for the presidency in 2015, with the expectation amongst observers that he intends to target the 2019 poll instead.

But as the pressure on Blatter continues to build, and given the recent haemorrhaging of Fifa's credibility, Webb is believed to be considering his options.

He is thought to be undecided over whether now is the right time to attempt to seize power.

Blatter has praised Webb in the past, lavishing praise on his efforts to reform Caribbean football at a Concacaf conference last year.

Shaikh Salman is another name thought to be under discussion amongst insiders, along with Fifa general secretary, Jerome Valcke, as candidates Blatter could potentially accept as a successor.

With five weeks to go until the deadline for presidential candidates to formally declare their candidacy, it is thought Blatter's actions in Marrakech last week, where he backed the redacted publication of the Garcia report once current investigations have concluded, has provided him with sufficient political breathing space to make it onto the list of nominees.

But the man who has led Fifa since 1998 was far from convincing about his candidacy when asked last week by BBC Sport if he would categorically run.

"We will see on 1 February who are the candidates for the election," he said.

"Probably you will see my name there because I've been asked by a lot of national associations to do so. But let me pass Christmas, or let's say the fiestas at the end of the year, and give me then the opportunity to say: 'Yes I will be present.'"

Blatter has also spoken about the "health and good luck" he would need to stand, comments seen by some within Fifa as a sign he may yet choose to stand aside.

Fifa executives are also thought to fear that any further serious allegations in the next few months against the organisation could seriously destabilise world football.

Reports of an FBI investigation concerning Fifa, or the prospect of action by other foreign law enforcement agencies, has led some to believe there should now be an orderly transfer of power.

The possibility of the Garcia report being published in April or May - and the conclusion of disciplinary cases against three serving Fifa executives - is seen by some as a potential opportunity for Blatter to depart under the claim he instigated and completed a thorough reform process.

A valedictory review by Fifa of his time in charge of world football would also allow Blatter to enter retirement basking in the glow of taking the World Cup to new countries, highlight his work with football associations in conflict zones such as Israel and Palestine and showcase how football has risen in recent decades to be the world's most popular sport.

But should Blatter decide to stay and fight for a fifth term, his opponents are growing in confidence that the right candidate could garner the necessary global support to defeat him.

A majority of 50% of the 209 Fifa member associations plus one additional vote is required to claim victory in the Fifa presidential election.

Four years of controversy
2 December, 2010 - Russia and Qatar chosen to host 2018 and 2022 World Cups
4 October, 2013 - Fifa agrees to set up taskforce to look into alternative dates for 2022 World Cup in Qatar
1 June, 2014 - Sunday Times alleges ex-Fifa vice-president Mohamed bin Hammam paid £3m to football officials in return for supporting Qatari bid
5 September, 2014 - Report into 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding process submitted to Fifa by Michael Garcia
13 November, 2014 - Fifa releases 42-page summary of Garcia report which clears Russia and Qatar of corruption
13 November, 2014 - Garcia claims summary of his report is "materially incomplete" and contains "erroneous representations"
20 November, 2014 - Garcia and Fifa ethics judge Hans-Joachim Eckert agree to release full report to organisation's compliance chief, Domenico Scala
16 December, 2014 - Fifa deems Garcia's complaint against Eckert's summary of his report is "not admissible"
17 December, 2014 - Garcia quits as independent chairman of the Fifa Ethics Committee's Investigatory Chamber
19 December, 2014 - Fifa agrees to release full Garcia report
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Spursy on December 23, 2014, 01:33:03 PM
Football and the power of a handshake
One hundred years ago on Christmas Day, soldiers in the First World War laid down their weapons to play football in no man’s land.

It was a remarkable gesture of humanity amid the squalid nightmare of trench warfare.

Today, FIFA remembers and pays tribute to those young men who shook hands and kicked a ball across the frozen earth.

Our social campaign with the Nobel Peace Center, the Handshake for Peace, has its roots in that day of calm in 1914, when hope and friendship triumphed briefly over war.

The Handshake for Peace campaign encourages players and officials to treat each other with respect and fairness in keeping with the traditional spirit of football. In turn, the campaign is intended to set an example to others and to promote peace and solidarity around the world.

FIFA believes football is a game for everyone that brings people of all walks of life and nations together; where all who play football are equals.

If soldiers on opposing sides in war can shake hands, today’s players – in the heat of their own battles on the pitch – can show each other a similar respect, regardless of the result of a match or any decisions that did not go their way.

Protecting and promoting this spirit of fair play and respect is essential for the future of football and a core duty of FIFA, as the global guardian of the game.

FIFA has made the Handshake for Peace an integral part of all of our international competitions. Players and officials shake hands and exchange Handshake for Peace pennants before and after each match.

The campaign was a success during the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ in Brazil, where the Handshake for Peace and its message of hope was transmitted around the globe from the unique and powerful platform of the world’s biggest single-sport event.

The global football community will continue to embrace this campaign to encourage respect and solidarity within the game.

As those soldiers from the First World War showed us, the simple gesture of a handshake and the power of football can create a powerful symbol of peace and understanding today.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Spursy on December 31, 2014, 02:44:56 PM
Gone but not forgotten
(FIFA.com) Wednesday 31 December 2014

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A number of historic figures from the worldwide family of football passed away in 2014, as a year that served up so many wonderful memories also delivered much in the way of painful moments. The list of iconic names to have left us in the last 12 months includes former players, such as revered duo Alfredo Di Stefano and Eusebio, and football officials, with the game having also mourned Julio Humberto Grondona, President of the Argentinian Football Association (AFA) and Senior Vice-President of FIFA.

The death which shook the football world the most, however, was surely that of Tito Vilanova, who bravely led Barcelona to a record Liga title win before succumbing to illness just seven months later on 25 April 2014, at the age of 45.

Players
Legendary forward Alfredo Di Stefano died shortly after his 88th birthday, suffering a heart attack in Madrid, not far from the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu where he spent his finest years on the pitch with Real Madrid. An honorary president at the club and considered 'the best player in the world' by Los Merengues' faithful, he left an indelible imprint on the global game. "All the openings that exist now for Latin American players at European clubs were created thanks to the work of Alfredo Di Stefano," said Pele in a homage to his fellow great.

Fans of the global game also said goodbye to another indisputable legend in Portugal striker Eusebio da Silva Ferreira, the 'Black Panther' having died of heart failure aged 71. Top marksman at the 1966 FIFA World Cup™ with nine strikes, Eusebio remains the all-time record goalscorer for Lisbon giants Benfica. "Football has lost a fantastic forward who fully deserves his place alongside the greatest players of all time," commented FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter.

The goalkeeping fraternity was particularly affected this year as well, with the game losing former Belgian international and Standard Liege stalwart Jean Nicolay at the age of 76 and 88-year-old Gyula Grosics, who represented Hungary 86 times between 1947 and 1962. Meanwhile, France bade farewell to a pair of custodians in the space of just two days in Georges Lamia, 73, and Rene Llense, the oldest living French international until his death aged 100.

Numerous other former stars featured in the obituary columns during 2014, including 46-year-old midfielder Klas Ingesson, who played 57 times for Sweden and helped his country finish third at the 1994 World Cup. Ingesson's death came just weeks after he had stepped down as coach of Elfsborg. Football also mourned one of the greatest forwards ever to turn out for Yugoslavia in Milan Galic, 76, the Serbian having plundered 37 goals in 51 international appearances between 1959 and 1965.

There was much sadness too after the death of former France midfielder Jean-Jacques Marcel, 83, who won 44 caps and took part in the 1954 and 1958 World Cups, while Belarus lost Valentin Belkevich at 41 years of age and with 56 caps under his belt along with 70 goals in 317 outings for Dynamo Kyiv. Elsewhere, Richard Durr passed away at the age of 75, his 29 Switzerland games comprising matches at the 1962 and 1966 World Cup finals, and Brazil said goodbye to 83-year-old Hilderaldo Luiz Bellini, who captained a Seleção side featuring a young Pele to World Cup glory in 1958.

Nor can we forget the former Portugal captain and team-mate of Eusebio Mario Coluna, who died aged 78, and ex-defender Philippe Mahut, the 57-year-old having served on the French Football Federation's national ethics council. In addition, Mohamed Salah Jedidi, who appeared 40 times for Tunisia, passed away on the day of his 76th birthday, while there was sombre news too concerning his compatriot, Tahar Chaibi, 68, plus the first Togolese player to ply his trade abroad, Wazo Kossi Denke, who died aged 55 after collecting 70 caps.

Sadly, accidents and tragedies of one kind or another claimed several lives as well. That was true of 36-year-old Brazilian forward Fernando Lucio da Costa, better known as Fernandao, who fell victim to a helicopter accident. As for South Africa captain Senzo Meyiwa, 27, he was shot to death in his own home, while former Dynamo Kyiv midfielder Andriy Husin, who disputed 71 matches for Ukraine, was killed at the age of 41 in a motorcycle accident.

Coaches
Along with Tito Vilanova, who died of cancer of the parotid gland, Spanish football lost another major coach this year in Luis Aragones. The man whose name will forever be associated with Atletico Madrid passed on aged 75, having been one of the key architects of Spain's rise to prominence by introducing the tiki-taka style that helped La Roja conquer all-comers until very recently.

Also in the managerial realm, there was cause to reflect on the achievements of former Yugoslavia and Madrid boss Vujadin Boskov, a fine player in his own right who died at the age of 83, and Richard Moller Nielsen, 76, who memorably led Denmark to a shock victory at UEFA EURO 1992.

Officials
Julio Humberto Grondona, who died aged 82 in July, was President of the AFA but also a member of FIFA's Executive Committee from 1988 onwards and President of FIFA's Finance Committee.

Lastly, a pair of notable club presidents passed away in 2014: Malcolm Glazer, the 85-year-old American owner of Manchester United, and Said Fakhri, 77, the Senegalese owner of French side Cannes.

This list is naturally, and regrettably, far from exhaustive, but as the year draws to a close, FIFA.com would like to pay our respects to all the devotees of the game who left us in 2014.
Title: Campaign for a new FIFA
Post by: Brownsugar on January 08, 2015, 05:25:08 AM
Got this in my inbox this morning from the New FIFA Media Office....eh sure how dey get mih email address......I was hacked!!  ;D

Media Release: January 8, 2015

CAMPAIGN FOR A NEW FIFA NOW

Summit in Brussels to discuss how to make it happen

Football players and fans who are concerned with how world football's governing body, FIFA, is run have been invited to join a peoples' campaign for a new FIFA.

The campaign will kick-off at a Summit to be held at the European Parliament in Brussels on January 21st that will be attended by FIFA Presidential candidate, Jerome Champagne; the man who led the technical inspection team for the 2018/2022 World Cup Bids, Harold Mayne-Nicholls; the former Chairman of the England Bid and the English FA, Lord David Triesman, as well as other high profile football identities.

"People have had enough," said British MP, Damian Collins, who has been one of the most vocal critics of FIFA's management and governance practices.

"I speak to amateur and professional players, fans, and mums and dads whose children play and love the game. It has reached the stage where FIFA is a laughing stock.

"We all love the game. But we all detest how it's run."

Collins said the Brussels Summit is the first vital step in making a new FIFA a reality.

It's also the first of its kind where politicians, players, fans and corporations will come together in a campaign for change.

Champagne, Mayne-Nicholls and Triesman will be joined by co-hosts, European MPs Ivo Belet of Belgium and Emma McClarkin of England, as well as British MPs Gerry Sutcliffe, John Leech and Collins. Other attendees include the Chairman of SKINS, Jaimie Fuller, and Bonita Mersiades who is a former senior executive of the Australian FA and the Australian World Cup bid.

Collins says the Brussels Summit will focus on how change can happen.

"We don't intend to talk about what is wrong with FIFA, as we all know what's wrong.

"The experience since the Presidential election in 2011 - when we were promised things would change - shows that FIFA is incapable of reforming itself. But we also know that FIFA's problems go much further back than that."

Collins says that while recent events concerning the Garcia report into the conduct of the 2018/2022 World Cup Bids was the final motivation needed for he and other MPs to take action, the report and its publication is not a 'first order' issue.

"Like the decisions surrounding Russia and Qatar, the farce surrounding the Garcia report is symptomatic of a governing body where democracy, transparency and accountability were long ago forsaken in place of corruption, mismanagement and self-interest."

He said that the Brussels Summit will focus on what mechanisms can be employed to make real change happen.

"This is not about shifting deck chairs on the Executive Committee of FIFA," Collins said.

"It is real change for a new style of organisation that is befitting of FIFA's position overseeing the biggest sport in the world.

"We want to see football governed by people who make decisions and take action in a transparent manner, and who are held accountable in the best interests of the sport and civil society."

Collins urged everyone wishing to support the campaign for a New FIFA Now to sign the petition at
 www.newfifanow.org. (http://www.newfifanow.org.)

The Brussels Summit will be held in the European Parliament.

ENDS

Further information:  Damian Collins +44 207 219 7072; or Kate McQuestin, +44 7768 663 513

Note to media
•       Media are invited to attend the Brussels Summit, which will include a media conference after the event as well as an opportunity for one-on-one interviews with attendees.
•       As the Summit is being held at the European Parliament, all media must be accredited. To register your attendance or interest, please contact Kate McQuestin or email media@newfifanow.org (http://media@newfifanow.org)
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Spursy on January 09, 2015, 01:16:55 PM
Nowitzki: Neuer was magnificent in Brazil
(http://img.fifa.com/mm/photo/ballon-dor/playeroftheyear-men/02/50/39/43/2503943_full-lnd.jpg)
Just a few days ago, Dirk Nowitzki made basketball history once more as his 27,412 career points lifted him to seventh in the NBA’s all-time scoring list. He is the first European to hit these impressive heights and can now be spoken about in the same breath as greats such as Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

No conversation about basketball would be complete in Germany without mentioning the ‘German Wunderkind’. The 36-year-old Wurzburg native is the best German basketball player of all time and one of the sport’s best exponents, having played in the NBA for Dallas Mavericks since 1998. In 2011 he became the first, and to date only, German to win the NBA championship and was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) for his part in the Mavericks’ finals campaign that season.

Despite this success, Nowitzki’s sporting interests extend beyond the industry in which he has made his name. The 6"10 power forward is also a keen football fan. He tweeted his excitement while watching every Germany match at last summer’s 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, while his wife’s two brothers play the beautiful game professionally in England. What’s more, in June 2013 he hosted a benefit match on behalf of his foundation with world champion goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, giving Dirkules a prime opportunity to showcase his skills with a ball at his feet.

Nowitzki sat down with FIFA.com to discuss his favourites to take home the awards at the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2014, the importance of individual accolades, his foundation’s mission and what it was like to experience football fever in the USA during the World Cup.

FIFA.com: Last year you organised a benefit match with Manuel Neuer on behalf of your foundation. How did you meet the Germany goalkeeper?
Dirk Nowitzki: Manu’s a great guy. We met on the eve of the Team Up For Kids match and got on really well. Unfortunately I haven’t personally managed to score against him. When I converted my penalty, Ralf Fahrmann [current Schalke 04 goalkeeper – editor’s note] was in goal and he helped me out by giving me a little tip.

What are the aims of your foundation and what projects are you running?
My foundation enables me to stand up for socially disadvantaged children. We want to use sport to open up different ways of life for the kids we work with. Our projects encourage social participation for children and young people through sport and exercise. You can get a good idea of the work the foundation does on our website: http://www.dirk-nowitzki-stiftung.org/

Returning to Manuel Neuer. In a few days, the FIFA Ballon d’Or award will be presented to the world’s best footballer over the past year. Who do you think is most deserving of this accolade and who's your favourite to win?
Manu played magnificently at the World Cup and completely deserves the award in my opinion.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Brownsugar on January 18, 2015, 12:41:32 PM
14 January 2015


BRUSSELS SUMMIT ON FIFA'S FUTURE GATHERING PACE

Campaign for a new FIFA


International fan group representatives, football administrators, politicians and sports politics experts are the latest names to be added to the list of contributors for a summit on world football's governing body, FIFA, which is being held at the European Parliament in Brussels next week (January 21).

British MP Damian Collins, who has convened the event in conjunction with co-hosts Emma McClarkin and Ivo Belet from the European Parliament, has already confirmed the presence of FIFA Presidential candidate Jerome Champagne, Former FIFA technical inspection chief, Harold Mayne-Nicholls and Lord David Triesman, who was Chairman of England's 2018 World Cup Bid team.

The international line-up is further strengthened by the latest confirmations from prominent figures in Europe and Australasia.

Joining the politicians is the co-president of the Sports Intergroup at the European Parliament, Marc Tarabella from Belgium who has long held concerns and been outspoken about FIFA's management.

Two former football executives with England and Australia will also join the group.

David Davies OBE, who was Executive Director of England's FA will attend, along with Remo Nogarotto of Italy. Davies now works as a consultant to football associations around the world including Africa, Asia, Central American and the Caribbean and was responsible for reforming the structure and governance of the Hong Kong Football Association. Nogarotto is a former Chairman of Soccer Australia (now Football Federation Australia), and director and CEO of clubs in both the A-League and the former national soccer league.

Davies and Nogarotto have first-hand knowledge of the implications to commercial partners of FIFA's future direction as it prepares for the crucial Presidential election in May.

They will be joined in the corporate debate by Jaimie Fuller, the Chairman of Swiss-based sports wear company SKINS. Fuller has previously been a vocal figure in the campaign for Presidential change in world cycling and in the promotion of a global anti-doping stance for drug-free sport.

Jens Sejer Anderson is a sports politics expert from Denmark and the international Director of 'Play The Game', an organisation which promotes democracy, transparency and freedom of expression in sport. Jens is currently co-ordinating Play the Game's EU project 'Action for Good Governance in International Sports Organisations' with universities across Europe.

A supporters' view of FIFA's current status amongst international football fans will be provided by Daniela Wurbs and Dirk Vos from Football Supporters Europe (FSE).

FSE is an independent group that represents fans from 45 countries across the European continent and was launched in 2008 to give supporters a voice on the structure and governance of the game.

Confirming the latest attendees, Damian Collins said: "Since announcing the summit, we have had tremendous support from people around the world who see this summit as an opportunity to speak out on behalf of fans across the world and to finally be heard.

"Supporters want a new FIFA and the list of attendees represents a gathering of people with different skill sets and expertise who all see the game being compromised by FIFA's mismanagement. They, and millions of others around the world have had enough and they want change at the top.

"Next week's summit will send a clear message to those voting in FIFA's Presidential election on May 29th, that they have football's future credibility in their hands.

"The Brussels summit will make it clear beyond any doubt that the voting members are expected to follow the collective voice of fans across the world and create a New FIFA which truly is 'for the good of the game'."

Damian Collins urges everyone wishing to support the campaign for a New FIFA Now to sign the petition at www.newfifanow.org (http://www.newfifanow.org). The official website also houses full details of all speakers and contributors who will be in attendance.

ENDS

Further information:  Damian Collins +44 207 219 7072; or Kate McQuestin, +44 7768 663 513

Note to media
• Media are invited to attend the Brussels Summit, which will include a media conference after the event as well as an opportunity for one-on-one interviews with attendees.
• As the Summit is being held at the European Parliament, all media must be accredited. To register your attendance or interest, please contact Kate McQuestin or email media@newfifanow.org (http://media@newfifanow.org)
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Spursy on January 20, 2015, 12:55:52 PM
Simeone: With me, what you see is what you get
(FIFA.com) 20 Jan 2015

It would be fair that Diego Simeone is very much in vogue these days. Over the last three seasons his Atletico Madrid side – the very epitome of sacrifice and teamwork – have won titles in Spain and Europe and begun writing a glorious chapter in the club’s history. It was, therefore, a fitting reward, to see the Argentinian on the three-man shortlist for the 2014 FIFA World Coach of the Year for Men's Football award.

During his trip to Zurich last week for the FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala, the 44-year old sat down for an exclusive interview with FIFA.com. Among the topics discussed in a wide-ranging chat was the footballing philosophy at Atletico, a possible future as a national-team coach and his particular relationship with fans of arch-rivals Real Madrid. 

Would the decision to risk Diego Costa in UEFA Champions League final be in that category?
No, on the contrary. It was a very considered decision given that the final of the Champions League was at stake. I always tell people that the day before, Costa was doing 100-metre sprints and looked like an athlete! I reasoned that if he could give us 45-50 minutes, then it’d be worth playing him in the final, especially given his importance to us. Alas, fate had other ideas and we lost a potential matchwinner [after just eight minutes]. But he wasn’t the only one: Arda [Turan] got injured too and couldn’t play. For all that, we still competed at a very high level.

Have you watched the game again since?
No, no. You can’t turn back time. And when you cannot go back, it’s better not to dwell on the past.

As a coach your character is just like it was as a player. There’s no sign of that abating…
No they’re traits of mine. Every coach has them. Obviously when I’m older, I’ll probably – though I can’t promise – have different mannerisms. Right now I feel young and energetic, so one way or another, I participate in the game.

Not long ago, Atletico Madrid were looked upon sympathetically, like a perennial bridesmaid. How do you think people view them now?
Just after I was appointed coach here, I said in a press conference that I wanted Atletico to become a team that causes problem for others. Taking on two giants like Real Madrid and Barcelona is very hard. If you think about it, in our domestic league we’re up against two clubs who are always expected to win the Champions League. We’ve managed to break that hegemony – just as we did in 1996 when I was a player – and triumph over the kind of financial muscle and great players that they acquire. Over time we’ve become something more than just a troublesome team, and that’s down to consistency, which is the hardest thing to achieve in football. For more than three years now, we’ve been achieving success, and we’re still doing it. We’re just three points behind Barcelona and [four behind] a Madrid side who have been in great form this season.

FIFA.com: You’ve finally made the three-man shortlist for Coach of the Year. Do you place a lot of importance on recognition like that and wait eagerly for those kinds of announcements?
Diego Simeone: The recognition is good when it comes from actual footballers, and when it’s from players the world over, it’s even better. However, it’s nothing definitive, as football’s all about your next game, the need to keep producing the goods. But when it’s the opinion of footballers, I definitely place greater store on it. I’m pleased to be in a trio that includes [Joachim] Low and [Carlo] Ancelotti, but more than anything it gives me the impetus to work hard and improve in the future.

In Spain many people used to be divided on the respective playing styles of Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola. Now a lot of the talk is about ‘Cholismo’ (Simeone’s playing style – a take on his nickname: El Cholo)
We have a clearly identifiable playing style, that’s true. I’ve always said that the teams that best espoused those ideals have been Estudiantes de La Plata, where I coached for a year and a half, and this Atletico side. That said, I wouldn’t go so far as to talk about ‘Cholismo’, even if my teams do play in a particular way.

And it is not just one-dimensional direct football either…
No, they’re just clichés trotted out whenever a team can’t find a way past us. That’s not our problem!

A lot is written about "El Cholo’s warriors" and their selflessness. Do you think that in emphasising this aspect of your play, the media are underestimating the team’s other qualities?
The great thing about football is that it’s so open to interpretation: there’s no definitive right and wrong, and in a sense everyone is right. There are myriad ways of playing but, as I’ve said before, I base things on the qualities of the players I have, empowering individuals for the betterment of the team. In all the finals we’ve competed in, we’ve used our top players, but we don’t believe that you can win with talent alone. Talent has to be accompanied by effort as well, and that’s shared around when you work as a team.

You’ve always maintained that sacrifice is non-negotiable, so what things are negotiable?
The human aspects. So long as people are upfront about things, I’m willing to discuss anything. I always say, ‘When we’re both on the same page, then we go for it. If you’re in one place and I’m in another, then no. I don’t like that scenario.

Do you regret any decisions you took in 2014?
Regret, no. With any possibly erroneous decision, you can always look back and think you could’ve done something differently – but always with the benefit of hindsight.

How do you think Real Madrid fans see you?
I imagine they’ve got mixed feelings. On the one hand I’m sure they don’t like me but, on the other, I get shown a lot of respect when I’m out on the street. I get a lot of people coming up to me saying 'I’m a Real Madrid fan, but I’d honestly like to congratulate you. I like the way your guys work and how much of a team they are'. I think that recently Atletico have shown something that people need in their everyday lives: energy. They’ve also demonstrated that, over and above the difficulties you face and using the tools at your disposal, you can compete, you can fight and you can find solutions where none appeared to be. We know that nowadays it’s hard to get a job and find stability, but these lads – through their hard work and persistence – have managed to show people that you do have the chance to say, 'Stop, we can do this. It’s not all about having money and using money to get things done'. Even if you don’t have so much, you can still go places.

Could you see yourself becoming the Sir Alex Ferguson of Atletico Madrid, in terms of longevity?
I always say that my approach is to think that I might get sacked tomorrow. For me, it’s the best way of making sure I live for the moment, because in football what matters, aside from what you’ve already achieved and which nobody can take away from you, is what’s coming next. I see Atletico Madrid as a club that’s growing very strongly and which has greater financial clout thanks to the success we’ve had. Players want to join us and we’ve got a team with a very good average age, lads like [Raul] Jimenez, Koke and [Diego] Godin who’ve got years ahead of them to keep improving and form the foundations of a side that we can keep on strengthening. 

Are you ever able to take your foot off the pedal?
I’m not a fan of “switching off” because I know that when I find myself in that situation then I end up losing. Of course, every so often it happens, but I try and fight against it because it’s not a feeling I’m comfortable with.

But you do get the chance to do things like going to the cinema and reading books, right?
Yes, I lead a normal life like any other man on the street, but I also see myself as shouldering major responsibility. The game’s my life and I’m so passionate about it. When you see your life so intertwined with football it can make things very difficult. You might go and watch a film and start imagining footballers running across the screen, you know? It’s not easy [to switch off].

Hand on heart, were you offered the Argentina job after the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™?
No, but I know it’ll happen one day. I’ve always said in the national team you have room for what I call the son, father and grandfather types. In coaching terms, I think it’s a place for a grandfather – someone more serene and composed who can see things in a different way. I still feel I need to be on the pitch, doing training and being with players day-in, day-out. The national team cannot give you that. Is it something I’d like to do one day? Absolutely! I spent 12 or 14 years with the team – it was a privileged time and very much part of my life. Hopefully it will come to pass at the perfect time for both parties.

And coaching Lionel Messi wouldn’t be a bad thing…
Messi is a matchwinner who needs a team [built around him] to be even more effective. We were very close at the last World Cup and hopefully Gerardo [Martino], who already knows him from his time at Barcelona, can assemble a team that gets the best out of him. Above all, hopefully he can encourage his players to be a team. That’s the best thing you can do for Messi.

One hypothetical question please. You’re offered the best contract imaginable and unlimited funds, but on condition that you coach either Real Madrid or the Brazil national team. Which would you choose?
Ah, you guys are bad! (laughs) I think I’d have to pass on that and say goodbye to the money!

Lastly, if there was a Ballon d’Or awarded for one aspect of life, what would Diego Simeone win it for?
For being a straightforward guy. With me, what you see is what you get.
 

link: http://www.fifa.com/ballon-dor/news/y=2015/m=1/news=simeone-with-me-what-you-see-is-what-you-get-2508884.html?intcmp=fifacom_hp_module_news_top
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Flex on April 14, 2015, 01:58:36 AM
Figo to tempt CONCACAF voters with cash boost plan
T&T Express Reports.


FIFA presidential hopeful Luis Figo will travel to the Caribbean this week hoping to tempt voters in the CONCACAF region with a plan to distribute more funds, US$2.5 billion (£1.7 billion) over four years, to national associations.

CONCACAF hold their congress on Thursday in the Bahamas and the former Portugal international will be working the corridors as he looks to win support ahead of next month’s vote for the FIFA presidency.

“One of the key aspects I want to talk about is my suggestion to distribute 50 percent of FIFA’s revenues – $2.5 billion – directly to the member associations for solidarity over four years,” Figo told Reuters in an email.

“This means eight million dollars per member association over four years, two million dollars per member association per year when presently they only receive $375,000 per year,” he added.

Incumbent Sepp Blatter is widely viewed as the favourite to win a fifth term at the helm of football’s governing body and has traditionally enjoyed strong support in the CONCACAF region, which covers North and Central America and the Caribbean.

But with the United States Soccer Federation having nominated Jordanian Prince Ali in the election, CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb has stated that his confederation will not push their members to vote as a block.

Figo was at a CONCACAF event in Philadelphia in March where he met with Webb and some of the key players in the region.

Now the former Real Madrid and Barcelona winger hopes he can cut into Blatter’s support, which has been particularly strong amongst the smaller Caribbean nations that make up the majority of CONCACAF federations.

For nearly 30 years, CONCACAF was controlled by Blatter ally, Trinidadian Jack Warner who stood down in 2011 in the midst of bribery allegations.

Despite Warner’s influence at FIFA, the region contains many countries without basic football infrastructure and facilities. Figo clearly sees that as an issue he can exploit.

“I will also allocate another $300 million to be distributed to the member associations in highest need, ear-marked for the construction of specific football infrastructure projects,” he said.

“This means an additional two million dollars for 150 federation over four years. From what I’ve been hearing and analysing, some of this investment will be done in the CONCACAF region given the needs that several federation have there.”

Figo says he also intends to dip into FIFA’s $1.5 billion reserves for development projects focused on schools.

“I also intend to use 1 billion dollars of FIFA’s 1.5 billion reserves that are in the bank to create different development projects.

“One million dollars per member association for the “Schools for Football” project, another million per federation for the “Boys and Girls for Football” project once the target of a ten percent increase in registered boys and girls is reached, plus a bonus of two million to each of the ten member associations with the highest growth rate in four years,” said Figo.

“These are only a few investment measures I suggest. These are easily done with a more efficient and effective way to invest revenues generated by the World Cup,” he said.

The head of the Dutch football association, Michael van Praag, is also standing in the election which will be held in Zurich on May 29 at the FIFA congress.

Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: asylumseeker on April 14, 2015, 05:08:06 AM
Figo was also in Paraguay recently lobbying CONMEBOL. CONMEBOL intends to vote as a bloc. One of the interests is in preserving their WC "half spot".

I have to say, he is not a "soft" candidate in terms of substance. However, the political environment of these elections stymies substance. Thus, he can't leverage that more than "so".
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Deeks on April 14, 2015, 05:31:42 AM
I doubt many people like Blatter. But the status quo may hold out for 4 more yours of his regime. Most votes are going to more pragmatic. After the Russian WC, I think most of the Blatter people may be out by then. The Qatar WC is a set unless ISIS invade the Gulf states. So most people may swallow their pride and vote Blatter. After Qatar WC there maybe big changes in the federation.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: royal on April 17, 2015, 05:55:13 AM


Warner's long gone but CONCACAF's pro-Blatter politics remain

NASSAU, Bahamas  |  By Simon Evans


(Reuters) - On the surface, CONCACAF's congress on Thursday looked very different to the last time the regional confederation had gathered before a FIFA presidential election.

Back in 2011, with Trinidadian Jack Warner still at the helm of the governing body for soccer in North and Central America and the Caribbean, CONCACAF's deliberations were held in a chain hotel in downtown Miami and were closed to the media.

On Thursday, football officials from the 41 member nations gathered in the up-market Vegas style, Atlantis resort on Paradise Island in the Bahamas, with media invited in.

There was a giant video screen that displayed professionally produced updates on CONCACAF's activities and youthful CONCACAF staffers in branded uniform buzzed around, assisting the proceedings.

But while the new CONCACAF, led by the personable Jeffrey Webb, looks very different to the rather shabby organization led by Warner, the politics of the organization proved to be remarkably similar.

The formalities had barely been dealt with before the first of 10 federation representatives began their eulogies to FIFA president Sepp Blatter, whose organization has faced numerous allegations of corruption in the past four years.

It was a familiar scene to anyone who had witnessed CONCACAF representatives at FIFA congresses under Warner.

Throughout Blatter's reign, the region has been a rock-solid stronghold for the FIFA president, with the Caribbean nations in particular loyal supporters.

It was the very same process of a FIFA election that led to Warner's downfall four years ago when he organized a private meeting between the Qatari challenger to Blatter, Mohammed Bin Hammam, in Port of Spain and evidence emerged of brown envelopes stuffed with $40,000 being handed out to Caribbean officials.

Many of those in the room were the same faces that voted as a block under Warner's strong man rule and a good number of them had been implicated in the cash-for-votes scandal.

Sat on the podium was CONCACAF's Jamaican vice-president Captain Horace Burrell who was suspended for three months from all football-related activities by FIFA following their investigation into the Port of Spain meeting.

The most remarkably sycophantic speech in support of Blatter came from Osiris Guzman of the Dominican Republic, who was banned from the sport for 30 days and fined by FIFA. It was Guzman who spoke of Blatter in the same terms as historical figures such as Moses, Jesus Christ and Nelson Mandela.

The current president of the Caribbean Football Union Gordon Derrick, who the day before had held his own mini-congress, had also been reprimanded and fined in the same 2011 case.

Four years ago, according to Warner, Blatter offered CONCACAF delegates an extra one million in FIFA funding.

This time Blatter offered their region an extra place in the World Cup.


OTHER CANDIDATES

As speaker after speaker hailed Blatter, the three other candidates for the FIFA presidency, all sat in the hall and listened -- they could do little else.

All three had asked for the opportunity to outline their ideas for the future of FIFA and all were been denied that chance.

"I asked President Webb three weeks ago in writing if I was allowed to address the congress and that request was turned down," said Dutch FA chief Michael van Praag.

In contrast, at UEFA's congress in March, all four candidates had been given the chance to make an address.

Prince Ali bin al-Hussein looked on in dismay as the speeches continued and it was too much for former Portugal international Luis Figo who afterwards said: "When some speak and others are silenced, democracy and football lose".

Until Thursday, Webb had been careful to present himself as impartial in the election process but he could barely contain his delight at the pro-Blatter interventions saying they had sent a "clear message".

CONCACAF then held their own internal elections but for every single post, including Webb's position as president, there was only one candidate.

There was not even a show of hands as all candidates were elected by 'acclamation'.

Not all in CONCACAF support Blatter but those delegates known to be privately in favor of change in FIFA were reluctant to talk on the record, several responding to questions about the congress with shakes of the head or laughter.

A lot has changed in CONCACAF over the last four years and their events and tournaments are certainly more professionally organized and promoted and their grassroots work is worthy.

But when it comes to their politics in FIFA not much appears to have changed since the days of Warner.


(Editing by Sudipto Ganguly)
Title: Figo Withdraws from FIFA Presidential Election
Post by: elan on May 21, 2015, 11:27:05 AM
Statement by Luis Figo to The Associated Press (http://sports.yahoo.com/news/statement-luis-figo-associated-press-160230890--sow.html)




LISBON, Portugal (AP) -- Statement sent by Luis Figo to The Associated Press on Thursday:


Running for president of FIFA resulted from a personal decision, taken after listening to many pertinent people in the realm of international soccer.

I sought out the support needed for me to stand, I formally presented my candidacy, and the reactions in the soccer world were so overwhelming - both in public and in private - that I was reassured that I had made the right decision.

The realm of a sport which gave me everything to become what I am, and to which I now offered to give something back, is hungry for change. FIFA needs change and I feel that the change is urgent.

Guided by that wish, by the formal support I collected, and by the incredible wave of support from soccer players, former players, coaches, referees and administrators, I imagined and presented a plan of action - my election manifesto for the FIFA presidency.

I traveled and met extraordinary people who, though they recognized the value of much that had been done, also concurred with the need for change, one that cleans up FIFA's reputation as an obscure organization that is so often viewed as a place of corruption.

But over the past few months I have not only witnessed that desire (for change), I have witnessed consecutive incidents, all over the world, that should shame anyone who desires soccer to be free, clean and democratic.

I have seen with my own eyes federation presidents who, after one day comparing FIFA leaders to the devil, then go on stage and compare those same people with Jesus Christ. Nobody told me about this. I saw it with my own eyes.


The candidates were prevented from addressing federations at congresses while one of the candidates always gave speeches on his own from the rostrum. There has not been a single public debate about each candidate's proposals.

Does anyone think it's normal that an election for one of the most relevant organizations on the planet can go ahead without a public debate? Does anyone think it's normal that one of the candidates doesn't even bother to present an election manifesto that can be voted on May 29? Shouldn't it be mandatory to present such a manifesto so that federation presidents know what they're voting for?

That would be normal, but this electoral process is anything but an election.

This (election) process is a plebiscite for the delivery of absolute power to one man - something I refuse to go along with.

That is why, after a personal reflection and sharing views with two other candidates in this process, I believe that what is going to happen on May 29 in Zurich is not a normal electoral act.

And because it is not, don't count on me.

I want it to be clear that I have deep respect for all world soccer, from Africa, where I got so much motivation, to Asia, where I have and will keep excellent relationships, through South America, where a new generation is emerging, and Central and North America, where so many who wanted to speak were silenced, and to Oceania, whose development we should all look at differently. And finally to Europe, where I felt there was space for normal and democratic debate, thanks to the endeavors of President (Michel) Platini.

I give my warmest thanks to everyone, because I want it to be clear that they are not the election committee and it is not they who want FIFA to become weaker and weaker.

For my part, I will abide by the ideas I leave written and have circulated, I am firm in my desire to take an active part in the regeneration of FIFA and I will be available for it whenever it is proven to me that we are not living under a dictatorship.

I do not fear the ballot box, but I will not go along with nor will I give my consent to a process which will end on May 29 and from which soccer will not emerge the winner.

My decision is made, I will not stand in what is being called an election for the FIFA presidency.

I offer my deepest thanks to all those who have supported me and I ask them to keep alive their desire for a regeneration which, though it may take some time, will come.
Title: Re: Figo Withdraws from FIFA Presidential Election
Post by: Mose on May 21, 2015, 11:50:32 AM
I don't think that was the best decision. I can understand being discouraged by what he's witnessed but backing down removes him as an option for change.
Title: FIFA Officials Arrested on Corruption Charges; Face Extradition to U.S.
Post by: E-man on May 26, 2015, 10:13:58 PM
FIFA Officials Arrested on Corruption Charges; Face Extradition to U.S.
By MATT APUZZO, MICHAEL S. SCHMIDT, WILLIAM K. RASHBAUM and SAM BORDEN
New York Times


ZURICH — Swiss authorities began 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, 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. The arrests were made at the request of the United States Justice Department, which brought charges in the Eastern District of New York, based in Brooklyn, according to law enforcement officials.

Prosecutors planned to unseal an indictment soon against more than 10 officials, not all of whom are in Zurich, three law enforcement officials said. The charges include wire fraud, racketeering and money laundering.

The arrests were a startling blow to FIFA, a multibillion-dollar organization that governs the world’s most popular sport but has been plagued by accusations of bribery for decades.

The inquiry is also a major threat to Sepp Blatter, FIFA’s longtime president who is generally recognized as the most powerful person in sports, though law enforcement officials said he was not charged. An election, seemingly pre-ordained to give him a fifth term as president, is scheduled for Friday.

The case is the most significant yet for United States Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch, who took office last month. She previously served as the United States attorney in Brooklyn, where she supervised the FIFA investigation.

With more than $1.5 billion in reserves, FIFA is as much a global financial conglomerate as a sports organization. With countries around the world competing aggressively to win the bid to host the World Cup, Mr. Blatter has commanded the fealty of anyone who wanted a piece of that revenue stream. He and FIFA have weathered corruption controversies in the past, but none involved charges of federal crimes in a United States court.

United States law gives the Justice Department wide authority to bring cases against foreign nationals living abroad, an authority that prosecutors have used repeatedly in international terrorism cases. Those cases can hinge on the slightest connection to the United States, like the use of an American bank or Internet service provider.

Switzerland’s treaty with the United States is unusual in that it gives Swiss authorities the power to refuse extradition for tax crimes, but on matters of general criminal law, the Swiss have agreed to turn people over for prosecution in American courts.

The case further mars the reputation of FIFA’s leader, Mr. Blatter, who has for years acted as a de facto head of state. Politicians, star players, national soccer officials and global corporations that want their brands attached to the sport have long genuflected before him.

Critics of FIFA point to the lack of transparency regarding executive salaries and resource allocations for an organization that, by its own admission, had revenue of $5.7 billion from 2011 to 2014. Policy decisions are also often taken without debate or explanation, and a small group of officials — known as the executive committee — operates with outsize power. FIFA has for years operated with little oversight and even less transparency. Alexandra Wrage, a governance consultant who once unsuccessfully attempted to help overhaul FIFA’s methods, famously labeled the organization “byzantine and impenetrable.”

Michael S. Schmidt and Sam Borden reported from Zurich, Switzerland; Matt Apuzzo from Washington; and William K. Rashbaum from New York.
Title: Re: FIFA Officials Arrested on Corruption Charges; Face Extradition to U.S.
Post by: Deeks on May 26, 2015, 11:13:14 PM
Not only that. Who are the culprits charged?
Title: Re: FIFA Officials Arrested on Corruption Charges; Face Extradition to U.S.
Post by: davyjenny1 on May 26, 2015, 11:33:46 PM
Just saw it on the news, it was just a matter time. Yes! Pandora's box soon to be open by United States Attorney General  Loretta E. Lynch. I want to see how she put her stamp on this case. Make yuh name woman, make yuh name.
Title: Re: FIFA Officials Arrested on Corruption Charges; Face Extradition to U.S.
Post by: Teflon Don on May 26, 2015, 11:34:22 PM
Jack warner is in the mix, read this article.

FIFA Officials Arrested on Corruption Charges; Blatter Isn’t Among Them.
By MATT APUZZO, MICHAEL S. SCHMIDT, WILLIAM K. RASHBAUM and SAM BORDEN


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 plain-clothed 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 keys and proceeded upstairs to the rooms.

The arrests were carried out peacefully. One FIFA official, Eduardo Li of Costa Rica, was led by the authorities from his room to a side-door exit of the hotel. He was allowed to bring his luggage, which was adorned with FIFA logos

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, according to three law enforcement officials with direct knowledge of the case.

The indictment names 14 people on charges including racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy. In addition to senior soccer officials, the indictment is also expected to name 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, according to one government official briefed on the matter.

The law enforcement official said the soccer officials charged are Jeffrey Webb, Eugenio Figueredo, Jack Warner, Eduardo Li, Julio Rocha, Costas Takkas, Rafael Esquivel, José Maria Marin and Nicolás Leoz.

Charges were also expected against the sports-marketing executives Alejandro Burzaco, Aaron Davidson, Hugo Jinkis and Mariano Jinkis. Authorities also charged José Margulies as an intermediary who facilitated illegal payments.

“We’re struck by just how long this went on for and how it touched nearly every part of what FIFA did,” said a law enforcement official. “It just seemed to permeate every element of the federation and was just their way of doing business. It seems like this corruption was institutionalized.”

The Justice Department, the F.B.I. and FIFA did not have any immediate comment.

The arrests were a startling blow to FIFA, a multibillion-dollar organization that governs the world’s most popular sport but has been plagued by accusations of bribery for decades.

The inquiry is also a major threat to Sepp Blatter, FIFA’s longtime president who is generally recognized as the most powerful person in sports, though he was not charged. He has for years acted as a de facto head of state. Politicians, star players, national soccer officials and global corporations that want their brands attached to the sport have long genuflected before him.

An election, seemingly pre-ordained to give Mr. Blatter a fifth term as president, is scheduled for Friday.
The case is the most significant yet for United States Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch, who took office last month. She previously served as the United States attorney in Brooklyn, where she supervised the FIFA investigation. Ms. Lynch and F.B.I. Director James Comey were expected to hold a news conference on Wednesday morning in New York.

With more than $1.5 billion in reserves, FIFA is as much a global financial conglomerate as a sports organization. With countries around the world competing aggressively to win the bid to host the World Cup, Mr. Blatter has commanded the fealty of anyone who wanted a piece of that revenue stream. He and FIFA have weathered corruption controversies in the past, but none involved charges of federal crimes in United States court.

United States law gives the Justice Department wide authority to bring cases against foreign nationals living abroad, an authority that prosecutors have used repeatedly in international terrorism cases. Those cases can hinge on the slightest connection to the United States, like the use of an American bank or Internet service provider.

Switzerland’s treaty with the United States is unusual in that it gives Swiss authorities the power to refuse extradition for tax crimes, but on matters of general criminal law, the Swiss have agreed to turn people over for prosecution in American courts.

Critics of FIFA point to the lack of transparency regarding executive salaries and resource allocations for an organization that, by its own admission, had revenue of $5.7 billion from 2011 to 2014. Policy decisions are also often taken without debate or explanation, and a small group of officials — known as the executive committee — operates with outsize power. FIFA has for years functioned with little oversight and even less transparency. Alexandra Wrage, a governance consultant who once unsuccessfully attempted to help overhaul FIFA’s methods, famously labeled the organization “byzantine and impenetrable.”

Law enforcement officials said much of the inquiry involves Concacaf, one of the six regional confederations that compose FIFA. Concacaf — which stands for Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football — includes major countries like the United States and Mexico, and also tiny ones like Barbados and Montserrat.

According to the indictment, several international soccer events were tainted by bribes and kickbacks involving media and marketing rights: World Cup qualifiers in the Concacaf region; the Gold Cup; the Concacaf Champions League; the Copa América; and the Copa Libertadores. The indictment also claims that bribes and kickbacks were found in connection with the selection of the host country for the 2010 World Cup.

Concacaf was led from 1990 to 2011 by Mr. Warner, the longtime head of Trinidad & Tobago’s federation. A key powerbroker in FIFA’s governing executive committee, Mr. Warner had been dogged by accusations of corruption. He was accused of illegally profiting from the resale of tickets to the 2006 World Cup, and of withholding the bonuses of the Trinidad players who participated in that tournament.

Mr. Warner resigned his positions in FIFA, Concacaf and his national association in 2011 amid mounting evidence that he had been part of an attempt to buy the votes of Caribbean federation officials in the 2010 FIFA presidential election. A 2013 Concacaf report (http://www.guardian.co.tt/sites/default/files/story/FinalReport.PDF) also found that he had received tens of millions of dollars in misappropriated funds.'

But according to the rules of FIFA at the time, Mr. Warner’s resignation led to the immediate closure of all ethics committee cases against him. “The presumption of innocence is maintained,” FIFA said in a short statement announcing his departure.



Michael S. Schmidt and Sam Borden reported from Zurich; Matt Apuzzo from Washington; and William K. Rashbaum from New York.

Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: asylumseeker on May 27, 2015, 05:31:42 AM
One wonders whether the candidates who recently withdrew from pursuing the FIFA presidency would have made the same decision had the arrests occurred earlier.

Nonetheless, Schmidt's twitter feed makes for interesting reading:

https://mobile.twitter.com/michaelsschmidt
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Deeks on May 27, 2015, 06:07:24 AM
I see Jack two sons are indicted defendants. Just like Chuck Blazer.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: elan on May 27, 2015, 06:17:09 AM
Not seeing Chuck Blazer name?
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Bitter on May 27, 2015, 06:23:05 AM
Meanwhile, Sunshine Newspaper’s Jack Warner has issued a statement about “certain developments in world football”. Jack writes:

It has been reported that a number of Fifa officials have been arrested in Switzerland and that at least one raid conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigators in Miami is being executed at what I presume to be Concacaf offices. My name is being reported by international media as being one of those persons sought in connection with the probe.

The people of Trinidad and Tobago will know that I quit Fifa and international football more than four years ago and that over the past several years I have recommitted my life to the work of improving the lot of every citizen of every creed and race in this nation. This is where I have let my bucket down.

I have fought fearlessly against all forms of injustice and corruption.

I have been afforded no due process and I have not even been questioned in this matter. I reiterate that I am innocent of any charges. I have walked away from the politics of world football to immerse myself in the improvement of lives in this country where I shall, God willing, die.

The actions of Fifa no longer concern me. I cannot help but note however that these cross-border coordinated actions come at a time when Fifa is assembled for elections to select a President who is universally disliked by the international community. At times such as this it is my experience that the large world powers typically take actions to affect world football. World football is an enormous international business.

“That is no longer my concern. My sole focus at this stage of my life is on the people of Trinidad and Tobago.

“I wish to advise the hundreds of thousands of persons who support the ILP that my commitment to them and to the people of Trinidad and Tobago is undaunted and can never be broken.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: dreamer on May 27, 2015, 06:23:17 AM
Live by the sword, die by the sword.
Lesson to all of the posters here (Coop's, ah hope yuh hearing above): Corruption does not pay.
We must believe in integrity, meritocracy.
Jackulito aka Renraw may now be preparing for the game over moves.
When the day in court finally comes, few in the audience won't support the judge when he or she says: "29 yrs in maximum security prison with no chance of bail. Take him away!"
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Bitter on May 27, 2015, 06:24:57 AM
Not seeing Chuck Blazer name?

He cut a deal?
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Bitter on May 27, 2015, 06:26:54 AM
Live by the sword, die by the sword.
Lesson to all of the posters here (Coop's, ah hope yuh hearing above): Corruption does not pay.
We must believe in integrity, meritocracy.
Jackulito aka Renraw may now be preparing for the game over moves.
When the day in court finally comes, few in the audience won't support the judge when he or she says: "29 yrs in maximum security prison with no chance of bail. Take him away!"

Right next to Ish and Steve, right?
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: grimm01 on May 27, 2015, 06:32:57 AM
Not seeing Chuck Blazer name?

He cut a deal?

From the Express: http://trinidadexpress.com/20150527/news/warner-among-nine-fifa-officials-indicted

The following individuals and corporations previously pleaded guilty under seal:

 On July 15, 2013, the defendant Daryll Warner, son of defendant Jack Warner and a former FIFA development officer, waived indictment and pleaded guilty to a two-count information charging him with wire fraud and the structuring of financial transactions.

 On Oct. 25, 2013, the defendant Daryan Warner waived indictment and pleaded guilty to a three-count information charging him with wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy and the structuring of financial transactions. Daryan Warner forfeited over $1.1 million around the time of his plea and has agreed to pay a second forfeiture money judgment at the time of sentencing.

 On Nov. 25, 2013, the defendant Charles Blazer, the former CONCACAF general secretary and a former FIFA executive committee member, waived indictment and pleaded guilty to a 10-count information charging him with racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, income tax evasion and failure to file a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR). Blazer forfeited over $1.9 million at the time of his plea and has agreed to pay a second amount to be determined at the time of sentencing.

 On Dec. 12, 2014, the defendant José Hawilla, the owner and founder of the Traffic Group, the Brazilian sports marketing conglomerate, waived indictment and pleaded guilty to a four-count information charging him with racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy and obstruction of justice. Hawilla also agreed to forfeit over $151 million, $25 million of which was paid at the time of his plea.

 On May 14, 2015, the defendants Traffic Sports USA Inc. and Traffic Sports International Inc. pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy.


Daryan and Daryll Warner face maximum terms of incarceration of 10 years for structuring financial transactions to evade currency reporting requirements. Each individual defendant also faces mandatory restitution, forfeiture and a fine. By the terms of their plea agreements, the corporate defendants face fines of $500,000 and one year of probation.

Like they turn informer...
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Flex on May 27, 2015, 07:07:11 AM
Nine FIFA Officials and Five Corporate Executives Indicted for Racketeering Conspiracy and Corruption.
US Department of Justice Release.


The Defendants Include Two Current FIFA Vice Presidents and the Current and Former Presidents of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF); Seven Defendants Arrested Overseas; Guilty Pleas for Four Individual Defendants and Two Corporate Defendants Also Unsealed

A 47-count indictment was unsealed early this morning in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, charging 14 defendants with racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies, among other offenses, in connection with the defendants’ participation in a 24-year scheme to enrich themselves through the corruption of international soccer.  The guilty pleas of four individual defendants and two corporate defendants were also unsealed today.

The defendants charged in the indictment include high-ranking officials of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the organization responsible for the regulation and promotion of soccer worldwide, as well as leading officials of other soccer governing bodies that operate under the FIFA umbrella.  Jeffrey Webb and Jack Warner – the current and former presidents of CONCACAF, the continental confederation under FIFA headquartered in the United States – are among the soccer officials charged with racketeering and bribery offenses.  The defendants also include U.S. and South American sports marketing executives who are alleged to have systematically paid and agreed to pay well over $150 million in bribes and kickbacks to obtain lucrative media and marketing rights to international soccer tournaments.

The charges were announced by Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch, Acting U.S. Attorney Kelly T. Currie of the Eastern District of New York, Director James B. Comey of the FBI, Assistant Director in Charge Diego W. Rodriguez of the FBI’s New York Field Office, Chief Richard Weber of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) and Special Agent in Charge Erick Martinez of the IRS-CI’s Los Angeles Field Office.

Also earlier this morning, Swiss authorities in Zurich arrested seven of the defendants charged in the indictment, the defendants Jeffrey Webb, Eduardo Li, Julio Rocha, Costas Takkas, Eugenio Figueredo, Rafael Esquivel and José Maria Marin, at the request of the United States.  Also this morning, a search warrant is being executed at CONCACAF headquarters in Miami, Florida.

The guilty pleas of the four individual and two corporate defendants that were also unsealed today include the guilty pleas of Charles Blazer, the long-serving former general secretary of CONCACAF and former U.S. representative on the FIFA executive committee; José Hawilla, the owner and founder of the Traffic Group, a multinational sports marketing conglomerate headquartered in Brazil; and two of Hawilla’s companies, Traffic Sports International Inc. and Traffic Sports USA Inc., which is based in Florida.

“The indictment alleges corruption that is rampant, systemic, and deep-rooted both abroad and here in the United States,” said Attorney General Lynch.  “It spans at least two generations of soccer officials who, as alleged, have abused their positions of trust to acquire millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks.  And it has profoundly harmed a multitude of victims, from the youth leagues and developing countries that should benefit from the revenue generated by the commercial rights these organizations hold, to the fans at home and throughout the world whose support for the game makes those rights valuable.  Today’s action makes clear that this Department of Justice intends to end any such corrupt practices, to root out misconduct, and to bring wrongdoers to justice – and we look forward to continuing to work with other countries in this effort.”

Attorney General Lynch extended her grateful appreciation to the authorities of the government of Switzerland, as well as several other international partners, for their outstanding assistance in this investigation.

“Today’s announcement should send a message that enough is enough,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Currie.  “After decades of what the indictment alleges to be brazen corruption, organized international soccer needs a new start – a new chance for its governing institutions to provide honest oversight and support of a sport that is beloved across the world, increasingly so here in the United States.  Let me be clear: this indictment is not the final chapter in our investigation.” 

Acting U.S. Attorney Currie extended his thanks to the agents, analysts and other investigative personnel with the FBI New York Eurasian Joint Organized Crime Squad and the IRS-CI Los Angeles Field Office, as well as their colleagues abroad, for their tremendous effort in this case.

“As charged in the indictment, the defendants fostered a culture of corruption and greed that created an uneven playing field for the biggest sport in the world,” said Director Comey.  “Undisclosed and illegal payments, kickbacks, and bribes became a way of doing business at FIFA.  I want to commend the investigators and prosecutors around the world who have pursued this case so diligently, for so many years.”

“When leaders in an organization resort to cheating the very members that they are supposed to represent, they must be held accountable,” said Chief Weber.  “Corruption, tax evasion and money laundering are certainly not the cornerstones of any successful business.  Whether you call it soccer or football, the fans, players and sponsors around the world who love this game should not have to worry about officials corrupting their sport.  This case isn't about soccer, it is about fairness and following the law.  IRS-CI will continue to investigate financial crimes and follow the money wherever it may lead around the world, leveling the playing field for those who obey the law.”

The charges in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The Enterprise

FIFA is composed of 209 member associations, each representing organized soccer in a particular nation or territory, including the United States and four of its overseas territories.  FIFA also recognizes six continental confederations that assist it in governing soccer in different regions of the world.  The U.S. Soccer Federation is one of 41 member associations of the confederation known as CONCACAF, which has been headquartered in the United States throughout the period charged in the indictment.  The South American confederation, called CONMEBOL, is also a focus of the indictment.

As alleged in the indictment, FIFA and its six continental confederations, together with affiliated regional federations, national member associations and sports marketing companies, constitute an enterprise of legal entities associated in fact for purposes of the federal racketeering laws.  The principal – and entirely legitimate – purpose of the enterprise is to regulate and promote the sport of soccer worldwide.

As alleged in the indictment, one key way the enterprise derives revenue is to commercialize the media and marketing rights associated with soccer events and tournaments.  The organizing entity that owns those rights – as FIFA and CONCACAF do with respect to the World Cup and Gold Cup, their respective flagship tournaments – sells them to sports marketing companies, often through multi-year contracts covering multiple editions of the tournaments.  The sports marketing companies, in turn, sell the rights downstream to TV and radio broadcast networks, major corporate sponsors and other sub-licensees who want to broadcast the matches or promote their brands.  The revenue generated from these contracts is substantial: according to FIFA, 70% of its $5.7 billion in total revenues between 2011 and 2014 was attributable to the sale of TV and marketing rights to the 2014 World Cup.

The Racketeering Conspiracy

The indictment alleges that, between 1991 and the present, the defendants and their co-conspirators corrupted the enterprise by engaging in various criminal activities, including fraud, bribery and money laundering.  Two generations of soccer officials abused their positions of trust for personal gain, frequently through an alliance with unscrupulous sports marketing executives who shut out competitors and kept highly lucrative contracts for themselves through the systematic payment of bribes and kickbacks.  All told, the soccer officials are charged with conspiring to solicit and receive well over $150 million in bribes and kickbacks in exchange for their official support of the sports marketing executives who agreed to make the unlawful payments.

Most of the schemes alleged in the indictment relate to the solicitation and receipt of bribes and kickbacks by soccer officials from sports marketing executives in connection with the commercialization of the media and marketing rights associated with various soccer matches and tournaments, including FIFA World Cup qualifiers in the CONCACAF region, the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the CONCACAF Champions League, the jointly organized CONMEBOL/CONCACAF Copa América Centenario, the CONMEBOL Copa América, the CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores and the Copa do Brasil, which is organized by the Brazilian national soccer federation (CBF).  Other alleged schemes relate to the payment and receipt of bribes and kickbacks in connection with the sponsorship of CBF by a major U.S. sportswear company, the selection of the host country for the 2010 World Cup and the 2011 FIFA presidential election.

The Indicted Defendants

As set forth in the indictment, the defendants and their co-conspirators fall generally into three categories: soccer officials acting in a fiduciary capacity within FIFA and one or more of its constituent organizations; sports media and marketing company executives; and businessmen, bankers and other trusted intermediaries who laundered illicit payments.

Nine of the defendants were FIFA officials by operation of the FIFA statutes, as well as officials of one or more other bodies:

•Jeffrey Webb: Current FIFA vice president and executive committee member, CONCACAF president, Caribbean Football Union (CFU) executive committee member and Cayman Islands Football Association (CIFA) president.

•Eduardo Li: Current FIFA executive committee member-elect, CONCACAF executive committee member and Costa Rican soccer federation (FEDEFUT) president.

•Julio Rocha: Current FIFA development officer.  Former Central American Football Union (UNCAF) president and Nicaraguan soccer federation (FENIFUT) president.

•Costas Takkas: Current attaché to the CONCACAF president.  Former CIFA general secretary.

•Jack Warner: Former FIFA vice president and executive committee member, CONCACAF president, CFU president and Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) special adviser.

•Eugenio Figueredo: Current FIFA vice president and executive committee member.  Former CONMEBOL president and Uruguayan soccer federation (AUF) president.

•Rafael Esquivel: Current CONMEBOL executive committee member and Venezuelan soccer federation (FVF) president.

•José Maria Marin: Current member of the FIFA organizing committee for the Olympic football tournaments.  Former CBF president.

•Nicolás Leoz: Former FIFA executive committee member and CONMEBOL president.

Four of the defendants were sports marketing executives:

•Alejandro Burzaco: Controlling principal of Torneos y Competencias S.A., a sports marketing business based in Argentina, and its affiliates.

•Aaron Davidson: President of Traffic Sports USA Inc. (Traffic USA).

•Hugo and Mariano Jinkis: Controlling principals of Full Play Group S.A., a sports marketing business based in Argentina, and its affiliates.

And one of the defendants was in the broadcasting business but allegedly served as an intermediary to facilitate illicit payments between sports marketing executives and soccer officials:

•José Margulies:  Controlling principal of Valente Corp. and Somerton Ltd.

The Convicted Individuals and Corporations

The following individuals and corporations previously pleaded guilty under seal:

On July 15, 2013, the defendant Daryll Warner, son of defendant Jack Warner and a former FIFA development officer, waived indictment and pleaded guilty to a two-count information charging him with wire fraud and the structuring of financial transactions.

On Oct. 25, 2013, the defendant Daryan Warner waived indictment and pleaded guilty to a three-count information charging him with wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy and the structuring of financial transactions.  Daryan Warner forfeited over $1.1 million around the time of his plea and has agreed to pay a second forfeiture money judgment at the time of sentencing.

On Nov. 25, 2013, the defendant Charles Blazer, the former CONCACAF general secretary and a former FIFA executive committee member, waived indictment and pleaded guilty to a 10-count information charging him with racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, income tax evasion and failure to file a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR).  Blazer forfeited over $1.9 million at the time of his plea and has agreed to pay a second amount to be determined at the time of sentencing.

On Dec. 12, 2014, the defendant José Hawilla, the owner and founder of the Traffic Group, the Brazilian sports marketing conglomerate, waived indictment and pleaded guilty to a four-count information charging him with racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy and obstruction of justice.  Hawilla also agreed to forfeit over $151 million, $25 million of which was paid at the time of his plea.

On May 14, 2015, the defendants Traffic Sports USA Inc. and Traffic Sports International Inc. pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy.

All money forfeited by the defendants is being held in reserve to ensure its availability to satisfy any order of restitution entered at sentencing for the benefit of any individuals or entities that qualify as victims of the defendants’ crimes under federal law.

* * * *

The indictment unsealed today has been assigned to U.S. District Court Judge Raymond J. Dearie of the Eastern District of New York.

The indicted and convicted individual defendants face maximum terms of incarceration of 20 years for the RICO conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, money laundering and obstruction of justice charges.  In addition, Eugenio Figueredo faces a maximum term of incarceration of 10 years for a charge of naturalization fraud and could have his U.S. citizenship revoked.  He also faces a maximum term of incarceration of five years for each tax charge.  Charles Blazer faces a maximum term of incarceration of 10 years for the FBAR charge and five years for the tax evasion charges; and Daryan and Daryll Warner face maximum terms of incarceration of 10 years for structuring financial transactions to evade currency reporting requirements.  Each individual defendant also faces mandatory restitution, forfeiture and a fine.  By the terms of their plea agreements, the corporate defendants face fines of $500,000 and one year of probation.

The government’s investigation is ongoing.

The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Evan M. Norris, Amanda Hector, Darren A. LaVerne, Samuel P. Nitze, Keith D. Edelman and Brian D. Morris of the Eastern District of New York, with assistance provided by the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and Organized Crime and Gang Section.

The Indicted Defendants:

ALEJANDRO BURZACO
Age:  50
Nationality: Argentina

AARON DAVIDSON
Age:  44
Nationality: USA

RAFAEL ESQUIVEL
Age:  68
Nationality: Venezuela

EUGENIO FIGUEREDO
Age:   83
Nationality: USA, Uruguay

HUGO JINKIS
Age:   70
Nationality: Argentina

MARIANO JINKIS
Age:   40
Nationality: Argentina

NICOLÁS LEOZ
Age:   86
Nationality: Paraguay

EDUARDO LI
Age:   56
Nationality: Costa Rica

JOSÉ MARGULIES, also known as José Lazaro
Age:   75
Nationality: Brazil

JOSÉ MARIA MARIN
Age:   83
Nationality: Brazil

JULIO ROCHA
Age:   64
Nationality: Nicaragua

COSTAS TAKKAS
Age:   58
Nationality: United Kingdom

JACK WARNER
Age:   72
Nationality: Trinidad and Tobago

JEFFREY WEBB
Age:   50
Nationality: Cayman Islands

The Convicted Defendants:

CHARLES BLAZER
Age:   70
Nationality: USA

JOSÉ HAWILLA
Age:   71
Nationality: Brazil

DARYAN WARNER
Age:   46
Nationality: Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada

DARYLL WARNER
Age:   40
Nationality: USA, Trinidad and Tobago

TRAFFIC SPORTS INTERNATIONAL INC.

Registered:  British Virgin Islands

TRAFFIC SPORTS USA INC.

Registered:  USA

E.D.N.Y. Docket Numbers:

United States v. Daryll Warner, 13 Cr. 402 (WFK)

United States v. Daryan Warner, 13 Cr. 584 (WFK)

United States v. Charles Blazer, 13 Cr. 602 (RJD)

United States v. José Hawilla, 14 Cr. 609 (RJD)

United States v. Traffic Sports International, Inc., 14 Cr. 609 (RJD)

United States v. Traffic Sports USA, Inc., 14 Cr. 609 (RJD)

United States v. Jeffrey Webb et al., 15 Cr. 252 (RJD)

Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: slates on May 27, 2015, 07:14:51 AM
So was Jack picked up in Switzerland or not? One article seem to suggest he was among those arrested.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: grimm01 on May 27, 2015, 07:46:52 AM
So was Jack picked up in Switzerland or not? One article seem to suggest he was among those arrested.

Jack in T&T... He better start drafting Section 35 to get out of the extradition.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Peong on May 27, 2015, 07:57:17 AM
Interesting to finally find out what was up with Warner's sons a couple years back.

Who out of the latest arrestees will be first to cut a deal?
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: dervaig on May 27, 2015, 07:59:07 AM
Interesting the 2 Warner's both pleaded guilty to 'Bobbol', and they were
not member's of FIFA, yet the Patriarch of the Warner family has not been
questioned, and continues to proclaim his innocence.

Hmmmmmmmm..........

I am guessing the 2 son's were given the opportunity to come forward, before
they were hunted, smart on their part, and the Patriarch was also afforded the
opportunity to come forward, and answer a few questions, but chose not to.

And after all of this news about FIFA, and the allegations of 'rampant corruption',
Mr. Overseer of Corruption, the Earl of Fifa, aka Sepp, will carry on with his
election this Friday.
Title: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: grimm01 on May 27, 2015, 08:09:25 AM
Interesting the 2 Warner's both pleaded guilty to 'Bobbol', and they were
not member's of FIFA, yet the Patriarch of the Warner family has not been
questioned, and continues to proclaim his innocence.

Hmmmmmmmm..........

I am guessing the 2 son's were given the opportunity to come forward, before
they were hunted, smart on their part, and the Patriarch was also afforded the
opportunity to come forward, and answer a few questions, but chose not to.

And after all of this news about FIFA, and the allegations of 'rampant corruption',
Mr. Overseer of Corruption, the Earl of Fifa, aka Sepp, will carry on with his
election this Friday.

I am sure Sepp is the ultimate prize here. Just as they use iron clad cases as leverage on smaller fish like Chuck and the Warner gang to ketch bigger fish, so the same with Webb & Co. to get to Sepp, Issa and perhaps Platini? Apparently Chuck was wearing a wire for a while and The Warner gang tell dey daddy secrets. No honor among thieves.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: dreamer on May 27, 2015, 08:11:45 AM
Wasn't it Webbolito who was nabbed special forces style?
Doubt if Renraw so stupid to travel. He had been quaking in his boots and shittin' dong heself a long time.
Jackulito will be nex to be extradited ... then horrible Horace .... then Uncle Tim.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: dreamer on May 27, 2015, 08:18:21 AM
Interesting to finally find out what was up with Warner's sons a couple years back.

Who will be first to cut a deal?

We may need to get some info from Horner.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Bakes on May 27, 2015, 08:21:23 AM
Daryan and Daryll Warner face maximum terms of incarceration of 10 years for structuring financial transactions to evade currency reporting requirements.

I doubt they facing the max... if so then what was the point of cutting a deal?  Likely they had charges dropped and the DOJ will recommend a reduced sentenced as part of the plea deal.

I am sure Sepp is the ultimate prize here. Just as they use iron clad cases as leverage on smaller fish like Chuck and the Warner gang to ketch bigger fish, so the same with Webb & Co. to get to Sepp, Issa and perhaps Platini? Apparently Chuck was wearing a wire for a while and The Warner gang tell dey daddy secrets. No honor among thieves.

Nah I think this is specifically a CONCACAF issue... looking at the players, we posted about this Traffic Sports deal, at least I know I have, on this site and on Big Soccer years now.  Blazer negotiate the CONCACAF TV rights with Traffic using his Cayman company as broker.  That violates NYS (CONCACAF HQ was in NYC then) corporate laws... among other things.  The use of wire transfers makes it a federal crime, hence the DOJ's involvement.  Was wondering what became of this probe.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: weary1969 on May 27, 2015, 08:24:25 AM
Interesting to finally find out what was up with Warner's sons a couple years back.

Who will be first to cut a deal?

We may need to get some info from Horner.

 :beermug:
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Banter Banton on May 27, 2015, 08:27:17 AM
Don't drop the soap Horner !  Maybe you can park yuh Hummer in there
 
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Peong on May 27, 2015, 08:30:38 AM
Will Jack Warner raise again?   I hope not.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: grimm01 on May 27, 2015, 08:31:35 AM

Daryan and Daryll Warner face maximum terms of incarceration of 10 years for structuring financial transactions to evade currency reporting requirements.

I doubt they facing the max... if so then what was the point of cutting a deal?  Likely they had charges dropped and the DOJ will recommend a reduced sentenced as part of the plea deal.

I am sure Sepp is the ultimate prize here. Just as they use iron clad cases as leverage on smaller fish like Chuck and the Warner gang to ketch bigger fish, so the same with Webb & Co. to get to Sepp, Issa and perhaps Platini? Apparently Chuck was wearing a wire for a while and The Warner gang tell dey daddy secrets. No honor among thieves.

Nah I think this is specifically a CONCACAF issue... looking at the players, we posted about this Traffic Sports deal, at least I know I have, on this site and on Big Soccer years now.  Blazer negotiate the CONCACAF TV rights with Traffic using his Cayman company as broker.  That violates NYS (CONCACAF HQ was in NYC then) corporate laws... among other things.  The use of wire transfers makes it a federal crime, hence the DOJ's involvement.  Was wondering what became of this probe.

Baked the last part of my original post says that the Warners get a $500k fine and a year probation as part of the plea.

Also announced today was that the Swiss open a criminal investigation on the bidding for 2018 and 2022 WC. So it looks like the CONCACAF bacchanal was the opening for a broader investigation on FIFA.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: R45 on May 27, 2015, 08:35:06 AM
This is just another embarrassment for T&T - I'm not really looking forward to all the BS we will see in the media if they try to extradite Warner.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Errol on May 27, 2015, 08:36:42 AM
grimm01, read again, ter blue part.

Nine FIFA Officials and Five Corporate Executives Indicted for Racketeering Conspiracy and Corruption.
US Department of Justice Release.


The Defendants Include Two Current FIFA Vice Presidents and the Current and Former Presidents of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF); Seven Defendants Arrested Overseas; Guilty Pleas for Four Individual Defendants and Two Corporate Defendants Also Unsealed

A 47-count indictment was unsealed early this morning in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, charging 14 defendants with racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies, among other offenses, in connection with the defendants’ participation in a 24-year scheme to enrich themselves through the corruption of international soccer.  The guilty pleas of four individual defendants and two corporate defendants were also unsealed today.

The defendants charged in the indictment include high-ranking officials of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the organization responsible for the regulation and promotion of soccer worldwide, as well as leading officials of other soccer governing bodies that operate under the FIFA umbrella.  Jeffrey Webb and Jack Warner – the current and former presidents of CONCACAF, the continental confederation under FIFA headquartered in the United States – are among the soccer officials charged with racketeering and bribery offenses.  The defendants also include U.S. and South American sports marketing executives who are alleged to have systematically paid and agreed to pay well over $150 million in bribes and kickbacks to obtain lucrative media and marketing rights to international soccer tournaments.

The charges were announced by Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch, Acting U.S. Attorney Kelly T. Currie of the Eastern District of New York, Director James B. Comey of the FBI, Assistant Director in Charge Diego W. Rodriguez of the FBI’s New York Field Office, Chief Richard Weber of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) and Special Agent in Charge Erick Martinez of the IRS-CI’s Los Angeles Field Office.

Also earlier this morning, Swiss authorities in Zurich arrested seven of the defendants charged in the indictment, the defendants Jeffrey Webb, Eduardo Li, Julio Rocha, Costas Takkas, Eugenio Figueredo, Rafael Esquivel and José Maria Marin, at the request of the United States.  Also this morning, a search warrant is being executed at CONCACAF headquarters in Miami, Florida.

The guilty pleas of the four individual and two corporate defendants that were also unsealed today include the guilty pleas of Charles Blazer, the long-serving former general secretary of CONCACAF and former U.S. representative on the FIFA executive committee; José Hawilla, the owner and founder of the Traffic Group, a multinational sports marketing conglomerate headquartered in Brazil; and two of Hawilla’s companies, Traffic Sports International Inc. and Traffic Sports USA Inc., which is based in Florida.

“The indictment alleges corruption that is rampant, systemic, and deep-rooted both abroad and here in the United States,” said Attorney General Lynch.  “It spans at least two generations of soccer officials who, as alleged, have abused their positions of trust to acquire millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks.  And it has profoundly harmed a multitude of victims, from the youth leagues and developing countries that should benefit from the revenue generated by the commercial rights these organizations hold, to the fans at home and throughout the world whose support for the game makes those rights valuable.  Today’s action makes clear that this Department of Justice intends to end any such corrupt practices, to root out misconduct, and to bring wrongdoers to justice – and we look forward to continuing to work with other countries in this effort.”

Attorney General Lynch extended her grateful appreciation to the authorities of the government of Switzerland, as well as several other international partners, for their outstanding assistance in this investigation.

“Today’s announcement should send a message that enough is enough,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Currie.  “After decades of what the indictment alleges to be brazen corruption, organized international soccer needs a new start – a new chance for its governing institutions to provide honest oversight and support of a sport that is beloved across the world, increasingly so here in the United States.  Let me be clear: this indictment is not the final chapter in our investigation.” 

Acting U.S. Attorney Currie extended his thanks to the agents, analysts and other investigative personnel with the FBI New York Eurasian Joint Organized Crime Squad and the IRS-CI Los Angeles Field Office, as well as their colleagues abroad, for their tremendous effort in this case.

“As charged in the indictment, the defendants fostered a culture of corruption and greed that created an uneven playing field for the biggest sport in the world,” said Director Comey.  “Undisclosed and illegal payments, kickbacks, and bribes became a way of doing business at FIFA.  I want to commend the investigators and prosecutors around the world who have pursued this case so diligently, for so many years.”

“When leaders in an organization resort to cheating the very members that they are supposed to represent, they must be held accountable,” said Chief Weber.  “Corruption, tax evasion and money laundering are certainly not the cornerstones of any successful business.  Whether you call it soccer or football, the fans, players and sponsors around the world who love this game should not have to worry about officials corrupting their sport.  This case isn't about soccer, it is about fairness and following the law.  IRS-CI will continue to investigate financial crimes and follow the money wherever it may lead around the world, leveling the playing field for those who obey the law.”

The charges in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The Enterprise

FIFA is composed of 209 member associations, each representing organized soccer in a particular nation or territory, including the United States and four of its overseas territories.  FIFA also recognizes six continental confederations that assist it in governing soccer in different regions of the world.  The U.S. Soccer Federation is one of 41 member associations of the confederation known as CONCACAF, which has been headquartered in the United States throughout the period charged in the indictment.  The South American confederation, called CONMEBOL, is also a focus of the indictment.

As alleged in the indictment, FIFA and its six continental confederations, together with affiliated regional federations, national member associations and sports marketing companies, constitute an enterprise of legal entities associated in fact for purposes of the federal racketeering laws.  The principal – and entirely legitimate – purpose of the enterprise is to regulate and promote the sport of soccer worldwide.

As alleged in the indictment, one key way the enterprise derives revenue is to commercialize the media and marketing rights associated with soccer events and tournaments.  The organizing entity that owns those rights – as FIFA and CONCACAF do with respect to the World Cup and Gold Cup, their respective flagship tournaments – sells them to sports marketing companies, often through multi-year contracts covering multiple editions of the tournaments.  The sports marketing companies, in turn, sell the rights downstream to TV and radio broadcast networks, major corporate sponsors and other sub-licensees who want to broadcast the matches or promote their brands.  The revenue generated from these contracts is substantial: according to FIFA, 70% of its $5.7 billion in total revenues between 2011 and 2014 was attributable to the sale of TV and marketing rights to the 2014 World Cup.

The Racketeering Conspiracy

The indictment alleges that, between 1991 and the present, the defendants and their co-conspirators corrupted the enterprise by engaging in various criminal activities, including fraud, bribery and money laundering.  Two generations of soccer officials abused their positions of trust for personal gain, frequently through an alliance with unscrupulous sports marketing executives who shut out competitors and kept highly lucrative contracts for themselves through the systematic payment of bribes and kickbacks.  All told, the soccer officials are charged with conspiring to solicit and receive well over $150 million in bribes and kickbacks in exchange for their official support of the sports marketing executives who agreed to make the unlawful payments.

Most of the schemes alleged in the indictment relate to the solicitation and receipt of bribes and kickbacks by soccer officials from sports marketing executives in connection with the commercialization of the media and marketing rights associated with various soccer matches and tournaments, including FIFA World Cup qualifiers in the CONCACAF region, the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the CONCACAF Champions League, the jointly organized CONMEBOL/CONCACAF Copa América Centenario, the CONMEBOL Copa América, the CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores and the Copa do Brasil, which is organized by the Brazilian national soccer federation (CBF).  Other alleged schemes relate to the payment and receipt of bribes and kickbacks in connection with the sponsorship of CBF by a major U.S. sportswear company, the selection of the host country for the 2010 World Cup and the 2011 FIFA presidential election.

The Indicted Defendants

As set forth in the indictment, the defendants and their co-conspirators fall generally into three categories: soccer officials acting in a fiduciary capacity within FIFA and one or more of its constituent organizations; sports media and marketing company executives; and businessmen, bankers and other trusted intermediaries who laundered illicit payments.

Nine of the defendants were FIFA officials by operation of the FIFA statutes, as well as officials of one or more other bodies:

•Jeffrey Webb: Current FIFA vice president and executive committee member, CONCACAF president, Caribbean Football Union (CFU) executive committee member and Cayman Islands Football Association (CIFA) president.

•Eduardo Li: Current FIFA executive committee member-elect, CONCACAF executive committee member and Costa Rican soccer federation (FEDEFUT) president.

•Julio Rocha: Current FIFA development officer.  Former Central American Football Union (UNCAF) president and Nicaraguan soccer federation (FENIFUT) president.

•Costas Takkas: Current attaché to the CONCACAF president.  Former CIFA general secretary.

•Jack Warner: Former FIFA vice president and executive committee member, CONCACAF president, CFU president and Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) special adviser.

•Eugenio Figueredo: Current FIFA vice president and executive committee member.  Former CONMEBOL president and Uruguayan soccer federation (AUF) president.

•Rafael Esquivel: Current CONMEBOL executive committee member and Venezuelan soccer federation (FVF) president.

•José Maria Marin: Current member of the FIFA organizing committee for the Olympic football tournaments.  Former CBF president.

•Nicolás Leoz: Former FIFA executive committee member and CONMEBOL president.

Four of the defendants were sports marketing executives:

•Alejandro Burzaco: Controlling principal of Torneos y Competencias S.A., a sports marketing business based in Argentina, and its affiliates.

•Aaron Davidson: President of Traffic Sports USA Inc. (Traffic USA).

•Hugo and Mariano Jinkis: Controlling principals of Full Play Group S.A., a sports marketing business based in Argentina, and its affiliates.

And one of the defendants was in the broadcasting business but allegedly served as an intermediary to facilitate illicit payments between sports marketing executives and soccer officials:

•José Margulies:  Controlling principal of Valente Corp. and Somerton Ltd.

The Convicted Individuals and Corporations

The following individuals and corporations previously pleaded guilty under seal:

On July 15, 2013, the defendant Daryll Warner, son of defendant Jack Warner and a former FIFA development officer, waived indictment and pleaded guilty to a two-count information charging him with wire fraud and the structuring of financial transactions.

On Oct. 25, 2013, the defendant Daryan Warner waived indictment and pleaded guilty to a three-count information charging him with wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy and the structuring of financial transactions.  Daryan Warner forfeited over $1.1 million around the time of his plea and has agreed to pay a second forfeiture money judgment at the time of sentencing.

On Nov. 25, 2013, the defendant Charles Blazer, the former CONCACAF general secretary and a former FIFA executive committee member, waived indictment and pleaded guilty to a 10-count information charging him with racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, income tax evasion and failure to file a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR).  Blazer forfeited over $1.9 million at the time of his plea and has agreed to pay a second amount to be determined at the time of sentencing.

On Dec. 12, 2014, the defendant José Hawilla, the owner and founder of the Traffic Group, the Brazilian sports marketing conglomerate, waived indictment and pleaded guilty to a four-count information charging him with racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy and obstruction of justice.  Hawilla also agreed to forfeit over $151 million, $25 million of which was paid at the time of his plea.

On May 14, 2015, the defendants Traffic Sports USA Inc. and Traffic Sports International Inc. pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy.

All money forfeited by the defendants is being held in reserve to ensure its availability to satisfy any order of restitution entered at sentencing for the benefit of any individuals or entities that qualify as victims of the defendants’ crimes under federal law.

* * * *

The indictment unsealed today has been assigned to U.S. District Court Judge Raymond J. Dearie of the Eastern District of New York.

The indicted and convicted individual defendants face maximum terms of incarceration of 20 years for the RICO conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, money laundering and obstruction of justice charges.  In addition, Eugenio Figueredo faces a maximum term of incarceration of 10 years for a charge of naturalization fraud and could have his U.S. citizenship revoked.  He also faces a maximum term of incarceration of five years for each tax charge.  Charles Blazer faces a maximum term of incarceration of 10 years for the FBAR charge and five years for the tax evasion charges; and Daryan and Daryll Warner face maximum terms of incarceration of 10 years for structuring financial transactions to evade currency reporting requirements.  Each individual defendant also faces mandatory restitution, forfeiture and a fine.  By the terms of their plea agreements, the corporate defendants face fines of $500,000 and one year of probation.

The government’s investigation is ongoing.

The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Evan M. Norris, Amanda Hector, Darren A. LaVerne, Samuel P. Nitze, Keith D. Edelman and Brian D. Morris of the Eastern District of New York, with assistance provided by the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and Organized Crime and Gang Section.

The Indicted Defendants:

ALEJANDRO BURZACO
Age:  50
Nationality: Argentina

AARON DAVIDSON
Age:  44
Nationality: USA

RAFAEL ESQUIVEL
Age:  68
Nationality: Venezuela

EUGENIO FIGUEREDO
Age:   83
Nationality: USA, Uruguay

HUGO JINKIS
Age:   70
Nationality: Argentina

MARIANO JINKIS
Age:   40
Nationality: Argentina

NICOLÁS LEOZ
Age:   86
Nationality: Paraguay

EDUARDO LI
Age:   56
Nationality: Costa Rica

JOSÉ MARGULIES, also known as José Lazaro
Age:   75
Nationality: Brazil

JOSÉ MARIA MARIN
Age:   83
Nationality: Brazil

JULIO ROCHA
Age:   64
Nationality: Nicaragua

COSTAS TAKKAS
Age:   58
Nationality: United Kingdom

JACK WARNER
Age:   72
Nationality: Trinidad and Tobago

JEFFREY WEBB
Age:   50
Nationality: Cayman Islands

The Convicted Defendants:

CHARLES BLAZER
Age:   70
Nationality: USA

JOSÉ HAWILLA
Age:   71
Nationality: Brazil

DARYAN WARNER
Age:   46
Nationality: Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada

DARYLL WARNER
Age:   40
Nationality: USA, Trinidad and Tobago

TRAFFIC SPORTS INTERNATIONAL INC.

Registered:  British Virgin Islands

TRAFFIC SPORTS USA INC.

Registered:  USA

E.D.N.Y. Docket Numbers:

United States v. Daryll Warner, 13 Cr. 402 (WFK)

United States v. Daryan Warner, 13 Cr. 584 (WFK)

United States v. Charles Blazer, 13 Cr. 602 (RJD)

United States v. José Hawilla, 14 Cr. 609 (RJD)

United States v. Traffic Sports International, Inc., 14 Cr. 609 (RJD)

United States v. Traffic Sports USA, Inc., 14 Cr. 609 (RJD)

United States v. Jeffrey Webb et al., 15 Cr. 252 (RJD)


Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Bakes on May 27, 2015, 08:40:41 AM

Baked the last part of my original post says that the Warners get a $500k fine and a year probation as part of the plea.

Also announced today was that the Swiss open a criminal investigation on the bidding for 2018 and 2022 WC. So it looks like the CONCACAF bacchanal was the opening for a broader investigation on FIFA.

Nah, is de "corporate defendants" who get the year probation and $500k fine.  Sentencing yet to pass on the Warners plea.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Peong on May 27, 2015, 08:42:07 AM
If this gets Jack out of T&T's politics then it's a huge blessing.
Title: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: grimm01 on May 27, 2015, 08:44:08 AM

Baked the last part of my original post says that the Warners get a $500k fine and a year probation as part of the plea.

Also announced today was that the Swiss open a criminal investigation on the bidding for 2018 and 2022 WC. So it looks like the CONCACAF bacchanal was the opening for a broader investigation on FIFA.

Nah, is de "corporate defendants" who get the year probation and $500k fine.  Sentencing yet to pass on the Warners plea.

Ok got it.
I was wondering what kinda info they gave up to get away so easy, but good to know that sentencing still due...
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: R45 on May 27, 2015, 08:58:57 AM
If this gets Jack out of T&T's politics then it's a huge blessing.

The man was given the Minister of National Security portfolio and re-elected in his constituency with an overwhelming majority despite all the obvious corruptions and investigations implicating him in the bobol. I think he coats himself with teflon every morning and it is pretty obvious that T&T politics do not account for corruption given our history. I won't be declaring his political death yet (unfortunately).
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: weary1969 on May 27, 2015, 08:59:52 AM
If this gets Jack out of T&T's politics then it's a huge blessing.

He need to take Kamla with him.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Zeppo on May 27, 2015, 09:02:11 AM
Not seeing Chuck Blazer name?

Here's how Blazer figures in:

When FIFA cleared itself of wrongdoing, the FBI wasn't ready to do the same.

It wanted to know whether any of the allegations of bribe-taking and kickbacks by FIFA officials took place on American soil.

And it knew it was on the right track, especially after it secured the cooperation of a former top FIFA official -- and an American -- named Chuck Blazer.

Blazer had found himself in a bind. He hadn't paid his taxes for many, many years and was looking at serious prison time. So he became an informant, who provided documents and recordings of meetings with FIFA colleagues that hinted at not-so-kosher dealings, law enforcement officials said.


http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/27/us/fifa-corruption-investigation-why/index.html?sr=twcnnbrk052715fifacorruptioninvestigationwhy421aStoryLink
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: MEP on May 27, 2015, 09:06:32 AM
If this gets Jack out of T&T's politics then it's a huge blessing.

Nah..de PP go stay quiet....remember when he was MoNS and some files went missing from a storage facility in Arima.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Sam on May 27, 2015, 09:08:34 AM
If this gets Jack out of T&T's politics then it's a huge blessing.

He need to take Kamla with him.

And Rowley and Ramlogan too.

Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Flex on May 27, 2015, 09:14:42 AM
Jack Warner responds. Warner faces extradition, named among FIFA officials indicted in US.
T&T Guardian Reports.


Jack Warner is among several powerful figures in global football facing charges over widespread corruption over the past two decades, the New York Times reported.

UPDATE: Warner responds to international media reports

In a media release this morning Warner disassociates himself from the investigations stating that he has left FIFA and international football more than four years ago.
 
“It has been reported that a number of FIFA officials have been arrested in Switzerland and that at least one raid conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigators in Miami is being executed at what I presume to be CONCACAF offices. 
 
“My name is being reported by international media as being one of those persons sought in connection with the probe. 
 
“The people of Trinidad and Tobago will know that I quit FIFA and international football more than four years ago and that over the past several years I have recommitted my life to the work of improving the lot of every citizen of every creed and race in this nation,” Warner said. 
 
Reaffirming his innocence, Warner stated that he was afforded no due process and was not questioned on the matter.
 
“I have fought fearlessly against all forms of injustice and corruption. I have been afforded no due process and I have not even been questioned in this matter.  I reiterate that I am innocent of any charges.   I have walked away from the politics of world football to immerse myself in the improvement of lives in this country where I shall, God willing, die,” he said.
 
Warner claimed that FIFA matters no longer concern him. However he noted the controversial upcoming elections. 
 
“The actions of FIFA no longer concern me.   I cannot help but note however that these cross- border coordinated actions come at a time when FIFA is assembled for elections to select a President who is universally disliked by the international community.   At times such as this it is my experience that the large world powers typically take actions to affect world football.  World football is an enormous international business,” he said.
 
Warner added that his sole focus is now on the people of T&T and he will continue with his political life.   
 
“That is no longer my concern. My sole focus at this stage of my life is on the people of Trinidad and Tobago. I wish to advise the hundreds of thousands of persons who support the ILP that my commitment to them and to the people of Trinidad and Tobago is undaunted and can never be broken,” he said.

Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Deeks on May 27, 2015, 09:20:57 AM
How Rowley and Ramlogan? Maybe Ramlogan when Jack and he were buddies when PP won the elections. I remember Rowley saying Jack should serve FIFA or serve his constituents. Kamla tell Rowley mind he own business!
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: dreamer on May 27, 2015, 09:27:30 AM
This is just another embarrassment for T&T - I'm not really looking forward to all the BS we will see in the media if they try to extradite Warner.

Please bring it on !!! Popcorn supasize by de bucket please and 2 red solo ... Pronto.
Showtime ... and in de best seat in balcony to boot!!!

Btw, thank you Lasana and yuh boy in England who was a thorn in Jackulito's side and for speaking truth to power:
He received "yuh muddah"
And you were thanked with "yuh f**ker"
So stay the course.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: elan on May 27, 2015, 09:32:12 AM
This is a farce for the US to takeover the regional football and payback for 2022. Watch and see if another Caribbean person ever run CONCACAF. If alyuh think Sancho want to kill football, wait until is only 2 spots for CONCACAF and the voting block of the CFU destroyed.

Every tournament now will be in the US, Mexico and Canada.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: elan on May 27, 2015, 09:32:45 AM
I really not feeling this. This is not a shake up of FIFA.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: davyjenny1 on May 27, 2015, 09:42:48 AM
"The world cup corruption of fraud and today we're issuing fifa a red card"- Richard Weber Chief Criminal Investigator at IRS 
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: weary1969 on May 27, 2015, 09:44:30 AM
How Rowley and Ramlogan? Maybe Ramlogan when Jack and he were buddies when PP won the elections. I remember Rowley saying Jack should serve FIFA or serve his constituents. Kamla tell Rowley mind he own business!

 :beermug:
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: weary1969 on May 27, 2015, 09:45:53 AM
I really not feeling this. This is not a shake up of FIFA.

If Jack can take Kams and co with him I will be happy like pappy. FIFA is a gang you get rid of 1 leader another will emerge.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Bakes on May 27, 2015, 09:50:22 AM
This is a farce for the US to takeover the regional football and payback for 2022. Watch and see if another Caribbean person ever run CONCACAF. If alyuh think Sancho want to kill football, wait until is only 2 spots for CONCACAF and the voting block of the CFU destroyed.

Every tournament now will be in the US, Mexico and Canada.

This next one, lol.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: elan on May 27, 2015, 09:54:19 AM
This is a farce for the US to takeover the regional football and payback for 2022. Watch and see if another Caribbean person ever run CONCACAF. If alyuh think Sancho want to kill football, wait until is only 2 spots for CONCACAF and the voting block of the CFU destroyed.

Every tournament now will be in the US, Mexico and Canada.

This next one, lol.


I know right. American exceptionalism at it's best. Where banks can do insider trading all day long and no one goes to jail. But you know how serious us Yanks take our footb uh, soccer.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Sam on May 27, 2015, 10:03:26 AM
I really not feeling this. This is not a shake up of FIFA.

If Jack can take Kams and co with him I will be happy like pappy. FIFA is a gang you get rid of 1 leader another will emerge.

Same thing I saying all de time about T&T government, get rid of Kamla and a next one will emerge, PNM,UNC, same f00cking kakie pants.

Rowley is a f00cking ediot to

Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Sam on May 27, 2015, 10:07:41 AM
This is a farce for the US to takeover the regional football and payback for 2022. Watch and see if another Caribbean person ever run CONCACAF. If alyuh think Sancho want to kill football, wait until is only 2 spots for CONCACAF and the voting block of the CFU destroyed.

Every tournament now will be in the US, Mexico and Canada.

Good talking.

Concacaf go be North America alone just now and de rest of Concacaf go have to play in Conmebol.

It good cause when we own get in power they does f00ck it up for everybody

Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Bakes on May 27, 2015, 10:14:21 AM
I know right. American exceptionalism at it's best. Where banks can do insider trading all day long and no one goes to jail. But you know how serious us Yanks take our footb uh, soccer.

Dred if you hate the US so much then why yuh pack up in de people and dem country?  Focus that energy on moving back to Trinidad and helping it.  You come like some ah dem Indians (like Sat Maharaj) who only love to run down Trinidad while bigging up India... well move tuh f**k back already.  This has nothing to do with "American exceptionalism"... CONCACAF under Jack and Blazer was thiefing money left and right and not paying taxes.  You really that dunce to think that any of this is over football?  I'm sure the US getting slighted for the WC probably caused somebody in the USSF to sic the FBI on CONCACAF, but you schupid enough to have yuh HQ in one of the more aggressive US Attorney's office, and thiefing money hand over fist.  The DOJ bring down Al Capone on tax evasion charges but they should let CONCACAF slide?  Sometimes is best to just hush and let you talk yes.  You's ah accidental comedian... ah natural joker without even trying.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Socapro on May 27, 2015, 10:35:07 AM
This is a farce for the US to takeover the regional football and payback for 2022. Watch and see if another Caribbean person ever run CONCACAF. If alyuh think Sancho want to kill football, wait until is only 2 spots for CONCACAF and the voting block of the CFU destroyed.

Every tournament now will be in the US, Mexico and Canada.

At least one person in this thread is on the ball. :thumbsup:
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Deeks on May 27, 2015, 10:36:32 AM
This is a farce for the US to takeover the regional football and payback for 2022. Watch and see if another Caribbean person ever run CONCACAF. If alyuh think Sancho want to kill football, wait until is only 2 spots for CONCACAF and the voting block of the CFU destroyed.

Every tournament now will be in the US, Mexico and Canada.


Breds, we can't have it both ways. We bemoan the corruption that permeates in FIFA, Wall Street, TT etc. and we refuse to do anything about it. Why? because we are inept, scared or ourselves corrupt to do anything about it. When the U.S. stepped a bring charges, you now slamming the U.S. Is 2006 when this exploded. Nine years later , nine friggin years. That eh long enough, Breds. The Euro Union was not going to do anything. Who else do you call? GhostBusters?

Every tournament in the US, Canada, Mexico. You have a point there. But look at the irony! This same Crooked Jack Warner use his power and influences to have the TT govt build 4 stadiums and we hosted two junior WC. Also, we used to host a lot of Concacaf junior WC qualifying tournaments, which enable two junior team to go to the junior WC in Egypt and Korea.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Peong on May 27, 2015, 10:37:10 AM
I have fought fearlessly against all forms of injustice and corruption.  - Austin "Jack" Warner
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: MEP on May 27, 2015, 10:39:09 AM
Bakes
Quote
You's ah accidental comedian
I hope you didn't copyright that...I plan to use it
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Sando prince on May 27, 2015, 10:48:00 AM


What if some of the alleged corruption money was used to finance UNC/PP election campaign in 2010? What next?
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: MEP on May 27, 2015, 10:53:40 AM
I suspect that with Sunil Gulati being on the maFiFA Exec Committee that some of the impetus behind this may have come from him. It would be interesting how he responds to this.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: MEP on May 27, 2015, 10:55:04 AM


What if some of the alleged corruption money was used to finance UNC/PP election campaign in 2010? What next?
Let's see how Kamla responds providing she is so advised
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: E-man on May 27, 2015, 11:27:42 AM
(http://i.imgur.com/FkZEM7X.jpg)
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: kounty on May 27, 2015, 11:30:19 AM
This is a farce for the US to takeover the regional football and payback for 2022. Watch and see if another Caribbean person ever run CONCACAF. If alyuh think Sancho want to kill football, wait until is only 2 spots for CONCACAF and the voting block of the CFU destroyed.

Every tournament now will be in the US, Mexico and Canada.
I am definitely no US fan either, but even the broken clock is right twice a day. This is one of the rare times the US uses its long arm, correct and right. Looking at her short tenure I would like to hope is Loretta Lynch and if so, look forward to the continued shaking up of the system.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Bakes on May 27, 2015, 11:31:43 AM
I am definitely no US fan either, but even the broken clock is right twice a day. This is one of the rare times the US uses its long arm, correct and right. Looking at her short tenure I would like to hope is Loretta Lynch and if so, look forward to the continued shaking up of the system.

Nothing short about her tenure... she's been overseeing the investigations for the past three years as US Attorney for the EDNY.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: asylumseeker on May 27, 2015, 11:34:24 AM
I am definitely no US fan either, but even the broken clock is right twice a day. This is one of the rare times the US uses its long arm, correct and right. Looking at her short tenure I would like to hope is Loretta Lynch and if so, look forward to the continued shaking up of the system.

Nothing short about her tenure... she's been overseeing the investigations for the past three years as US Attorney for the EDNY.

I understand his comment to be a reference to the future, rather than the past. End of the present administration's term ... etc.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: soccerman on May 27, 2015, 11:36:10 AM
This is a farce for the US to takeover the regional football and payback for 2022. Watch and see if another Caribbean person ever run CONCACAF. If alyuh think Sancho want to kill football, wait until is only 2 spots for CONCACAF and the voting block of the CFU destroyed.

Every tournament now will be in the US, Mexico and Canada.
Agreed. As much as the US is doing the right thing ethically, I have a feeling they'll eventually take over CONCACAF.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Sando prince on May 27, 2015, 11:42:03 AM

Remember this from 2013?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZY3SAdt_bY (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZY3SAdt_bY)
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: MEP on May 27, 2015, 11:46:09 AM
what will be interesting is to see how the European countries respond in terms of prosecuting FIFA for laws that may have been violated.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: FF on May 27, 2015, 11:48:26 AM
Guys, the U.S. and before Mexico have long been the financial power in Concacaf. The CFU with our voting bloc has been the political power. This will not change. But we collectively need to have the strength, wisdom and integrity to use this power for our betterment. For too long we have squandered this position with corruption, greed and lack of foresight.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Brownsugar on May 27, 2015, 11:54:16 AM
My initial and only response to this news so far is........ :wavetowel: :wavetowel: :wavetowel: :flamethrower: :flamethrower: :applause: :applause: :applause: :cheers: :cheers: :party: :party: :wavetowel:

Thanks Uncle Sam!!  I will most likely never back your shyte "soccer" team but ah leaving dat aside for today...... Thanks again eh......;D ;D
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Banter Banton on May 27, 2015, 11:57:41 AM
Wow now UEFA have called for a postponement of the Elections and they are ready to Boycott FIFA
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: asylumseeker on May 27, 2015, 12:02:13 PM
Statement by FIFA President Blatter
FIFA.COM


This is a difficult time for football, the fans and for FIFA as an organisation. We understand the disappointment that many have expressed and I know that the events of today will impact the way in which many people view us.

As unfortunate as these events are, it should be clear that we welcome the actions and the investigations by the US and Swiss authorities and believe that it will help to reinforce measures that FIFA has already taken to root out any wrongdoing in football.

While there will be many who are frustrated with the pace of change, I would like to stress the actions that we have taken and will continue to take. In fact, today’s action by the Swiss Office of the Attorney General was set in motion when we submitted a dossier to the Swiss authorities late last year.

Let me be clear: such misconduct has no place in football and we will ensure that those who engage in it are put out of the game. Following the events of today, the independent Ethics Committee – which is in the midst of its own proceedings regarding the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups - took swift action to provisionally ban those individuals named by the authorities from any football-related activities at the national and international level. These actions are on top of similar steps that FIFA has taken over the past year to exclude any members who violate our own Code of Ethics.

We will continue to work with the relevant authorities and we will work vigorously within FIFA in order to root out any misconduct, to regain your trust and ensure that football worldwide is free from wrongdoing.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Flex on May 27, 2015, 12:03:10 PM
Here Are the FIFA Officials Indicted on Corruption Charges
nytimes.com.


A look at the 14 people, including FIFA officials, who face racketeering, conspiracy and corruption charges in the United States.

Jeffrey Webb

Webb, 50, has been president of Concacaf, the regional confederation representing North and Central America and the Caribbean, since 2012. That post also makes him a vice president of FIFA. His arrest might be the biggest surprise: Webb is widely hailed as a voice for change in world soccer, and he has pressed FIFA to be more proactive in fighting corruption and mismanagement. He was among the few voices who pressed FIFA to release the entire report into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Webb has also taken the lead in fighting racism in the game; he currently leads FIFA's anti-discrimination task force.

Jack Warner

Warner, 72, was a dominant force in Concacaf and FIFA politics for nearly 30 years until he resigned all of his positions in the wake of numerous charges of corruption and bribery against him. Because of FIFA rules at the time he retired in 2011, Warner’s resignation brought to an end all ethics proceedings against him. That prevented a public airing of the charges – “the presumption of innocence is maintained,” FIFA said in announcing his departure – including allegations that he had benefited from reselling World Cup tickets and television rights and that he had used FIFA funds to build a $26 million training center on property that he owned, making him its de facto owner. Warner dismissed a report detailing his financial mismanagement of Concacaf as "baseless and malicious" when it was released in 2013. "I left Concacaf and turned my back on football two years ago," he said. "Since then, I have had no interest in any football-related matter."

Eugenio Figueredo

Figueredo, 83, was the president of Uruguay's soccer federation from 1997 to 2006, and served as the vice president of Conmebol, the governing body for soccer in South America, from 1993 to 2013. He ascended to the presidency of the federation when Nicolás Leoz of Paraguay resigned from FIFA; Leoz cited "health and personal" reasons for his resignation, but he had been accused of soliciting bribes for his vote in the competition for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Figueredo's time on the Executive Committee was short, however; he recently lost his seat to another Paraguayan, Juan Ángel Napout.

Eduardo Li

A businessman with Chinese roots, Li is the president of Costa Rica's soccer federation and is to join FIFA's executive committee this week. Last year, he oversaw Costa Rica's hosting of the Under-17 Women's World Cup. He is also a member of the executive committee of Concacaf and of the panel that oversees its regional championship tournament, the Gold Cup.

Nicolás Leoz

Leoz, 86, served as president of Conmebol, the South American soccer association, from 1986 to 2013 and was a longtime member of FIFA's executive committee, but he resigned both positions two years ago, citing health and personal issues. His resignation came after he was accused of taking kickbacks from a former FIFA marketing partner during the 1990s, and after an official for England's 2018 World Cup bid said Leoz had demanded a knighthood in exchange for his vote.

José Maria Marin

Marin, 83, was president of the Brazilian soccer federation from 2012 until April of this year, and as a result was the head of Brazilian soccer when it hosted the 2014 World Cup. He is also a member of the organizing committee for next year's Olympic soccer tournament in Rio. Of Brazil's humiliating 7-1 defeat to Germany in the semifinal, which shattered the country's fans and prevented the team from lifting the Cup at home, Marin said this year: "We don't want to blame Brazil's lack of success in the World Cup on anyone in particular; I believe we are all to blame."

FIFA DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

Julio Rocha

Rocha is the former president of the Nicaraguan soccer federation and also serves as a FIFA development officer. Formerly the president of the Central American Football Union.

Rafael Esquivel

Esquivel, 68, has been the president of Venezuela's soccer federation since 1988, making him the longest-serving national federation president in South America.

Costas Takkas

Takkas is the former general secretary of the Cayman Islands soccer federation, of which Webb is president.

Aaron Davidson

Davidson is the president of Traffic Sports USA — a promoter of soccer events — and chairman of the board of the North American Soccer League.

Alejandro Burzaco

Burzaco, a media executive, controls Torneos y Competencias, a sports marketing business based in Argentina.

Hugo and Mariano Jinkis

Both are soccer media executives with businesses based in Argentina.

José Margulies

Margulies was charged with being an intermediary who facilitated illegal payments.

Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: asylumseeker on May 27, 2015, 12:05:48 PM
Independent Ethics Committee bans 11 individuals from football-related activities
FIFA.COM


On the basis of investigations carried out by the investigatory chamber of the Ethics Committee and the latest facts presented by the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, the chairman of the adjudicatory chamber of the Ethics Committee, Hans-Joachim Eckert, today banned provisionally 11 individuals from carrying out any football-related activities on a national and international level.

The decision was taken upon the request of the chairman of the investigatory chamber, Dr Cornel Borbély, based on art. 83 par.1 of the FIFA Code of Ethics.

“The charges are clearly related to football and are of such a serious nature that it was imperative to take swift and immediate action. The proceedings will follow their course in line with the FIFA Code of Ethics,” said Chairman Eckert.

The banned individuals are: Jeffrey Webb, Eduardo Li, Julio Rocha, Costas Takkas, Jack Warner, Eugenio Figueredo, Rafael Esquivel, José Maria Marin, Nicolás Leoz, Chuck Blazer and Daryll Warner.

Source: FIFA; 27 May 2015

Read the specific action taken by FIFA pertaining to each of the individuals here:

http://www.fifa.com/governance/news/y=2015/m=5/news=independent-ethics-committee-bans-11-individuals-from-football-related-2609267.html

Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Bakes on May 27, 2015, 12:08:12 PM
I understand his comment to be a reference to the future, rather than the past. End of the present administration's term ... etc.

Read in context "given that she just got into office, I'd like to think that it was Loretta Lynch who is behind this prosecution..."
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: asylumseeker on May 27, 2015, 12:40:20 PM
Quote
... Alejandro Burzaco

Burzaco, a media executive, controls Torneos y Competencias, a sports marketing business based in Argentina.


(http://cdn01.ib.infobae.com/adjuntos/162/imagenes/012/711/0012711652.jpg?0000-00-00-00-00-00)

In London: on the way to Zurich; FIFA Congress. Famous last words.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: asylumseeker on May 27, 2015, 12:45:32 PM
Statement: FIFA is fully cooperating as injured party in the actions by Swiss authorities

FIFA welcomes actions that can help contribute to rooting out any wrongdoing in football. We understand that today’s actions by the Swiss Federal Office of Justice on behalf of the US authorities and the Swiss Office of the Attorney General (initiated by FIFA through the submission of the file on the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup bidding process) relate to different matters.

Firstly, the arrest of six individuals this morning in Zurich concerns investigations by the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of the State of New York. The Swiss authorities, acting on behalf of their US counterparts, arrested the individuals for activities carried out in relation with CONCACAF and CONMEBOL business.

The second instance follows FIFA’s initiative of presenting the file on the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup™ bidding process to the Swiss Office of the Attorney General in November 2014. The authorities are taking the opportunity of the FIFA Congress to interview those FIFA Executive Committee members who are not Swiss residents who voted back in 2010 and are still in office.

Today, the Swiss Office of the Attorney General announced that it has opened criminal proceedings against persons unknown in relation to the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup™ bidding process. FIFA is fully cooperating with the investigation and is supporting the collection of evidence in this regard. As noted by the Swiss authorities, this collection of evidence is being carried out on a cooperative basis.

We are pleased to see that the investigation is being energetically pursued for the good of football and believe that it will help to reinforce measures that FIFA has already taken.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Zeppo on May 27, 2015, 12:45:55 PM
Trinidad says arrest warrant issued for ex-VP of FIFA Jack Warner in US corruption case. (https://twitter.com/thegoalkeeper/status/603629181134602241)
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Flex on May 27, 2015, 12:46:41 PM
https://www.youtube.com/v/KXGtktZr__0
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Sando prince on May 27, 2015, 12:48:13 PM

https://www.youtube.com/v/jMfnjMY7mKc
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: reggae-fan on May 27, 2015, 12:51:33 PM
So far not seeing anything to implicate one Mr Horace Burrell. He is in fact in Zurich with a three member Jamaica delegation and was staying at the said Hotel where the arrests took place.  I do know that he is close buddies of Webb on and off the field, I have no doubt that it was through Webb's connections (no pun) that got Jamaica invited to Copa America 2015.

Jamaica recently signed a sponsorship deal middle-east based kit manufacturers Rommai Sport...I believe the guy opposing Blatter is from that area.

http://iriefm.net/jff-president-captain-horace-burrell-heads-3-man-delegation-for-fifa-congress/

 
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: FF on May 27, 2015, 01:09:01 PM

https://www.youtube.com/v/jMfnjMY7mKc



This man say he single handedly take we to the World Cup yes.

I ent realize he score all dem goals and make all them saves.

One Jack against 11 Bahrainis in the playoffs, 18 games and 9 countries before that. Legend!!
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Zeppo on May 27, 2015, 01:41:40 PM
Trinidad issues arrest warrant for Jack Warner

An arrest warrant has been issued in Trinidad and Tobago for former FIFA vice president Jack Warner at the request of U.S. authorities, the attorney general of the twin island Caribbean nation sys.

The two countries have an extradition treaty. The statement said it would "ensure that Mr. Warner's rights are respected." Warner, a former FIFA vice president indicted by U.S. authorities investigating corruption in soccer, says he is innocent.

(continue) (http://finance.yahoo.com/news/latest-trinidad-issues-arrest-warrant-190402507.html)
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Bitter on May 27, 2015, 01:49:15 PM
Jack in custody surrenders to fraud squad
Published on May 27, 2015, 2:04 pm AST
Updated on May 27, 2015, 3:23 pm AST
By Richard Charan

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20150527/news/jack-in-custody-surrenders-to-fraud-squad


Jack Warner this afternoon surrendered to police officers at the Fraud Squad, Police Headquarters, Port of Spain. He came following news that polcie had obtained a warrant for his arrest. It is uncertain whether he will appear in court today.

For the past year, the Central Authority Unit of the Ministry of the Attorney General has been working with the United States Department of Justice, regarding the criminal indictment against Jack Warner. This according to AG Garvin Nicholas, who said that police now have an arrest warrant for Warner.

In a statement issued by the Office of the Attorney General this afternoon, it was confirmed that the US formally requested the assistance of the Central Authority for the issuing of a Provisional Arrest Warrant for Warner, pending the commencement of extradition proceedings.

The request was made pursuant to the Extradition Treaty between the US and T&T Governments .

"The Provisional Arrest Warrant was issued and is now in the hands of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service for execution" the statement read.

The release stated that Warner was entitled to a fair extradition process and both the requesting and requested States intend to abide by the provisions of the Treaty to ensure that Warners rights were respected.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: asylumseeker on May 27, 2015, 02:17:33 PM
Live by the sword, die by the sword.
Lesson to all of the posters here (Coop's, ah hope yuh hearing above): Corruption does not pay.
We must believe in integrity, meritocracy.
Jackulito aka Renraw may now be preparing for the game over moves.
When the day in court finally comes, few in the audience won't support the judge when he or she says: "29 yrs in maximum security prison with no chance of bail. Take him away!"

Right next to Ish and Steve, right?

Post.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: dreamer on May 27, 2015, 02:30:19 PM
Long interview version on the FIFA indictments of Jackulito, Webbulito and posse.
http://www.c-span.org/video/?326271-1/attorney-general-loretta-lynch-fifa-indictments
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: elan on May 27, 2015, 02:39:35 PM
I know right. American exceptionalism at it's best. Where banks can do insider trading all day long and no one goes to jail. But you know how serious us Yanks take our footb uh, soccer.

Dred if you hate the US so much then why yuh pack up in de people and dem country?  Focus that energy on moving back to Trinidad and helping it.  You come like some ah dem Indians (like Sat Maharaj) who only love to run down Trinidad while bigging up India... well move tuh f**k back already.  This has nothing to do with "American exceptionalism"... CONCACAF under Jack and Blazer was thiefing money left and right and not paying taxes.  You really that dunce to think that any of this is over football?  I'm sure the US getting slighted for the WC probably caused somebody in the USSF to sic the FBI on CONCACAF, but you schupid enough to have yuh HQ in one of the more aggressive US Attorney's office, and thiefing money hand over fist.  The DOJ bring down Al Capone on tax evasion charges but they should let CONCACAF slide?  Sometimes is best to just hush and let you talk yes.  You's ah accidental comedian... ah natural joker without even trying.

Daiz it, wow. Nah, none of this is over football, daiz why the investigation time line conveniently stars in 1991 to coincide with JW reign of CONCACAF. No investigation into how after 40 years of rubbish, the US just pulled itself from the ruble and jumped on top the heap in CONCACAF.

Yuh right, it's not about football, yet USsoccer is nowhere to be seen in any of this. What's glaring is that Lynch mentioned that over $110 million was exchange in the run up to the Copa being in the US next year, yet where are the US officials. A pawn from NASL? So COMNEBOL negotiated with themselves to host the COPA in the US with no input from USsoccer? Is that how you see it.

See according to you, calling a thing like it is means a person hate that thing. Maybe sticking one's head in the sand on atrocities and missteps epitomizes love and patriotism. That's some good tea party rhetoric right there.  Yeah, I should go back to my country.

You really think I support what JW and FIFA did. As far as I see though JW et al are just "patsies".
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Sando prince on May 27, 2015, 02:40:19 PM

(https://scontent-dfw1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/11164708_458686477633087_3100069244583269631_n.jpg?oh=f5528313b02c8dfd253bfc088bc69d05&oe=55BFCA8F)
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Sando prince on May 27, 2015, 02:41:07 PM

BREAKING NEWS: Jack Warner is granted bail of $2.5 million; he must surrender his passport and reappear July 9th
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: elan on May 27, 2015, 02:42:01 PM
For those who are not exceptional in the world, think about what happens to Qatar and Russia if JW block of votes are nullified.

*Disclaimer* I love Conspiracy Theories.   :-[
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: asylumseeker on May 27, 2015, 02:48:31 PM
U.S. Soccer Federation Statement

The United States Soccer Federation firmly believes there is no higher priority, and nothing more important, than protecting the integrity of our game. We are committed to the highest ethical standards and business practices, and we will continue to encourage CONCACAF and FIFA to promote the same values. Out of respect for the ongoing investigation, we will not speculate or comment further on this matter at this time.

http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2015/05/27/11/36/150527-us-soccer-statement-on-fifa
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: vb on May 27, 2015, 03:11:24 PM
According to the TT Guardian, Warner two sons sign statements to the Feds two years ago.
But I can't believe they would sell out their father.

I do however believe they sell out everybody else.

VB
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: dervaig on May 27, 2015, 03:17:53 PM
According to the TT Guardian, Warner two sons sign statements to the Feds two years ago.
But I can't believe they would sell out their father.

I do however believe they sell out everybody else.

VB

No need to point a finger at their dad.
The mere fact they were not member's of FIFA, and have ALREADY
pleaded guilty, would lead one to believe they were either the
front for their dad, and following his instructions, or happened
to have monies going to, or coming from some FIFA related party,
unbeknownst to Mr. Havelange's black son.

I know which one I believe, which one do you believe?
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: elan on May 27, 2015, 03:21:42 PM
Their do't need to be any big secrets told. All the FBI or IRS need is evidenced that you placed a phone call to or from a US location, used and IP from the US, met and discussed intent, used a us bank, wired money to or from. They don't need a full out snitch. Even then, Chuck Blazer had already filled them in on how things went down.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: elan on May 27, 2015, 03:28:38 PM
Bail was denied. Warner will spend the night in Jail. Most likely the will take him to POSP and they may transfer him to MSP unless his court date is early in the morning. He will go to the infirmary or and empty cell.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CGCsxxwVAAAOZ1V.jpg)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CGCsv3tUoAAox20.jpg)
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: MEP on May 27, 2015, 03:29:06 PM
Elan I am in partial agreement with what you are saying. There is the perception that only a few are guilty and that Blazer is the only corrupt one within us scoccer. However, US soccer was built off the back of CONCACAF and what ever back room deals were made.  Therefore the role of Rothenberger who assumed office in 1990 and got the bid for the 1994 US World Cup and those who surrounded him must be examined.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: elan on May 27, 2015, 03:33:33 PM
Elan I am in partial agreement with what you are saying. There is the perception that only a few are guilty and that Blazer is the only corrupt one within us scoccer. However, US soccer was built off the back of CONCACAF and what ever back room deals were made.  Therefore the role of Rothenberger who assumed office in 1990 and got the bid for the 1994 US World Cup and those who surrounded him must be examined.

You talking to much sense.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Flex on May 27, 2015, 03:36:15 PM
World Cup sponsor Adidas reacts to the arrest of FIFA officials.
By Lara O'Reilly (Business Insider).


Adidas has become the first World Cup sponsor to publicly respond to the news Wednesday morning that FIFA was subject to two separate corruption probes, which resulted in the arrests of several high-ranking officials.
The German sportswear company stopped short of being critical of football's governing body, but instead encouraged FIFA to maintain ethical and compliance standards.

Adidas' statement in full, sent to Business Insider via email, reads:

The Adidas Group is fully committed to creating a culture that promotes the highest standards of ethics and compliance, and we expect the same from our partners. Following today’s news, we can therefore only encourage FIFA to continue to establish and follow transparent compliance standards in everything they do.

Adidas is the world’s leading football brand and we will continue to support football on all levels.

FIFA is subject of two separate criminal investigations: One from the Swiss Attorney General regarding the voting process for the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and the other from the US Department of Justice, which resulted in the arrest of nine FIFA officials and five corporate executives on Wednesday.

An indictment from the US Department of Justice has charged 14 people with racketeering, wire fraud, and money laundering conspiracies in connection with their participation in a "24-year scheme to enrich themselves through the corruption of international soccer."

In a press conference held in Zurich earlier today, FIFA's spokesman Walter De Gregorio said this morning's arrests offer an opportunity to clean up the organization.

He added: "This for FIFA is good. It's not good in terms of image; it's not good in terms of reputation, but in terms of cleaning up everything we did in the last four years, this is good."

Business Insider has contacted all of the other FIFA World Cup sponsors for comment on today's arrests. The only other sponsor apart from Adidas to respond was automaker Hyundai, which said it would "not be making any comment at this time."

Last year, several World Cup sponsors, including Visa and Coca-Cola, came out publicly criticizing FIFA's handling of its investigation into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Flex on May 27, 2015, 03:43:32 PM
Sports Minister: Warner must answer
T&T Newsday Reports.


Minister of Sport and former Soca Warrior, Brent Sancho, believes ex-FIFA vice-president Jack Warner should be extradited to the United States “to answer serious questions” posed to him by the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigations).

Sancho was speaking to Newsday following an early morning swoop in Switzerland by police on delegates who were convening forFriday’s FIFA presidential election where incumbent Sepp Blatter is seeking a fifth consecutive term.

Warner, who resigned from FIFA in June 2011 amid a proliferation of allegations of corruption ahead of the previous election, is named among 14 persons indicted including current CONCACAF boss Jeffrey Webb for racketeering, fraud and money laundering.

Sancho, who had a personal battle with Warner and the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) for 2006 World Cup bonuses and accountability for close to $200 million from the 2006 World Cup campaign, had little sympathy for the former Special Advisor to the TTFA.

“I believe once there is concrete evidence he should answer what questions are raised to him. And based on the international reports that have been coming out for the last few years he has to answer a number of serious questions,” he stated.

Sancho said this current FIFA scandal is a reminder to all sporting bodies to adhere to the principles of integrity while in office as no longer will the world sit back and allow corrupt sporting activities to continue unpunished.

“It’s a historic day in terms of how people will conduct business. We at home and the TTFA need to be cognizant of this. I’m not saying they have done anything illegal but we must be aware that accountability is a must. People must remember how powerful CONCACAF is in terms of voting because of the number of countries we have. It has a lot to say in terms of everything going on at FIFA and what is playing out right now,” he explained.

Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Dutty on May 27, 2015, 03:48:59 PM
For those who are not exceptional in the world, think about what happens to Qatar and Russia if JW block of votes are nullified.

*Disclaimer* I love Conspiracy Theories.   :-[

so whey yuh tink is de overall play here.....den yankee tryin dey best to yank de world cup from russia and squeeze putin stones some more?

I think yuh have a point oui...jack and dem is just minnows in Act 1
Interesting that not even interpol was making arrests in switzerland..was de FBI self

In as much as I applaud todays power move,,,,sometimes dat long law arm is a lil too long for my liking oui
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Flex on May 27, 2015, 03:50:08 PM
Panday on Warner's indictment: An example of T&T's decline
By  Sue-Ann Wayow (Express).


FORMER prime minister Basdeo Panday said that the United States Department of Justice's request to extradite Independent Liberal Party (ILP) political leader Jack Warner has been indicted for racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering, will be a long process.

Panday said he would be watching to see how the situation with Warner, a former FIFA vice president, played out.

Panday said: "I imagine they (US) will ask for extradition, it will go to court and then probably take a very long time. That is what is going to happen."

Panday who once shared a close relationship with Warner said Warner's charges only added to the increasing negative reputation that Trinidad and Tobago was having.

He said: "Trinidad and Tobago has been declining in world opinion since 2010."

Panday added: "I am going to be like the Roman emperor called Nero. And I am going to sit on this big platform and I am going to watch down into the arena at the games people play."

When asked how he felt about Warner being charged, Panday responded: "I do not feel anything for people except good things."

Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Flex on May 27, 2015, 03:53:12 PM
PM: No pleasure in Warner's FIFA troubles.
C News Live


Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says she takes "no pleasure" in the latest development concerning the extradition request made for former FIFA Vice President Jack Warner by the United States.

On Wednesday morning, US Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced that the United States has formally indicted 14 individuals, including Mr. Warner, after years of intense forensic investigations into corruption at FIFA and their umbrella organisations.

Speaking in the House of Representatives on Wednesday afternoon, she said the charges, which Mr. Warner has been found guilty of, are punishable by United States law.

"The provisional arrest warrant was issued and I am told by the Attorney General that the arrest warrant is now in the hands of the Police Service for execution. I say it brings me no pleasure. The Member is a Member of this Honourable House. The matter is now in the hands of law enforcement officials, judicial officials, judicial officers, for due process according to the laws of Trinidad and Tobago."

Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: King Deese on May 27, 2015, 04:10:59 PM
I bet you thought this day would never be born. This baby was dropped at midnight.

Hey Jack. You still have that noose hanging in your office?

Ms. Lynch is no joke.

The police actor cannot believe his hero got arrested. The man said he knows nothing about any arrest warrant. And this man sitting high in the arena like Nero and he knows nothing. Even the legal community cannot believe their hero is in jail waiting to be extradited to a foreign country to answer to crimes he had nothing to do with for the past four or five years. At least, so he says.

Real talk. I have been waiting for this moment for a long time now. I am going to pull up my lazy boy, chill my twelve pack of buds, pop my popcorn, spread out my chips, lay out my dips and sit back and watch this shit. Lights, camera and action.

P.S. I am expecting all the stupid talk from the so called crime fighters in Trinidad that protected him, the legal community that loved him, the politicians that accepted him as their comrade, the corrupted that fought corruption alongside him, the judges and attorneys that failed to prosecute this joker, the Integrity Commission that knows very little about integrity even if it jumped up and bit them in the ass for moving like molasses and doing absolutely nothing about this man, and to all this jokers fans, known and unknown, supporting him on this forum and sucking his jock straps, the chicken has come home to roost.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Peong on May 27, 2015, 04:12:43 PM
Check Jack body language, he is shaken.  So much so that he start to babble about how he single-handedly get us to the WC.
Take yuh licks Jack, yuh been tiefin for too long.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Flex on May 27, 2015, 04:24:49 PM
FBI raids Miami Beach office of CONCACAF as part of international soccer investigation.
BY MICHELLE KAUFMAN, JAY WEAVER AND JACQUELINE CHARLES


Federal authorities shook up the world of soccer Wednesday with an indictment charging top FIFA officials from Latin America and the Caribbean and other regional officials based in South Florida with participating in a $150 million bribery scheme over the past two decades.

Justice Department officials unveiled the indictment of 14 soccer officials and sports executives, including some arrested in Switzerland who are attending the Federation Internationale de Football Association’s governing board elections this week.

The indictment was returned by a grand jury in Brooklyn, New York, but the federal investigation revolves around not only high-ranking FIFA officials but also those in charge of its North American regional headquarters in Miami Beach, known as CONCACAF. FBI agents raided the office early Wednesday.

Also implicated in the racketeering scheme, Traffic Sports USA, which is based in Miami and until recently owned the Fort Lauderdale Strikers.

Among those indicted: CONCACAF’s current president, Jeffrey Webb, who is also a FIFA vice president and executive committee member; Jack Warner, CONCACAF’s former president, who also once served as a FIFA vice president and executive committee member; and Miami resident Aaron Davidson, president of Traffic Sports USA and Chairman of the Board of Governors of the North American Soccer League, a second-tier U.S. league of which the Strikers are a member.

FBI agents arrested Davidson Tuesday night. He must first make a federal court appearance in Miami before his expected transfer to face racketeering charges in New York.

In light of the investigation, the North American Soccer League's Board of Governors said it has suspended its chairperson, Davidson, along with all business activities between the league and Traffic Sports. Commissioner Bill Peterson will serve as acting chairperson.

“The indictment alleges corruption that is rampant, systemic, and deep-rooted both abroad and here in the United States,” Attorney General Loretta Lynch said, citing “at least two generations of soccer officials who, as alleged, have abused their positions of trust to acquire millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks.”

Before the indictment was unsealed Wednesday, four other defendants pleaded guilty, including Charles Blazer, former long-serving general secretary of CONCACAF and a former FIFA executive committee member. Also pleading guilty: Jose Hawilla, the owner and founder of the Traffic Group, a multinational sports marketing conglomerate headquartered in Brazil that is the parent company of Traffic Sports USA and Traffic Sports International.

“I was watching CNN this morning over breakfast and was shocked when I saw Traffic was involved,’’ said Luiz Muzzi, a soccer executive for Traffic from 2002 to 2012, now Director of Soccer Operations for FC Dallas of Major League Soccer. “I spent nine years working with a lot of those people, including Aaron, and I have only good things to say about them. I was on the soccer side, dealing with players and Strikers team issues, and don’t know all the ins and outs of the business side, but I never saw anything shady. I hope the allegations prove to be false.’’

This is how the alleged criminal “enterprise” operated during the past two decades, according to the Justice Department.

Federal authorities said top soccer officials “enriched” themselves with more than $150 million in bribes and kickbacks paid by sports marketing companies, such as Traffic Sports USA, which bought FIFA’s commercial rights to promote soccer events and tournaments.

In turn, the marketing companies sold those rights “downstream” to TV and radio networks, major corporate sponsors and others that broadcast soccer matches or advertise their brands. According to FIFA, 70 percent of its $5.7 billion in revenues from 2011 to 2014 was derived from the sale of TV and marketing rights to the 2014 World Cup.

Since 1991, the 14 defendants — along with the four others who have already pleaded guilty — “corrupted” the enterprise through various criminal activities, including fraud, bribery and money laundering, according to the Justice Department.

“Two generations of soccer officials abused their positions of trust for personal gain, frequently through an alliance with unscrupulous sports marketing executives who shut out competitors and kept highly lucrative contracts for themselves through the systematic payment of bribes and kickbacks,” Justice Department officials said in a press release.

“All told, the soccer officials are charged with conspiring to solicit and receive well over $150 million in bribes and kickbacks in exchange for their official support of the sports marketing executives who agreed to make the unlawful payments.’’

The Justice Department’s focus on South Florida sharpened in late 2013 when Blazer — the general secretary for the Miami-based Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) — pleaded guilty to racketeering, fraud and money laundering conspiracies stemming from the bribery scheme. He agreed to turn over $1.9 million in illicit payments and to make a second payment upon his pending sentencing, according to federal court records.

Blazer also agreed to cooperate with federal prosecutors in New York, pointing the finger at Hawilla, the owner of the Traffic Group, the Brazilian sports marketing giant that owns Traffic Sports USA in Miami. He pleaded guilty at the end of 2014 and agreed to forfeit more than $151 million in bribery payments, according to court records. He paid $25 million at the time of his plea agreement.

Hawilla also agreed to cooperate, providing insider knowledge on the extent of Traffic Sport’s role in the bribery conspiracy, records show. In fact, Traffic Sports and another company, Traffic Sports International, pleaded guilty to a wire-fraud conspiracy charge earlier this month.

Another Miami connection in the alleged scheme: a soccer official listed as co-conspirator #4 in Wednesday’s indictment, who the Miami Herald has learned is Enrique Sanz. He succeeded Blazer as CONCACAF’s general secretary. Before assuming that position in 2012, Sanz was vice president at Traffic Sports. Sanz is listed among 25 unnamed co-conspirators in the indictment.

According to news reports, Sanz has been battling leukemia. When contacted for a comment, Sanz’s defense attorney Joseph DeMaria, stated: “At present, he and his family are focusing on his health.”

Meanwhile, in Zurich, Switzerland, prosecutors opened criminal proceedings into international soccer’s governing body awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, only hours after seven soccer officials were arrested Wednesday pending extradition to the United States in a separate Justice Department probe of “rampant, systemic, and deep-rooted” corruption.

The Swiss prosecutors’ office said the U.S. probe was separate from its investigation but that authorities were working together.

FIFA said the election would go ahead as planned with Sepp Blatter going for a fifth term as president. Blatter was not named in either investigation.

FIFA also ruled out a revote of the World Cups won by Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022.

The Swiss prosecutors’ office said in a statement that they seized “electronic data and documents” at FIFA’s headquarters on Wednesday as part of their probe. And Swiss police said they will question 10 FIFA executive committee members who took part in the World Cup votes in December 2010.

The Swiss investigation against “persons unknown on suspicion of criminal mismanagement and of money laundering” again throws into doubt the integrity of the voting.

“FIFA is fully cooperating with the investigation and is supporting the collection of evidence in this regard,” FIFA said in a statement.

The Swiss announcement came only hours after 14 people were indicted in the U.S. for corruption. Seven of them were arrested and detained by Swiss police at the request of U.S. authorities after a raid at a luxury hotel in Zurich.

The Justice Department said in a statement that two current FIFA vice presidents were among those arrested and indicted, Jeffrey Webb of the Cayman Islands and Eugenio Figueredo of Uruguay. The others are Eduardo Li of Costa Rica, Julio Rocha of Nicaragua, Costas Takkas of Britain, Rafael Esquivel of Venezuela and Jose Maria Marin of Brazil.

All seven are connected with the regional confederations of North America and South America and face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Nine of the 14 who were indicted by the Justice Department are or were soccer officials, while four are sports marketing executives; another works in broadcasting. Warner, a former FIFA vice president from Trinidad and Tobago, was among those indicted. He surrendered Wednesday afternoon after an arrest warrant was issued for him by Trinidadian authorities. Two of Warner’s sons, Daryll and Daryan, pleaded guilty to related charges after cooperating with U.S. investigators almost two years ago.

Warner, who is currently a member of the twin island’s parliament after losing his job as national security minister amid reports of an FBI probe into the damning corruption allegations, maintained his innocence Wednesday. In a statement he released on his official Facebook page, Warner said he hasn’t been afforded any due process nor has he been questioned in the matter.

He quit FIFA and international football “more than four years ago,” he said.

“I have fought fearlessly against all forms of injustice and corruption,” he noted.

In an exclusive interview with CCN/TV 6 senior multimedia investigative journalist Mark Bassant (http://www.tv6tnt.com/home/rotator/Jack-Warner-on-FIFA-Allegations-305176501.html) at his office Wednesday, Warner said he has nothing to hide and will be exonerated.

Warner has faced corruption allegations since the 1980s, but in 2011 — as vice president of FIFA — he was accused of attempting to bribe Caribbean delegates with $40,000 each to vote for FIFA presidential candidate Mohamed Bin Hammam.

Warner also was accused of embezzling $15 million of federation funds and misappropriating $1 million in FIFA money earmarked for a reconstruction project in Haiti. According to the soccer confederation ethics panel, Warner also failed to disclose that the $25.9 million Havelange Centre for Excellence in Port of Spain, built with soccer funds, sits on land he owns, according to the report.

Trinidad Attorney General Garvin Nicholas told the Miami Herald that the Justice Department has sought Warner’s extradition and “the procedure has commenced.” While the two nations have an extradition agreement, it could take months before Warner, one of the most powerful and wealthiest Caribbean nationals, is brought to the United States.

Under Trinidadian law, he will have an opportunity to fight the extraditon in the courts.

“There is a process that has to be followed,” Nicholas said, adding that some extraditions move, “faster than others. It just depends.”

Nicholas said the government has been cooperating with U.S. authorities “for some time now” in the bribery scandal.

U.S. case

The U.S. case involves alleged bribes totaling more than $150 million linked to commercial deals dating to the 1990s for soccer tournaments in the United States and Latin America, according to the Justice Department. U.S. authorities said the corruption is linked to World Cup qualifying matches and the Copa America — South America’s continental championship.

In Switzerland, dozens of soccer officials have been gathered this week for the FIFA congress and presidential election, where Blatter is widely expected to win re-election at the helm of the governing body of world soccer.

Blatter was scheduled to attend a meeting of the Confederation of African Football in a different downtown Zurich hotel, but he canceled his appearance.

Blatter’s only opponent in Friday’s presidential election, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, said it was “a sad day for football,” but declined to comment further.

The arrests were made at the lakeside Baur au Lac Hotel in downtown Zurich, long favored as a place for senior FIFA officials to stay. It was the stage for intense lobbying for votes ahead of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosting decisions in December 2010.

Florida connection

In Florida, a small group of agents from the FBI and IRS executed search warrants at CONCACAF headquarters in Miami Beach.

Neither agency offered comment on the investigation.

The North American regional body, known as CONCACAF, reported itself to U.S. tax authorities in 2012. Then based in New York, the organization had not paid taxes over several years when its president was Warner and secretary general was Chuck Blazer of the United States.

Warner left soccer in 2011 to avoid FIFA sanctions in a bribery scandal during that year’s presidential election. Blazer left in 2013 and has pleaded guilty to charges, the Justice Department said in Wednesday’s statement.

Warner’s successor as CONCACAF leader and FIFA vice president is Webb, who was staying at the Baur au Lac this week.

The Swiss Federal Office of Justice said in its statement that U.S. authorities suspect the arrested officials of having received or paid bribes totaling millions of dollars and that the crimes were agreed to and prepared in the U.S., and payments carried out via U.S. banks.

“The bribery suspects — representatives of sports media and sports promotion firms — are alleged to have been involved in schemes to make payments to the soccer functionaries [FIFA delegates] and other functionaries of FIFA sub-organizations — totaling more than USD 100 million,” the FOJ statement said.

A statement in German added that the probe involved tournaments in the United States.

International media gathered at the street entrance of the Baur au Lac in scenes reminiscent of the World Cup votes won by Russia and Qatar more than four years ago.

Then, former President Bill Clinton was inside meeting FIFA voters who later rejected the American bid in favor of Qatar, and Britain’s Prince William was part of the losing English bid team.

Suspicions of vote-buying and wrongdoing in those bidding contests have dogged FIFA ever since.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CONTRIBUTED TO THIS REPORT.

Soccer glossary

▪ FIFA: Federation Internationale de Football Association is the international governing body overseeing soccer. It is composed of 209 member associations and six regional confederations, each representing organized soccer in a nation or region. FIFA is based in Zurich, Switzerland.

▪ CONCACAF: Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association of Football. The continental confederation under FIFA that governs soccer in this region. Headquartered in Miami Beach.

▪ CONMEBOL: Confederacion Sudamericana de Futbol. The federation that oversees soccer in 10 South American nations. Based in Luque, Paraguay.

▪ NASL: North American Soccer League. The second-tier professional league in the U.S. soccer pyramid. The Fort Lauderdale Strikers are a member of NASL, as is the newly launched Miami FC, which is scheduled to begin play in April 2016. Aaron Davidson, a Miami resident indicted in the FIFA probe, is chairman of the NASL Board of Governors and formerly was president of the Strikers.

▪ Traffic: A Brazil-based sports marketing and media company that has a U.S. branch called Traffic USA, based in South Florida. The company negotiates broadcast rights and sponsorship deals for tournaments in the Americas such as the Copa America, Copa Libertadores and Gold Cup.

(http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/5sd5cj/picture22455849/ALTERNATES/FREE_960/raid1%20concacaf%20lnew%20cmg)
FBI agents haul off boxes of evidence from the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) offices in Miami Beach on Wednesday, May 27, 2015. | C.M. GUERRERO EL NUEVO HERALD

Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Sando prince on May 27, 2015, 04:28:18 PM


 ;)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6c-Dssc7gg
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: asylumseeker on May 27, 2015, 04:45:10 PM
Listen to this BBC Podcast: "FIFA's Darkest Day":

http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/fivelive/5lfd/5lfd_20150527-2018b.mp3
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Sando prince on May 27, 2015, 04:51:57 PM
Watching all the different media channels contribution on these developments you can see how much the British media hate Blatter and the FIFA executive. Dey dont like him at all. I am not a fan of Blatter either but the British really really don't like him
Title: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE: Press Release
Post by: Tallman on May 27, 2015, 05:08:08 PM
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE: Press Release (contains all of the details including the links to the individual indictment documents)

Nine FIFA Officials and Five Corporate Executives Indicted for Racketeering Conspiracy and Corruption.

The Defendants Include Two Current FIFA Vice Presidents and the Current and Former Presidents of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF); Seven Defendants Arrested Overseas; Guilty Pleas for Four Individual Defendants and Two Corporate Defendants Also Unsealed

http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/nine-fifa-officials-and-five-corporate-executives-indicted-racketeering-conspiracy-and
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: asylumseeker on May 27, 2015, 05:13:13 PM
The missing man in the FIFA indictments

The late Julio Grondona exerted direct control over the television rights at the center of Wednesday’s indictments.

In Wednesday’s blockbuster indictment of FIFA officials and sports marketing executives, there was one name glaringly unmentioned.

No, it was not Sepp Blatter. It was Julio Grondona.

As the longtime head of Argentina’s soccer federation, the AFA, Grondona served as FIFA’s senior vice president—Blatter’s No. 2– until his death in July 2014 at the age of 82. A member of FIFA’s executive committee from 1988 to his death and a former chair of the organization’s finance committee, Grondona was a long-time confidant of Blatter.

He also exerted direct control over the television rights at the center of Wednesday’s indictments. “He’s the great missing man because, basically, he was the one who managed all the television contracts at FIFA while he was alive,” said Hernán Castillo, an Argentine sports journalist and the author of Todo Pasa, an unauthorized biography of Grondona’s life at the nexus of soccer, business, and politics.

Known as “Don Julio,” Grondona cut a fearsome figure in the Argentine political landscape. Appointed to head the AFA in 1979 by Vice Admiral Carlos Lacoste, one of the leaders of the military junta that ruled Argentina during the Dirty War (1976 to 1983) that left up to 30,000 people disappeared or dead, he was the last major figure from that period still in power.

Grondona was known as a survivor, someone who could get along with military rulers as well as civilian governments of both the right and the left. He also controlled the Argentine league’s finances and TV contracts with an iron fist. That put him in close contact with three of those indicted on Wednesday for allegedly having “systematically paid and agreed to pay well over $150 million in bribes and kickbacks to obtain lucrative media and marketing rights to international soccer tournaments.”

Those three were Alejandro Burzaco, the head of Torneos y Competencias, an Argentine sports marketing business that had the rights to many Argentine league and national team games; and Hugo and Mariano Jinkis, who ran Full Play Group, an Argentine sports marketing business that holds the TV rights for several South American national teams and tournaments.

“All TV business with whatever businessperson passed through Grondona’s hands,” said Castillo.

Grondona’s relationship with Burzaco had a rocky start. In 2009, the Argentine government took the local pay-TV rights for the Argentine league away from Torneos y Competencias and gave them to Grondona and the AFA to start a government-subsidized free TV broadcast scheme called Fútbol Para Todos (Soccer for Everyone).

But soon the two built a working relationship, and Burzaco’s company provided production services to Fútbol Para Todos and held the international rights for the games. As of the beginning of this year, the company also held the production rights to friendly games for the Argentine national team.

Grondona’s funeral services were attended by Sepp Blatter, Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, and Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi. Also present was Eugenio Figueredo, a current FIFA vice president and executive committee member and former CONMEBOL president, who was indicted on Wednesday.

Presumably in jest, the Venezuela-based television network TeleSUR briefly illustrated a story about Grondona’s sendoff with a funeral scene image from The Godfather.

Grondona managed to avoid lasting corruption indictments during his lifetime, but he may very well have known that something untoward was going on in the selection of Russia and Qatar as hosts of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Commenting from New Zealand on Wednesday, where he is coaching Argentina’s under-20 soccer World Cup, Grondona’s son, Humberto, said of the indictments, “I’m not surprised. From what I spoke about at the time with my father, we knew of certain irregularities that had happened with the elections in the cities for the World Cup.”

It’s impossible to know how Grondona would have reacted to Wednesday’s news. He was known to wear a pinkie ring with the words “todo pasa” inscribed. The translation: “everything passes.”

Source: Fortune

http://fortune.com/2015/05/27/fifa-indictments-julio-grondona/?xid=timehp-category
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: asylumseeker on May 27, 2015, 05:13:50 PM
Next up, Grondona? Don Julio is a man below the radar for many football followers worldwide, but that octogenarian is a piece of work in his own right ... Havelange, Warner, Blatter et al notwithstanding ... Google him if yuh don't know bout him.

Escaped via death ...

Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Bakes on May 27, 2015, 05:22:27 PM
Daiz it, wow. Nah, none of this is over football, daiz why the investigation time line conveniently stars in 1991 to coincide with JW reign of CONCACAF. No investigation into how after 40 years of rubbish, the US just pulled itself from the ruble and jumped on top the heap in CONCACAF.

Yuh right, it's not about football, yet USsoccer is nowhere to be seen in any of this. What's glaring is that Lynch mentioned that over $110 million was exchange in the run up to the Copa being in the US next year, yet where are the US officials. A pawn from NASL? So COMNEBOL negotiated with themselves to host the COPA in the US with no input from USsoccer? Is that how you see it.

See according to you, calling a thing like it is means a person hate that thing. Maybe sticking one's head in the sand on atrocities and missteps epitomizes love and patriotism. That's some good tea party rhetoric right there.  Yeah, I should go back to my country.

You really think I support what JW and FIFA did. As far as I see though JW et al are just "patsies".


Your penchant for failing to connect the dots is at times alarming.

http://gu.com/p/499kx
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: asylumseeker on May 27, 2015, 05:28:12 PM
Report claims Grondona received US$15m in bribes

A copy of the US Department of Justice report into corruption in the FIFA football governing body has implicated late Argentine Football Association president Julio Grondona, who the investigation claims pocketed multi-million dollar bribes related to television rights.

The accusation is based events surrounding the creation of the Datisa group, a conglomerate of Torneos y Competencias, Full Play and Traffic. That company won the rights to screen the 2015, 2016, 2019 and 2023 editions of the Copa America in a contract signed on May 25 2013, according to the Justice Department's report (p. 105).

Datisa accordingly agreed to pay a sum of 100 million dollars in bribes. 20 million were earmarked for the contract signing, with another 20 for each of the four tournaments to be covered. According to the document, the money was shared out with US$3 million each to "the highest officials of the Conmebol [the confederation's president, the Brazilian federation president and the Argentine FA president.]"

Taking those figures into account, Grondona, who passed away in July 2014 having been at the helm of Argentine football since 1979, would have taken a total of US$15m in illicit payments. Although US Attorney-General Loretta Lynch refrained from naming individuals, the report made it clear that the AFA ex-president was involved in the biggest corruption case in FIFA history.

http://www.buenosairesherald.com/article/190212/report-claims-grondona-received-us


Title: Jack Warner's Response to FIFA U.S Investigation
Post by: Tallman on May 27, 2015, 05:50:13 PM
Jack Warner's Response to FIFA U.S Investigation

https://www.youtube.com/v/jMfnjMY7mKc

https://www.youtube.com/v/CkGHspzKPVI
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Deeks on May 27, 2015, 05:54:15 PM
Watching all the different media channels contribution on these developments you can see how much the British media hate Blatter and the FIFA executive. Dey dont like him at all. I am not a fan of Blatter either but the British really really don't like him

Ever since Havelange replaced Stanley Rouse, there has been a dislike for FIFA. The Brits wanted the WC to stay a 16. Havelange expanded it to 24. And it kept on growing. But I do hope those anti-FIFA don't mess with the one country one vote.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: AB.Trini on May 27, 2015, 05:55:37 PM
I want to know how is it that Canada USA and Mexico seems to always get automatic qualifications in Gold Cup?  Who could start that investigation? What is the price or deal  that has allegedly been brokered to ensured that?


Leh ergo back and see who. May have benefitted from the USA  victory  over TnT to qualify for WC way back when?

Remember the fiasco against Haiti as well? Ummmmm leh we star bussing mark - everybody sheet smelling today
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: asylumseeker on May 27, 2015, 05:57:48 PM
From the Information document pertaining to Daryan Warner

INTRODUCTION TO COUNTS ONE AND TWO
...

5. From in or about and between 2005 and 2011, both dates being approximate and inclusive, the defendant DARYAN WARNER, together with others, participated in a scheme to obtain World Cup tickets from FIFA based on materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations and promises, and to resell those tickets to others for a substantial profit.

The 2006 World Cup Tickets Scheme

6. In advance of the 2006 World Cup, the defendant DARYAN WARNER and Co-Conspirator #1, a ticket broker based in Florida whose identity is known to the United States Attorney, agreed to be partners for the purpose of obtaining tickets to the 2006 World Cup and reselling them at a substantial mark-up. WARNER's role in the scheme was to purchase tickets from the FTO. After purchasing the tickets, WARNER would sell them to Co-Conspirator #1, who, in turn, would sell them to, among others, travel agencies, tour operators and other ticket brokers.

7. Prior to 2006, the FTO had advised the defendant DARYAN WARNER that it would not sell him tickets if WARNER intended to resell the tickets to or through Co-Conspirator #1.

8. It was part of the scheme that the defendant DARYAN WARNER attempted to purchase, and did purchase, tickets from the FTO. Because WARNER knew that the FTO would not sell the tickets to him for resale to Co-Conspirator #1, WARNER disguised and concealed his intention to resell the tickets to Co-Conspirator #1. For example, on one occasion, when asked by a representative of the FTO if WARNER was working with CoConspirator #1, WARNER lied and said he was not.

9. It was further part of the scheme that the defendant DARYAN WARNER sought to disguise and conceal his intention to resell tickets to the 2006 World Cup to CoConspirator #1 from an auditing firm that had been hired by FIFA to investigate irregularities in the resale of tickets to the 2006 World Cup.

10. Among other things, the defendant DARYAN WARNER, together with Co-Conspirator #1, agreed to provide, and did provide, to the FTO and to the auditing firm documents that falsely represented that WARNER intended to resell tickets to the 2006 World Cup directly to certain travel agencies and tour operators not associated with Co-Conspirator #1.

11. As a result of the scheme, the defendant DARYAN WARNER and Co-Conspirator #1 made a substantial profit from the sale of the 2006 World Cup tickets that WARNER procured from the FTO based on false pretenses.

The 2010 World Cup Tickets Scheme

12. FIFA became aware that the defendant DARYAN WARNER had resold 2006 World Cup tickets obtained from the FTO to Co-Conspirator #1. As a result, WARNER understood and believed that the FTO would not sell him tickets for the 2010 World Cup. Further, WARNER understood and believed that the FTO would not sell such tickets to any other individual if the FTO knew the tickets would later be provided to WARNER for resale.

13. Nevertheless, the defendant DARYAN WARNER continued his scheme with Co-Conspirator #1 to obtain 2010 World Cup tickets and resell them at a substantial mark-up, as they did in 2006.

14. It was part of the scheme that, for the purpose of causing the FTO to provide him with tickets that he could resell at a substantial mark-up, the defendant DARYAN WARNER asked two of his family members, whose identities are known to the United States Attorney (the "Two Family Members"), to obtain tickets from the FTO on his behalf. WARNER understood and believed that his Two Family Members, who, at the time, were FIFA officials entitled to purchase a certain allotment of tickets, obtained the tickets without disclosing to the FTO that they intended to provide the tickets to WARNER for resale.

15. After receiving the tickets from his Two Family Members, the defendant DARYAN WARNER, along with Co-Conspirator #1, resold the tickets at a substantial mark-up. WARNER and Co-Conspirator #1 made a substantial profit from the sale of tickets to the 2010 World Cup.

...
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Deeks on May 27, 2015, 06:03:41 PM
I want to know how is it that Canada USA and Mexico seems to always get automatic qualifications in Gold Cup?  Who could start that investigation? What is the price or deal  that has allegedly been brokered to ensured that?

They have money power in Concacaf. They have state of the art stadia, hotels, airports and transportation. Plus they get big crowds. They have convinced the others(with Jack's full input) to allow the GC to be played in the US. Mexico will not be affected because whenever and wherever they play in the US is like a home game. Canada just tagging along with the big boys. Sometimes they are very good, other time they are bad. This will not change until the big two, Mex-USA are consistently knocked out in the cup. Until this happens, just come along for the ride.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Deeks on May 27, 2015, 07:32:37 PM
But this was real big news,Breds and Sis. Local, national news. I just keep seeing Jack face, every hour on the hour. NPR running this news every half hour this morning. I thought I might have seen Bakes standing next to Madame AG when she was handing down the indictment.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Bitter on May 27, 2015, 08:04:10 PM
Blatter press conference:


https://www.youtube.com/v/SjbPi00k_ME
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Bakes on May 27, 2015, 08:51:56 PM
But this was real big news,Breds and Sis. Local, national news. I just keep seeing Jack face, every hour on the hour. NPR running this news every half hour this morning. I thought I might have seen Bakes standing next to Madame AG when she was handing down the indictment.

Haha, nah not me... but I have a Sikh pardna from college who is an Assistant US Attorney in that office.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: asylumseeker on May 27, 2015, 09:12:02 PM
Fifa is a playground for the corrupt and if Sepp Blatter is its face then we are in a very bad place
Diego Maradona (The Telegraph)


For decades I have lived and breathed football every single day. It is my passion. I am deeply proud of my career and the wonderful support I have known in Argentina and abroad from fans, friends and colleagues on the field. That is why I am writing today.

In the last few decades, football has changed – and not for the better. Once, it was a sport you could be proud of, a sport that united the world. But Fifa, its governing body, has turned into a playground for the corrupt.

Most football fans can predict what I am about to say next: Under Sepp Blatter, Fifa has become a disgrace and a painful embarrassment to those of us who care about football deeply.

 When I speak with football enthusiasts these days the conversation inevitably turns to the Fifa elections. While I find almost no one openly supporting Blatter, many think he will win a fifth term. Why? The whole notion of a fifth term is an absurdity in 2015 – it is not acceptable in democratic countries anywhere. Nor is it acceptable in the United Nations or most international organisations today.

But somehow it is OK for Fifa. We have a dictator for life.

I call Blatter “the man of ice” because he lacks the inspiration and passion that are at the very heart of football. If this is the face of international football, we are in a very bad place.

Football is an intense world, filled with conflict and it has always had its problems, but the head of Fifa should not be one of them.

 The media is filled with stories on the string of scandals that have surrounded Blatter for well over a decade. There are so many, it has almost become boring to repeat them.

Who would be surprised by another bit of Fifa intrigue and larceny, another accusation of bribery?

When I ask why so many people think Blatter will make it yet again, the answer is always the same: He has won support with years of unethical patronage, favours and handouts.

No one has argued that he is the best man for the job and deserves to win. They “praise” him for keeping one step ahead of the investigators – whether they are auditors or the FBI – and ignore how Fifa finances have turned into a shambles with losses over $100 million (£65 million) alone at ISL, the Swiss marketing company closely associated to Fifa.

There is a sick admiration for Blatter much like that accorded to an old Mafia boss who has somehow managed to stay out of jail.

Blatter’s political history is one of promoting division and hiding failures.

Recently he pledged to follow through in addressing racism in football and promoting women in the sport. That made me laugh. My question is: “Sepp, what were you doing in your last four terms?”

 We all know the answer to that: surrounding himself with crooks who lined their pockets at the expense of the sport. If he were an honest man, surely he would not have spent half his time blocking outside investigations into Fifa finances?

Why is this dodgy 79-year-old running for a fifth term at Fifa anyway? His cronies have stolen everything but the furniture in his office and he has claimed to know nothing. Perhaps we should call him Saint Sepp the Innocent. What a joke.

If leadership matters, then no national football association could, in good conscience, support Blatter for a fifth term. He is incompetent. When you are knee deep in massive financial losses and bribes and notice nothing, you are a fool or a thief.

All these corruption investigations are bleeding the life out of Fifa, and international football is drowning in a sea of contempt. Few sports in history have suffered the bad press football has faced in recent years and much of that press is owed to Blatter.

 Key sponsors like Continental, Castrol and Johnson & Johnson are running away from Fifa. The Council of Europe has condemned Blatter’s handling of the collapse of ISL and over $100 million in losses. The FBI is looking at the handling of the US bid for 2022. There have been hundreds of media articles on massive financial losses, mismanagement and bribery.

We need young and creative leadership at Fifa – the kind of leadership that is inclusive and open to new ideas. We need a football culture, not a mafia culture.

Why are we all just passively accepting this corruption? Enough is enough.

We want our game back.

(Published a couple days prior to the arrests).
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: weary1969 on May 27, 2015, 10:15:45 PM


What if some of the alleged corruption money was used to finance UNC/PP election campaign in 2010? What next?

What if water is wet. Since the 07 election is FIFA money in 02 when they refuse to go to parliament was FIFA money. I just want to see the trail to Rienzi and I will be happy.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Sando prince on May 27, 2015, 10:27:28 PM

Process may take months, says West

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20150527/news/process-may-take-months-says-west (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20150527/news/process-may-take-months-says-west)

While the Government has acceded to the extradition request by the United States, it will take months before former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner is actually extradited.

Former head of the Central Authority David West explained yesterday that now that bail has been granted, the United States has 60 days within which to produce evidence.

This, he said, will be done through the Central Authority.

After this, he explained, there will be a preliminary hearing.

All this could take up to four months before it reaches the High Court.

He said if Warner consents, then there will be no case and the process will be faster.

However, if Warner seeks to challenge the matter with a judicial review, it could delay the matter.

West is also head of the Police Complaints Authority.

Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Flex on May 28, 2015, 02:03:18 AM
Brent Sancho not surprised.
By Rhondor Dowlat (Guardian).


Minister of Sport and former Soca Warrior, Brent Sancho described the indictment against former FIFA vice president and president of CONCACAF as an historic development in sports and in football.

Sancho said he was not surprised in relation to Warner being charged for corruption.

“FIFA for a very long time acted on its own. No world government have ever interfaced or gotten involved in FIFA’s business. It is not a surprise that this is happening but I think it did take long to develop like this. I am not surprised,” Sancho said.

When asked about his longstanding relationship with Warner and how he felt on a personal level, Sancho replied: “It was always difficult to judge Warner’s impact in the local game. It is hard because he never really had a lot of accountability and transparency. For one championing his cause, Warner played an integral part in a positive way in football.

“It is a sad day despite all achievements Warner had on and off the pitch.”

When asked what was the reaction by his Cabinet colleagues on the news, Sancho said that everyone was watching to see what will happen next.

Meanwhile, the T&T Football Association (TTFA) said it is observing, with concern, the events that took place yesterday morning in Zurich, Switzerland.

In a release late yesterday, the TTFA assured that it will give the ongoing investigation the respect it deserves and as a result, will refrain from making further statements on the ongoing investigation at this time.

“We acknowledge this investigation and hope it will lead to improved governance in the world’s most popular sport of which our organisation is actively involved,” the TTFA said.

The TTFA reiterates that it is currently involved in a process of reforming and re-organising its governance, organisational structures, and “practices in striving to meet ever-increasing expectations of transparency, accountability and performance from a wide range of stakeholders.

“This process was started immediately by president Raymond Tim Kee after he was elected as president of TTFA in 2012.”

Tim Kee is currently in Zurich, Switzerland, attending the 65th FIFA Congress.

Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Flex on May 28, 2015, 02:18:21 AM
Sancho wants Warner answer FBI questions
By STEPHON NICHOLAS (Newsday).


Minister of Sport and former Soca Warrior, Brent Sancho, believes ex-FIFA vice-president Jack Warner should be extradited to the United States “to answer serious questions” posed to him by the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigations).

Sancho was speaking with Newsday following an early morning sweep in Switzerland by police on delegates who were convening for Friday’s FIFA presidential election where incumbent Sepp Blatter is seeking a fifth consecutive term.

Warner, who resigned from FIFA in June 2011 amid a proliferation of allegations of corruption, is named among 14 persons indicted including current Concacaf boss Jeffrey Webb for racketeering, fraud and money laundering.

Sancho, who had a personal battle with Warner and the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) for 2006 World Cup bonuses and accountability for close to $200 million from the 2006 World Cup campaign, had little sympathy for the former Special Adviser to the TTFA.

“I believe once there is concrete evidence he should answer what questions are raised to him. And based on the international reports that have been coming out for the last few years he has to answer a number of serious questions,” he stated.

Sancho said he was not surprised by yesterday’s developments as he reminded the public that Warner is not untouchable despite the power he once wielded throughout the world.

“I am not surprised at all. This has been something in the making for quite a while. There has been a number of allegations around FIFA and the only real surprise is that it has taken so long. There was the (Mohammed) bin Hammam situation (alleged US$40k bribes to (Caribbean officials) right here in Trinidad. He’s not untouchable but it is unprecedented. FIFA has been a law unto themselves for quite a while,” he said.

Sancho said this current FIFA scandal is a reminder to all sporting bodies to adhere to the principles of integrity while in office as no longer will the world sit back and allow corrupt sporting activities to continue unpunished.

“It’s a historic day in terms of how people will conduct business. We at home and the TTFA need to be cognizant of this. I’m not saying they have done anything illegal but we must be aware that accountability is a must. People must remember how powerful Concacaf is in terms of voting because of the number of countries we have. It has a lot to say in terms of everything going on at FIFA and what is playing out right now,” he explained.

Asked whether he feels vindicated considering their much publicised battle with Warner and the TTFA, Sancho said: “One thing is for sure is we unearthed a lot of stuff to do with what’s transpiring now. We are happy that the stuff we unearthed has now come home to roost. It’s a sad day for football,” he declared.

Asked whether FIFA has any credibility left, Sancho did not give a definite answer but urged football’s governing body to use this scandal as the impetus to purge itself from corrupt activities and officials. “That is the million dollar question now. Where do they go from here? From allegations to now arrests, I hope things can be cleansed but we don’t know how this will now affect tournaments coming up,” he said.

Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Flex on May 28, 2015, 03:06:48 AM
Nike becomes suspected player in alleged $150 million FIFA bribery scandal
By Drew Harwell


The international investigation into bribery, fraud and corruption at FIFA involved some surprising American names: The Miami chairman of a popular nationwide soccer league, and a major U.S. sportswear firm some believe could be Nike.

For more than two decades, the Justice Department said Wednesday, five "unscrupulous" U.S. and South American sports and banking executives helped funnel more than $150 million in bribes to officials atop FIFA, the multibillion-dollar goliath governing the world's most popular sport.

The indictment also alleges bribes were paid and pocketed in connection with the sponsorship of the Brazilian national soccer team by "a major U.S. sportswear company." Although investigators will not name the company, the indictment says the sportswear firm signed a 10-year, $160 million sponsorship deal with the Brazilian team in 1996, closely matching Nike’s clothes, shoes and equipment deal with the team that year.

The indictment alleges a sportswear-company official agreed three days later to allow Traffic Brazil, a sports marketing company, to charge additional "marketing fees." Traffic then invoiced the company for tens of millions of dollars more in payments over the next three years that investigators say were bribes.

Nike's current contract, which expires in 2018, includes $34 million a year in payments to the team, the fourth-largest uniform deal in international soccer, and the Oregon-based mega-firm's Swoosh logo sits on every Brazilian player's outfit.

The Brazilian sponsorship deal helped transform Nike from a brand mostly known for running and basketball shoes into a global sports giant. Nike’s soccer revenue surpassed $2.2 billion in fiscal year 2014, up from $40 million in 1994.

A Nike representative said in a statement that the firm is "concerned by the very serious allegations ... and strongly opposes any form of manipulation or bribery," adding that the company is cooperating with the authorities.

Nike investors seemed to shrug off the issue, sending the $88 billion giant's stock falling less than 1 percent. Even if Nike was implicated, analysts expected it would have minimal impact on the Big Swoosh.

"What fans or consumers are going to be much more concerned about is doping of athletes, fixing of matches, that kind of thing," said Matt Powell, a sports industry analyst for NPD Group. “I think they couldn’t care less who paid whom for what marketing deal.”

The broader corruption charges allege the five U.S. and South American businessmen pocketed kickbacks in exchange for media rights and marketing deals tied to some of soccer's most profitable games.

Investigators said they acted secretly, hatching intricate money laundering schemes, smuggling cash and wiring tens of millions of dollars through offshore accounts from the Cayman Islands to Hong Kong.

Besides the nine FIFA officials, sports-marketing executives Alejandro Burzaco, Aaron Davidson, Hugo Jinkis and Mariano Jinkis were indicted on charges of racketeering, wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy and a host of other charges tied to years of “rampant, systemic and deep-rooted" corruption, as Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch called them.

The executives are accused of serving as middlemen between FIFA and its six continental confederations, who make most of their money selling media and marketing rights to popular matches, and the legion of TV and radio networks, corporate sponsors and other licensees, who want to broadcast the games or promote their brands.

By bribing corrupt FIFA officials with more than $150 million since 1991, the Justice Department said, the marketing executives secured themselves lucrative multiyear contracts.

About $4 billion of FIFA's $5.7 billion in revenue between 2011 and 2014 came from contracts for TV and marketing rights for the 2014 World Cup, the Justice Department said.

Several prominent South American business leaders were charged in the investigation of what Internal Revenue Service criminal investigation chief Richard Weber called "the World Cup of fraud."

Burzaco, 50, is the chief executive of Torneos y Competencias S.A. (Tournaments and Competitions), an Argentinean sports broadcast firm that runs pay-TV channels, such as TyC Sports, and owns the rights to air key soccer matches, including World Cup qualifiers.

Hugo Jinkis, 70, and his son Mariano Jinkis, 40, were the president and vice president of Full Play Group S.A., an Argentinean sports-marketing agency that holds the TV rights to many South American games.

José Margulies, 75, the controlling principal of Valente Corp. and Somerton Ltd., was also accused of helping coordinate the illegal payments between the executives and officials.

The lone American executive charged so far is Aaron Davidson, 44, the president of Traffic Sports USA, a Miami-based arm of the Traffic Group, a Brazilian sports marketing conglomerate.

Davidson is chairman of the board of the North American Soccer League (NASL), and Traffic Sports USA owns stakes in several of its regional soccer franchises, including the Atlanta Silverbacks and the Carolina RailHawks, and a former stake in the Fort Lauderdale Strikers.

Davidson spoke for the company in media interviews as recently as last week's Sport Innovation Summit in Mexico City.

Registered in Miami since 1990, Traffic Sports USA is headquartered in a glitzy office tower, Courvoisier Centre, on the gated island of Brickell Key, state business records show. The firm's office line in Miami gave no answer Wednesday.

In 2012, the company won a massive marketing contract with FIFA to manage two mega-popular soccer tournaments for the U.S.-based soccer confederation, CONCACAF: the 2013 Gold Cup and 2015 Champions League.

Davidson said at the time that the company was "honored to have been selected by CONCACAF to represent these prestigious competitions,” and added that “being based in South Florida over the past 21 years has been very strategic and advantageous for us."

How firms like the Traffic Group allegedly kept bribes pumping play out over the court records of José Hawilla, the firm's 71-year-old Brazilian founder. In December, Hawilla pleaded guilty to charges including racketeering conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy and obstruction of justice, agreeing to forfeit more than $151 million, including $25 million on the spot.

Founded in Sao Paulo in 1980, the privately held Traffic Group focused on the "commercialization of soccer" through buying and selling media rights such as field branding, sponsorship deals and licensed merchandise. In a 2011 lawsuit, Traffic Sports International described itself as "one of the leading sports event and management companies in the world."

Traffic International funneled bribes extensively, investigators said: In five payments starting in 2010, for rights tied to the 2011 Copa America, the firm wired $22 million that bounced between a Miami bank, a Banco de Brasil in New York, and an account in Asuncion, Paraguay.

Federal investigators said Hawilla and his co-conspirators did nearly everything to conceal their scheme, including tapping a Swiss bank account, trusted financial advisers and currency dealers to help hide illegal payments. They also created shell companies and bank accounts in tax havens and secretive jurisdictions, evaded income taxes and resorted to bulk cash smuggling.

Both Traffic Sports International and Traffic Sports USA pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy this month.

The executives found a profitable playground in FIFA, which holds more than $1.5 billion in cash reserves. The organization pockets about $1.4 billion from its six official corporate sponsors every four years, with Adidas, Coca-Cola, Hyundai/Kia Motors, Emirates, Sony and Visa pledged as partners for the most recent World Cup.

Made up of 209 regional member associations that represent organized soccer, FIFA is both financially opaque, cloaking much of its spending and executive salaries, and tremendously profitable.

Between 2007 and 2010, when FIFA made 83 percent of its more than $4 billion in revenues off selling TV and marketing rights to the 2010 World Cup, its profits totaled about $631 million, income statements show.

FIFA, or the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, called itself the “injured party” in the investigation and said it "welcomes actions that can help contribute to rooting out any wrongdoing in football,” a statement released Wednesday said.

Jack Warner, a former FIFA vice president and soccer official from Trinidad and Tobago charged in the U.S. case, said in a statement to the Daily Mail in London that the investigation hid economic motives.

“The large world powers typically take actions to affect world football,'' Warner said. " World football is an enormous international business.”


Post researcher Alice Crites contributed to this report.

Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Flex on May 28, 2015, 03:09:53 AM
Visa warns FIFA: Clean up your act now or else
CNNMONEY


Some of the biggest corporate sponsors of soccer are worried in the wake of the corruption scandal now engulfing FIFA.

In a strongly worded statement late Wednesday, Visa called on the world's premier soccer organization to "take swift and immediate steps" to clean up its act.

"It is important that FIFA makes changes now," Visa (V) said. "Should FIFA fail to do so, we have informed them that we will reassess our sponsorship."

Earlier, another major sponsor, Coca-Cola (KO), said the "controversy has tarnished the mission and ideals of the FIFA World Cup." The company said it has "repeatedly expressed our concerns about these serious allegations."

 The U.S. Department of Justice on Wednesday indicted 14 people, including senior soccer executives, in a sweeping corruption probe spanning the globe. American officials said their investigation is continuing and Switzerland is conducting its own probe.

Attorney General Loretta Lynch also implicated at least one American company in the corruption allegations. Without going into any detail, she said the investigation included the "sponsorship of the Brazilian national soccer team by a major U.S. sportswear company," the 2011 FIFA presidential election and the site of the 2010 World Cup.

 McDonald's (MCD) said that it "takes matters of ethics and corruption very seriously" and that it is in contact with FIFA and is monitoring the situation closely.

Adidas (ADDDF) called on FIFA to raise its standards.

"The Adidas Group is fully committed to creating a culture that promotes the highest standards of ethics and compliance, and we expect the same from our partners," the company said.

Adidas said that it will "encourage FIFA to continue to establish and follow transparent compliance standards in everything they do."

 Budweiser's parent company, Anheuser-Busch (AHBIF), said, "We expect all of our partners to maintain strong ethical standards and operate with transparency. We continue to closely monitor the situation through our ongoing communications with FIFA."

Adidas and Visa paid an average of $32 million a year for their partnership deals with FIFA, while Coca-Cola, McDonald's and Budweiser forked over an average of $19 million each, according to estimates by IEG, a consulting and research firm.

All told, FIFA will pocket a total of about $1.6 billion from its major sponsors over a four-year period between 2011 and 2014, IEG calculated.

Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Flex on May 28, 2015, 03:13:47 AM
Jack Warner: former Fifa kingpin spends night in jail after corruption arrest.
By  Rupert Neate, Owen Gibson (theguardian.com)


Trinidadian appeared in court to hear eight counts of fraud but a delay in processing his US$395,000 bail meant a night in the cells

Former Fifa vice-president Jack Warner was spending Wednesday night in jail in Trinidad, after surrendering to face an arrest warrant issued at the request of US authorities, who filed corruption charges against him and 13 others tied to international football.

Warner appeared in court in Port-of Spain, where a judge read eight counts against him and then set bail at 2.5m Trinidadian dollars (US$395,000). He was also told he must surrender his passport and report to police twice a week.

Warner did not enter a plea and was scheduled to appear in court again on 12 July.

Police said there was a delay in processing Warner’s bail and he would spend one night in jail. Before turning himself in, Warner denied he had done anything wrong.

The US has two months to issue a formal extradition request, according to Trinidad’s attorney general, Garvin Nicholas, who said his office had been working with the US justice department for about two years regarding the investigation into Warner, who was forced out of Fifa in 2011 over a bribery scandal.

In a video posted on Facebook just hours before he surrendered, Warner said: “I want to tell you, that whatever is planned for me, negatively, shall not succeed.”

Warner, who is an opposition member of parliament in the twin-island nation of Trinidad and Tobago, and previously served as Trinidad’s national security minister, can be extradited to the US under a bilateral treaty following a hearing.
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“Mr Warner is entitled to a fair extradition process and both the requesting and requested states intend to abide by the provisions of the treaty to ensure that Mr Warner’s rights are respected,” the attorney general said in a statement.

American prosecutors on Wednesday accused nine senior current or former Fifa officials – seven of whom, including Fifa vice-presidents Jeffrey Webb and Eugenio Figueredo, were arrested in dawn raids at a five-star hotel in Switzerland – of “hijacking” international football to run “a World Cup of fraud” to line their pockets by $150m.

The Swiss federal prosecutor also raided Fifa’s headquarters in Zurich in a parallel investigation into the controversial bidding race for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, which were awarded to Russia and Qatar respectively in December 2010.

Loretta Lynch, the US attorney general, said the Fifa officials had allegedly run a “rampant, systemic and deep-rooted” scheme to “acquire millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks”.

“They were expected to uphold the rules that keep soccer honest, and protect the integrity of the game. Instead, they corrupted the business of worldwide soccer to serve their interests and enrich themselves.”

Lynch said the nine Fifa officials, including Warner, and five sports marketing executives had run “a 24-year scheme to enrich themselves through the corruption of international soccer”.

“These individuals and organisations engaged in bribery to decide who would televise games; where the games would be held; and who would run the organisation overseeing organised soccer worldwide,” Lynch said.

“They corrupted the business of worldwide soccer to serve their interests and enrich themselves. They did this over and over, year after year, tournament after tournament.”

Among an avalanche of new claims was one that South Africa paid $10m in bribes to secure the 2010 World Cup – and that the cash was transferred via a Fifa account. The money was allegedly paid to former Fifa members Warner and Chuck Blazer – an American who became an FBI informer after he was threatened over millions in unpaid tax.

Lynch said she would seek the extradition of the men to the US to stand trial as soon as possible. If found guilty of racketeering, the most serious of the 47 charges, some of the men face up to 20 years in jail.

Earlier in the day, Warner denied any wrongdoing, as he has previously when confronted with allegations that he enriched himself while an official with the global soccer governing body and as a president of Concacaf, Fifa’s North American regional organisation.

Warner left football in 2011 to avoid Fifa sanctions during the organisation’s presidential election. He said he was not questioned in the investigation that led to this week’s indictment, which also involves guilty pleas by two of his sons on related charges.

“I have been afforded no due process and I have not even been questioned in this matter,” he said in a statement. “I reiterate that I am innocent of any charges.

“I have walked away from the politics of world football to immerse myself in the improvement of lives in this country where I shall, God willing, die.”

In a brief phone conversation with the Associated Press, Warner declined to comment further and said he did not have enough information about his sons’ guilty pleas to comment. “I can’t say anything about what I don’t know about.”

Warner represents the constituency of Chaguanas West in parliament. His term is due to expire when the session ends on 17 June.

Later, he told TV6 that US authorities “know where to find me” and added: “I sleep very soundly in the night.”

Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: elan on May 28, 2015, 07:59:56 AM
All these sponsors grand standing. How long they FIFA corrupted and yet they flock to it in droves. IF the WC is played in the next 3 hours you will see all off them falling over themselves with Sepp.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Sando prince on May 28, 2015, 08:53:00 AM
Say something now nah !  :)


The Russian President believes that the FBI investigation into alleged corruption within the game's governing body is politically motivated

Russian president Vladimir Putin says Wednesday’s arrests of Fifa officials is merely another example of the USA "meddling" in affairs outside its jurisdiction.

The US Department of Justice, in collaboration with the Swiss police, made a wave of arrests in Zurich following a three-year FBI investigation into alleged corruption at football’s world governing body.

However, Putin says the arrests were little more an attempt by the American authorities to extend their power across the globe.

“It looks very strange that the arrests are carried out on the request of the USA,” he said.

“They are accused of corruption – who is? International officials. I suppose that someone broke some rules, I don’t know. But definitely, it’s got nothing to do with the USA.

"Those officials are not US citizens. If something happened it was not in the US and it’s nothing to do with them.”

Read More; http://www.goal.com/en/news/745/fifa/2015/05/28/12171692/putin-usa-meddling-in-fifa-affairs?ICID=HP_BN_2



Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Sam on May 28, 2015, 09:22:10 AM
Transactions were made in the US with US dollars also, tell Putin to shut he cunny.

De currency were made illegally and to make it workst, they did not pay taxes on it and its the property of US.

Yuh feel this is Trini or what, thieving millions and getting away free.

Yea, de FBI, USA might have a personal motive, but FIFA is corrupted for over 30 years now and someone need to stop them.

Look what Jack Warner did to T&T.

Talking about Jack, he spend de night in Goldon Grove and he told his sons what to say to the FBI, expect de Warner's to walk free, including Jack, because he go sing like a pee-coh.

FIFA put another corrupt man to rn Concacaf and get he ass caught up now, Webb.

REMEMBER THIS ALLYUH


Now Warner vows to unleash 'tsunami' to bring down Blatter in corruption scandal
By Sportsmail Reporter
Updated: 10:22 EST, 18 October 2011


Disgraced former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner has threatened to release a 'tsunami' of corruption allegations against Sepp Blatter.

Warner revealed he will make the claims once former presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hammam completes his appeal to the Court of Arbitration of Sport against his life ban for bribery.

'I have promised in the past a tsunami that would hit the FIFA, and indeed, it will come,' said Warner, who was on FIFA's ruling executive committee for 28 years.

A verdict in bin Hammam's appeal to CAS is not expected for several months. The bribery scandal also ended Warner's career in football when he resigned in June to avoid investigation of his role in arranging $40,000 payments for Caribbean voters during bin Hammam's election challenge to Blatter.

Warner published a 1,300-word article in the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian, claiming that he and Bin Hammam helped Blatter win 'bitter' and 'brutal' elections in 1998 and 2002.

He said his revelations would make FIFA's sponsors - which include Adidas, Coca-Cola, Sony and Visa - 'cringe with painful surprise.'

The threats come three days before Blatter announces details of an anti-corruption drive promised when FIFA member nations gave the 75-year-old Swiss a final four-year term unopposed in June.

He continued: 'Blatter now suddenly sees the need to reform the FIFA from within in his last term of office and in the sunset of his days.

'This is hypocritical to say the least for it is public knowledge that his four terms of office have been dogged with controversy and allegations of corruption to which he has never responded.'

Warner said he and Bin Hammam backed Blatter's first campaign in 1998 and to secure re-election four years later, when the governing body was mired in a financial scandal.

He added: 'We took (Blatter) on a worldwide crusade through Africa and Asia begging for support for him, and he won!'

Warner recalled his first meeting with Petrus Damaseb, who chaired the FIFA ethics panel which expelled bin Hammam in July.

He implied that Damaseb, then Namibia football federation president, accepted a payment in '98. FIFA introduced an ethics code in 2006 which prohibited cash gifts.

'I will tell the world what gift Bin Hammam gave to (Damaseb) which was not a bribe then as he has ruled today,' Warner wrote.

Bin Hammam has claimed that Blatter and Chuck Blazer, the American FIFA executive committee member and Warner's longtime ally, orchestrated the bribery scandal because the Qatari official was poised to take football's top job.

Warner calculated that his 25 Caribbean Football Union members were key because Blatter was edging the race by just a handful of votes.

'It would have been an interesting encounter until the region was sold out to Blazer and Blatter,' Warner wrote.

The Trinidad and Tobago government minister also suggested FIFA was blighted by racial and religious discrimination, and that Michel Platini of France was being groomed to continue a European domination of world football.

'The conspiracy to protect the FIFA's throne for Michel Platini by getting rid of the Muslim Bin Hammam and the interruption of the successes of Jack

Warner will be uncovered for all to see,' he wrote.

The bribery scandal was sparked when whistleblowers from four Caribbean countries reported that cash was offered during bin Hammam's May 10 electioneering visit to Trinidad.

A video of Warner urging Caribbean football leaders to accept their cash gifts was leaked last week.

Warner previously promised to unleash a 'tsunami' in May after he was provisionally suspended by the ethics committee. He published an email in which FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke implied Qatar 'bought' the 2022 World Cup hosting rights.

Valcke acknowledged writing the email to Warner, but said he was referring to the financial strength of Qatar's bid.

Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Flex on May 28, 2015, 09:30:14 AM
Warner's "football tsunami" warning finally comes true for FIFA.
By Mike Collett (Reuters).


Almost exactly four years to the day since former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner stood in the lobby of the Baur au Lac hotel and warned FIFA a "football tsunami" was about to hit it, his words have finally came true.

But not in the way he could ever have imagined.

As dawn broke on Wednesday, the doors of the luxury five-star hotel overlooking Lake Zurich burst open and plainclothes officers from the Swiss federal police force swept through the very lobby where Warner uttered those words in 2011.

They obtained the keys to the rooms of seven FIFA delegates, including Warner's successor as the president of the CONCACAF confederation Jeffrey Webb, and led them away on various charges of bribery, racketeering, fraud and money laundering.

This, though, was not the tsunami Warner had in mind when he himself was suspended by FIFA for his alleged part in the bribery scandal that led to his downfall in the build-up to the 2011 FIFA presidential election.

At the time he said he had evidence of bribery going back years that would "hit FIFA and the world and shock you."

But Warner never did unleash his threatened tsunami. The United States Department of Justice and the Swiss Attorney General have.

Instead Warner walked away after 29 years involvement with world soccer's governing body rather than face FIFA's own Ethics Committee's probe into his part in the bribery scandal, and became a politician in his native Trinidad.

MURKY WATERS

But on Wednesday he again found himself involved in the murky waters of FIFA when he was named as one of 14 defendants charged by the U.S. authorities.

They said Warner had solicited bribes worth $10 million from the South African government to host the 2010 World Cup and he had diverted bribes for personal use.

Again, perhaps not the tsunami that Warner had predicted.

Warner, once one of the most powerful men in FIFA, issued a statement protesting his innocence on Wednesday as FIFA reeled not only from the raid on the Baur au Lac carried out on behalf of the U.S, but a second investigation opened by the Swiss authorities into the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

The timing of the two raids, involving 18 people in all, was clearly no coincidence.

The twin investigations involve alleged corruption going back to at least 24 years surrounding high profile events like the World Cups but also other deals done away from the glare of publicity.

As British Member of Parliament Damian Collins, the founder of the anti-FIFA pressure group New FIFA Now, told Reuters on Wednesday: "Finally the chickens have come home to roost. This has been going on for far too long and now perhaps, change may come."

The timing has come at the worst possible moment for FIFA, just two days before incumbent Sepp Blatter, who will be 80 next year, faces a challenge to his presidency from 39-year-old Prince Ali bin Al Hussein of Jordan.

Blatter though is virtually certain to win a fifth term of office from the overwhelming majority of FIFA's 209 member nations who have gathered in Zurich for Friday's Congress when the election will take place.

But in an almost Orwellian press conference held at FIFA House hours after the raid at the Baur au Lac, FIFA's Director of Communications Walter de Gregorio claimed the development "was good for FIFA" because the authorities were acting on information FIFA provided to them last November.

However, in reality, with the world's media gathering in Zurich for the election, FIFA's reputation appears to be at an all-time low.

Prince Ali, advocating reform and change at FIFA if he wins the election, said: "We cannot continue with the crisis in FIFA, a crisis that has been ongoing and is not just relevant to the events of today.

"FIFA needs leadership that governs, guides and protects our national associations. Leadership that accepts responsibility for its actions and does not pass blame.

"Leadership that restores confidence in the hundreds of millions of football fans around the world."

And it probably needs a complete change in the way the organisation runs itself before that ever happens.

Since 1999 at least four books have been published in English detailing allegations of corruption against FIFA, with the latest, "The Ugly Game", detailing what it claims is conclusive proof of widespread corruption regarding the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar.

De Gregorio was quick to rule out that the awarding of that World Cup would be reviewed, but with the United States authorities clearly determined to bring the guilty men to justice, the future remains uncertain not only for the individuals involved, but FIFA itself.


(Reporting by Mike Collett; Editing by Giles Elgood)

Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Sando prince on May 28, 2015, 09:32:51 AM
Say something now nah !  :)


The Russian President believes that the FBI investigation into alleged corruption within the game's governing body is politically motivated

Russian president Vladimir Putin says Wednesday’s arrests of Fifa officials is merely another example of the USA "meddling" in affairs outside its jurisdiction.

The US Department of Justice, in collaboration with the Swiss police, made a wave of arrests in Zurich following a three-year FBI investigation into alleged corruption at football’s world governing body.

However, Putin says the arrests were little more an attempt by the American authorities to extend their power across the globe.

“It looks very strange that the arrests are carried out on the request of the USA,” he said.

“They are accused of corruption – who is? International officials. I suppose that someone broke some rules, I don’t know. But definitely, it’s got nothing to do with the USA.

"Those officials are not US citizens. If something happened it was not in the US and it’s nothing to do with them.”

Read More; http://www.goal.com/en/news/745/fifa/2015/05/28/12171692/putin-usa-meddling-in-fifa-affairs?ICID=HP_BN_2



I was watching a CNN news report when some American and British journalists were trying hard to brainwash viewers how Russia and Qatar should not have been given the WC nods for 2018 and 2022. Leh we see how does ting will play out oui
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Deeks on May 28, 2015, 09:35:42 AM
Anybody on the forum really shock about this recent happenings. I am not. This entire forum got its energy on the wrong doings of Jack. We have been looking forward for this event since 2006. I wonder what Coops saying? He is in another world. No worries. RIP, Breds.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Flex on May 28, 2015, 09:39:40 AM
Fifa crisis: Blatter refuses to quit as president after Platini request.
BBC Sports.


Sepp Blatter has refused to resign as Fifa president following a request from Uefa chief Michel Platini.

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.

The Frenchman added that the latest crisis had left him "absolutely sickened" and said "people have had enough".

Blatter is seeking a fifth term as president when he takes on Prince Ali bin al-Hussein in Friday's election.

Several influential football figures had called for the vote delayed after seven Fifa officials were arrested in Zurich on Wednesday.

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.

Caf, which looks after the interests of Africa, has also reiterated its support for Blatter.

So has the Asian Football Confederation, although one of its members, the Australian football federation, has announced its intention to vote for Prince Ali.

"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."

Dutch FA boss and former presidential candidate Michael van Praag - who pulled out of the running so as not to split the anti-Blatter vote - said: "He is the end responsible person in Fifa. You cannot always continue washing your hands."

Fifa was plunged into fresh crisis on Wednesday when United States authorities indicted 14 people and arrested seven senior football officials on bribery and racketeering charges.

In a separate development, Swiss officials opening criminal proceedings into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bid processes.

Blatter's decision to chair an emergency meeting with representatives from Fifa's six confederations is significant.

Such gatherings are rare.

It also took place without two of its nominated members.

Jeffrey Webb, president of the North, Central American and Caribbean Association, and Eugenio Figueredo, president of the South American confederation, were both absent after being arrested on Wednesday.

Blatter, who has been in power since 1998, was widely expected to win a fifth term as president before the current crisis engulfed Fifa.

But things are not so clear cut now.

He is understood to have widespread support among Fifa's 209 member associations, but Prince Ali, a Fifa vice-president from Jordan, could benefit from the latest crisis to his world football's governing body.

Prime Minister David Cameron and English Football Association chairman Greg Dyke joined those calling for Blatter to step down.

Britain's David Gill also says he will resign from Fifa's executive committee if Blatter is re-elected.

But support for the president came from Russian president Vladimir Putin, who has claimed the United States is meddling in Fifa's affairs in an attempt to take the 2018 World Cup away from his country.

It's not just about the election, is it?

No, it's not. Fifa's entire future appears to be at stake.

Its reputation has been sullied by corruption claims for years now.

However, there is a sense that these latest developments could have a seismic impact on the footballing landscape.

Let's remember, there are two investigations here.

One is led by the United States, which is focusing on bribery claims going back more than 20 years and involving several key Fifa figures.

The other, led by Swiss authorities, is focusing on potential wrongdoing when voting took place for 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosting rights

How serious are the bribery claims?

Very. Seven Fifa officials were arrested in Zurich on Wednesday on charges they received more than $150m (£100m) in bribes.

Among them was Fifa vice-president Webb, a hugely influential figure who holds a lot of power in North America and the Caribbean.

In total, 14 defendants were charged by the US Department of Justice with racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies in a 24-year scheme.

Jack Warner, a former Fifa vice-president who quit world football's governing body in 2011, was also among them.

The US is trying to extradite all seven officials arrested in Zurich. Unsurprisingly, all seven are fighting such a move.

What about the 2018 and 2022 World Cups?

It seems unlikely that either Russia or Qatar will be stripped of the tournaments at this stage, although anything is possible.

Despite Fifa's numerous attempts to prove the bidding process was fair, rumours persist that not everything was above board.

The latest development have only added to the speculation.

Naturally, both Russia, who were awarded the rights to stage the 2018 tournament, and Qatar, who will host the 2022 event, are fighting hard.

Both have always insisted that they won their bids fair and square.

Is the 2010 World Cup also under scrutiny?

Yes. The tournament was always going to be in Africa, but South Africa was chosen ahead of Egypt and Morocco.

However, the US investigation claims South African officials paid $10m (£6.5m) in bribes to host the tournament.

That has prompted a furious reaction from the South African government.

"When we concluded the Fifa World Cup here in South Africa, we got a clean audit report," said Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe. "There has never been any suggestion that anything untoward happened."

How is Fifa dealing with the crisis?

As you'd expect, it is working overtime to calm fears it is in meltdown.

Fifa director of communications Walter De Gregorio tried hard to put a positive spin on developments on Wednesday.

But not everyone believed him when he claimed the investigations proved Fifa was on the right track.

In an attempt to be proactive, Fifa has already banned 11 of the 14 people charged by the US Department of Justice.

But it is coming under increasing pressure from unhappy sponsors.

Which sponsors are particularly upset?

Visa. It says it will "reassess" its sponsorship unless Fifa takes "swift and immediate steps" to address the latest accusations.

Coca-Cola, Adidas, Nike and McDonalds have also voiced concern.

John Whittingdale, Britain's Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport, has urged all sponsors to "consider following Visa's lead".

It's fair to say that the loss of a high-profile sponsor would have a damaging impact on Fifa, both in terms of revenue and reputation.

Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Sando prince on May 28, 2015, 09:49:09 AM

https://www.youtube.com/v/zb3cjEoni4o
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: KND2 on May 28, 2015, 09:56:40 AM
When Blazer spend a night in Jail only then I will send Jack to answer charges, Everybody theif money from Havalanch come straight up to Blatter. In fact they did not theif they pay themself which is what every company in the world does. They pay the leaders.

You cant let the American "Theif" have immunity and lock up the Trinidadian one.

Jack did not create this FIFA way of doing business.

He simply fall in and they show him how to do it.

It may be against american business practice but it is inline with FIFA business practice.

yes they may have break some American Laws but usa does not have jurisdiction over FIFA and how fifa does business.
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: kounty on May 28, 2015, 10:26:24 AM
When Blazer spend a night in Jail only then I will send Jack to answer charges, Everybody theif money from Havalanch come straight up to Blatter. In fact they did not theif they pay themself which is what every company in the world does. They pay the leaders.

You cant let the American "Theif" have immunity and lock up the Trinidadian one.

Jack did not create this FIFA way of doing business.

He simply fall in and they show him how to do it.

It may be against american business practice but it is inline with FIFA business practice.

yes they may have break some American Laws but usa does not have jurisdiction over FIFA and how fifa does business.
I guess FIFA should look into buying a small island like T&T then...where they can change the laws to suit their needs....and not sign extradition treaties. F0rk a Google!  ;D  sigh. ppor jack.  if he did stay in the game the dons woulda keep him safe :)
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: grimm01 on May 28, 2015, 10:30:41 AM

https://www.youtube.com/v/zb3cjEoni4o
Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
Post by: Sando prince on May 28, 2015, 10:33:25 AM

https://www.youtube.com/v/zb3cjEoni4o
    Partner I doubt the US really doing this to gain control over world football, but if you buy into that theory, yuh could do a lot better than to quote Putin. He has a direct interest in making sure FIFA's secrets regarding the WC bids are kept hidden. What Putin doing here is mostly for his constituents and plays into his broader narrative that the West out to get Russia and it's us vs them... Putin taking front because he knows what could be found and wants to make sure his people are doubtful enough that any revelations will be cast aside as the West disrespecting Russia. I also find it laughable that Putin is now the defender of international sovereignty...

    I don't doubt that Sepp is the big target and that's why the Swiss have launched the investigation into 2018 and 2022 WC bids. I am also pretty sure that whatever information the accused have to share will be passed to the Swiss in their broader investigation.

    Also as for the US overreaching, the charges unveiled yesterday are very focused on the Concacaf side of business and pretty clearly establish a link to the US and jurisdiction for US law enforcement and courts. 

    • Concacaf is headquartered in the US
    • Four of the charge/arrested/indicted are US citizens: Chuck Blazer, Aaron Davidson-the sports marketing guy, Eugenio Figueredo-the Uruguayan and naturalized US citizen who is also charged with lying on his citizenship application, and one of Jack sons
    • Traffic Sports USA is headquartered in Miami (one of the sports marketing firms that paid bribes
    • Over $100M in bribes were paid related to the 2016 Copa America that being held in the US
    • Warner sons was flying up and down the US depositing bribe money in under $10K US chunks into accounts for people
    • Some of the bribe money for Jeffrey Webb went to build a pool and was put in a US bank in GA for a US contractor

    NO need in spilling so much of your guts trying to convince me that America has no personal interest in the matter. I am posting the news similar to how other posters are posting the news. If you are bothered with what Putin is saying I cannot help you.[/list]
    Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
    Post by: grimm01 on May 28, 2015, 10:42:07 AM

    https://www.youtube.com/v/zb3cjEoni4o
      Partner I doubt the US really doing this to gain control over world football, but if you buy into that theory, yuh could do a lot better than to quote Putin. He has a direct interest in making sure FIFA's secrets regarding the WC bids are kept hidden. What Putin doing here is mostly for his constituents and plays into his broader narrative that the West out to get Russia and it's us vs them... Putin taking front because he knows what could be found and wants to make sure his people are doubtful enough that any revelations will be cast aside as the West disrespecting Russia. I also find it laughable that Putin is now the defender of international sovereignty...

      I don't doubt that Sepp is the big target and that's why the Swiss have launched the investigation into 2018 and 2022 WC bids. I am also pretty sure that whatever information the accused have to share will be passed to the Swiss in their broader investigation.

      Also as for the US overreaching, the charges unveiled yesterday are very focused on the Concacaf side of business and pretty clearly establish a link to the US and jurisdiction for US law enforcement and courts. 

      • Concacaf is headquartered in the US
      • Four of the charge/arrested/indicted are US citizens: Chuck Blazer, Aaron Davidson-the sports marketing guy, Eugenio Figueredo-the Uruguayan and naturalized US citizen who is also charged with lying on his citizenship application, and one of Jack sons
      • Traffic Sports USA is headquartered in Miami (one of the sports marketing firms that paid bribes
      • Over $100M in bribes were paid related to the 2016 Copa America that being held in the US
      • Warner sons was flying up and down the US depositing bribe money in under $10K US chunks into accounts for people
      • Some of the bribe money for Jeffrey Webb went to build a pool and was put in a US bank in GA for a US contractor

      NO need in spilling so much of your guts trying to convince me that America has no personal interest in the matter. I am posting the news similar to how other posters are posting the news. If you are bothered with what Putin is saying I cannot help you.[/list]

      Well thanks for posting that piece of "news" and furthering the discussion on the board.
      Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
      Post by: Sando prince on May 28, 2015, 10:44:29 AM

      https://www.youtube.com/v/zb3cjEoni4o
        Partner I doubt the US really doing this to gain control over world football, but if you buy into that theory, yuh could do a lot better than to quote Putin. He has a direct interest in making sure FIFA's secrets regarding the WC bids are kept hidden. What Putin doing here is mostly for his constituents and plays into his broader narrative that the West out to get Russia and it's us vs them... Putin taking front because he knows what could be found and wants to make sure his people are doubtful enough that any revelations will be cast aside as the West disrespecting Russia. I also find it laughable that Putin is now the defender of international sovereignty...

        I don't doubt that Sepp is the big target and that's why the Swiss have launched the investigation into 2018 and 2022 WC bids. I am also pretty sure that whatever information the accused have to share will be passed to the Swiss in their broader investigation.

        Also as for the US overreaching, the charges unveiled yesterday are very focused on the Concacaf side of business and pretty clearly establish a link to the US and jurisdiction for US law enforcement and courts. 

        • Concacaf is headquartered in the US
        • Four of the charge/arrested/indicted are US citizens: Chuck Blazer, Aaron Davidson-the sports marketing guy, Eugenio Figueredo-the Uruguayan and naturalized US citizen who is also charged with lying on his citizenship application, and one of Jack sons
        • Traffic Sports USA is headquartered in Miami (one of the sports marketing firms that paid bribes
        • Over $100M in bribes were paid related to the 2016 Copa America that being held in the US
        • Warner sons was flying up and down the US depositing bribe money in under $10K US chunks into accounts for people
        • Some of the bribe money for Jeffrey Webb went to build a pool and was put in a US bank in GA for a US contractor

        NO need in spilling so much of your guts trying to convince me that America has no personal interest in the matter. I am posting the news similar to how other posters are posting the news. If you are bothered with what Putin is saying I cannot help you.[/list]

        Well thanks for posting that piece of "news" and furthering the discussion on the board.

        Don't get too excited just yet. I have much more of that same "news" to post in the near future.

        Title: CONCACAF Announces Actions taken by Executive Committee
        Post by: Tallman on May 28, 2015, 11:47:59 AM
        CONCACAF Announces Actions taken by Executive Committee
        CONCACAF.com


        The Confederation of North, Central America and the Caribbean Football Association (CONCACAF) announced today that in accordance with the Confederation’s Statutes, the Executive Committee provisionally dismissed Jeffrey Webb and Eduardo Li, and -- also in accordance with its Statutes -- named Senior Vice President Alfredo Hawit as CONCACAF President.
         
        The Executive Committee appointed Victor Montagliani, the President of the Canadian Soccer Association, Justino Compean, the President of the Mexican Soccer Federation and Sunil Gulati, the President of U.S. Soccer Federation to a Special Committee charged with the duties of evaluating and sustaining all of the business operations of the Confederation in the wake of the indictments brought against certain members of FIFA and CONCACAF.
         
        The Executive Committee also placed General Secretary Enrique Sanz on a leave of absence to begin immediately. In addition, the confederation’s Deputy General Secretary, Ted Howard has been appointed by the Executive Committee as acting General Secretary. Howard takes over the administrative functions of the day to day business of the Confederation in absence of Enrique Sanz.
         
        “While we are profoundly disappointed by the allegations made by authorities that again, CONCACAF has been the victim of fraud, we remain committed to CONCACAF’s goal to develop, promote and manage the game of soccer,” said CONCACAF President Alfredo Hawit. “We have now taken the appropriate steps to maintain our operations and continue to deliver on our commitments to all of our constituents, including our fans, members, as well as commercial and broadcast partners. We also continue to cooperate with the ongoing investigation by governmental authorities, which have not placed any restrictions on our ongoing activities.”
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Peong on May 28, 2015, 01:27:39 PM
        So the big money North American federations grabbed some power. 
        Hawit is Honduran.  Any CFU guys have good positions?
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: elan on May 28, 2015, 01:29:17 PM
        So guess what keeping Jack in jail  :rotfl: :rotfl: this way to funny yes. They having problem with the deeds to secure bail. He tie things up so much he in ah knot now.  :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: soccerman on May 28, 2015, 01:48:59 PM
        So the big money North American federations grabbed some power. 
        Hawit is Honduran.  Any CFU guys have good positions?
        Nope...that's it for CFU
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Mose on May 28, 2015, 01:57:53 PM
        So guess what keeping Jack in jail  :rotfl: :rotfl: this way to funny yes. They having problem with the deeds to secure bail. He tie things up so much he in ah knot now.  :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

        That is rich! May he sit and stew!
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Preacher on May 28, 2015, 03:02:09 PM
        (https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xta1/v/t1.0-9/11262415_10153840352064688_7700417918009820122_n.jpg?oh=e2b2de89db4126096b2ec955a99056c1&oe=55EFD66B)
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Preacher on May 28, 2015, 03:03:34 PM
        It has Begun. :)

        (https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10922515_10153840352079688_4165285660876322940_n.jpg?oh=7c6ffb69fcf65fef8d52aa93b0fc504a&oe=55C3D757)
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Deeks on May 28, 2015, 03:21:06 PM
        So the big money North American federations grabbed some power. 
        Hawit is Honduran.  Any CFU guys have good positions?

        CFU would be foolish to play coward. They still have the numbers in their favour. If they allow the power brokers to split their vote, then they will have a hard time. They still have to work together as a unit to get some things in their favour. The 3 Spanish members may side with the Central Americans. They will still have numbers in their favour.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Sando prince on May 28, 2015, 03:29:28 PM


        https://twitter.com/jackwarnertt/status/604011671804329984


        Quote
        The release of #JackWarner from the Frederick Street prison appears to be imminent as his attorneys arrive.


        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Banter Banton on May 28, 2015, 04:46:40 PM
        TTFA voting for Blatter or Ali ?

        RT @SamBorden: BREAKING: Sunil Gulati, US Soccer pres, says USA will vote for Prince Ali in #FIFA election. Canada Soccer Assoc. also supporting Prince Ali
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: grimm01 on May 28, 2015, 05:22:26 PM

        TTFA voting for Blatter or Ali ?

        RT @SamBorden: BREAKING: Sunil Gulati, US Soccer pres, says USA will vote for Prince Ali in #FIFA election. Canada Soccer Assoc. also supporting Prince Ali

        What is Sepp power base? Africa, CONCACAF and S. America? Definitely not Europe and the Price may split the Asia vote. Could it really be close for Sepp this year?
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Sando prince on May 28, 2015, 05:33:19 PM

        TTFA voting for Blatter or Ali ?

        RT @SamBorden: BREAKING: Sunil Gulati, US Soccer pres, says USA will vote for Prince Ali in #FIFA election. Canada Soccer Assoc. also supporting Prince Ali

        What is Sepp power base? Africa, CONCACAF and S. America? Definitely not Europe and the Price may split the Asia vote. Could it really be close for Sepp this year?

        Majority of Asia, Africa and South America is in support of Blatter. There is no chance of him losing.

        The Nigerian FA President was on news saying Blatter did a lot to develop the smaller and poorer nations in football.

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on May 28, 2015, 05:39:09 PM
        Majority of Asia, Africa and South America is in support of Blatter. There is no chance of him losing.

        The Nigerian FA President was on news saying Blatter did a lot to develop the smaller and poorer nations in football.



        Blatter's base is Asia and Africa, he doesn't have CONMEBOL... although some Federations may vote for him independently.  Contrary to what you say, there's a fair chance that he could be defeated.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: gb8702 on May 28, 2015, 05:39:52 PM
        It's about time we cut the cancer from the beautiful game!! Over the years these greedy pigs have been feeding from the trough now it's time for porridge !!! Keep football clean and transparent
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Sando prince on May 28, 2015, 05:46:58 PM
        Majority of Asia, Africa and South America is in support of Blatter. There is no chance of him losing.

        The Nigerian FA President was on news saying Blatter did a lot to develop the smaller and poorer nations in football.



        Blatter's base is Asia and Africa, he doesn't have CONMEBOL... although some Federations may vote for him independently.  Contrary to what you say, there's a fair chance that he could be defeated.

        When the votes are casted we will be right here to see them. I am leaning towards the results not being close.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: gb8702 on May 28, 2015, 05:52:18 PM
        Septic blatter will be re elected just watch :cursing:
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Sando prince on May 28, 2015, 05:52:25 PM
        (https://scontent.fsjc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/10501912_10207145555067063_1360034623065291170_n.jpg?oh=d35d293b3d1da7579384c64d84418e14&oe=5602DE67)
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: gb8702 on May 28, 2015, 05:57:44 PM
        (https://scontent.fsjc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/10501912_10207145555067063_1360034623065291170_n.jpg?oh=d35d293b3d1da7579384c64d84418e14&oe=5602DE67)
        jack Teflon Warner times against you me thinks this time it will stick, unless you squeal.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: elan on May 28, 2015, 05:58:42 PM
        Here's the question. Do we really think this is just about misappropriation of money? The US and England was over the moon in Russia and Qatar hosting the WC (there are some true concerns). The South African choice was criticized, and even the choice of Brazil came under some fire - it's a good thing the footballing world is more misogynistic than socially conscious.

        So there is a group who's pushing and applauding these investigation who have previously shown that the WC may potentially be rotated to only a few of the bigger, "less corrupted" countries. Currently we are poised to have future WCs in USA, Europe (mainstream countries), and Asia may get tossed a bone.

        Notice at the podium the ONLY WC hosting allocations to be referenced as tainted are SA, Russia and Qatar. No mention of how come the US was awarded a WC without even having a Pro League. What sort of "deals" were cut to pull that off? The wild card of Japan/Korea? No question there?
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Agent Jack Bauer on May 28, 2015, 06:12:04 PM
        Here's the question. Do we really think this is just about misappropriation of money? The US and England was over the moon in Russia and Qatar hosting the WC (there are some true concerns). The South African choice was criticized, and even the choice of Brazil came under some fire - it's a good thing the footballing world is more misogynistic than socially conscious.

        So there is a group who's pushing and applauding these investigation who have previously shown that the WC may potentially be rotated to only a few of the bigger, "less corrupted" countries. Currently we are poised to have future WCs in USA, Europe (mainstream countries), and Asia may get tossed a bone.

        Notice at the podium the ONLY WC hosting allocations to be referenced as tainted are SA, Russia and Qatar. No mention of how come the US was awarded a WC without even having a Pro League. What sort of "deals" were cut to pull that off? The wild card of Japan/Korea? No question there?
        supposedly the corruption only goes back 24 years........yuh tink dem easy
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on May 28, 2015, 06:31:05 PM
        FIFPRO Statement

        FIFPro has severe concerns about allegations linking the administration of football to a culture of impropriety. While concurrent investigations are ongoing, the claims involved are deeply troubling and a responsible stakeholder cannot idly sit still and accept what has seemingly become standard operating procedure within the world’s most popular sport.

        As the officially recognised representative for professional footballers worldwide, FIFPro condemns any form of corruption or collusion which threatens the integrity of the game and welfare of its players. Any investigation that helps to repair the image of football should be welcomed and extended to ensure all actors accused of misrepresenting football across the globe are held accountable.

        Current events have been important in helping underscore the prospect of genuine reform and principles of good governance. Never before have calls for wholesale reform been so loud. Football belongs to everyone and it is the responsibility of all stakeholders to address these challenges together. It is unacceptable that football continues to be plagued by continual scandal, which goes to the heart of a governance structure that has failed to uphold the values of fair play.

        Through FIFPro, the world’s professional footballers must have a greater say in how the game evolves. Broad and democratic stakeholder involvement, including the players, is critical in aligning the game to respond to the challenges it is facing.

        As part of delivering a new and improved regulatory framework which safeguards football's future, both on and off the field, the players deserve strong and equal involvement along with control over issues that affect them as workers and humans and those which are at the core of our game.

        Any high level decisions made should be undertaken with players’ interests in mind and the onus is on specific authorities to make the right decisions and fashion the appropriate structure of governance to create beneficial decisions for all stakeholders.

        The current alleged behavior shows a perverse disregard for these important considerations. Any governance body or authority with jurisdiction over a specific industry must always consider all of its stakeholders’ interests when reaching a verdict and should refrain from strictly unilateral decision-making.

        Certain past decisions have led FIFPro to question whether these essential principles are being upheld at the highest level of football’s governance. FIFPro underscores its commitment to fighting for the good of the players while preserving the sanctity of football and generating solutions which work to the benefit of all.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Deeks on May 28, 2015, 06:51:51 PM
        No mention of how come the US was awarded a WC without even having a Pro League.

        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_at_the_1984_Summer_Olympics

        When FIFA saw the massive crowd participation for the LA Olympics, they vow to bring the WC to the US. Pro league or not. From Wiki:

        The Gold Medal game between France and Brazil at the Rose Bowl attracted an Olympic Games football attendance record of 101,799. As of 2014 this remains the record attendance for a football game in the United States. This broke the previous Olympics record attendance of 100,000 set at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia for the corresponding game of the 1956 Olympic Games played between the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia. The Rose Bowl attendance would remain the Olympic record until 104,098 attended the Gold Medal game of the 2000 Summer Olympics between Cameroon and Spain at the Stadium Australia in Sydney.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on May 28, 2015, 07:49:52 PM
        Here's the question. Do we really think this is just about misappropriation of money? The US and England was over the moon in Russia and Qatar hosting the WC (there are some true concerns). The South African choice was criticized, and even the choice of Brazil came under some fire - it's a good thing the footballing world is more misogynistic than socially conscious.

        So there is a group who's pushing and applauding these investigation who have previously shown that the WC may potentially be rotated to only a few of the bigger, "less corrupted" countries. Currently we are poised to have future WCs in USA, Europe (mainstream countries), and Asia may get tossed a bone.

        Notice at the podium the ONLY WC hosting allocations to be referenced as tainted are SA, Russia and Qatar. No mention of how come the US was awarded a WC without even having a Pro League. What sort of "deals" were cut to pull that off? The wild card of Japan/Korea? No question there?

        Could all be some conspiracy to bring down the developing football nations as you suggest.  Or just maybe the players in this situation are mainly from these developing football nations or affiliated with CONCACAF.  England and the US were never "over the moon" about the Qatar and Russia outcomes, quite the opposite.  Yuh might want to google the meaning of the term.  As for the US getting the WC, perhaps some backroom deals went down... and perhaps FIFA also saw the US as a vast un-tapped market and wanted to promote the sport here.

        ...or again, it could be some kinda tabanca/grudge revenge thing to bring down de small man.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on May 28, 2015, 07:52:37 PM
        supposedly the corruption only goes back 24 years........yuh tink dem easy
        The corruption doesn't only go back 24 years, the evidence they have only goes back 24 years because the man who turn rat rose to prominence back then.  Some ah allyuh would do better to read de indictment... as though Loretta Lynch was mad that the US didn't get the WC.

        Seriously.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: FF on May 28, 2015, 08:02:48 PM
        Yeah I really can't believe people seeing conspiracy theories in this. You can't please trinis nah.
        And we as a people ent doing one facking ting to help we self.

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Preacher on May 28, 2015, 09:14:42 PM
        https://www.facebook.com/lexotv/videos/784403621629259/?fref=nf

        Jack in Jail with Santana :)
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: elan on May 28, 2015, 10:06:50 PM
        Here's the question. Do we really think this is just about misappropriation of money? The US and England was over the moon in Russia and Qatar hosting the WC (there are some true concerns). The South African choice was criticized, and even the choice of Brazil came under some fire - it's a good thing the footballing world is more misogynistic than socially conscious.

        So there is a group who's pushing and applauding these investigation who have previously shown that the WC may potentially be rotated to only a few of the bigger, "less corrupted" countries. Currently we are poised to have future WCs in USA, Europe (mainstream countries), and Asia may get tossed a bone.

        Notice at the podium the ONLY WC hosting allocations to be referenced as tainted are SA, Russia and Qatar. No mention of how come the US was awarded a WC without even having a Pro League. What sort of "deals" were cut to pull that off? The wild card of Japan/Korea? No question there?

        Could all be some conspiracy to bring down the developing football nations as you suggest.  Or just maybe the players in this situation are mainly from these developing football nations or affiliated with CONCACAF.  England and the US were never "over the moon" about the Qatar and Russia outcomes, quite the opposite.  Yuh might want to google the meaning of the term.  As for the US getting the WC, perhaps some backroom deals went down... and perhaps FIFA also saw the US as a vast un-tapped market and wanted to promote the sport here.

        ...or again, it could be some kinda tabanca/grudge revenge thing to bring down de small man.

        I know what over the moon means.

        It's not about bringing down the small men, but more so of putting the small men in they place. A whole restructuring of the hierarchy of world football. They need the small men to be part of the structure just the small men have to understand they role and function and not get to big for their britches.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: elan on May 28, 2015, 10:11:19 PM
        You know what was really crazy to hear at the presser that many MSM ran with, that the money stolen denied young players field, equipment, etc. Coming from the USA that takes balls to say with a straight face.

        Thousands of dollars for a young player to experience the game in the US out of their (the young player's) pocket. Many places in the US you can't get a field to play soccer on, and some even if they're are available are controlled by some bureaucratic dad, or you need insurance or some other hurdle that a young player have to navigate to gain access to the game.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: davyjenny1 on May 28, 2015, 10:24:30 PM
        Majority of Asia, Africa and South America is in support of Blatter. There is no chance of him losing.

        The Nigerian FA President was on news saying Blatter did a lot to develop the smaller and poorer nations in football.



        Blatter's base is Asia and Africa, he doesn't have CONMEBOL... although some Federations may vote for him independently.  Contrary to what you say, there's a fair chance that he could be defeated.
        If Blatter win this election i think FIFA will be Bitterly divided.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: kounty on May 28, 2015, 11:01:52 PM
        https://www.facebook.com/lexotv/videos/784403621629259/?fref=nf

        Jack in Jail with Santana :)
        lol. my gosh!
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Flex on May 29, 2015, 01:55:05 AM
        Fresh from prison Warner says he's not holding back any longer on Kamla.
        By Anna Ramdass (Express).


        The Gloves are Off

        Declaring that the "gloves are off", Jack Warner said last night he that intends to go after Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and reveal all through a tape which he will give to four lawyers.

        Warner was speaking for the first time since being released from prison at an Independent Liberal Party (ILP) cottage meeting in Endeavour, Chaguanas.

        “I want to tell Kamla that as of tonight the gloves are off! Kamla having jailed me, as of tonight the gloves are off!” said Warner.

        “Everything I have against Kamla I will bring it out. I have kept it back too long and I will bring it out...but not tonight,” he continued.

        Warner said he feels his life is under threat and as such he has decided to make a video tape and give it to four lawyers--from the ILP, the People's National Movement (PNM), the Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) and his own private attorney.

        Warner, a former FIFA Vice President , was taken to prison on Wednesday evening after appearing before Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar in the Port of Spain Magistrates' Court following his surrender to Fraud Squad detectives earlier that day.

        He is wanted in the United States on charges of fraud, racketeering and money laundering in that country and Trinidad and Tobago while holding the position of vice-president of FIFA. The indictment lists eight charges, but when Warner appeared before Ayers-Caesar, a total of 12 charges were read. The alleged offences occurred as far back as 1990.

        He was released yesterday after supplying a proper deed to secure his $2.5 million bail.

        Persad-Bissessar, when questioned by the media yesterday following the opening of the new Maloney Police Station, said she received no funding from Warner when she contested the United National Congress (UNC) internal election in 2010. She also denied receiving money from Warner for the 2010 general election or the 2013 Tobago House of Assembly election.

        “I will tell you something--she lie,” said Warner last night in response to her comments. He said he will name all the contractors he and Persad-Bissessar went to.

        Warner said in one case it was so “obscene” that he walked out and “Stacy (Roopnarine) walked in”.“All gloves are off, I remained silent for too long...they believe they could walk all over me,” said Warner.

        Warner maintained he is innocent of the charges leveled against him by US authorities.He said if he's being accused of financial impropriety, then the question should be asked, who gave it (the money).

        He said this issue was bigger than people in Trinidad and Tobago think. “Why is it only third world countries are charged?” he asked. He further questioned what was wrong in giving countries like Russia and Qatar the opportunity to host the World Cup. He said being from a third world country, he understood Qatar's position but, “the US felt they have the divine right to anything”.

        He said that he cut all ties with FIFA four years ago. “If after four years they still can't forget Jack Warner something wrong,” he said. Warner said he was never questioned with respect to the charges made against him. “They never ask me once...charges...I Jack Warner know nothing about those charges, what our lawyers have done is tell them to prove it,” he said.

        Calls from Panday/Dookeran

        Warner said he was overwhelmed with calls and messages from all over the globe. But the two calls that touched his heart were from the Panday family—former prime minister Basdeo Panday, his wife Oma and daughter Mickela - and the second call from Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Dookeran and his wife. He disclosed that though he was depressed as he has never been to jail in his life, he thinks it is a “mark of honour” as he noted that Basdeo Panday, Nelson Mandela, Indira Gandhi and (Fidel) Castro all served time in jail. He said he received “Hyatt” treatment whilst in jail and showered praise and gratitude to the prison officers and deputy Prisons Commissioner.

        Warner also slammed Attorney General Garvin Nicholas, whom he claimed signed extradition papers in 15 minutes.He said it took three months before extradition papers were signed for Ish Galbaransingh and Steve Ferguson.“How the hell after five years he can't ask the US to send back Calder Hart here,” said Warner.

        Warner claimed everything that was happening was a plot by the Government to get rid of him. “I'm surprised that Keith (Rowley) didn't understand that,” said Warner, expressing disappointment over the comments Rowley made in an Express report.

        He said the Government, “having killed Rowley” with his suspension from Parliament, was now turning on him.

        Warner's return was an emotional one for his supporters as Josh Groban's “You Lift Me Up” was played on his entry. Warner noted the heavy media presence at last night's meeting, including the BBC.

        "If to make one day jail cause that I should make two,” he joked.“Jack is alive and kicking. I want to tell you he will be with you to the end,” said Warner.


        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Flex on May 29, 2015, 02:09:58 AM
        Jennings tweets Blatter is a target.
        T&T Newsday Reports.


        Scottish investigative reporter, Andrew Jennings, revealed via his Twitter account yesterday that FIFA president Sepp Blatter is also on the watch-list even though the Swiss national pledged his complete innocence at the sport’s governing body annual meeting in Zurich.

        Jennings, a world renowned journalist who specialises on corrupt practices at FIFA and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), tweeted at approximately 6am (TT Time) yesterday morning, “I gave the FBI the crucial documents that triggered yesterday’s arrests. There will be more to come. Blatter is a target.”

        Jennings was commenting in relation to Wednesday’s indictment of 15 former and current FIFA executives, inclusive of CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb and former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner, and four convicted defendants - which also comprises of Warner’s two sons, Daryan and Darryl Warner.

        This groundbreaking revelation saw Jennings’ statement retweeted approximately 4200 times. Blatter, however, has put on a brave face amidst the scandal enveloping FIFA though, pleading his innocence and lauding the ongoing investigation by the United States Department of Justice and Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

        “I know many people hold me ultimately responsible (but) I cannot monitor everyone all the time,” said a sombre Blatter yesterday.

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Flex on May 29, 2015, 02:26:52 AM
        What do you think of the latest developments in the Fifa corruption crisis? What outcome would you like to see in Friday's Fifa presidential election? Are you in any of the regions affected by the scandal? You can share your views by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

        If you are available to speak to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number.

        You can send your photos and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international) number. Alternatively you can send pictures via our WhatsApp number +44 (0)7525 900971. Or you can upload here (http://upload.news.bbc.cs.streamuk.com/).


        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: FF on May 29, 2015, 03:28:00 AM
        You know what was really crazy to hear at the presser that many MSM ran with, that the money stolen denied young players field, equipment, etc. Coming from the USA that takes balls to say with a straight face.

        Thousands of dollars for a young player to experience the game in the US out of their (the young player's) pocket. Many places in the US you can't get a field to play soccer on, and some even if they're are available are controlled by some bureaucratic dad, or you need insurance or some other hurdle that a young player have to navigate to gain access to the game.

        The U.S. Model is indeed pay to play but this is so far off base. Why are you stretching so far to promote this conspiracy theory?
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: R45 on May 29, 2015, 08:26:58 AM
        Quote
        Blatter received pledges of support from 10 federations as his bid for a fifth term as the head of the governing body gathers pace, with Trinidad and Tobago FA chief Raymond Tim Kee also praising him as the "father of football".

        http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/9809090/sepp-blatter-likened-to-mandela-at-concacaf-congress

        Our FA's relationship with Blatter looks to be just about the same as the constituents of Chaguanas West and Warner. No one wants to bite the hand that feeds them, and everyone is willing to turn a blind eye once they are getting a little kickback here and there. Blatter is now dangling converting the WC half-spot for CONCACAF to a full spot, and looks like that's enough to keep the CFU in line.

        We have no leaders in our politics, and certainly none in our football administration. I will never support anything of the TTFA.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: gb8702 on May 29, 2015, 08:29:10 AM
        http://www.justice.gov/opa/file/450231/download
        Sorry if this has already been posted?
        interesting read from paragraph 29
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: elan on May 29, 2015, 09:07:14 AM
        You know what was really crazy to hear at the presser that many MSM ran with, that the money stolen denied young players field, equipment, etc. Coming from the USA that takes balls to say with a straight face.

        Thousands of dollars for a young player to experience the game in the US out of their (the young player's) pocket. Many places in the US you can't get a field to play soccer on, and some even if they're are available are controlled by some bureaucratic dad, or you need insurance or some other hurdle that a young player have to navigate to gain access to the game.

        The U.S. Model is indeed pay to play but this is so far off base. Why are you stretching so far to promote this conspiracy theory?

        This isn't a conspiracy theory. I just find it funny they advocating access to the game when it's less than accessible to many youth in the US.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: FF on May 29, 2015, 09:28:16 AM
        You know what was really crazy to hear at the presser that many MSM ran with, that the money stolen denied young players field, equipment, etc. Coming from the USA that takes balls to say with a straight face.

        Thousands of dollars for a young player to experience the game in the US out of their (the young player's) pocket. Many places in the US you can't get a field to play soccer on, and some even if they're are available are controlled by some bureaucratic dad, or you need insurance or some other hurdle that a young player have to navigate to gain access to the game.

        The U.S. Model is indeed pay to play but this is so far off base. Why are you stretching so far to promote this conspiracy theory?

        This isn't a conspiracy theory. I just find it funny they advocating access to the game when it's less than accessible to many youth in the US.

        word...

        well there are many movements trying to change this... and it is in the USSF's best interest to do so. They will not soon be world champions with a suburban, minivan driving, playing population
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Tallman on May 29, 2015, 09:45:58 AM
        LIVE NOW: FIFA 65th Congress 2015 - FIFA President Election

        https://www.youtube.com/v/ZX-gu9pdKyg
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Sando prince on May 29, 2015, 09:48:53 AM
        Majority of Asia, Africa and South America is in support of Blatter. There is no chance of him losing.

        The Nigerian FA President was on news saying Blatter did a lot to develop the smaller and poorer nations in football.





        Blatter's base is Asia and Africa, he doesn't have CONMEBOL... although some Federations may vote for him independently.  Contrary to what you say, there's a fair chance that he could be defeated.
        If Blatter win this election i think FIFA will be Bitterly divided.


        How much more divided than now? UEFA has been against Blatter and FIFA for years now. Blatter will maintain the same support he had before the elections.

        People in here seem not to understand his support is due to how much he has done to help poorer and developing nations in football over the years. This is the reason for his support.

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: davyjenny1 on May 29, 2015, 10:06:36 AM
        Majority of Asia, Africa and South America is in support of Blatter. There is no chance of him losing.

        The Nigerian FA President was on news saying Blatter did a lot to develop the smaller and poorer nations in football.





        Blatter's base is Asia and Africa, he doesn't have CONMEBOL... although some Federations may vote for him independently.  Contrary to what you say, there's a fair chance that he could be defeated.
        If Blatter win this election i think FIFA will be Bitterly divided.


        How much more divided than now? UEFA has been against Blatter and FIFA for years now. Blatter will maintain the same support he had before the elections.

        People in here seem not to understand his support is due to how much he has done to help poorer and developing nations in football over the years. This is the reason for his support.



        Futuristic developments will tell
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Peong on May 29, 2015, 10:22:24 AM
        I believe I just saw Tim Kee walk up and vote.
        I only caught it as he was walking out the booth.

        Yeah I was able to go back and get a better look.

        So who in charge of the city of Port of Spain today?
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Sando prince on May 29, 2015, 10:32:05 AM

        Platini threatening a UEFA pull out if Blatter win. If only he had the same passion to deal with football racism in Europe
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on May 29, 2015, 10:37:57 AM

        Platini threatening a UEFA pull out if Blatter win. If only he had the same passion to deal with football racism in Europe

        Platini's "moral authority" seems to have re-emerged in the wake of this week's events. Steups.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on May 29, 2015, 10:50:05 AM
        I believe I just saw Tim Kee walk up and vote.
        I only caught it as he was walking out the booth.

        Yeah I was able to go back and get a better look.

        So who in charge of the city of Port of Spain today?

        Allegedly a spot off de Savannah.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on May 29, 2015, 10:58:38 AM
        The vote also available here:

        http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/11637656/Watch-live-65th-FIFA-congress.html

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Peong on May 29, 2015, 11:03:32 AM
        Blatter wins it.  133 to 73 I think.

        My mistake.
        There will be a second round of voting.  Blatter needed 139 to win outright.

        Quote
        13m ago
        12:59
        We will have a second round of voting! Blatter gains 133 votes to Prince Ali's 73: not enough for a two-third majority

        Of the 209 votes, three were spoiled, and so only 206 counted. A simple majority is required in the second round. If the votes stay the same in this round, Blatter will remain president of Fifa for the next four years, he now needs just 105 of the votes to win.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on May 29, 2015, 11:05:01 AM
        http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/fifa/11638947/Fifa-election-live.html
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: kev on May 29, 2015, 11:16:02 AM
        Majority of Asia, Africa and South America is in support of Blatter. There is no chance of him losing.

        The Nigerian FA President was on news saying Blatter did a lot to develop the smaller and poorer nations in football.





        Blatter's base is Asia and Africa, he doesn't have CONMEBOL... although some Federations may vote for him independently.  Contrary to what you say, there's a fair chance that he could be defeated.
        If Blatter win this election i think FIFA will be Bitterly divided.


        How much more divided than now? UEFA has been against Blatter and FIFA for years now. Blatter will maintain the same support he had before the elections.

        People in here seem not to understand his support is due to how much he has done to help poorer and developing nations in football over the years. This is the reason for his support.



        That is one way to look at it, the more cynical and much closer to the truth imho is that he has been cute for a very long time, with the voting structure the way it is, looking after the poorer nations and their associations has ensured he has for the most part been untouchable.  This has been the reason for the arrogance of him and his sidekicks over the previous many years.

        The reality is in terms of voting UEFA doesn't matter nor do their opinions, however without them in a world cup it becomes meaningless but more importantly to the sponsors worthless.  That money has underpinned everything that has gone on and Blatters power base, without it he won't have many friends left.  When he does go there will more than one or two skeletons to come out of the cupboard. 

        Blatter will be elected as sure as eggs are eggs, by the same token there is no way he will last anywhere near a term.  Then the real fun starts.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Peong on May 29, 2015, 11:20:25 AM
        Ali withdraws, Blatter wins.

        Blatter said he wants to do something for Oceania's world cup spots.  Bad news for Concacaf?
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on May 29, 2015, 11:27:49 AM
        It's official...

        http://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2015/may/29/fifa-to-vote-on-sepp-blatter-presidential-bid-amid-corruption-scandal-live
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on May 29, 2015, 11:32:37 AM
        Best outcome for now.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: weary1969 on May 29, 2015, 12:25:29 PM

        Platini threatening a UEFA pull out if Blatter win. If only he had the same passion to deal with football racism in Europe

        CO-SIGNNNNNN
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Sando prince on May 29, 2015, 12:38:28 PM

        https://www.youtube.com/v/MSG5fi2XntM
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Jumbie on May 29, 2015, 12:43:09 PM
        JW have files on everyone  :rotfl: :rotfl:

        Mr is the International man Of Wey Wey! Bussing Mark comes natural. Mr cud grandcharge oui!

        Jack eh stupid, Sepp go be he live blanket in jail.


        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: elan on May 29, 2015, 12:52:41 PM
        You know what was really crazy to hear at the presser that many MSM ran with, that the money stolen denied young players field, equipment, etc. Coming from the USA that takes balls to say with a straight face.

        Thousands of dollars for a young player to experience the game in the US out of their (the young player's) pocket. Many places in the US you can't get a field to play soccer on, and some even if they're are available are controlled by some bureaucratic dad, or you need insurance or some other hurdle that a young player have to navigate to gain access to the game.

        The U.S. Model is indeed pay to play but this is so far off base. Why are you stretching so far to promote this conspiracy theory?

        This isn't a conspiracy theory. I just find it funny they advocating access to the game when it's less than accessible to many youth in the US.

        word...

        well there are many movements trying to change this... and it is in the USSF's best interest to do so. They will not soon be world champions with a suburban, minivan driving, playing population

        You're so correct. @JOGASC (https://twitter.com/JOGASC)  is trying t make some changes.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: elan on May 29, 2015, 12:54:13 PM
        JW have files on everyone  :rotfl: :rotfl:

        Mr is the International man Of Wey Wey! Bussing Mark comes natural. Mr cud grandcharge oui!

        Jack eh stupid, Sepp go be he live blanket in jail.




        Would love for Jack to drop some serious files on those that pelting mud from they glass houses.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Flex on May 29, 2015, 12:54:19 PM
        Fifa re-elects Sepp Blatter as president.
        BBC Sports.


        Sepp Blatter has been re-elected president of Fifa, football's world governing body, in a vote overshadowed by arrests and corruption allegations.

        Mr Blatter's rival, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, withdrew after the first round of voting.

        Mr Blatter fell seven short of the two-thirds needed, but Prince Ali opted not to contest further.

        Seven top officials were arrested in Switzerland on Wednesday as part of a US prosecution that indicted 14 people.

        'Nobody is perfect'

        But Mr Blatter hailed his victory, thanking all those who voted from him and his rival, Prince Ali.

        Mr Blatter said: "I am not perfect, nobody is perfect, but we will do a good job together I am sure."

        He also hinted that this term in office, his fifth, could be his last, saying: "At the end of my term I will give up Fifa in a strong position."

        Analysis: Matthew Kenyon, BBC Sport

        If you read most of the world's media, Sepp Blatter's ability to hang on to power at Fifa is nothing short of miraculous.

        After years of negative headlines, the frenzy has reached fever pitch in the wake of the US allegations of corruption - even though Mr Blatter himself has not been implicated. And running through all this is a theme - bemusement that much of the football world keeps voting for him.

        Nowhere is Sepp Blatter's support stronger than across Asia and Africa. So why do most of the representatives from those two continents appear to be voting for him again?

        Here's about as succinct an answer as you're going to get - from the president of the Nigerian Football Federation: "Blatter feels Africa. What Blatter pushes is equity, fairness and equality among the nations."

        We're talking about two things - the first is concrete investment, often literally so. The second is respect.

        In conceding, Prince Ali said: "It's been a wonderful journey... And I want to thank in particular those of you who were brave enough to support me."

        Global citizens' movement Avaaz, which started the #BlatterOut campaign, quickly condemned the re-election.

        Campaign director Alex Wilks said: "More dirty dealings in Fifa's halls have crushed the hopes of billions of football fans."

        The vote took place at Fifa's congress in Zurich. In the first round Mr Blatter won won 133 to Prince Ali's 73, just short of the 140 votes needed for an outright win.

        The two candidates had earlier delivered final appeals to the electors.

        Prince Ali, 39, said questions had been raised in recent days "about whether our Fifa family is morally bankrupt".

        "There are no easy answers and no blame that can be cast that will wash away the stain that marks us all," he said.

        Mr Blatter declared: "I am being held accountable for the current storm - so be it, I will shoulder the responsibility. I will take it upon myself and I want to fix Fifa together with you."

        To applause from a large number of delegates, he said: "I would like to stay with you. I would like to continue with you."

        Swiss inquiry

        The vote comes two days after seven top officials were held in Zurich in a US fraud inquiry that indicted 14 people.

        They are accused of bribery, racketeering and money-laundering involving tens of millions of dollars since 1991.

        The aim of the bribes was to influence the outcome of bids to stage football tournaments such as the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and the 2016 Copa America in the US, prosecutors say.

        Swiss prosecutors have launched a separate investigation into the bidding process for the World Cup tournaments in 2018 in Russia and 2022 in Qatar.

        Many of Fifa's major sponsors, including Coca-Cola, Visa, Adidas, McDonald's, Hyundai Motor and Budweiser, have expressed concern over the investigations.

        After Mr Blatter was re-elected, Coca-Cola said in a statement that Fifa "must now seize the opportunity to begin winning back the trust it has lost".

        'Movement for change'

        Michel Platini, president of the European football governing body Uefa, praised Prince Ali.

        "I am proud that Uefa has defended and supported a movement for change at Fifa - change which, in my opinion, is crucial if this organisation is to regain its credibility," he said.

        Mr Platini had called on Mr Blatter to resign on Thursday.

        Greg Dyke, the chairman of the English Football Association, told the BBC: "Sepp Blatter has run this organisation for 16 years, and for all of those 16 years, there have been levels of corruption.

        "Sepp Blatter is not the man who is going to be able to change that."

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Jumbie on May 29, 2015, 01:18:06 PM
        JW have files on everyone  :rotfl: :rotfl:

        Mr is the International man Of Wey Wey! Bussing Mark comes natural. Mr cud grandcharge oui!

        Jack eh stupid, Sepp go be he live blanket in jail.




        Would love for Jack to drop some serious files on those that pelting mud from they glass houses.

        agree.. bring everything to light!
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: weary1969 on May 29, 2015, 01:21:38 PM
        JW have files on everyone  :rotfl: :rotfl:

        Mr is the International man Of Wey Wey! Bussing Mark comes natural. Mr cud grandcharge oui!

        Jack eh stupid, Sepp go be he live blanket in jail.




        Would love for Jack to drop some serious files on those that pelting mud from they glass houses.

        agree.. bring everything to light!

        CO-SIGN
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on May 29, 2015, 02:54:43 PM
        JW had me rolling ...

        "...sweetheart" ... "I'll say it slowly ..."  :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: gb8702 on May 29, 2015, 04:38:58 PM

        https://www.youtube.com/v/MSG5fi2XntM
        Thought this mug was suffering from exhaustion???? Another lie Teflon Warner
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Toppa on May 29, 2015, 09:54:20 PM
        JW had me rolling ...

        "...sweetheart" ... "I'll say it slowly ..."  :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

        lol Yeah, that interview was kicks. Se wasn't ready at all.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: elan on May 29, 2015, 11:23:58 PM
        "......you who's English should know this better than I do,......I who's from the Caribbean shouldn't have to tell you that."

         :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on May 30, 2015, 01:31:54 AM
        This probably still won't satisfy the conspiracy theorists...

        Quote
        WASHINGTON — Chuck Blazer was a powerful figure in international soccer, and he enjoyed the trappings that came with the role: two apartments at Trump Tower in Manhattan, expensive cars, luxury properties in Miami and the Bahamas.

        But for all of Mr. Blazer’s lavish living, he did not file personal income tax returns. And in August 2011, Steve Berryman, an I.R.S. agent in Los Angeles, opened a criminal investigation.

        ------------------

        The American government’s aggressive move shocked the soccer world and led to questions about whether the United States had set out on a mission to topple the leadership of FIFA, which has long been troubled by allegations of corruption. But officials at the Justice Department, the F.B.I. and the I.R.S. said the impetus was criminal activity and organized crime that just happened to occur in the soccer world.

        http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/30/sports/soccer/more-indictments-expected-in-fifa-case-irs-official-says.html?_r=0
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Peong on May 30, 2015, 12:28:16 PM
        This probably still won't satisfy the conspiracy theorists...

        Quote
        WASHINGTON — Chuck Blazer was a powerful figure in international soccer, and he enjoyed the trappings that came with the role: two apartments at Trump Tower in Manhattan, expensive cars, luxury properties in Miami and the Bahamas.

        But for all of Mr. Blazer’s lavish living, he did not file personal income tax returns. And in August 2011, Steve Berryman, an I.R.S. agent in Los Angeles, opened a criminal investigation.

        ------------------

        The American government’s aggressive move shocked the soccer world and led to questions about whether the United States had set out on a mission to topple the leadership of FIFA, which has long been troubled by allegations of corruption. But officials at the Justice Department, the F.B.I. and the I.R.S. said the impetus was criminal activity and organized crime that just happened to occur in the soccer world.

        http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/30/sports/soccer/more-indictments-expected-in-fifa-case-irs-official-says.html?_r=0

        They started investigating after the US bid was rejected.  The conspiracy still has legs.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on May 30, 2015, 12:36:38 PM
        They started investigating after the US bid was rejected.  The conspiracy still has legs.

        Right... so the US was upset that they lost the 2022 bid, and so the IRS decided to investigate Chuck Blazer (an American who ostensibly supported the US' bid), in the hopes that they could bring him down, and in the process get him to give evidence against FIFA?  Why would they have had reason to suspect Blazer was doing anything criminal that they could hem him up and pin their revenge hopes on?

        Doh worry... it doesn't make sense.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: elan on May 30, 2015, 12:52:44 PM
        They started investigating after the US bid was rejected.  The conspiracy still has legs.

        Right... so the US was upset that they lost the 2022 bid, and so the IRS decided to investigate Chuck Blazer (an American who ostensibly supported the US' bid), in the hopes that they could bring him down, and in the process get him to give evidence against FIFA?  Why would they have had reason to suspect Blazer was doing anything criminal that they could hem him up and pin their revenge hopes on?

        Doh worry... it doesn't make sense.

        Dude, Blazer was the low hanging fruit.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Peong on May 30, 2015, 01:04:02 PM
        All who feel Blazer did not pocket some nice coin from that bid process, raise yuh hand.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on May 30, 2015, 01:12:33 PM

        Dude, Blazer was the low hanging fruit.

        All who feel Blazer did not pocket some nice coin from that bid process, raise yuh hand.

        Both of these are immaterial to the question at hand... whether this entire investigation was contrived as payback for the US not winning the WC bid.  It doesn't even pass the bullshit test.  Since when does the US government give two shits about "soccer" to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours and all that manpower... just to get revenge on FIFA.  It would have been an incredible shot in the dark... searching a barn full of haystacks in the hopes that you find one needle.

        That seriously make sense to the two ah allyuh? If allyuh could honestly answer "yes" then no scene, we could stop wasting each other's time.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: ribbit on May 30, 2015, 01:14:29 PM
        in possibly related news, didnt russia ban visa from business in russia recently?

        ==

        What would happen if Europe, U.S. and Argentina boycott the World Cup?
        By Ronald Blum, The Associated Press


        NEW YORK -- What would happen if Sepp Blatter hosts a World Cup and most of Europe, several South American powers and the United States don't show up?

        Blatter was voted to a fifth term as FIFA president on Friday, but the governing bodies of soccer's wealthiest region, the world's biggest economy and several nations in soccer-crazed South America opposed him following a string of scandals.

        As the 79-year-old was celebrating defeating Jordan's Prince Ali bin al-Hussein 133-73 for another four-year term, his opposition was figuring out how to pressure him for change.

        The Union of European Football Associations could threaten what's become known as soccer's nuclear option: prominent nations breaking away and holding their own tournament, call it a Clean Cup. At FIFA's World Cup qualifying draw on July 25 in St. Petersburg, Russia, there could be scores of empty seats in the Constantine Palace.

        "Blatter's supporters are Vladimir Putin, the invader; the Qatari government and their supposed slave employees to build the facilities; and about 80 or 90 tiny countries that he has given each one a vote and a ton of money to," said Marc Ganis, president of Chicago-based consulting firm SportsCorp.

        "He needs to be careful not to overplay his hand," Ganis said. "He was given an opportunity to do what he said, which is reform FIFA. If he uses that opportunity to extract retribution against those who are opposed to him, he's setting up a confrontation that if it goes all the way to the end, he can't win. He's never demonstrated that level of ignorance, so I don't expect that he will do so."

        With a one-nation, one-vote system, Blatter has support of a majority of FIFA's 209 nations. But most of the world's best clubs, the strongest economies and the most lucrative television audiences are in countries that want Blatter out

        FIFA's $5.72 billion in revenue from 2011-14 included $4.23 billion from last year's World Cup in Brazil -- of which $2.43 billion was generated by television rights sales and $1.58 billion from marketing agreements.

        The majority of FIFA's money came from deals in Europe and the United States, where governments -- other than Russia -- are pressing for reform.

        Visa has threatened to "reassess our sponsorship" if changes are not made. The Coca-Cola Co. expressed concern, saying the controversy "tarnished the mission and ideals" of the World Cup.

        "They do have tremendous leverage, but it remains to be seen whether they have legal grounds to abrogate their deals," said former CBS Sports President Neal Pilson, who runs a media consulting firm.

        UEFA President Michel Platini, the former French national team star, did not applaud Blatter after the election. He said before the vote UEFA would be "open to all options" if Blatter gained re-election, and UEFA will meet in Berlin ahead of the Champions League final on June 6.

        Europe supplies 13 of the 32 teams for the World Cup (plus Russia as the host in 2018), and UEFA holds eight of the 25 voting seats on FIFA's executive committee. Blatter said after his victory that FIFA "must have a better representation of the confederations and the number of members" on the executive committee. "We need more respect for the Oceanian confederation," he added.

        "The Solomon Islands are going to have a spot? But Germany, nah, not so much?" Ganis said. "Sepp Blatter can get 140 votes from the Trinidad and Tobagos of the world, these island nations whose FIFA representative is one of the wealthiest persons on the island in part because he's the FIFA representative. And he'll be able to hold onto power as long as he wants in part because of the voting process."

        FIFA could be headed toward an internal fight, much as college sports in the United States went through last year when the NCAA -- the body that oversees competition -- agreed to give its five biggest conferences greater autonomy.

        "FIFA World Cup" is trademarked, but if UEFA boycotts the tournament or breaks away from FIFA, and it is backed by the United States and South America's top powers, the World Cup would be about as interesting as the African Cup of Nations or the Asian Cup.

        Blatter downplayed the possibility.

        "They need FIFA, and FIFA needs UEFA," he said Saturday.

        But would television networks and sponsors pay all that money for an audience to watch 97th-ranked Malawi play No. 99 Qatar?

        What if UEFA told European clubs -- which have the best players from around the world -- to ignore FIFA's regulations and refuse to release players to national teams for World Cup qualifiers?

        "This isn't over by any means," England Football Association chairman Greg Dyke said.

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on May 30, 2015, 01:38:02 PM
        Much closer to being a possibility than people might think... there's is already action afoot.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Peong on May 30, 2015, 03:22:46 PM

        Dude, Blazer was the low hanging fruit.

        All who feel Blazer did not pocket some nice coin from that bid process, raise yuh hand.

        Both of these are immaterial to the question at hand... whether this entire investigation was contrived as payback for the US not winning the WC bid.  It doesn't even pass the bullshit test.  Since when does the US government give two shits about "soccer" to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours and all that manpower... just to get revenge on FIFA.  It would have been an incredible shot in the dark... searching a barn full of haystacks in the hopes that you find one needle.

        That seriously make sense to the two ah allyuh? If allyuh could honestly answer "yes" then no scene, we could stop wasting each other's time.

        Trying to turn up dirt on CONCACAF heads is a shot in the dark?
        It's more like a shot in the dark into a full barrel of fish.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on May 30, 2015, 03:28:23 PM

        Trying to turn up dirt on CONCACAF heads is a shot in the dark?
        It's more like a shot in the dark into a full barrel of fish.

        Let's try and follow the logic here... each ExCo member votes for which country hosts the WC.  Chuck Blazer voted for the US to host the WC.  So therefore, what would be the logic in starting the inquiry with Blazer, an American?  It would make a little bit more sense if they started by looking at Jack Warner... but the Americans were so aggrieved that they didn't get the WC that they started looking at one of their own who voted for them.  How much sense that makes?
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on May 30, 2015, 03:57:05 PM
        Sometimes orthodox thought defies how things actually work. To deny that there is any nexus between where things stand today vis-a-vis FIFA, FIFA constituents, and the global political environment is to negate the confluence of overlapping interests that permeates how affairs are conducted privately, but denied publicly in preserving and promoting the national interest.

        No dialectic of logic need point to conspiracy in its fullness, nonetheless cooperating incremental actions "conspire" to achieve shared interests across borders. Where things stand today is not solely rooted in puritanical objectives - although elements of the law enforcement community were, and are, merely doing their jobs. The limits of long-arm jurisdiction only partially explain the selective opprobrium to corrupt practices that we have witnessed presently.

        Not all fish are pursued with the same zeal. Any fisherman knows that. Indeed, some fish are tossed back into the water. Total and comprehensive action need not occur for the national interest to be satisfied. All that's required is action sufficient to preserve the national interest.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Peong on May 30, 2015, 11:13:09 PM

        Trying to turn up dirt on CONCACAF heads is a shot in the dark?
        It's more like a shot in the dark into a full barrel of fish.

        Let's try and follow the logic here... each ExCo member votes for which country hosts the WC.  Chuck Blazer voted for the US to host the WC.  So therefore, what would be the logic in starting the inquiry with Blazer, an American?  It would make a little bit more sense if they started by looking at Jack Warner... but the Americans were so aggrieved that they didn't get the WC that they started looking at one of their own who voted for them.  How much sense that makes?

        Getting at Blazer is a means of getting at Jack Warner and the others.
        Every account of how the feds accosted Blazer mentions that they wanted his help with a broader investigation.
        So right from the beginning it was not about Blazer.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on May 31, 2015, 12:57:22 AM
        Getting at Blazer is a means of getting at Jack Warner and the others.
        Every account of how the feds accosted Blazer mentions that they wanted his help with a broader investigation.
        So right from the beginning it was not about Blazer.

        Incorrect.  Every account mentions that Blazer offered to name others within FIFA in effort to reduce the penalties which he faced.  The feds didn't solicit his help, he offered to squeal.  He was more than willing to squeal because Jack had even started robbing him and all... notably by pocketing the $10 million bribe from S. Africa and not paying him the $1 million he was promised.  There is no evidence that the feds even knew of criminal conduct within FIFA, let alone know of the scale in which it was taking place.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Brownsugar on May 31, 2015, 08:52:03 AM
        Much closer to being a possibility than people might think... there's is already action afoot.

        I hope they break away.  I'm tired of the FIFA BS.... :yellowcard:
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on May 31, 2015, 09:51:35 AM
        Much closer to being a possibility than people might think... there's is already action afoot.

        I hope they break away.  I'm tired of the FIFA BS.... :yellowcard:

        More realistically, if he's not indicted I think we'll see Blatter either forced out or marginalized.  Too much is at stake.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Brownsugar on May 31, 2015, 09:53:33 AM
        Much closer to being a possibility than people might think... there's is already action afoot.

        I hope they break away.  I'm tired of the FIFA BS.... :yellowcard:

        More realistically, if he's not indicted I think we'll see Blatter either forced out or marginalized.  Too much is at stake.

        That man have real gall to run again....oh gosh man....dem just eh know when to pack up and ride out....
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Brownsugar on May 31, 2015, 11:25:02 AM
        ESPN Documentary on Sepp Blatter and FIFA......

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GckIxZo_wgA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GckIxZo_wgA)
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Peong on May 31, 2015, 11:47:04 AM
        Getting at Blazer is a means of getting at Jack Warner and the others.
        Every account of how the feds accosted Blazer mentions that they wanted his help with a broader investigation.
        So right from the beginning it was not about Blazer.

        Incorrect.  Every account mentions that Blazer offered to name others within FIFA in effort to reduce the penalties which he faced.  The feds didn't solicit his help, he offered to squeal.  He was more than willing to squeal because Jack had even started robbing him and all... notably by pocketing the $10 million bribe from S. Africa and not paying him the $1 million he was promised.  There is no evidence that the feds even knew of criminal conduct within FIFA, let alone know of the scale in which it was taking place.

        NY Daily News in November 1, 2014
        http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/soccer/soccer-rat-ex-u-s-soccer-exec-chuck-blazer-fbi-informant-article-1.1995761

        “We can take you away in handcuffs now — or you can cooperate,” one of the agents allegedly told Blazer.

        There's more than 1 interpretation of that.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on May 31, 2015, 02:58:23 PM
        FIFA-Gate: Costa Rica football federation says US 'mistaken' in Eduardo Li wire fraud allegation
        Zach Dyer (Tico Times News)


        The leadership of Costa Rican football has circled the wagons around their embattled president, Eduardo Li, after Li was arrested in Zurich, Switzerland, Wednesday on charges of racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering.

        Jorge Hidalgo, acting president of the Costa Rican Football Federation, FEDEFÚTBOL, told the website Amelia Rueda that U.S. prosecutors are “mistaken,” and that there was nothing inappropriate about a $27,500 wire transfer cited in the indictment as proof of wrongdoing.

        The indictment unsealed in Brooklyn, New York, on Wednesday alleged that Li and the sports marketing company Traffic Sports USA conspired in a scheme that involved offering and accepting bribes, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and money laundering to grant exclusive commercial rights to World Cup qualifying games for the Costa Rican national football team, la Sele. Li allegedly asked for a six-figure bribe as part of the negotiations with Traffic Sports USA.

        Hidalgo said that the $27,500 was part of a regular payment made by Traffic Sports USA to FEDEFÚTBOL according to the contract negotiated by Li granting the company exclusive broadcast rights to Sele games leading up to the 2018 World Cup.

        “This is neither a bribe nor has the Federation issued a check to Eduardo,” Hidalgo told AmeliaRueda.com

        The acting FEDEFÚTBOL president said they have requested receipts of the transfers from Costa Rica’s Banco Lafise. On Thursday, officers from the Judicial Investigation Police arrived at the San Rafael Proyecto Gol, the FEDEFÚTBOL headquarters and training facility, where they were shown a copy of the Traffic Sports USA contract signed by Li.

        “It’s obvious that the American authorities were mistaken,” Hidalgo said.

        Costa Rica’s Acting Deputy Prosecutor Celso Gamboa announced Wednesday that the Prosecutor’s Office would open a criminal probe into possible money laundering related to the alleged bribery scheme.

        But security analyst Paul Chaves had harsh words for any money laundering investigation in Costa Rica related to the FIFA scandal.

        “It’s useless; a waste of time,” Chaves told The Tico Times.

        The analyst said that successful money laundering prosecutions are rare in Costa Rica, and furthermore, the country’s penal code is outdated at providing tools to prosecute illicit money flows.

        “The largest money laundering operation in the world was operating out of here and investigators had no clue,” Chaves said, referring to the $6 billion Liberty Reserve case in May 2013.

        Costa Rica cleared the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development tax haven blacklist in 2011. OECD reported at the time that Costa Rica’s fiscal transparency practices met international standards. Following the Liberty Reserve case, however, the country was once again listed as a tax haven by the French government in 2013.

        Sponsors so far have not abandoned FEDEFÚTBOL, according [to] the newspaper La República, in a story on Thursday. Among the federation’s sponsors are Plycem Cement, Coca-Cola FEMSA, and Hyundai.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on May 31, 2015, 03:04:04 PM
        FIFA scandal: Costa Rica opens money laundering probe of Eduardo Li
        David Boddiger (Tico Times News)


        Following the early-morning arrest Wednesday of several FIFA leaders, including Costa Rican Eduardo Li, in a massive corruption probe spearheaded by the United States Justice Department, Costa Rica has now opened an inquiry into Li’s assets here, a high-ranking Costa Rican justice official told The Tico Times.

        According to Celso Gamboa, acting deputy at Costa Rica’s Prosecutor’s Office, the U.S. Justice Department is collaborating with Costa Rican prosecutors in the ongoing probe in order to determine if any crimes were committed in Costa Rica.

        “Most of today’s events occurred outside Costa Rica’s jurisdiction, but it is our responsibility to follow up on that and find out if any crimes were committed here,” Gamboa told The Tico Times, referring to Li’s arrest in Zurich.

        Costa Rican investigators are now studying properties, bank accounts and other assets linked to Li, he said.

        If Li was discovered to have committed any crimes here related to the case, the U.S. likely would have the first opportunity to extradite and prosecute him.

        Li, the president of the Costa Rican Football Federation and a FIFA executive committee member was arrested along with six other FIFA officials at a luxury hotel in Zurich where they were preparing for a congress starting Thursday. All now face deportation to the United States on charges of accepting more than $100 million in bribes.

        A spokeswoman for Costa Rica’s Foreign Ministry, Melissa Durán, confirmed that the Costa Rica Embassy in Switzerland so far has been unable to contact Li. Costa Rican Ambassador to Switzerland Isabel Montero currently is establishing contact with the Cantonal Police Precint in Zurich, where Li has been in custody since Wednesday morning.

        Foreign Vice Minister Alejandro Solano said officials also are in conversations with judicial authorities in Zurich to determine the implications of the charges against Li, brought by U.S. officials.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on May 31, 2015, 03:10:40 PM
        (http://www.ticotimes.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Meme-Eduardo-Li-6.jpeg)
        "But I get to keep my job, right?" ... Wanchope inquiring about his job security in light of Li's arrest.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on May 31, 2015, 03:18:07 PM
        (http://www.ticotimes.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Meme-Eduardo-Li-8.jpeg)
        "Hello? Interpol? ... A little birdie here ... Hear nah, is de chineeman embezzle de tings."
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Sando prince on May 31, 2015, 03:37:44 PM
        FIFA-Gate: Costa Rica football federation says US 'mistaken' in Eduardo Li wire fraud allegation
        Zach Dyer (Tico Times News)


        The leadership of Costa Rican football has circled the wagons around their embattled president, Eduardo Li, after Li was arrested in Zurich, Switzerland, Wednesday on charges of racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering.

        Jorge Hidalgo, acting president of the Costa Rican Football Federation, FEDEFÚTBOL, told the website Amelia Rueda that U.S. prosecutors are “mistaken,” and that there was nothing inappropriate about a $27,500 wire transfer cited in the indictment as proof of wrongdoing.

        The indictment unsealed in Brooklyn, New York, on Wednesday alleged that Li and the sports marketing company Traffic Sports USA conspired in a scheme that involved offering and accepting bribes, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and money laundering to grant exclusive commercial rights to World Cup qualifying games for the Costa Rican national football team, la Sele. Li allegedly asked for a six-figure bribe as part of the negotiations with Traffic Sports USA.

        Hidalgo said that the $27,500 was part of a regular payment made by Traffic Sports USA to FEDEFÚTBOL according to the contract negotiated by Li granting the company exclusive broadcast rights to Sele games leading up to the 2018 World Cup.

        “This is neither a bribe nor has the Federation issued a check to Eduardo,” Hidalgo told AmeliaRueda.com

        The acting FEDEFÚTBOL president said they have requested receipts of the transfers from Costa Rica’s Banco Lafise. On Thursday, officers from the Judicial Investigation Police arrived at the San Rafael Proyecto Gol, the FEDEFÚTBOL headquarters and training facility, where they were shown a copy of the Traffic Sports USA contract signed by Li.

        “It’s obvious that the American authorities were mistaken,” Hidalgo said.

        Costa Rica’s Acting Deputy Prosecutor Celso Gamboa announced Wednesday that the Prosecutor’s Office would open a criminal probe into possible money laundering related to the alleged bribery scheme.

        But security analyst Paul Chaves had harsh words for any money laundering investigation in Costa Rica related to the FIFA scandal.

        “It’s useless; a waste of time,” Chaves told The Tico Times.

        The analyst said that successful money laundering prosecutions are rare in Costa Rica, and furthermore, the country’s penal code is outdated at providing tools to prosecute illicit money flows.

        “The largest money laundering operation in the world was operating out of here and investigators had no clue,” Chaves said, referring to the $6 billion Liberty Reserve case in May 2013.

        Costa Rica cleared the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development tax haven blacklist in 2011. OECD reported at the time that Costa Rica’s fiscal transparency practices met international standards. Following the Liberty Reserve case, however, the country was once again listed as a tax haven by the French government in 2013.

        Sponsors so far have not abandoned FEDEFÚTBOL, according [to] the newspaper La República, in a story on Thursday. Among the federation’s sponsors are Plycem Cement, Coca-Cola FEMSA, and Hyundai.

        So the US Justice Department did not do their homework
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Deeks on May 31, 2015, 04:57:16 PM
        Let's hope that with all this talk about impending changes that everybody want, they don't take away the small countries vote. A lot of the big countries, the Euros in particular would like to limited other small countries voting power.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Flex on June 01, 2015, 05:19:23 AM
        Fifa president deserves credit.
        By Alvin Corneal (Guardian).


        The past week in the Fifa house in Zurich was filled with cheers, tears and ton loads of opinions from those who represented their countries at the Fifa congress.

        Sometimes, I wonder whether or not these persons understood the importance of evaluating the nominees for the presidency of the greatest sporting body in the world.

        Honestly, this was easily the simplest occasion for the countries to make a choice.

        The person opposing Prince Ali Hussein, is just 39 years old and his claim to recognition is that he is a prince of Jordan whose wealth speaks louder than his words. Not even his four years on the seat of a vice president of Fifa would have brought the type of experience and information needed to run football in the world.

        Despite the support from UEFA on the eve of the voting process, where the European president Michel Platini expressed his wish that all the countries in his confederation should vote against Sepp Blatter, clearly his bark did not bring him the respect which would have provoked and changed the minds of the other confederations.

        Blatter accepted the fact that Fifa can be more efficiently run and he promised that the mistakes made in the past will be corrected with the assistance of the affiliated countries attached to Fifa.

        This change which was bandied about across the European countries, and the support which was showed by the USA to lend support to Prince Ali Hussein, could not have been directed by Blatter alone.

        Please bear in mind that the president of Fifa does not represent a country, or better still, he represents 209 countries who voted him into office.

        None of his decisions can be implemented without the approval of the executive members of Fifa and even before that final vote, his regular habit was to have some dialogue with the confederations.

        So the true decision makers are really the executive members, all of whom have been representing the same confederations.

        There is no criteria in terms of qualification for membership in the executive of Fifa, and many times, the public is able to openly and fairly criticise some of the decisions taken.

        In many cases, the proverbial business man who is attached to some area relating to sport, such as marketing, accounting, club ownership or just plain affluence, position themselves to be considered for a seat in the decision chamber.

        They all want to make their opinions count and because of the opportunity to rub shoulders with agencies, clubs, and business associates, it is natural that business within and without Fifa is discussed.

        Where is the president in all this? If he had been dancing in their party, then the USA investigators and FBI may have approached his room last Tuesday night in Zurich.

        If the world truly believes that the president of Fifa can rule the game from his seat in Zurich, then the picture in unclear.

        Confederations deal with their business relations autonomously, which I honestly believe is the biggest mistake which Fifa must address.

        The second change in the Fifa structure must be in the business of removing from the umbrella called (non profit organisation) and let the executive committee be a board of directors in a fully registered limited liability company.

        Every cent spent by each confederation must be reported by way of balance sheets and audited statements, all subjected to the scrutiny by some of the best accounting firms in the world.

        There are also some areas which were well done by Blatter which has bypassed the interest of the big wigs of Europe and the conglomerates of the USA, Mexico, Australia and matured countries which have histories of good management skills.

        The president has devoted his time with the development of grassroots football, beach football, futsal, and all age groups of men and women's football.

        They have all been adequately handled through to their world cup final events.

        Will someone care to give some credit to the president, seeing that he was able to delegate the responsibility to other qualified personnel in the lesser developed countries to achieve his goal.

        Maybe in another article I shall love to explain the reasons why UEFA could have had problems with the president. Yes? The president, the one who just won the hearts and votes of a democratic majority.

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: dreamer on June 01, 2015, 06:49:31 AM
        Nothing surprising. Staunch defenders of the status quo. One by one they reveal themselves and how they sing for their supper.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: elan on June 01, 2015, 11:57:09 AM
        So I was listening to Free Speech radio and they were talking about the FIFA Indictments. They came around to talking about WC bids. The question was raised, "If the USA had won the 2018/2022 bid, would we have seen this investigation or indictments?". The answer they came up with was "no".
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: elan on June 01, 2015, 12:05:41 PM
        What's the difference between "lobbying" politicians in the US, and countries offering "gifts" to FIFA Reps?
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: E-man on June 01, 2015, 12:21:01 PM
        John Oliver, FIFA II

        https://www.youtube.com/v/qr6ar3xJL_Q
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on June 01, 2015, 12:31:44 PM
        What's the difference between "lobbying" politicians in the US, and countries offering "gifts" to FIFA Reps?

        You clearly don't know what "lobbying" means, if you're asking that question.  Here's a hint, look up "Jack Abramoff."
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: soccerman on June 01, 2015, 01:15:20 PM
        Jack make the John Oliver Show, we reach.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: elan on June 01, 2015, 02:14:49 PM
        What's the difference between "lobbying" politicians in the US, and countries offering "gifts" to FIFA Reps?

        You clearly don't know what "lobbying" means, if you're asking that question.  Here's a hint, look up "Jack Abramoff."

        So this is lobbying right (http://mediamatters.org/video/2015/05/22/watch-this-atlanta-tv-station-expose-alecs-infl/203745) and it is legal because of how the regulations are set up. I know it's different.

        Then FIFA just need to regulate the go-between and let's have at it. Then everything will be kosher.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on June 01, 2015, 05:39:45 PM
        So this is lobbying right (http://mediamatters.org/video/2015/05/22/watch-this-atlanta-tv-station-expose-alecs-infl/203745) and it is legal because of how the regulations are set up. I know it's different.

        Then FIFA just need to regulate the go-between and let's have at it. Then everything will be kosher.

        There are lobbyists who break the rules... that is, they bribe politicians, no different from what went on in FIFA.  There are also lobbyists who skirt the rules, writing their own legislation and giving it to the lawmakers to pass.  That's what's going on in that video.  That's not how the system is supposed to work, the legislators and their staff are supposed to then review the proposed legislation, and either draft it themselves or at least double-check.  This system, as corruptible as it might be, due to the influence of money and the reliance on self-policing by the politicians, is way different from what's happening in FIFA.  I don't know why you continue to go to these lengths to try and discredit the DOJ investigation and charges as being something sneaky, underhanded or at worst, illegal.  It's like you have a bug up your ass about the US, if any other country (but the US and England) had brought the charges, you'd probably be waving flag up front.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: E-man on June 01, 2015, 07:08:57 PM
        Top FIFA deputy Jerome Valcke behind $10 million in payments - report
        ESPN


        U.S. authorities say FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke allegedly made $10 million in payments at the centre of the scandal sweeping through world football's governing body, according to the New York Times.

        Valcke, who denied culpability to the Times and has not been charged, is FIFA's highest non-elected official and would be the top figure yet targeted in an investigation that has already seen two sitting vice presidents and a dozen others connected to the game indicted on federal charges including bribery, racketeering and money laundering.

        In announcing the indictments, prosecutors mentioned an unidentified "high-ranking FIFA official" who "caused" $10 million to be transferred from FIFA to former vice president Jack Warner in 2008. Law enforcement officials told the New York Times they believe that official to be Valcke.

        FIFA spokesperson spokeswoman Delia Fischer told the Times that the chairman of the finance committee at the time, the late Julio Grondona, authorised Warner's payment, but that the payment was "executed in accordance with the Organisation Regulations," which Valcke follows as part of his duties in charge of FIFA's finances.

        The indictment said the payments to Warner were in exchange for votes for South Africa to host the 2010 World Cup. But when South Africa's football federation were unable to pay the bribe, FIFA delivered the amount to Warner instead. South African officials have denied these claims.

        When asked last week whether he was the unidentified official behind Warner's payment, newly re-elected FIFA pres Sepp Blatter said: "Definitely that is not me. I have no $10 million."

        Valcke is a long-time ally of Blatter's, and the pair celebrated together after the Swiss won re-election at the FIFA Congress on Friday.

        In 2006, Valcke was fired as FIFA's marketing director after an American judge ruled that he lied in negotiations with credit card companies on a sponsorship deal. But after FIFA settled with MasterCard, Blatter appointed Valcke as secretary general.

        Earlier on Monday, Valcke cancelled his planned trip to represent FIFA at the Women's World Cup in Canada, which begins this weekend.

        "It is important that he attend to matters at FIFA's headquarters in Zurich," Fischer said.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on June 01, 2015, 08:32:15 PM
        A private conversation overheard years ago in a hall of power somewhere ...
         
        Sepp: World Cup in the US in 2018? Nah! Never! That would mean I couldn't attend. Vladimir, ah feel dey might hold meh there yuh know. Long time now frigging Sunil moving left with constant criticism of how things are done.

        Vladimir: Ah showing yuh that LONG! time. Gih dem Yanks an inch, dey want a mile; dey always talking reform. Come by me instead. Dey fight me on de Winter Olympics in Sochi; but dey was loving de Bird's Ne$t in Beijing.

        Vladimir (breaking out into song): Hypocrites and parasites ... Who the cap fit, let dem ...

        Sepp: Frauds and counter-revolutionaries.

        Sepp: Sing Vladimir, like Jack introduce yuh to Bob Marley? He love him too bad. Always singing Three Little Birds ... telling me doh worry about a ting.

        Vladimir: He taught me Marley, I taught him Sting. Jack understands that Russians love their children too (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygXPudX2rhE).

        Vladimir: Yuh know who really likes to sing? That frigging Chuck. Try to keep him out of this. He came to Moscow one year asking about our tax system, blazing a trail and singing for his supper. The size of him ...

        Sepp: De way he does talk, Jack is de right one to speak with a forked tongue with the English and the Australians.

        Vladimir (still thinking about Sepp's reference to frauds and counter-revolutionaries): As yuh mention frauds ...Link yuh lieutenant in Trinidad (what we in de Kremlin refer to as Trickydadstan. So much promise there. Those bastards know how to pull a fast one) ...

        Link yuh lieutenant and see wha he could arrange to frustrate dem ppl Down Under and in London to pave de way for 2018. Ever since frigging Litvinenko (http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-32221581), Downing Street has been trying to poison de scenes for any initiative we try. One day, they'll piss me off and I'll invade Ukraine!

        Sepp: We could learn from them Vladimir, please keep calm and carry on.

        Vladimir (half listening): ... and dem Aussies? Dem Aussies jes hadda get in line behind Mother Russia. Who are they anyway? They're jes Brits masquerading as a separate country. Have you seen their flag? Big, big Union Jack on it.

        Vladimir (refocusing at the mention of Jack): Yeah, so Jack ...

        Sepp: Consider it done. One ting doh ...

        Vladimir: What is it? Ah hadda go ... Condoleeza waiting to introduce me to Susan Rice.

        Sepp (smiling broadly): You devil you, that's right, say no to racism ...heheh. Anyhow, lehme focus, I am Swiss and neutral.

        Sepp: Look, Vladi ... the lieutenant have ah kinda independent, liberal streak. A mind of his own nah. What if things go sideways? If things go sideways, yuh could arrange ah lil asylum?

        Vladimir: Failure is not an option. Tell Jack hang on to his passport, the doors of my embassies and consulates are always wide open.

        Sepp (speaking French): That's my putain! (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=putain)

        Vladimir: Wha yuh say dey??? Show some respect.

        Sepp: Sorry, doh geh vex nah. Ah meant, "that's my Putin"!

        Sepp (mumbling): Lost in translation ... One for all, and all for me.

        Vladimir: Condi ... Sepp, we go link.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: elan on June 01, 2015, 09:00:56 PM
        Top FIFA deputy Jerome Valcke behind $10 million in payments - report
        ESPN



        FIFA spokesperson spokeswoman Delia Fischer told the Times that the chairman of the finance committee at the time, the late Julio Grondona, authorised Warner's payment, but that the payment was "executed in accordance with the Organisation Regulations," which Valcke follows as part of his duties in charge of FIFA's finances.

        The indictment said the payments to Warner were in exchange for votes for South Africa to host the 2010 World Cup. But when South Africa's football federation were unable to pay the bribe, FIFA delivered the amount to Warner instead. South African officials have denied these claims.


        Hey you can't pay your bribe, don' worry we will casually pay $10 millions dollars out of our account for you.  ::)


        So if they are so sure about this why not indict Valcke too? No US soil connection? Chuck Blazer could not recall this transaction?
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: elan on June 01, 2015, 09:05:07 PM
        So this is lobbying right (http://mediamatters.org/video/2015/05/22/watch-this-atlanta-tv-station-expose-alecs-infl/203745) and it is legal because of how the regulations are set up. I know it's different.

        Then FIFA just need to regulate the go-between and let's have at it. Then everything will be kosher.

        There are lobbyists who break the rules... that is, they bribe politicians, no different from what went on in FIFA.  There are also lobbyists who skirt the rules, writing their own legislation and giving it to the lawmakers to pass.  That's what's going on in that video.  That's not how the system is supposed to work, the legislators and their staff are supposed to then review the proposed legislation, and either draft it themselves or at least double-check.  This system, as corruptible as it might be, due to the influence of money and the reliance on self-policing by the politicians, is way different from what's happening in FIFA.  I don't know why you continue to go to these lengths to try and discredit the DOJ investigation and charges as being something sneaky, underhanded or at worst, illegal.  It's like you have a bug up your ass about the US, if any other country (but the US and England) had brought the charges, you'd probably be waving flag up front.

        Again, calling out :bs: is not hating.

        You fail to address my post before this one though.

        If the US had gotten 2018/2022 this investigation would not have seen the light of day......at least not in this century.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Sando prince on June 02, 2015, 01:14:29 AM

        Jack we want the whole truth so we can compare your current treatment to the treatment that was given to Ish and Steve  :)

        http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20150602/news/rowley-warner-must-tell-the-whole-truth (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20150602/news/rowley-warner-must-tell-the-whole-truth)

        Quote
        “Two other financiers got themselves virtually freed from judicial action because the Cabinet took actions in the Parliament, at the level of the Cabinet, at the Office of the President with an outcome in the court under the infamous Section 34 action of this Government to ensure that those financiers did not have their day in court as they should have had, and if he is handled differently now and he wants to complain about his treatment he must tell us the whole story so we can compare apples with the oranges that he talking about," he said.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Flex on June 02, 2015, 02:09:25 AM
        Fifa: Sepp Blatter to travel to Women's World Cup final.
        BBC Sports.


        Fifa president Sepp Blatter still intends to travel to Canada for the final of the Women's World Cup this month despite the crisis engulfing world football's governing body.

        General secretary Jerome Valcke announced on Monday that he will not be making the trip.

        He was due to attend the opening of the tournament, which begins on 6 June.

        "It is important that he attends to matters at Fifa's headquarters in Zurich," read a statement.

        BBC Radio 5 live sports news correspondent Richard Conway called Valcke's decision a "highly unusual move".

        Fifa in crisis

        Fifa has been dogged by corruption allegations but became embroiled in fresh controversy last week when seven officials were arrested on charges of racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering.

        The arrests - a result of a United States prosecution - took place in Zurich last Wednesday as Fifa officials from around the globe gathered in the Swiss city for their latest congress.

        On the same day, Fifa was also rocked by the news that Swiss authorities had begun a separate criminal investigation into how the 2018 and 2022 World Cups were allocated.

        Blatter was encouraged to quit in the wake of the arrests but was re-elected as Fifa president for a fifth term of office on Friday, claiming he was the man to lead reform of the organisation.

        Sanz banned

        Fifa has provisionally suspended Concacaf general secretary Enrique Sanz from all football-related activities.

        The Colombian was banned following investigations carried out by Fifa's ethics committee and the latest facts presented by the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York.

        Concacaf, which has its headquarters in Miami, governs the game in North and Central America as well as the Caribbean.

        Congolese Football Association vice-president Jean Guy Blaise Mayolas and general secretary Badji Mombo Wantete have also been suspended for apparent "breaches of the Fifa code of ethics".

        Teixeira investigated

        Brazilian authorities are investigating Ricardo Teixeira, the former head of their national football federation, for alleged money laundering and fraud.

        Teixeira's successor as president, José Maria Marin, was one of seven Fifa officials arrested by Swiss police on charges of corruption.

        A judge in Paraguay has also ordered the arrest of Nicolas Leoz, the former head of the South American Football Confederation.

        Leoz is wanted by US authorities and will be put under house arrest.

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on June 02, 2015, 05:49:45 AM
        Again, calling out :bs: is not hating.

        You fail to address my post before this one though.

        If the US had gotten 2018/2022 this investigation would not have seen the light of day......at least not in this century.


        What b.s. are you calling out though?  Everything you've been bitching about either doesn't make sense or doesn't apply.  There's nothing to "address"... if the US had gotten either of the WCs Blazer would have still run afoul of the IRS and the investigation into Russian organized crime would still have proceeded, therefore setting in motion this chain of events.  But of course all of that is just pretext to bring down FIFA, right?
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Tallman on June 02, 2015, 07:33:41 AM
        (https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CGe9JLWU8AAfzyM.jpg:large)
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on June 02, 2015, 09:01:37 AM
        Opinion editorial: FIFA’s corruption and compromise
        Sheldon Waithe (Trinidad Express)


        FIFA must be the only entity on the planet that can lose over half its board to corruption charges, yet still think that it should go ahead with its congress and election of its leader a mere three days later. It signifies the growing malaise with global politics that in the face of the public relations juggernaut, ethics and morals are eroded, replaced by denial and staunchness— “if I don't admit to anything then I cannot be wrong”.

        There is also the fall-back option of sinking the whole ship— “if I go down then I'll take everyone with me” —reserved as a last option and probably the choice that the US prosecutors are relying upon to catch the bigger fish, by turning up the heat under the small fry. There is also the age-old strategy of deflection, in the face of evidence sufficient to see one prosecuted; play the cards that you think you have left, be they race, persecution or religion. Most of all, absolve yourself while simultaneously stating that in the unlikely chance you are guilty, you certainly did not do it alone—“Let's say I am guilty, I certainly was not the one in charge.”

        Of course there is also plain denial and saviour's path. Undertaken by the incumbent Sepp Blatter, this tactic incorporates all of the above and adds disbelief to the mix— “I am shocked at these findings but vote for me and I will set things right.” No one is fooled but the problem is that FIFA does not care; their reappointment of Mr Blatter is evidence enough of that. FIFA has been corrupting the world's most popular sport for so long that any one that has even a fledging interest in football is not completely surprised at the findings. The arrests are what come as a surprise, for a body that exists in a bubble, because they have been so good at it for so long. Alas, it's our old friend greed, and his ability to create the downfall that has come knocking—like those nice Swiss policemen at the hotel on Wednesday morning—and dividing those that maintained the status quo. But what has really changed?

        That the congress and election went ahead is farcical. What is most disappointing is that the regional bodies with the ability to stop the congress proceeding did not act. The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) made noises about not attending the election then swiftly displayed that plague amongst corrupt entities—compromise. It compromised and now states that perhaps it will consider boycotting FIFA's crown jewel, the World Cup.

        The time to act was within this past week; if Messrs Platini and company were serious about forcing change and backing up their gentle request to Mr Blatter to step down, then the ideology must should have been to target the source, not the end product. In the old boys club within the FIFA corridors, UEFA relinquished its power for the sake of remaining part of the cash cow. Similarly, the global sponsors followed the same methodology—“have the PR department issue a statement that the company is concerned and will monitor the situation but remember we're all in this thing together and will mutually benefit. After all, by the time the world excitedly tunes in for that first match of Russia 2018, who will remember the happenings of May 2015. Meanwhile our logo shines in the background?” Perhaps there really is no such thing as bad publicity.

        We were promised “tsunamis” of damning information when our own high ranking representative in this global white collar crime drama was implicated on bribery charges. Hours later, the deflection tactic obviously leading to compromise, the Jack was hung and all was well again in FIFA.

        This time it's bigger, much bigger and we should expect far reaching repercussions that will change the infrastructure of the game's governing body. The problem is that as you read this, Mr Blatter is still in charge, having been given another five years from an election that went ahead despite unprecedented revelations. The chance has come and gone and FIFA has survived. In the coming months the extraditions will begin and those flown to the USA will be branded “individuals that tried to corrupt FIFA”, and not “FIFA executives that were part of the dishonest organisational culture”.

        With a shake of hands in Switzerland, a few empty promises and a smile, it's all about corruption compromise. “Whew, that was a close one. Now on to the Copa America.”
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: grimm01 on June 02, 2015, 10:50:14 AM
        Breaking News: Sepp Blatter announces retirement and special congress to elect new leader!
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: FF on June 02, 2015, 10:51:00 AM
        SEPP BLATTER TO RESIGN - BREAKING NEWS

        Story to be updated. Live press conference

        http://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2015/jun/02/fifa-calls-press-conference-amid-latest-corruption-claims-live

        Sepp Blatter moments ago: “I will organise extraordinary congress for a replacement for me as president. I will not stand. I am now free from the constraints of an election. I will be in a position to focus on profound reforms. For many years we have called for reforms. But these are not sufficient.”

        “We need a limitation on mandates and terms of office. I have fought for these changes but my efforts have been counteracted.” (Five terms in office)


        New election to be sometime between December 2015 and March 2016
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: de_redman on June 02, 2015, 10:58:04 AM
        buh wha de france is dis??  :o
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: grimm01 on June 02, 2015, 10:58:34 AM
        Brazil also plan to charge Ricardo Teixeira with corruption crimes. He is the former president of the Brazilian FA, former head of the 2014 WC organizing committee and former son-in-law of Joao Havelange.

        http://www.espnfc.us/fifa-world-cup/story/2476409/brazil-police-seek-to-charge-ex-football-chief-teixeira
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: E-man on June 02, 2015, 11:04:00 AM
        woohoo!

        SEPP BLATTER TO RESIGN - BREAKING NEWS

        Story to be updated. Live press conference

        http://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2015/jun/02/fifa-calls-press-conference-amid-latest-corruption-claims-live

        Sepp Blatter moments ago: “I will organise extraordinary congress for a replacement for me as president. I will not stand. I am now free from the constraints of an election. I will be in a position to focus on profound reforms. For many years we have called for reforms. But these are not sufficient.”

        “We need a limitation on mandates and terms of office. I have fought for these changes but my efforts have been counteracted.” (Five terms in office)


        New election to be sometime between December 2015 and March 2016
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Socapro on June 02, 2015, 11:06:25 AM
        woohoo!

        SEPP BLATTER TO RESIGN - BREAKING NEWS

        Story to be updated. Live press conference

        http://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2015/jun/02/fifa-calls-press-conference-amid-latest-corruption-claims-live

        Sepp Blatter moments ago: “I will organise extraordinary congress for a replacement for me as president. I will not stand. I am now free from the constraints of an election. I will be in a position to focus on profound reforms. For many years we have called for reforms. But these are not sufficient.”

        “We need a limitation on mandates and terms of office. I have fought for these changes but my efforts have been counteracted.” (Five terms in office)


        New election to be sometime between December 2015 and March 2016

        TO RESIGN means that he hasn't resigned yet and is still FIFA President. All he has done so far is promise to resign with new elections to be sometime between December 2015 and March 2016.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: de_redman on June 02, 2015, 11:09:42 AM
        Football
        Is
        Falling
        Apart
         ::)
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: E-man on June 02, 2015, 11:16:03 AM
        Shaka on ESPN now
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: elan on June 02, 2015, 11:19:05 AM
        https://www.youtube.com/v/35pfllMiLag
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: elan on June 02, 2015, 11:20:32 AM
        Again, calling out :bs: is not hating.

        You fail to address my post before this one though.

        If the US had gotten 2018/2022 this investigation would not have seen the light of day......at least not in this century.


        What b.s. are you calling out though?  Everything you've been bitching about either doesn't make sense or doesn't apply.  There's nothing to "address"... if the US had gotten either of the WCs Blazer would have still run afoul of the IRS and the investigation into Russian organized crime would still have proceeded, therefore setting in motion this chain of events.  But of course all of that is just pretext to bring down FIFA, right?

        You deluded yes.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bitter on June 02, 2015, 11:22:38 AM
        All I expect is that some new scamp comes along who is less brazen with the tiefin.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Mose on June 02, 2015, 11:23:40 AM
        SEPP BLATTER TO RESIGN - BREAKING NEWS

        Story to be updated. Live press conference

        http://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2015/jun/02/fifa-calls-press-conference-amid-latest-corruption-claims-live

        Sepp Blatter moments ago: “I will organise extraordinary congress for a replacement for me as president. I will not stand. I am now free from the constraints of an election. I will be in a position to focus on profound reforms. For many years we have called for reforms. But these are not sufficient.”

        “We need a limitation on mandates and terms of office. I have fought for these changes but my efforts have been counteracted.” (Five terms in office)


        New election to be sometime between December 2015 and March 2016

        So does this mean he's NOT attending the Women's World Cup here in Canada?
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: kev on June 02, 2015, 11:26:26 AM
        Well there was no way in this world he would last 4 years but 4 or 5 days was a lot shorter than I was thinking, especially as he was back to his usual arrogant self at the weekend and acting untouchable again.  Something is coming / going on and I don't think it is good news for him.  The house needs a big cleaning anyway and FIFA will be unrecognisable after this has all finished, lets hope its all for the better.    The real fun starts now, I just heard that FIFA / various officials are under investigation by at least 33 different agencies around the world.  Everyone knows how bent it is I am just surprised they have got away with it for so long, I wonder how many sponsors have threatened to pull the plug the last few days?
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: elan on June 02, 2015, 11:26:45 AM
        Blatter should of gotten hired by Goldman Sachs or Lehman Brothers he would have been safe then.  :devil:
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on June 02, 2015, 11:37:54 AM
        Sepp Blatter to Resign as FIFA President (New York Times)


        By SAM BORDEN

        JUNE 2, 2015

        Photo
        (http://static01.nyt.com/images/2015/06/03/sports/SUB-03FIFAweb/SUB-03FIFAweb-master675.jpg)

        Sepp Blatter said FIFA was in need of "a structural change of profound nature." Credit Ruben Sprich/Reuters

        Sepp Blatter said Tuesday that he would resign from the presidency of FIFA in the wake of a corruption inquiry, an extraordinary turn just four days after he was re-elected and defiantly insisted that he was blameless and committed to cleaning up the organization.

        Mr. Blatter, 79, said he would ask FIFA to schedule a new election for his replacement as soon as possible. The next FIFA congress is May 2016, but he acknowledged that the organization could not wait long for new leadership given the current situation.

        At a brief, hastily convened news conference in Zurich, Mr. Blatter said that “FIFA needs a profound restructuring.”

        “I appreciate and love FIFA more than anything else,” he said. “And I only want to do the best for FIFA.” Mr. Blatter declined to take questions after his remarks.

        Mr. Blatter is regarded as the most powerful executive in sports, ruling FIFA autocratically while brushing off frequent accusations that the organization was corrupt. He has worked for FIFA since 1975, and has been president since 1998.

        Domenico Scala of Italy, who leads the FIFA audit and compliance committee, will take the lead in managing the handover. He said reforms would include “fundamental changes” to the way FIFA is structured. Mr. Blatter who was re-elected to his post just Friday, 133-73, said he would serve until a new election.

        Mr. Blatter has been praised for extending soccer’s reach to less developed nations and raising the profile of the women’s game. But he has been dodging scandals almost from the moment he was elected.

        Earlier Tuesday, FIFA responded to an article by The New York Times linking Jérôme Valcke, FIFA’s secretary general, to payments made in 2008 that investigators believe amounted to $10 million in bribes. FIFA said in a statement that the payments, which are at the center of a United States Department of Justice investigation that led to a 47-count indictment against soccer officials and sports marketing executives, were approved in 2007 by Julio Grondona. Mr. Grondona, who was the chairman of FIFA’s finance committee at the time, died last year.

        http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/03/sports/soccer/sepp-blatter-to-resign-as-fifa-president.html?_r=0
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: E-man on June 02, 2015, 11:43:44 AM
        woohoo!

        SEPP BLATTER TO RESIGN - BREAKING NEWS

        Story to be updated. Live press conference

        http://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2015/jun/02/fifa-calls-press-conference-amid-latest-corruption-claims-live

        Sepp Blatter moments ago: “I will organise extraordinary congress for a replacement for me as president. I will not stand. I am now free from the constraints of an election. I will be in a position to focus on profound reforms. For many years we have called for reforms. But these are not sufficient.”

        “We need a limitation on mandates and terms of office. I have fought for these changes but my efforts have been counteracted.” (Five terms in office)


        New election to be sometime between December 2015 and March 2016

        TO RESIGN means that he hasn't resigned yet and is still FIFA President. All he has done so far is promise to resign with new elections to be sometime between December 2015 and March 2016.

        He needs a few months before the extraordinary congress to clean up and shred a few things
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: elan on June 02, 2015, 11:45:05 AM
         ;D

        (http://cdn.historycommons.org/images/events/b027_bush_mission_accomplished_2050081722-7750.jpg)
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on June 02, 2015, 11:51:19 AM
        Quote
        Much closer to being a possibility than people might think... there's is already action afoot.


        More realistically, if he's not indicted I think we'll see Blatter either forced out or marginalized.  Too much is at stake.

        You deluded yes.

        Yes, I deluded.  As I said, much more going on behind the scenes than people realize, and none of it is this conspiracy nonsense people like you spouting.  If you had any idea as to how difficult it is to marshall the effort and resources just to investigate something along this scope, let alone to try and build a criminal case from speculation (which is what the conspiracy would require), then you wouldn't be singing the "revenge" song yuh singing.  Football just isn't a big enough of a priority for the snub to register on a large enough scale or the DOJ to get involved.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: MEP on June 02, 2015, 11:52:01 AM
        I'm wondering if this is the only way he can handpick a successor
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: lefty on June 02, 2015, 11:52:55 AM
        with all this going on and sepp getting what was comin to him, there seems to be a fear that that if some have their way d world cup will spend the next few years being hosted by western europe and d states for d next few editions..........even maybe stripping Qatar and Russia of the next two editions.......even with all d bribery and shit dat went down, would dat be a good idea ??? ??? ???
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on June 02, 2015, 11:55:34 AM
        TO RESIGN means that he hasn't resigned yet and is still FIFA President. All he has done so far is promise to resign with new elections to be sometime between December 2015 and March 2016.

        It will take some time before new elections can be held, despite what he's saying he's already on his way out, most likely before the month is out, and an interim President will be named until the elections.  Valcke is actually one of the good guys, but the link to the $10 million payment tars him (innocently) and is what will in the end prove to be Blatter's undoing.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on June 02, 2015, 11:58:05 AM
        F
        with all this going on and sepp getting what was comin to him, there seems to be a fear that that if some have their way d world cup will spend the next few years being hosted by western europe and d states for d next few editions..........even maybe stripping Qatar and Russia of the next two editions.......even with all d bribery and shit dat went down, would dat be a good idea ??? ??? ???

        From a purely selfish perspective I want the US to get the 2018 WC.  More likely is that there will be a re-bidding process, either that or the UK/US will be awarded the 2022 WC and Russia will be allowed to host the 2018 Cup.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: elan on June 02, 2015, 12:06:41 PM
        F
        with all this going on and sepp getting what was comin to him, there seems to be a fear that that if some have their way d world cup will spend the next few years being hosted by western europe and d states for d next few editions..........even maybe stripping Qatar and Russia of the next two editions.......even with all d bribery and shit dat went down, would dat be a good idea ??? ??? ???

        From a purely selfish perspective I want the US to get the 2018 WC.  More likely is that there will be a re-bidding process, either that or the UK/US will be awarded the 2022 WC and Russia will be allowed to host the 2018 Cup.


        Seriously I in that boat. I think it's unbalanced how they applied "justice" but FIFA had it coming.

        I would love to attend a WC by driving a couple hours...maybe.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: MEP on June 02, 2015, 12:09:40 PM
        F
        with all this going on and sepp getting what was comin to him, there seems to be a fear that that if some have their way d world cup will spend the next few years being hosted by western europe and d states for d next few editions..........even maybe stripping Qatar and Russia of the next two editions.......even with all d bribery and shit dat went down, would dat be a good idea ??? ??? ???

        From a purely selfish perspective I want the US to get the 2018 WC.  More likely is that there will be a re-bidding process, either that or the UK/US will be awarded the 2022 WC and Russia will be allowed to host the 2018 Cup.


        You know if Russia is denied the world cup it could have dire world wide political consequences and it could have to added effect of making Putin stronger as his mantra would be they don't like Russians and Russians may rally around that making Russia more anti-western and isolationist.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Toppa on June 02, 2015, 12:15:09 PM
        with all this going on and sepp getting what was comin to him, there seems to be a fear that that if some have their way d world cup will spend the next few years being hosted by western europe and d states for d next few editions..........even maybe stripping Qatar and Russia of the next two editions.......even with all d bribery and shit dat went down, would dat be a good idea ??? ??? ???

        No, it wouldn't be a good idea. Despite the fact that nobody really wants to travel to Qatar and Russia is too close to a conflict zone.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: MEP on June 02, 2015, 12:17:43 PM
        Quote
        Yes, I deluded.  As I said, much more going on behind the scenes than people realize, and none of it is this conspiracy nonsense people like you spouting.  If you had any idea as to how difficult it is to marshall the effort and resources just to investigate something along this scope, let alone to try and build a criminal case from speculation (which is what the conspiracy would require), then you wouldn't be singing the "revenge" song yuh singing.  Football just isn't a big enough of a priority for the snub to register on a large enough scale or the DOJ to get involved.

        Bakes given the above line of thinking then they are looking for bigger fish to fry and just makes me wonder if those fish are American.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: elan on June 02, 2015, 12:24:49 PM
        How do you go about nullifying the 2022 allocation to allow a re-bid? What criteria do you use to showing voting/allocation was done through collusion?

        Can't see Qatar sitting idly by and letting that happen - think Mastercard vs FIFA/Visa.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Flex on June 02, 2015, 12:30:57 PM
        Sepp Blatter to resign as Fifa president amid corruption scandal.
        BBC Sports.


        Sepp Blatter says he will resign as president of football's governing body Fifa amid a corruption scandal.
        In announcing his exit, the 79-year-old Swiss has called an extraordinary Fifa congress "as soon as possible" to elect a new president.

        Blatter was re-elected last week, despite seven top Fifa officials being arrested two days before the vote as part of a US prosecution.

        But he said: "My mandate does not appear to be supported by everybody."

        Blatter, who has been Fifa president since 1998, added: "The next ordinary Fifa congress will take place on 13 May, 2016 in Mexico City.

        "This would create unnecessary delay and I will urge the executive committee to organise an extraordinary congress for the election of my successor at the earliest opportunity.

        "This will need to be done in line with Fifa's statutes and we must allow enough time for the best candidates to present themselves and to campaign."

        The extraordinary congress is expected to take place between December 2015 and March 2016.

        Fifa was rocked last week by the arrests on charges of racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering as part of a US prosecution that also indicted 14 people.

        The latest allegations of corruption to emerge on Tuesday involved reports claiming Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke was responsible for an alleged $10m (£6m) payment of bribes over South Africa's bid to host the 2010 World Cup.

        A separate criminal investigation by Swiss authorities into how the 2018 and 2022 World Cups were allocated is also under way.

        "I am very much linked to Fifa and its interests. Those interests are dear to me and this is why I am taking this decision," said Blatter.

        "What counts most to me is the institute of Fifa and football around the world.

        "I have thoroughly considered and thought about my presidency and the last 40 years in my life.

        "These years were closely related to Fifa and the wonderful sport of football. I appreciate and love Fifa more than anything else.

        "I only want to do the best for Fifa and my institution. I decided to stand again as the best option for football. The elections are closed but the challenges we face haven't come to an end."

        Michel Platini, the president of European football's governing body Uefa, urged Blatter not to stand for re-election and to quit following the arrests in Switzerland.

        "It was a difficult decision, a brave decision, and the right decision," said Platini after Blatter stated his intention to step down.

        The English Football Association has been vociferous in its criticism of Blatter.

        "This is great news for football. It should have happened years ago," FA chairman Greg Dyke told the BBC.

        "The timetable doesn't matter. There has to be a root and branch investigation of Fifa. It has all got to be transparent in the future."

        England lost out to Russia in the bidding for the 2018 World Cup.

        And Simon Johnson, who led England's 2018 bid, told BBC 5 live: "I want the full facts around the bidding to be known and published. I want there to be openness and transparency.

        "If everybody won it because of a fair fight and everything was fair and objective and transparent then good, well done.

        "If it wasn't, if it was found there was improper behaviour in any way by any of the winning bidders then Fifa must have a look at whether they should re-open the process.

        "I think 2018 will go ahead. The preliminary draw for the Russia World Cup is a few weeks away and it's too late to change that, but 2022 is another matter."

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: MEP on June 02, 2015, 12:32:48 PM
        I think what they will say is that in the interest of fairplay and transparency and the current allegations and indictments associated with the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups we must revisit the vote and hold a new one....


        I only hope Platini doesn't become FIFA President
         
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on June 02, 2015, 12:33:16 PM
        Platini should NOT become FIFA president!
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Tallman on June 02, 2015, 12:44:08 PM
        Shaka Hislop discusses Sepp Blatter’s resignation
        http://www.espnfc.com/fifa-world-cup/4/video/2476631
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: lefty on June 02, 2015, 12:48:48 PM
        with all this going on and sepp getting what was comin to him, there seems to be a fear that that if some have their way d world cup will spend the next few years being hosted by western europe and d states for d next few editions..........even maybe stripping Qatar and Russia of the next two editions.......even with all d bribery and shit dat went down, would dat be a good idea ??? ??? ???

        No, it wouldn't be a good idea. Despite the fact that nobody really wants to travel to Qatar and Russia is too close to a conflict zone.

        this is what I thinkin and I agree with everybody else...would definately tried to go ah WC in d states too.......but I tink it will be a very bad idea to take d russian one in particular....cyah see dat endin well....if it happen.....d scary ting is I could see d states pushin for dat.....hope ah wrong doh
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on June 02, 2015, 12:50:43 PM
        ...
        Yes, I deluded.  As I said, much more going on behind the scenes than people realize, and none of it is this conspiracy nonsense people like you spouting.  If you had any idea as to how difficult it is to marshall the effort and resources just to investigate something along this scope, let alone to try and build a criminal case from speculation (which is what the conspiracy would require), then you wouldn't be singing the "revenge" song yuh singing.  Football just isn't a big enough of a priority for the snub to register on a large enough scale or the DOJ to get involved.

        Nonetheless, the complexity ... of investigation, building the case, mounting litigation etc. constitutes only a partial explanation, not a complete rendering.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Dynamite Warrior on June 02, 2015, 12:58:14 PM
        I actually hope Platini becomes Fifa president. He has shown that he is committed to growing the game. What we don't want is a president who is too eurocentric. Platini has drawn a hard line against the big clubs who are attempting to take over world football. Do you know how much players have to go through to play for their national teams in international breaks. Wenger called the copa america meaningless last week, imagine how European managers feel about T&T and the gold cup.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Deeks on June 02, 2015, 12:58:36 PM
        Platini should NOT become FIFA president!

        Why he should not run for the position ? Not that I want him to be elected.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on June 02, 2015, 01:13:12 PM
        Platini should NOT become FIFA president!

        Why he should not run for the position? Not that I want him to be elected.

        If he runs, he runs. No issue with a Platini candidacy. Although if he does not stand for election then he cyah win. Platini has exercised a selective, occasionally convenient political reading of when to engage Blatter. Let him get behind Prince Ali (who I also don't think should become president).

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Socapro on June 02, 2015, 01:37:09 PM
        TO RESIGN means that he hasn't resigned yet and is still FIFA President. All he has done so far is promise to resign with new elections to be sometime between December 2015 and March 2016.

        It will take some time before new elections can be held, despite what he's saying he's already on his way out, most likely before the month is out, and an interim President will be named until the elections.  Valcke is actually one of the good guys, but the link to the $10 million payment tars him (innocently) and is what will in the end prove to be Blatter's undoing.

        There are no good boys in FIFA.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: davyjenny1 on June 02, 2015, 01:46:20 PM
        Video Presentation: Sepp Blatter resigns as FIFA President.

        http://www.espnfc.com/fifa-world-cup/4/video/2476686/hislop-we-had-to-take-jack-warner-to-court
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on June 02, 2015, 02:29:06 PM
        There are no good boys in FIFA.

        There are lots of good people in FIFA, don't believe the hype.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Sando prince on June 02, 2015, 02:36:40 PM

        The world awaits America and England quest to seize the hosting of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup  ;)
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Controversial on June 02, 2015, 02:38:29 PM
        There are no good boys in FIFA.

        There are lots of good people in FIFA, don't believe the hype.

        all men are corrupt, some less than others... different degrees but all fall short...

        some believe the buck stops at Blatter, but that is just the tip... there are higher individuals than Blatter, that Blatter has no weight with...
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: E-man on June 02, 2015, 02:44:50 PM
        Jack make the John Oliver Show, we reach.

        Anyone care to join me?

        (https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CGg8SUqUAAAkmWA.jpg)  :beermug:
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Controversial on June 02, 2015, 02:52:44 PM
        Jack make the John Oliver Show, we reach.

        Anyone care to join me?

        (https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CGg8SUqUAAAkmWA.jpg)  :beermug:

        what makes you think Blatter or the rest will not be replaced by something equally as bad or worse  :D

        that's the whole joke in the matter.... there is no saints in this world of sinners...
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Controversial on June 02, 2015, 02:55:13 PM
        what will happen now is that FIFA will be extra careful and become a lot smarter in how they conduct business...
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: soccerman on June 02, 2015, 02:56:35 PM
        Jack make the John Oliver Show, we reach.

        Anyone care to join me?

        (https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CGg8SUqUAAAkmWA.jpg)  :beermug:

        I"ll bring some items from the McDonald's dollar menu to go with the champagne
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on June 02, 2015, 04:00:33 PM
        Nonetheless, the complexity ... of investigation, building the case, mounting litigation etc. constitutes only a partial explanation, not a complete rendering.

        The case didn't start out complex... this is what some fail to understand, and others to believe.  Once they began looking more and more began to come to light and it expanded from there.  To suggest (as some have) that the US wanted to 'get back' at FIFA for losing the bid, that's so ridiculous as to border on the naive.  The Olympics are a bigger prize in the US than the World Cup is right now, and that's not likely to change for at least a generation.  The US has lost several bids for the Olympics without going after the IOC, which arguably rivals FIFA for corruption.  In fact, the one time the US did crack down on bribery and corruption in international sport, it was in the wake of the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, UT... when the only persons charged with criminal violations were Americans. 

        So for the people complaining/commenting about misplaced priorities or "unbalanced" application of the law... there is strong precedence for the DOJ's prosecution of this.  People love to complain how white collar crimes are never prosecuted the way the crimes committed by "poor people" are prosecuted... yet when they do go after them, people start complaining "well, why don't they go after...."  Can't please some people.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: E-man on June 02, 2015, 04:01:32 PM
        what will happen now is that FIFA will be extra careful and become a lot smarter in how they conduct business...

        FIFA needs constitutional reform no doubt to keep things from reverting back to the same nonsense at some point.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: E-man on June 02, 2015, 04:04:00 PM

          The Olympics are a bigger prize in the US than the World Cup is right now, and that's not likely to change for at least a generation.  The US has lost several bids for the Olympics without going after the IOC, which arguably rivals FIFA for corruption.  In fact, the one time the US did crack down on bribery and corruption in international sport, it was in the wake of the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, UT... when the only persons charged with criminal violations were Americans. 


        speaking of ... I don't suppose Sepp is giving up his IOC position as well?
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on June 02, 2015, 04:40:11 PM
        speaking of ... I don't suppose Sepp is giving up his IOC position as well?


        I don't think he'll have a choice... especially after what's about to be revealed by the DOJ tomorrow ;)
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Sando prince on June 02, 2015, 05:35:04 PM

        It will be interesting now to see how the Europeans abandon Prince Ali ,now that they don't need him to oust Blatter.  ;)
        Title: Shocker: Blatter steps down as FIFA President
        Post by: Socapro on June 02, 2015, 05:50:39 PM
        The headlines about Blatter are a bit misleading because he still remains as FIFA President until the next elections are held to elect the new FIFA President. Elections will not be held until some where between December 2015 and March 2016 so Sepp will still be FIFA President when Kamla and her gang of theives are long gone. Hopefully some of the Pee Pee gang will be behind bars by the time Sepp Blatter is truly gone.

        Shocker: Blatter steps down as FIFA President (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20150602/news/shocker-blatter-steps-down-as-fifa-president)
        By Susan Mohammed (T&T Express)
        Published on Jun 2, 2015, 1:18 pm AST

        (http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Sepp%20Blatter%2002.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Sepp%20Blatter%2002.jpg.html)
        FIFA President Sepp Blatter speaks during a press conference at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, Tuesday, June 2, 2015. FIFA President Sepp Blatter says he will resign from his position amid corruption scandal. (Ennio Leanza/Keystone via AP)

        (http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/FIFA%20Pyramid%20Chart.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/FIFA%20Pyramid%20Chart.jpg.html)
        A pyramid chart which shows former members of FIFA who are under investigations, at centre, second row, is Former Vice President of FIFA Jack Warner. Top of the chart is Sepp Blatter who will resign from his position of President of FIFA, amid corruption scandal.

        ZURICH: SEPP Blatter has resigned as FIFA president, five days after his re-election and a week after the arrests of the association's top executives including former FIFA Vice President Jack Warner.

        Blatter said that he will have an extraordinary congress to be called to announce his successor as soon as possible.

        A new election will likely be held in December.

        Blatter has been president since 1998 and has been elected for five consecutive terms.

        At a press conference at FIFA's headquarters in Zurich which began at around 12.30 p.m. Blatter began his seven minute speech by saying : " I have thoroughly considered my presidency and the last 40 years in my life. These years were closely related to FIFA and this wonderful sport of football".

        He said: "I will organise extraordinary congress for a replacement for me as president,” said Blatter. “I will not stand. I am now free from the constraints of an election. I will be in a position to focus on profound reforms. For many years we have called for reforms. But these are not sufficient."

        Blatter also said: "We need a limitation on mandates and terms of office. I have fought for these changes but my efforts have been counteracted”.

        Blatter had told Swiss TV on Friday: “Why would I step down? That would mean I recognise that I did wrong.”

        Two days before, the world woke up to the news that nine of FIFA executives, including Warner, had been arrested by US law enforcement.

        Warner appeared in a Port of Spain Magistrates Court on Wednesday on 12 charges which include wire fraud, racketeering and money laundering.

        Warner, 72, was granted a total of $2.5 million bail on all charges, and but spent a night in prison as his bail documents were not immediately in order.

        Click link to view video of Press Conference that took place today (go to bottom of page): http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20150602/news/shocker-blatter-steps-down-as-fifa-president
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: dervaig on June 02, 2015, 06:00:19 PM
        The draw for the 2018 WC takes place in Russia next month, July.
        Russia will keep the 2018 WC, but 2022 will be re-visited.
        The timing of the next election/extraordinary meeting to
        elect a new FIFA Pres will be past the date for which Russia
        2018 could be tabled for review/re-consideration.

        If FIFA is being serious about being transparent and be 'ethically
        inclined', they will first of all release the Garcia report to the
        public, give serious thought to revamping the constitution placing
        term limits on the President, on down, and stick to the one
        edict Mr. Teflon passed, rotate WC's between the continent's.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: AB.Trini on June 02, 2015, 06:45:06 PM
        In a not so shocking move- it would now appear that reflecting on Mr. Warner's  video   with the satirical paper reference, or it could have been the one where he was interviewed by a foreign journalist, he made a comment to the effect that how could the head of FIFA be ignorant of all those under  his watch  who were  allegedly corrupt and yet he Remained untarnished?

        How
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on June 02, 2015, 08:20:26 PM
        Mandatory listening!
        http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/5live/5lspecials/5lspecials_20150602-2111a.mp3
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on June 02, 2015, 10:12:33 PM
        Mandatory listening!
        http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/5live/5lspecials/5lspecials_20150602-2111a.mp3

        Yeah some good info, mixed in with understandable speculation.  More will be revealed tomorrow with the DOJ poised to unseal Chuck Blazer's plea deal.  It will give much greater insight into the evidence the DOJ has against Blatter.  I wasn't told how much would be released however, they may play their cards close depending on what the litigation strategy will be going forward.  Blatter's attorneys have been in discussion with the the DOJ since yesterday.  I expect that will continue over the next few days as well.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Socapro on June 02, 2015, 11:09:45 PM
        Mandatory listening!
        http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/5live/5lspecials/5lspecials_20150602-2111a.mp3

        Yeah some good info, mixed in with understandable speculation.  More will be revealed tomorrow with the DOJ poised to unseal Chuck Blazer's plea deal.  It will give much greater insight into the evidence the DOJ has against Blatter.  I wasn't told how much would be released however, they may play their cards close depending on what the litigation strategy will be going forward.  Blatter's attorneys have been in discussion with the the DOJ since yesterday.  I expect that will continue over the next few days as well.

        Blatter has promised to resign. Once a new President is elected and he is gone Blatter will be as free as a bird to enjoy his retirement.

        The USA wants to get control of FIFA but Blatter and his crew will ensure in the end that one of their boys wins the next elections. This is just a game of chess that Blatter is playing.

        That is my prediction.

        Btw Blatter is still the President of FIFA until the next Presidential elections contrary to media reports and will remain in that position at least until December.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on June 02, 2015, 11:18:51 PM

        Blatter has promised to resign. Once a new President is elected and he is gone Blatter will be as free as a bird to enjoy his retirement.

        The USA wants to get control of FIFA but Blatter and his crew will ensure in the end that one of their boys wins the next elections. This is just a game of chess that Blatter is playing.

        That is my prediction.

        Btw Blatter is still the President of FIFA until the next Presidential elections contrary to media reports and will remain in that position at least until December.

        I can't even take this shit seriously.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Trini _2026 on June 03, 2015, 01:44:59 AM
        Documents confirm $10-million payment to FIFA official
        By Geoffrey York - he Globe and Mail


        New documents have confirmed the explosive U.S. allegation that the South African government directed $10-million (U.S.) to bribery suspect Jack Warner, vice-president of the global soccer body FIFA, after winning the rights to the 2010 World Cup.

        But nearly a week after the $10-million payment was first alleged in a U.S. indictment, even as newly leaked letters and statements confirm the transaction, the South African government still hasn’t explained the unusual payment to Mr. Warner for the “Africa diaspora” in the Caribbean.

        Instead the South African sports minister has issued vague denials of any wrongdoing and complained that the allegations are a plot to tarnish the country’s reputation and perpetuate “negative stereotypes” about Africans. The minister, Fikile Mbalula, told South Africans that they should trust their “fellow countrymen” rather than “the Americans.”

        A letter in 2008 from the president of the South African Football Association, Molefi Oliphant, tells FIFA that the government has decided to create a “Diaspora Legacy Programme” and that it should receive $10-million in FIFA funds that were previously intended to support South Africa’s costs in hosting the World Cup. The payment led to a $10-million reduction in FIFA’s support for the World Cup’s operational budget.

        The letter, which was leaked to the British media on Tuesday, specifies twice that the “legacy programme” must be “administered and implemented directly” by Mr. Warner, who would be the “fiduciary” of the fund.

        A South African newspaper had earlier asked Mr. Oliphant about the letter, but he refused to comment and asked how the newspaper had managed to obtain a copy of the letter.

        A separate statement by FIFA on Tuesday confirmed the $10-million payment to Mr. Warner. It said the payment was approved in 2007 by the South African government “to support the African diaspora in Caribbean countries as part of the World Cup legacy.”

        Journalists have sought to find any record of this “Diaspora Legacy Programme” but there seems to be no mention of it in any South African government announcements in 2007 or 2008. Nor has there been any explanation of how the $10-million payment would benefit the Caribbean, where incomes are generally higher than those of most South Africans.

        An interview in 2011 with former president Thabo Mbeki has now surfaced, in which Mr. Mbeki says that “funds” were “made available” for Trinidad and Tobago – the home country of Mr. Warner – “to develop soccer in the Caribbean as part of the African diaspora.” He does not mention the $10-million amount or the source of the money.

        According to the U.S. indictment, FIFA transferred the $10-million in three tranches to bank accounts in New York controlled by Mr. Warner in the name of the Caribbean football union and the larger regional association for North America, Latin America and the Caribbean.

        The indictment says the $10-million payment had been corruptly and secretly promised by South African officials during their campaigning for the World Cup, which they were awarded in 2004. It says Mr. Warner and his associates soon pocketed much of the $10-million in 2008 by laundering it through other transactions.

        Danny Jordaan, the head of South Africa’s bid committees and later the head of its World Cup organizing committee, confirmed the $10-million payment in an interview with a South African newspaper on Sunday, but he insisted that it wasn’t a bribe because it took place “years after” the country had won its bid in 2004.

        However, the U.S. indictment says the bribe was promised by South African officials before they won the bid and the money was then paid after the decision.

        The 2008 letter from South Africa authorizing the $10-million payment was addressed specifically to Jerome Valcke, the FIFA secretary general, the organization’s second-in-command behind its controversial president, Joseph “Sepp” Blatter. This is the closest that the bribery scandal has come to touching Mr. Blatter directly so far.

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Flex on June 03, 2015, 02:15:27 AM
        Tim Kee felt time was right for Blatter to ‘park up’
        By Ian Prescott (Express).


        THE president of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) Raymond Tim Kee is not surprised at yesterday’s announcement of the impending resignation of Sepp Blatter as president of world football’s governing body FIFA, given that Blatter’s assistant, General Secretary Jerome Valcke, is among those implicated in a corruption scandal.

        Tim Kee voted for Prince Ali of Jordan, opposing Blatter, who was re-elected FIFA president last Friday. At a TTFA media conference yesterday, Tim Kee fielded questions from local and international media. US prosecutors investigating FIFA’s alleged corruption believe Blatter’s top lieutenant made US$10m in bank transactions that are central to the bribery investigation. Tim Kee said he knew Blatter would have felt the pressure of seven of his executive being indicted by the US Justice Department and Swiss police for corrupt practises.

        “What came out yesterday was a situation where his secretary general (Jerome Valcke), who is more or less his right-hand man, is being questioned as well about taking part in some transaction which was undesirable.

        “Therefore, if your right-hand man and a lot of your executives are caught up in a situation where honesty and accountability are two factors which have not been observed in a practical professional way, then there is need to look at your position and, as the saying goes ‘take a side’. “I think it is an opportunity to start fresh. It is a new paradigm,” Tim Kee added.

        Tim Kee also touched on Jack Warner, the former FIFA vice-president and TTFA special adviser, who has also been indicted by US authorities on charges. Tim Kee thought Warner did a lot of good for Caribbean football, but if found guilty, so be it.


        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on June 03, 2015, 04:10:13 AM
        FIFA Delegate: Indictment 'Brought A Cloud' On Upcoming Presidential Vote

        NPR's Robert Siegel speaks with Randolph Harris, president of the Barbados Football Association, about the latest on the FIFA indictments and the soccer organization's upcoming presidential vote.

        ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST: The head of soccer's governing organization made clear today that he plans on sticking around. Sepp Blatter spoke at opening ceremony of FIFA's annual congress a day after seven of its officials were arrested on corruption charges and a day before he stands for reelection. Blatter first won the presidency in 1998. He told the FIFA congress today, he could not monitor everyone all the time.

        (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

        SEPP BLATTER: But it must fall to me to bear the responsibility for the reputation and well-being of our organization and to find a way forward to fix things.

        SIEGEL: Well, now we're going to hear from one of the people who will cast a vote on whether Sepp Blatter deserves another term as president of FIFA. Joining us from Zurich is the president of the Barbados Football Association, Randolph Harris. Mr. Harris, welcome to the program.

        RANDOLPH HARRIS: Thank you, and thanks for having me.

        SIEGEL: Tell us, first, your reaction to the U.S. indictment that was unsealed yesterday.

        HARRIS: Well, obviously, I could only describe it as a devastating blow. We were shocked by the developments.

        SIEGEL: You say you were shocked. There have been any number of journalistic investigations, reports of corruption within FIFA. How can one be shocked at this point?

        HARRIS: We are shocked because of the persons who were arrested yesterday and because we had no inkling that they were involved in anything untoward as far as the football is concerned.

        SIEGEL: Does all of that untoward behavior - does it reflect Sepp Blatter, and would you say, based on these indictments, Mr. Blatter should be thanked for his service and retired from the presidency?

        HARRIS: Well, I don't know if I agree with that kind of reasoning. The thing about it is, Mr. Blatter is the head of FIFA, which is a worldwide organization. The persons who were indicted by the United States authorities yesterday are part of one confederation which Mr. Blatter does not oversee on a day-to-day basis.

        SIEGEL: That's the confederation that you're a member of, representing Barbados.

        HARRIS: Of course.

        SIEGEL: There are big corporations that sponsor FIFA tournaments, including the World Cup, that are very concerned about what's happened. How much do the opinions of Visa or McDonald's count as you think about the future of FIFA and its leadership?

        HARRIS: Those sponsors are very, very important to the game. And as you know, we have some of those sponsors operating in our small countries. And it is important to us that these sponsors think that they are doing well for the countries and that their names are being held in high esteem.

        SIEGEL: Will it influence your vote on the presidency?

        HARRIS: At the moment, I have not really made up my mind completely, but I am voting in the best interest of the game. My integrity is the only thing that I have going for me, and I think I'm going to vote for transparency and, of course, for development of the future.

        SIEGEL: But considering that the indictment yesterday cited not only misbehavior by a little more than a dozen individuals but also a culture of corruption over the past 20 years, how can you be in favor of transparency and still be in favor of continuing the same regime of leadership at FIFA?

        HARRIS: Well, I have not confirmed that I am continuing the same regime of FIFA. I will make that decision tomorrow when I have discussions with some of my member states. But the point about it is - and this is very important - that in all of this, President Blatter has not been named as an accomplice.

        SIEGEL: Would you say that there are other heads of national football associations whom you've been speaking with who share your doubts at this moment and are trying to figure out what to do?

        HARRIS: Yes. I believe I can say, on the record now, that when we came here on Monday, we were all going to vote on block (sic) for President Blatter. I think that was a decision that we made at the Concacaf meeting which was held two months ago in the Bahamas.

        SIEGEL: Concacaf being the Western Hemisphere Football Association - Federation.

        HARRIS: Yes, yes. But since the development yesterday, it has brought a cloud on to that decision that we made prior to hearing the news. That really devastated us yesterday.

        SIEGEL: Well, Mr. Harris, thank you very much for talking with us as you prepare to make that decision.

        HARRIS: I thank you for having me, and I'm very grateful.

        SIEGEL: That's Randolph Harris who is the president of the Barbados Football Association. He'll be one of the members voting on the presidency of FIFA tomorrow in Switzerland.

        http://www.npr.org/2015/05/28/410340159/fifa-delegate-indictment-brought-a-cloud-on-upcoming-presidential-vote

        Audio of the interview, dated May 28, 2015 (http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=410340159&m=410340170)
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: elan on June 03, 2015, 06:17:01 AM
        (https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CGe9JLWU8AAfzyM.jpg:medium)


        FIFA has to be the dumbest organization to be paying bribes through official channels.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on June 03, 2015, 06:51:45 AM
        [FIFA has to be the dumbest organization to be paying bribes through official channels.

        That's a very simplistic analysis of the situation.

        As for that interview with Harris, CONCACAF was never going to vote as a bloc in the elections, certainly not for Blatter.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Deeks on June 03, 2015, 07:11:41 AM
        You guys may be right. We don't know who the CFU voted for. Some may have voted for the Jordanian?? Some or most for Blatter. Tim Kee said he threw  in his lot for the Jordanian.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: 1-868 on June 03, 2015, 07:16:20 AM
        6 FIFA executives have been added to Interpol's most wanted list

        http://www.businessinsider.com/six-fifa-executives-added-to-interpols-most-wanted-list-2015-6

        Interpol on Wednesday added six men with ties to FIFA to its most wanted list, issuing an international alert for two former FIFA officials and four executives on charges including racketeering and corruption.

        Two of the men, former FIFA vice president Jack Warner of Trinidad and former executive committee member Nicolas Leoz of Paraguay, have been arrested in their home counties. Warner has since been released, and Leoz is under house arrest. The Interpol "red notice" alerts member countries that an arrest warrant has been issued for listed individuals and means they risk arrest anywhere they travel.

        Others listed were Argentines Alejandro Burzaco and brothers Hugo and Mariano Jinkis, who together are accused of paying more than $100 million in bribes for media and commercial rights to soccer tournaments; and Jose Margulies, a Brazilian broadcast executive.

        A statement released by Interpol said: "At the request of US authorities, Interpol Red Notices — or international wanted persons alerts — have been issued for two former FIFA officials and four corporate executives for charges including racketeering conspiracy and corruption."

        The announcement from Interpol comes a day after Sepp Blatter announced he would step down as FIFA president amid the widening corruption scandal. Despite trying to distance himself from the controversy, Blatter is still being examined by US authorities as part of an ongoing investigation.

        FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke has also been dragged into the scandal amid reports that he transferred $10 million in 2010 World Cup vote bribe money. Both Valcke and FIFA have denied the allegations.

        A special FIFA congress will elect a new president sometime between December 2015 and March 2016, FIFA said. Until then, Blatter will remain the nominal president.



        Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/six-fifa-executives-added-to-interpols-most-wanted-list-2015-6#ixzz3c0TIFkXQ
        Title: Re: Changes coming to FIFA leadership strength?
        Post by: asylumseeker on June 03, 2015, 07:29:55 AM
        Canover Watson: Fifa member asked for corruption claims explanation

        Fifa wants an explanation from a member of its financial watchdog who was arrested on suspicion of corruption and money-laundering in the Cayman Islands.

        Canover Watson is one of eight members of Fifa's audit and compliance committee and a vice-president of the Caribbean Football Union.

        He has denied the charges and has been released on bail.

        Domenico Scala is the head of the committee and said he had asked Watson for details.

        The allegations against Watson concern his time as head of the Cayman's Health Service Authority.

        Under his bail terms he is scheduled to report back to police on 29 September.

        "Once we have more information we will consider appropriate measures," said a Fifa statement.

        The audit and compliance committee is in charge of ensuring the "completeness and reliability of the financial accounting" of world soccer's governing body.

        Source: The BBC

        Webb and Canover Watson: Same-street mansions in Georgia
        Brent Fuller (Cayman Compass)


        Two top-level Cayman Islands football officials who face separate criminal investigations related to bribery and corruption charges bought houses on the same street in Loganville, Georgia, within the past five years, the Cayman Compass has learned.

        One of the homes is a three-story mansion valued at US$931,000 located at 2116 Adel Drive in the small town east of Atlanta. A swimming pool was built on the property with the proceeds of bribes funneled through several international bank accounts, front companies and intermediaries, U.S. federal prosecutors have alleged.

        The 9,851-square-foot home, which is listed as having six bedrooms and eight bathrooms, is owned by Cayman Islands resident Jeffrey Webb and his wife, Atlanta-area physician Kendra Gamble-Webb, according to Rockdale County, Georgia, tax records. It is one of several properties Webb owns in the state of Georgia that are now potentially subject to asset forfeiture proceedings, according to federal court indictments issued last week.

        Just three houses down from the Webb home, at 2128 Adel Drive, is a US$550,000 two-story, 7,694-square-foot home on 3 acres owned by suspended FIFA audit committee member and Cayman Islands businessman Canover Watson.

        Watson, who is not charged in connection with the FIFA bribery scandal that led to the indictment against Webb and others last week, is facing a criminal trial in Cayman in November related to allegations that he used his former position as a member of the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority Board to enrich himself through the award of two public hospital contracts.

        The two contracts, one for the installation of the hospital’s CarePay patient swipe-card system in 2010 and the other for the creation of a computerized pharmaceutical tracking system in 2011, were awarded while Watson was chairman of the Health Services Authority Board. It is alleged by Crown prosecutors in Cayman that Watson had a financial interest in the local branch of the company to which the contracts were awarded, an interest that he did not disclose.

        U.S. indictment

        The more wide-ranging U.S. federal indictment against nine current and former FIFA officials filed in the Eastern District of New York alleges that Webb solicited bribes totaling more than US$4 million in exchange for approving deals for the marketing and media rights to FIFA matches in the CONCACAF (Central and North American and Caribbean) region to select sports marketing firms. Webb is also accused of receiving at least some of the US$40 million in bribes paid to six FIFA officials in exchange for the rights to the Copa America and Centenario 2016 football tournament.

        To date, the Cayman Islands and U.S. federal investigations against Watson and Webb, respectively, have not been linked.

        Details from U.S. court records 

        U.S. federal court records allege that Costas Takkas, Webb’s attaché at CONCACAF who is also charged in the FIFA corruption probe, told a third party in 2012 that Webb wanted a US$3 million bribe in exchange for awarding commercial rights to certain 2018 and 2022 World Cup qualifying matches to a sports marketing company called Traffic USA.

        It is further alleged that the bribe was split between two companies, Traffic USA and what is referred to as “Sports Marketing Company C”, so that each would pay US$1.5 million to Webb. It is further alleged that Traffic USA’s payment was transmitted to Takkas through a Miami bank to an HSBC bank in Buffalo, New York, and eventually transferred to an HSBC bank in Hong Kong.

        The indictment alleges that two wire transfers totaling US$1 million were sent from Hong Kong to a correspondent account in New York City for credit to an account in the name of Kosson Ventures – a company controlled by Takkas – at Fidelity Bank in the Cayman Islands. The court records state that the remaining US$500,000 from Traffic USA was paid into another account controlled by Takkas at Fidelity Bank in the Cayman Islands.

        “Takkas subsequently transferred the funds to an account in the name of a swimming pool builder at United Community Bank in Blairsville, Georgia,” the criminal complaint reads. “[This was] for the benefit of the defendant Jeffrey Webb, who was having a pool built at his residence in Loganville, Georgia.

        “Takkas transferred another portion of the funds directly from his Kosson Ventures account at Fidelity Bank in the Cayman Islands to SunTrust Bank in Georgia for Webb’s benefit in connection with Webb’s purchase of other real estate in Stone Mountain, Georgia,” court records state. Federal prosecutors state that Takkas’s participation in the funds transfer was “more intermediary” in nature and was “designed to conceal the fact that Jeffrey Webb was the beneficiary of the payment.”

        Alleged money laundering 

        Watson’s trial, set for November in the Cayman Islands Grand Court, will focus in part on money laundering allegations related to separate cash amounts, totaling US$30,000 and US$25,000, that his former personal assistant is accused of handling on behalf of her boss.

        The charges allege that in June and July 2012, the assistant, Miriam Rodriguez, possessed “criminal property” that represented, either directly or indirectly, the benefits of criminal conduct totaling US$55,000. The allegation is that Mrs. Rodriguez, while working at local financial services company Admiral Administration, received cash in envelopes from “persons involved in AIS” and “forwarded it on to a third party without disclosing the same.”

        The third party referred to, but not named, in the court records was not connected with Admiral Administration.

        Watson previously served as managing director at Admiral.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Sam on June 03, 2015, 09:04:58 AM
        I was so right about Webb, hope allyuh believe me from now on.

        To buy a house for anything about 500 and 900 thousand in Atlanta have to be a big ass mansion.

        It good for de f00cker.

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: E-man on June 03, 2015, 09:17:12 AM
        just had to post this again for the occasion

        (https://cdn1.lockerdome.com/uploads/5132853828663570_506eb5f581ea1ddf3a2eecc503b4968cd35f29731057049b5151e4b5049b0275_large)
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: R45 on June 03, 2015, 10:10:59 AM
        My thoughts on this:

        It was only on Friday that Sepp Blatter was voted in by 133 confederation heads. I put absolutely no credibility to a FIFA change given that the folks who control the power (voting bodies) only less than a week ago re-elected him. FIFA is made up of very corrupt national associations. We all see what happens in Trinidad. Actual development of football gets trickled in amongst millions of waste and skimming at the top. The same thing that happened with the TTFF/TTFA happens in most of Concacaf, CAF, and Asia (the three rockbeds of Blatter support for the past 2 decades). Even before Blatter, FIFA was a corrupt and self-serving organization.

        The only way FIFA changes is with a complete restructuring. The needs to be controls in place to prevent corrupt banana boat organizations such as the CFU, who ends up holding 25 votes or about 12% of FIFA votes despite 0.005% of the world's population. This 1 member 1 vote thing (regardless of size) is just poised for corruption. The current structure will always attract greedy and corrupt administrators from the smaller bodies and the system won't change. I'm not suggesting Europe or North America is perfect by any means - the IOC has the same problems and let's not forget the whole Salt Lake City 2002 Olympics bid scandal courtesy of bribes from the US bid team.

        That said, the current structure isn't working. T&T benefited from a disproportionate share of FIFA funds for ~30 years under Jack, but did our grassroots football really develop during that time? How much of the success of the strike squad or the 2006 qualification really due to proceeds from FIFA funding and the benefits of Jack's involvement? Look at the state of our football today - it is clear that despite the millions and preferential treatment, ultimately we were still left without a organizational structure and strong developmental program that should have seen us reaping benefits from those systems today.

        Ultimately FIFA is failing to effectively develop world football and the entire design of the body is doomed to fail. Unless the structure itself is drastically remodeled, I wouldn't count on much changing even without Sepp Blatter.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on June 03, 2015, 10:49:54 AM
        My thoughts on this:

        It was only on Friday that Sepp Blatter was voted in by 133 confederation heads. I put absolutely no credibility to a FIFA change given that the folks who control the power (voting bodies) only less than a week ago re-elected him. FIFA is made up of very corrupt national associations. We all see what happens in Trinidad. Actual development of football gets trickled in amongst millions of waste and skimming at the top. The same thing that happened with the TTFF/TTFA happens in most of Concacaf, CAF, and Asia (the three rockbeds of Blatter support for the past 2 decades). Even before Blatter, FIFA was a corrupt and self-serving organization.

        The only way FIFA changes is with a complete restructuring. The needs to be controls in place to prevent corrupt banana boat organizations such as the CFU, who ends up holding 25 votes or about 12% of FIFA votes despite 0.005% of the world's population. This 1 member 1 vote thing (regardless of size) is just poised for corruption. The current structure will always attract greedy and corrupt administrators from the smaller bodies and the system won't change. I'm not suggesting Europe or North America is perfect by any means - the IOC has the same problems and let's not forget the whole Salt Lake City 2002 Olympics bid scandal courtesy of bribes from the US bid team.

        That said, the current structure isn't working. T&T benefited from a disproportionate share of FIFA funds for ~30 years under Jack, but did our grassroots football really develop during that time? How much of the success of the strike squad or the 2006 qualification really due to proceeds from FIFA funding and the benefits of Jack's involvement? Look at the state of our football today - it is clear that despite the millions and preferential treatment, ultimately we were still left without a organizational structure and strong developmental program that should have seen us reaping benefits from those systems today.

        Ultimately FIFA is failing to effectively develop world football and the entire design of the body is doomed to fail. Unless the structure itself is drastically remodeled, I wouldn't count on much changing even without Sepp Blatter.

        And by limiting the power of smaller countries in favor of the already rich European and S. American countries (the likely beneficiaries of any restructuring) how would that make things any better?  Sounds like you been drinking the same poisoned Kool Aid that so many neo-colonial elites have been foisting on the public the past few days.  Before the current system was in place the bigger nations divvied up the spoils, both in terms of WC final spots, and in terms of profits from the game.  If a less democratic system than the present one is your solution, tell us how that will benefit football.

        Seccond, people love to throw around this talk of "disproportionate"... what would have bee a more 'proportionate' share of money from football?  What metric did you use to determine what is proportionate from what is disproportionate?
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: R45 on June 03, 2015, 11:02:43 AM
        And by limiting the power of smaller countries in favor of the already rich European and S. American countries (the likely beneficiaries of any restructuring) how would that make things any better?  Sounds like you been drinking the same poisoned Kool Aid that so many neo-colonial elites have been foisting on the public the past few days.  Before the current system was in place the bigger nations divvied up the spoils, both in terms of WC final spots, and in terms of profits from the game.  If a less democratic system than the present one is your solution, tell us how that will benefit football.
        When did I suggest that I'm promoting neo-colonialism. I just said it's broken. I also said that Europe and NA aren't perfect. However there's no pretense of democracy (which suggests some proportional relationship between votes and size). FIFA's "democracy" is imbalanced in favour of smaller status that honestly are very prone to nepotism (case in point, Trinidad).

        I don't really have a great answer, and I don't think Europe being the football stewards is a real answer. What I think we really need is transparency and strong controls, but that won't be in the interests of the existing power structure so I don't think it'll happen.

        Quote
        Seccond, people love to throw around this talk of "disproportionate"... what would have bee a more 'proportionate' share of money from football?  What metric did you use to determine what is proportionate from what is disproportionate?

        If you look at the proportion of where revenues are received by FIFA, and how revenues are distributed, they are out of sync. This is not necessarily bad in theory using the wealth from media rights of larger countries to help develop the game in under-developed areas, but in reality the skimming of cream from the top hasn't netted great benefits for these under-development countries, T&T included. The system is broken.

        Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Having the same body elect someone else with the same structure and expecting things to magically be fixed is silly at best.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Mose on June 03, 2015, 11:20:49 AM
        Seccond, people love to throw around this talk of "disproportionate"... what would have bee a more 'proportionate' share of money from football?  What metric did you use to determine what is proportionate from what is disproportionate?

        If you look at the proportion of where revenues are received by FIFA, and how revenues are distributed, they are out of sync. This is not necessarily bad in theory using the wealth from media rights of larger countries to help develop the game in under-developed areas, but in reality the skimming of cream from the top hasn't netted great benefits for these under-development countries, T&T included. The system is broken.

        Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Having the same body elect someone else with the same structure and expecting things to magically be fixed is silly at best.

        The system is broken, yes, but I would say not in the way that you think. The problem is not the one country, one vote system, the problem is the bribing, and skimming taking place. I think what is needed is a proper system of checks and balances to help reduce/eliminate that. And I say reduce because I'm not sure it is possible to eliminate it entirely.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on June 03, 2015, 11:45:33 AM
        When did I suggest that I'm promoting neo-colonialism. I just said it's broken. I also said that Europe and NA aren't perfect. However there's no pretense of democracy (which suggests some proportional relationship between votes and size). FIFA's "democracy" is imbalanced in favour of smaller status that honestly are very prone to nepotism (case in point, Trinidad).

        I don't really have a great answer, and I don't think Europe being the football stewards is a real answer. What I think we really need is transparency and strong controls, but that won't be in the interests of the existing power structure so I don't think it'll happen.


        Where did I say that you were promoting neo-colonialism?  I said your arguments reflect the same nonsense I've been reading from neo-colonial elites... writers from some of these 'bigger' countries grousing about the influence of the smaller ones.  If the CFU didn't have the political clout it has within FIFA Caribbean football would be in even more dire straits that it's already in.

        As for democracy suggesting "... some proportional relationship between votes and size,"  suggests to whom, you?  Democracy means that every man has a say in governance, it has nothing to do with proportion or size.  Each Parliamentary constituency has one MP, one voice in Parliament, no matter the geographic or popupation size of the constituency.  In the US, each state gets two seats in the US Senate, regardless of size.  Delaware has the same two votes as does NY, as does California.  Yet we're supposed to accept that because smaller Asian, African and Caribbean countries vote for the guy purportedly wearing the black hat, that the system is 'broken'?  If they were voting for everybody's favorite candidate you wouldn't be hearing a peep about broken systems.

        Quote

        If you look at the proportion of where revenues are received by FIFA, and how revenues are distributed, they are out of sync. This is not necessarily bad in theory using the wealth from media rights of larger countries to help develop the game in under-developed areas, but in reality the skimming of cream from the top hasn't netted great benefits for these under-development countries, T&T included. The system is broken.

        Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Having the same body elect someone else with the same structure and expecting things to magically be fixed is silly at best.

        The 'system' isn't broken, the process is.  If you don't want these smaller countries being beholden to Blatter figure out a way to help them better themselves while also not falling prey to the corruption sown by Blatter.  The focus should be on improving delivery and use of developmental funds, and by improving transparency and efficiency... not by limiting the political clout of already vulnerable member countries.

        The focus on "proportional revenues" is also misguided as any change in that situation will maintain a system of imbalance, with haves and have nots, as is the case with TV revenue in La Liga... how is that working out for the smaller clubs trying to compete with Barca and Madrid?
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on June 03, 2015, 11:47:34 AM
        I was so right about Webb, hope allyuh believe me from now on.

        To buy a house for anything about 500 and 900 thousand in Atlanta have to be a big ass mansion.

        It good for de f00cker.

        (http://www.compasscayman.com/uploadedImages/caycompass/2015/06/01/Adel-Drive-for-web.jpg)

        Webb's house is the one on the left. Watson's is on the right. So they say.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on June 03, 2015, 11:48:17 AM
        The system is broken, yes, but I would say not in the way that you think. The problem is not the one country, one vote system, the problem is the bribing, and skimming taking place. I think what is needed is a proper system of checks and balances to help reduce/eliminate that. And I say reduce because I'm not sure it is possible to eliminate it entirely.

        Precisely.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: R45 on June 03, 2015, 11:55:15 AM
        The system is broken, yes, but I would say not in the way that you think. The problem is not the one country, one vote system, the problem is the bribing, and skimming taking place. I think what is needed is a proper system of checks and balances to help reduce/eliminate that. And I say reduce because I'm not sure it is possible to eliminate it entirely.
        I think they're related. The nations that make up a large percentage of the voting block (many small states) lack governance and control themselves, and in turn they are the ones that would need to vote in systems of checks and balances into FIFA. I can't see that being a mandate with the existing balance of power.

        It's crazy to me that a global organization exerts such little control over its member bodies. I am on the board of a global non-for-profit, and our local board operates under strict rules. We for example do not get a cent from the global body without producing timely audited financial statements every year. The fact that the TTFF for example went years without such a basic controls, and that funds a remitted directly to personal accounts, etc. shows how a lot of this corruption was very unsophisticated. FIFA lacks even the most rudimentary controls at this point.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: R45 on June 03, 2015, 11:59:39 AM
        Where did I say that you were promoting neo-colonialism?  I said your arguments reflect the same nonsense I've been reading from neo-colonial elites... writers from some of these 'bigger' countries grousing about the influence of the smaller ones. If the CFU didn't have the political clout it has within FIFA Caribbean football would be in even more dire straits that it's already in.

        The latter you are stating as fact, but neither you or I know the truth to this. That's speculation and a hypothesis.

        Quote
        As for democracy suggesting "... some proportional relationship between votes and size,"  suggests to whom, you?  Democracy means that every man has a say in governance, it has nothing to do with proportion or size.  Each Parliamentary constituency has one MP, one voice in Parliament, no matter the geographic or popupation size of the constituency.  In the US, each state gets two seats in the US Senate, regardless of size.  Delaware has the same two votes as does NY, as does California.  Yet we're supposed to accept that because smaller Asian, African and Caribbean countries vote for the guy purportedly wearing the black hat, that the system is 'broken'?  If they were voting for everybody's favorite candidate you wouldn't be hearing a peep about broken systems.

        You're making selective examples. The Senate is decided that way but Congress isn't, as well as electoral college votes - the balance of power is proportionally driven. Most democracies scales votes to population - in a parliamentary democracy the borders of a constituency are predicated on population size in most of the modern world.

        Quote
        The 'system' isn't broken, the process is.  If you don't want these smaller countries being beholden to Blatter figure out a way to help them better themselves while also not falling prey to the corruption sown by Blatter.  The focus should be on improving delivery and use of developmental funds, and by improving transparency and efficiency... not by limiting the political clout of already vulnerable member countries.

        The focus on "proportional revenues" is also misguided as any change in that situation will maintain a system of imbalance, with haves and have nots, as is the case with TV revenue in La Liga... how is that working out for the smaller clubs trying to compete with Barca and Madrid?

        I agree with you on the former really, just in reality I don't think the current structure will allow it to actually happen.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on June 03, 2015, 12:04:34 PM
        ...

        It's crazy to me that a global organization exerts such little control over its member bodies. I am on the board of a global non-for-profit, and our local board operates under strict rules. We for example do not get a cent from the global body without producing timely audited financial statements every year. The fact that the TTFF for example went years without such a basic controls, and that funds a remitted directly to personal accounts, etc. shows how a lot of this corruption was very unsophisticated. FIFA lacks even the most rudimentary controls at this point.

        You on the board of Transparency International. :devil:

        Apparently, corruption need not be sophisticated; it just needs to be insistent. For instance, from the anecdotal evidence presented regarding corruption in T&T, much of it isn't sophisticated; it's just bold-faced, and persistent, within a climate of impunity.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on June 03, 2015, 12:34:49 PM
        I think they're related. The nations that make up a large percentage of the voting block (many small states) lack governance and control themselves, and in turn they are the ones that would need to vote in systems of checks and balances into FIFA. I can't see that being a mandate with the existing balance of power.

        Many of the so-called 'bigger' countries lack the same governance and control, so I'm really not sure what you're getting at.  Just look at the financial scandals in Greece, the corruption trials in Italy (Berlusconi), Argentina and Brazil... need I even mention the global financial crisis caused by corporate greed in the US and the UK?

        It's crazy to me that a global organization exerts such little control over its member bodies. I am on the board of a global non-for-profit, and our local board operates under strict rules. We for example do not get a cent from the global body without producing timely audited financial statements every year. The fact that the TTFF for example went years without such a basic controls, and that funds a remitted directly to personal accounts, etc. shows how a lot of this corruption was very unsophisticated. FIFA lacks even the most rudimentary controls at this point.

        I think you meant to say that you're on the board of the local chapter of a global non-profit... but even so you're making the wrong comparison... almost literally apples to oranges.  FIFA members are more akin to franchises, paying an annual membership fee, sort of like a seed investment, and receiving annual appropriations, akin to disbursements from FIFA in return.  There is no fiduciary relationship between FIFA and its member states, unlike the situation with the global non-profit and your local chapter.  Therefore FIFA is in no position to demand audits from the local FA's in return for annual appropriations that is their right by charter.  The running of the local FAs isn't governed by FIFA but by local member charter, it's up to the member FA's constituents to ensure compliance with organizational protocols, and only in extreme circumstances would FIFA intervene... as should be the case.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: R45 on June 03, 2015, 12:47:22 PM
        I think you meant to say that you're on the board of the local chapter of a global non-profit... but even so you're making the wrong comparison... almost literally apples to oranges.  FIFA members are more akin to franchises, paying an annual membership fee, sort of like a seed investment, and receiving annual appropriations, akin to disbursements from FIFA in return.  There is no fiduciary relationship between FIFA and its member states, unlike the situation with the global non-profit and your local chapter.  Therefore FIFA is in no position to demand audits from the local FA's in return for annual appropriations that is their right by charter.  The running of the local FAs isn't governed by FIFA but by local member charter, it's up to the member FA's constituents to ensure compliance with organizational protocols, and only in extreme circumstances would FIFA intervene... as should be the case.

        I think I'm absolutely making the right comparison in that that is how FIFA should be run, considering that the percentage of revenues that FIFA funding makes up of many national organizations (directly from FIFA and indirectly via regional bodies) is often over 75%. This is why I'm suggesting that the structure should be changed. And also why I don't think member states will vote for that type change since frankly, the current system works very well for them (lots of funds, little accountability).
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: R45 on June 03, 2015, 12:51:18 PM
        You on the board of Transparency International. :devil:

        Apparently, corruption need not be sophisticated; it just needs to be insistent. For instance, from the anecdotal evidence presented regarding corruption in T&T, much of it isn't sophisticated; it's just bold-faced, and persistent, within a climate of impunity.

        lol my profession is audit related and that really is the most basic form of internal controls. Given the vastness of the organization and the global reach, they really need a heck of a lot more controls than the simple financial reporting I gave as an example (including strong treasury controls for disbursement of funds, tractability of transactions, disclosures of personal assets, etc.). What should be in a place for a billion dollar organization from a governance and controls perspective should be broad and flexible to mitigate the global risks that FIFA has.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on June 03, 2015, 12:53:01 PM
        The latter you are stating as fact, but neither you or I know the truth to this. That's speculation and a hypothesis.

        Speculation??  You clearly do not know the history of Caribbean football as it pertains to standing within FIFA.

        Quote
        You're making selective examples. The Senate is decided that way but Congress isn't, as well as electoral college votes - the balance of power is proportionally driven. Most democracies scales votes to population - in a parliamentary democracy the borders of a constituency are predicated on population size in most of the modern world.

        You mean the House of Representatives, "Congress" is the collective legislative body, not one of the constituent 'chambers'.  Your reliance on the reference to the 'electoral' college is also misplaced in that you fail to appreciate that the purpose of the Electoral College system is precisely so that the influence of the larger states is tempered and that smaller states are given a more equitable stake in electing the President and Vice-President.  Not only that, the House by itself cannot pass legislation, but requires the approval of the Senate.  So whatever 'power' is derived by the larger states in the House, is checked in the Senate where there is proportional representation.

        Your statement that "[m]ost democracies scales votes to population" is conclusory, at best, erroneous at worst.  Your statement about the borders of Parliamentary constituencies is a distinction without a difference.  No matter the size of the constituency most  observe single-member constituency representation, that is, one representative vote in parliament per electoral district (constituency).
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on June 03, 2015, 12:58:58 PM
        I think I'm absolutely making the right comparison in that that is how FIFA should be run, considering that the percentage of revenues that FIFA funding makes up of many national organizations (directly from FIFA and indirectly via regional bodies) is often over 75%. This is why I'm suggesting that the structure should be changed. And also why I don't think member states will vote for that type change since frankly, the current system works very well for them (lots of funds, little accountability).

        No you're not making the right comparison by comparing two completely different organizational forms and holding them both to the same system of structural governance and compliance.  It's like comparing socialism to democracy and saying one is bad form for not following the other.  If you're trying to make the case that the FIFA model should closer resemble the parent-subsidiary model of your organization then feel free to make that argument, but as it stands the argument is poorly posited.  It matters not that the local FAs as you them are overly-reliant on FIFA funding, they have paid into the system by virtue of their annual dues and are due whatever appropriations that are made annually.  It's like a shareholding buying shares in a company, and then having to open his private books to the company as a condition to receiving the periodic/annual disbursement of his share in the company's profits.  You cannot condition a right.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: R45 on June 03, 2015, 01:09:39 PM
        I give up on discussing this with you - you're clearly an advocate for status-quo. I'll gladly admit to using the wrong words/context (writing this at work quickly), and if you want to pick apart semantics for your point by all means if that gives you a superior feeling, but it seems you disagree with the premise. I've been exceedingly clear that I suggested a structural change, so if you failed to read that, you are selectively choosing what to read. And if you're suggesting that Delaware has the same representation power politically as California [on the whole], that's pure :bs: and you know it (that is largely my point of FIFA in terms of the balance of power with banana republic member states).

        I've made my point and that's all I really want to add to this thread. Enjoy yourself.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on June 03, 2015, 01:29:49 PM
        I give up on discussing this with you - you're clearly an advocate for status-quo. I'll gladly admit to using the wrong words/context (writing this at work quickly), and if you want to pick apart semantics for your point by all means if that gives you a superior feeling, but it seems you disagree with the premise. I've been exceedingly clear that I suggested a structural change, so if you failed to read that, you are selectively choosing what to read. And if you're suggesting that Delaware has the same representation power politically as California [on the whole], that's pure :bs: and you know it (that is largely my point of FIFA in terms of the balance of power with banana republic member states).

        I've made my point and that's all I really want to add to this thread. Enjoy yourself.

        We're engaging in conversation on the issue, you offer your argument (poorly), I point out to you the logical and factual fallacies in your argument, so you toss your proverbial papers in the air and start talking shit about feeling "superior", lol.  Okay fella.  I think your ill-formed, poorly reasoned criticism of 'one country, one vote' has sufficiently been dissected and rejected.  Having a hissy fit about me being in favor of the status quo, despite direct and unambiguous evidence to the contrary does more to discredit you than I ever could. You're not doing me any favors by arguing/discussing with me.  As you came, feel free to leave. 
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: dreamer on June 03, 2015, 02:06:58 PM
        I was so right about Webb, hope allyuh believe me from now on.

        To buy a house for anything about 500 and 900 thousand in Atlanta have to be a big ass mansion.

        It good for de f00cker.

        (http://www.compasscayman.com/uploadedImages/caycompass/2015/06/01/Adel-Drive-for-web.jpg)

        Webb's house is the one on the left. Watson's is on the right. So they say.

        Wheyyssss. Nice man
        Anybody has files on Uncle Tim's and Jackulito's properties and secret companies?
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on June 03, 2015, 02:27:14 PM
        I give up on discussing this with you - you're clearly an advocate for status-quo. I'll gladly admit to using the wrong words/context (writing this at work quickly), and if you want to pick apart semantics for your point by all means if that gives you a superior feeling, but it seems you disagree with the premise. I've been exceedingly clear that I suggested a structural change, so if you failed to read that, you are selectively choosing what to read. And if you're suggesting that Delaware has the same representation power politically as California [on the whole], that's pure :bs: and you know it (that is largely my point of FIFA in terms of the balance of power with banana republic member states).

        I've made my point and that's all I really want to add to this thread. Enjoy yourself.

        Bakes, an advocate for the status quo? That's not without precedent.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on June 03, 2015, 02:32:45 PM
        Sepp given a 10 minute standing ovation at the office this morning. If Jack shows up, they might be on their feet for an hour?
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on June 03, 2015, 03:22:23 PM
        Bakes advocate for the status quo? That's not without precedent.

        The role of market woman hardly becomes you.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Flex on June 03, 2015, 03:55:14 PM
        Soccer Official Chuck Blazer Admitted Accepting Bribes for World Cup Votes.
        By STEPHANIE CLIFFORD


        A former American soccer official linked to the FIFA corruption scandal admitted that he and others on the organization’s executive committee had accepted bribes for their support in the bidding to host the 1998 and 2010 World Cups, according to papers filed in the official’s criminal case (http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/06/03/sports/soccer/document-chuck-blazer-court-papers-made-public.html) and released on Wednesday.

        The official, Chuck Blazer, made the admission when he pleaded guilty in 2013 to charges that included racketeering, wire fraud, money laundering and income tax evasion.

        “Among other things, I agreed with other persons in or around 1992 to facilitate the acceptance of a bribe in conjunction with the selection of the host nation for the 1998 World Cup,” Mr. Blazer told Judge Raymond J. Dearie when he pleaded guilty in 2013.

        Other papers filed in the case say that it was the Morocco bid committee that bribed Mr. Blazer. He also said that “I and others on the FIFA executive committee agreed to accept bribes in conjunction with the selection of South Africa as the host nation for the 2010 World Cup,” and that he “and others agreed to accept bribes and kickbacks in conjunction with the broadcast and other rights” to several Gold Cups, a regional championship in which the United States competes.

        Facing up to 20 years in prison, Mr. Blazer became a cooperating witness, according to law enforcement officials, though in the redacted version of the plea hearing filed Wednesday, there were no references to Mr. Blazer’s cooperating with the government. However, law enforcement officials said that part of Mr. Blazer’s cooperation deal included secretly recording conversations.

        There are at least two other cooperating witnesses in the FIFA case that suggest the kind of agreement Mr. Blazer may have struck: Daryan and Daryll Warner. They are sons of Jack Warner, the former president of Concacaf, the soccer governing body overseeing North American, Central American and the Caribbean. Mr. Blazer, a friend of Mr. Warner’s, was Concacaf’s general secretary from 1990 until 2011.

        When each of the Warner sons pleaded guilty in 2013, the judge outlined their cooperation agreements with the government: They agreed to participate in undercover activities, hand over documents, regularly meet with prosecutors, testify when requested, and not divulge their cooperation to anyone without the express permission of prosecutors.

        In return, prosecutors said, they would file a letter at sentencing noting each defendant’s cooperation and asking for a departure from sentencing guidelines. Prosecutors often suggest little or no prison time in return for cooperation. For Daryan Warner, prosecutors also said they would suggest he receive an S-Visa, or an informant green card.

        Fifa whistleblower Chuck Blazer: I took bribes over 1998 and 2010 World Cups.
        theguardian.com.


        • Blazer’s plea bargain revealed by United States Department of Justice
        • Blazer says he and others racketeered, took kickbacks and he avoided tax


        The Fifa whistleblower Chuck Blazer has said he and others took bribes for South Africa to host the 2010 World Cup, in a testimony published by the United States Department of Justice.

        Blazer, the former Concacaf general secretary and a Fifa executive committee member from 1996 to 2013, made his revelation little more than 24 hours after Sepp Blatter announced he would be standing down as Fifa’s president as the corruption crisis in world football deepened.

        “I and others on the Fifa executive committee agreed to accept bribes in conjunction with the selection of South Africa as the host nation for the 2010 World Cup,” Blazer said in his testimony.

        “During my association with Fifa and Concacaf, among other things, I and others agreed that I or a co-conspirator would commit at least two acts of racketeering activity. Among other things, I agreed with other persons in or around 1992 to facilitate the acceptance of a bribe in conjunction with the selection of the host nation for the 1998 World Cup.

        “Beginning in or about 1993 and continuing through the early 2000s, I and others agreed to accept bribes and kickbacks in conjunction with the broadcast and other rights to the 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2003 Gold Cups. Beginning in or around 2004 and continuing through 2011, I and others on the Fifa executive committee agreed to accept bribes in conjunction with the selection of South Africa as the host nation for the 2010 World Cup. Among other things, my actions above had common participants and results.

        “Between April of 2004 and May 2011, I and others who were fiduciaries to both Fifa and Concacaf, in contravention of our duties, I and others, while acting in our official capacities, agreed to participate in a scheme to defraud Fifa and Concacaf to the right to honest services by taking undisclosed bribes. I and others agreed to use e-mail, telephone and a wire transfer into and out of the United States in furtherance of the scheme. Funds procured through these improper payments passed through JFK Airport in the form of a check (cheque).

        “Between December 2008 and May 2011, I and others agreed to and transmitted funds by wire transfer and cheques from places within the United States to places in the Caribbean, and from places in the Caribbean to places in the United States. I agreed to and took these actions to, among other things, promote and conceal my receipt of bribes and kickbacks. I knew that the funds involved were the proceeds of an unlawful bribe, and I and others used wires, e-mails and telephone to effectuate payment of and conceal the nature of the bribe. Funds procured through these improper payments passed through JFK airport in the form of a check (cheque).

        “Between 2005 and 2010, while a resident of New York, New York, I knowingly and wilfully failed to file an income tax return and failed to pay income taxes. In this way, I intentionally concealed my true income from the IRS, thereby defrauding the IRS of income tax owed. I knew that my actions were wrong at the time.”

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Flex on June 03, 2015, 04:01:15 PM

        When each of the Warner sons pleaded guilty in 2013, the judge outlined their cooperation agreements with the government: They agreed to participate in undercover activities, hand over documents, regularly meet with prosecutors, testify when requested, and not divulge their cooperation to anyone without the express permission of prosecutors.

        In return, prosecutors said, they would file a letter at sentencing noting each defendant’s cooperation and asking for a departure from sentencing guidelines. Prosecutors often suggest little or no prison time in return for cooperation. For Daryan Warner, prosecutors also said they would suggest he receive an S-Visa, or an informant green card.



        Oh my...

         ;D

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Deeks on June 03, 2015, 05:52:04 PM
        The needs to be controls in place to prevent corrupt banana boat organizations such as the CFU, who ends up holding 25 votes or about 12% of FIFA votes despite 0.005% of the world's population. This 1 member 1 vote thing (regardless of size) is just poised for corruption. The current structure will always attract greedy and corrupt administrators

        R45, are you kidding. If there was was no one man vote,  Concacaf would still have 1 place. After every WC, Concacaf has to be fighting to keep their 1/2 spot. The WC got expanded to 32 teams because of one country one vote. The expansion of the WC enhanced its worldwide appeal, bringing more sponsors and revenue. Before that the lion share of the wealth went to the Euros.

        Term limits is part of the solution. Two friggin terms and out. The CFU needs to vote in block, and in coalition with other zones for the smaller countries to survive.

        By the way, Most of us here are not supporting the status quo. We want change. But not the change to relegate us to the back of the friggin bus like some people on this site appears to be suggesting.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Deeks on June 03, 2015, 05:56:34 PM

        When each of the Warner sons pleaded guilty in 2013, the judge outlined their cooperation agreements with the government: They agreed to participate in undercover activities, hand over documents, regularly meet with prosecutors, testify when requested, and not divulge their cooperation to anyone without the express permission of prosecutors.

        In return, prosecutors said, they would file a letter at sentencing noting each defendant’s cooperation and asking for a departure from sentencing guidelines. Prosecutors often suggest little or no prison time in return for cooperation. For Daryan Warner, prosecutors also said they would suggest he receive an S-Visa, or an informant green card.



        Oh my...

         ;D



        He squealed before they say Jack Warner!!!
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on June 03, 2015, 06:08:30 PM
        The needs to be controls in place to prevent corrupt banana boat organizations such as the CFU, who ends up holding 25 votes or about 12% of FIFA votes despite 0.005% of the world's population. This 1 member 1 vote thing (regardless of size) is just poised for corruption. The current structure will always attract greedy and corrupt administrators

        R45, are you kidding. If there was was no one man vote,  Concacaf would still have 1 place. After every WC, Concacaf has to be fighting to keep their 1/2 spot. The WC got expanded to 32 teams because of one country one vote. The expansion of the WC enhanced its worldwide appeal, bringing more sponsors and revenue. Before that the lion share of the wealth went to the Euros.

        Term limits is part of the solution. Two friggin terms and out. The CFU needs to vote in block, and in coalition with other zones for the smaller countries to survive.

        By the way, Most of us here are not supporting the status quo. We want change. But not the change to relegate us to the back of the friggin bus like some people on this site appears to be suggesting.

        Hush, you only engaging in speculation... t'ings woulda criss if we had one country, one vote.  Is allyuh banana republics mashing up de dance.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on June 03, 2015, 07:31:04 PM
        Bakes advocate for the status quo? That's not without precedent.

        The role of market woman hardly becomes you.

        Let me remind you: I don't subscribe to your "divine right" to comment on "any and everything", and for the rest of us posters to tiptoe around you. As things stand, too much of that happens already.

        The reality is that several of your contributions fall within the at times comfortable, at times narrow, confines of the status quo. Or, would you prefer hearing that from elan?
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Sando prince on June 03, 2015, 08:45:38 PM


        South African sports minister says $10 million NOT a bribe


        http://sports.yahoo.com/news/south-african-sports-minister-says-10-million-not-124617604--sow.html (http://sports.yahoo.com/news/south-african-sports-minister-says-10-million-not-124617604--sow.html)

        JOHANNESBURG (AP) -- South Africa's sports minister ''categorically'' denied on Wednesday that the $10 million paid to former FIFA official Jack Warner in 2008 was a bribe for his help in securing the World Cup.

        Fikile Mbalula, however, said he couldn't say what Warner did with the money, which South Africa claims was ''above board'' and meant for soccer development in the Caribbean region.

        What happened to the cash is ''another story for investigators ... we don't know,'' Mbalula said. ''We can't account for that.''

        Mbalula repeated the South African government's denials that the country paid bribes to win the right to host the 2010 tournament, as alleged in indictments from the U.S. Department of Justice. South Africa's government - and former president Thabo Mbeki - first denied any wrongdoing in the bid process last week.

        ''We therefore wish to categorically deny that our country and government have bribed anyone to win the rights for the 2010 FIFA World Cup,'' Mbalula said Wednesday at the headquarters of the South African Football Association.

        The Justice Department believes that $10 million was sent by South Africa, through FIFA, to Warner in three wire transfers in 2008 as payback for him and two other then-FIFA executive committee members for backing South Africa in the 2004 vote. South Africa won the World Cup by four votes over Morocco, making the ballots of Warner and his two ''co-conspirators'' decisive.

        View gallerySouth African sports minister says $10 million not …
        FILE - In this June 2, 2011, file photo, suspended FIFA executive Jack Warner gestures during a news …
        Mbalula characterized the $10 million as an ''above board payment'' to help the game in the Caribbean.

        Mbalula also insisted that the South African government had not contradicted itself after the emergence of a leaked letter from then-South African Football Association president Molefi Oliphant in 2008 asking FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke to send the $10 million to Warner from South Africa's World Cup funds. Oliphant twice specified in the letter that the implicated Warner be in control of the money.

        ''The letter leaked to the media, we don't know why it was leaked in the first place because that correspondence was above board,'' Mbalula said, denying it suggested a bribe was paid. ''Criminals can explain a bribe very well. I don't know how bribes work.''

        South African soccer officials, who were meant to attend the briefing, were absent. The South African Football Association had said Tuesday that former World Cup bid and organizing officials would attend, but didn't then explain why they didn't.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on June 03, 2015, 09:17:06 PM
        Let me remind you: I don't subscribe to your "divine right" to comment on "any and everything", and for the rest of us posters to tiptoe around you. As things stand, too much of that happens already.

        The reality is that several of your contributions fall within the at times comfortable, at times narrow, confines of the status quo. Or, would you prefer hearing that from elan?

        What you "subscribe to" is neither here nor there with me... as I said, the role of instigator (since you clearly didn't get the reference) does not become you.  Based on your strenuous protestations however, looks like I have to backtrack on that, 'market woman' evidently fits you like a 'T'.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on June 03, 2015, 09:56:50 PM
        Let me remind you: I don't subscribe to your "divine right" to comment on "any and everything", and for the rest of us posters to tiptoe around you. As things stand, too much of that happens already.

        The reality is that several of your contributions fall within the at times comfortable, at times narrow, confines of the status quo. Or, would you prefer hearing that from elan?

        What you "subscribe to" is neither here nor there with me... as I said, the role of instigator (since you clearly didn't get the reference) does not become you.  Based on your strenuous protestations however, looks like I have to backtrack on that, 'market woman' evidently fits you like a 'T'.

        Ok, ok, ok ... doh piss yuh narcissistic pants any further. Let's call my partial agreement with R45 "instigation". Let's even pretend that you haven't advanced any comments in this thread that reflect the status quo.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: elan on June 03, 2015, 10:06:40 PM
        So quick question. I read a tweet on twitter and it put England on the front burner. T&T (Warner) is the glue that holding this bacchanal together boy.

        So SA send $10 million for the "program" (whatever it was called), but England had sent Becks and the whole EFA NT to T&T in an attempt to sweeten up JW. Bribery? Becks alone worth a cool $5 million, then Lamps $ Stevie G was a lil $500k each, Rooney for a $2 million......no.

        Wait we have to take back a $50k from Stevie for the Hyland Spanner.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: davyjenny1 on June 04, 2015, 01:35:47 AM
        Interpol:

        http://www.interpol.int/notice/search/wanted/2015-35737
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Flex on June 04, 2015, 02:03:04 AM
        Hislop backs Platini to become Fifa president
        By Shaun Fuentes (Guardian).


        Former T&T international and now ESPN analyst Shaka Hislop believes Frenchman Michel Platini is the favourite to take over as President of Fifa. Hislop was speaking on Tuesday as news broke of Sepp Blatter’s decision to step down as president of Fifa. Hislop said the latest development was a perfect opportunity to turn the game around.

        “I believe this is an opportunity that football simply cannot turn down. “This is a chance to get the right person with the right vision to lead today’s football. Today’s football is a far cry from the football Sepp Blatter inherited in 1998,” Hislop said. “There has been slow change in the Confederations. For the first time in 20 years the Caribbean did not block votes.”

        The former Newcastle United and Portsmouth goalkeeper made it clear that Platini was his choice to become the new Fifa president. “I said all along that I felt the only person involved in football with the charisma, the reputation to run against and potentially beat  Sepp Blatter was Michel Platini. Fair play to Prince Ali for putting his neck out there. “Nobody else had the spine to do that. I still see Platini as favourite as with the bookies,” Hislop said.

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Flex on June 04, 2015, 02:03:47 AM
        Waldrum: Great day for football.
        By Shaun Fuentes (Guardian).


        Past T&T women’s team head coach Randy Waldrum described the stepping down of Sepp Blatter on Tuesday as the best thing to happen for world football. Waldrum, speaking to US reporters on Tuesday, spoke about his time in charge of T&T women’s team both in 2008 and 2014. “I think it’s a great day,” Waldrum said.

        He made reference to the challenges he faced while at the helm of the women’s team in T&T, saying: “It is no surprise that the whole federation and country has been a little corrupt in terms of not putting funding where it needs to go. I think that’s kind of a trickle-down effect of the problems that we have in Fifa in general.”

        Waldrum knew what he was getting into from his first run coaching T&T in 2008. Waldrum noted that during that period Jack Warner had still been heavily involved in football. However he expects the current TTFA organisation to find a way out of its struggles. “I think the current regime in Trinidad is certainly not corrupt now,” Waldrum said.

        “They removed Jack Warner and they put a new group in, but because of the financial hole that Jack Warner put the country in, they’re dealing in about a $6 million deficit to run the federation. “Blatter’s stepping down might be a game-changer,” Waldrum said. “After we lost the bid for 2018 and the 2022 World Cup, I think Blatter has been long known as one of these men who, like he said in his acceptance speech, he forgives but he never forgets,” he said.

        “I think a lot of people, especially in the circles in the US and Europe, felt like once you speak out, the chances and the likelihood of you getting a World Cup or major world event are slim. So I think this puts us back in the picture.”

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on June 04, 2015, 02:47:59 AM
        Hislop backs Platini to become Fifa president
        By Shaun Fuentes (Guardian).


        Former T&T international and now ESPN analyst Shaka Hislop believes Frenchman Michel Platini is the favourite to take over as President of Fifa. Hislop was speaking on Tuesday as news broke of Sepp Blatter’s decision to step down as president of Fifa. Hislop said the latest development was a perfect opportunity to turn the game around.

        “I believe this is an opportunity that football simply cannot turn down. “This is a chance to get the right person with the right vision to lead today’s football. Today’s football is a far cry from the football Sepp Blatter inherited in 1998,” Hislop said. “There has been slow change in the Confederations. For the first time in 20 years the Caribbean did not block votes.”

        The former Newcastle United and Portsmouth goalkeeper made it clear that Platini was his choice to become the new Fifa president. “I said all along that I felt the only person involved in football with the charisma, the reputation to run against and potentially beat  Sepp Blatter was Michel Platini. Fair play to Prince Ali for putting his neck out there. “Nobody else had the spine to do that. I still see Platini as favourite as with the bookies,” Hislop said.

        Did Shaka expressly/comprehensively endorse or back Platini?

        I am also certain he highlighted M. Platini's failure to get the French delegation in line as a question mark over Platini's head.

        In any event, where was Platini's "spine" on the Qatar vote?
        Title: Blatter still on job
        Post by: Socapro on June 04, 2015, 09:41:29 AM
        Just as I have been saying all along, Sepp Blatter has not resigned. All he has done is to announce his intension not to run in the next FIFA elections, so that he can put his specially groomed successor in place, that is all.

        The world media might be anxious for Sepp to go but they are guilty of misleading the masses about Sepp Blatter having resigned.

        Blatter still on job
        FIFA CRISIS (http://www.guardian.co.tt/sport/2015-06-04/blatter-still-job)
        Published: Thursday, June 4, 2015 (T&T Guardian)

        (http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Sepp%20Blatter.png) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Sepp%20Blatter.png.html)
        Sepp Blatter, still FIFA President

        ZURICH—A day after announcing his decision to resign, Sepp Blatter was back at work at Fifa headquarters yesterday as the worst corruption crisis in the governing body’s 111-year history continued to unfold. Interpol added six men with ties to Fifa to its most wanted list, while South African officials denied they made a $10 million bribe to secure the 2010 World Cup.

        Blatter spoke to Fifa staff for about ten minutes yesterday morning, returning to the same auditorium where he delivered his resignation speech a day earlier. Staff described him as being emotional, and said he received a standing ovation. Elsewhere, Interpol got involved. The international police force, based in Lyon, France, issued an alert for two former Fifa officials and four executives on charges including racketeering and corruption.

        Two of the men, former Fifa vice president Jack Warner of Trinidad and Tobago and former executive committee member Nicolas Leoz of Paraguay, have been arrested in their home counties. Warner has since been released and Leoz is under house arrest. The Interpol “red notice” means they risk arrest anywhere they travel.

        In South Africa, Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula said the government wanted to “categorically deny” that the country paid any bribes to win the right to host the 2010 tournament. Mbalula characterised the $10 million as an “above-board payment” to help soccer development in the Caribbean region.

        The money, which went into a fund controlled by Warner, is part of the US investigation into soccer corruption. That probe led to the arrest of seven soccer officials in Zurich last week, kicking off the Fifa scandal and eventually leading to Blatter’s decision to step down. Warner and Leoz were among 14 people indicted in the US as part of the federal investigation.

        US Attorney General Loretta Lynch, speaking in Latvia on Wednesday at a meeting with EU justice ministers, declined to comment on Blatter’s resignation or whether he was himself under investigation. “It’s an open case and so we will now be speaking through the courts,” Lynch said. In a separate probe, Swiss authorities have opened a criminal investigation related to the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding contests. Russia won the right to host the 2018 tournament and Qatar was awarded the 2022 World Cup.

        The Swiss attorney general’s office said Blatter was not under investigation, but said it has opened criminal proceedings against “persons unknown” for money-laundering. In Moscow, President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said Blatter’s announcement hasn’t affected the country’s plans to host the tournament.

        Blatter said Tuesday he would remain president until a new election can be set up, which Fifa said could be sometime between December and March. But Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein, who lost to Blatter in Friday’s election, is looking into whether he should be in line to replace Blatter without going to another vote. The Jordanian Football Association said it is studying Fifa rules to see whether they allow for the possibility.

        In South Korea, former Fifa vice president Chung Mong-joon said at a news conference that he will think about whether to run. UEFA president Michel Platini is considered a likely candidate.

        AP
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: elan on June 04, 2015, 11:29:00 AM
        All these people who never knew who Blatter was or what FIFA did now jumping in because it's "thing". Look how long Jennings writing about all these "new details" that supposedly being "uncovered" now. In part I guess that's why I am a bit cynical to the whole hullabaloo.

        All these trumpeters blowing about a "great day for football" have no historical perspective on which to view or understands the implications, the politics, and the fallout of the current situation.

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: elan on June 04, 2015, 11:47:51 AM
        FIFA paid Ireland to settle Thierry Henry's handball out of court -... (http://t.co/SxlWBj9X41)
        John Delaney has confirmed the Football Association of Ireland was paid millions of euros by
        FIFA to not contest in court Thierry Henry's handball.

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: elan on June 04, 2015, 11:48:31 AM
        Platini, your ball.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: E-man on June 04, 2015, 12:01:58 PM
        FIFA paid Ireland to settle Thierry Henry's handball out of court -... (http://t.co/SxlWBj9X41)
        John Delaney has confirmed the Football Association of Ireland was paid millions of euros by
        FIFA to not contest in court Thierry Henry's handball.



        Seems they came to a legitimate settlement as to what the FAI thought was an amount that compensated their injury, but I would have preferred to see Ireland at the cup - to me being there is closer to priceless - hard to put a monetary value on it.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: elan on June 04, 2015, 12:55:57 PM
        FIFA paid Ireland to settle Thierry Henry's handball out of court -... (http://t.co/SxlWBj9X41)
        John Delaney has confirmed the Football Association of Ireland was paid millions of euros by
        FIFA to not contest in court Thierry Henry's handball.



        Seems they came to a legitimate settlement as to what the FAI thought was an amount that compensated their injury, but I would have preferred to see Ireland at the cup - to me being there is closer to priceless - hard to put a monetary value on it.


        Legitimate? Really

        If it's legitimate why jump through hoops to call it a loan? Isn't that what SA did with the $10 million?

        Quote
        Later on Thursday, FIFA confirmed the amount and called the payment a "loan" that was intended to be repaid if Ireland qualified for the 2014 World Cup, which they did not.

        "FIFA granted FAI a loan of $5 million for the construction of a stadium in Ireland. At the same time, UEFA also granted the FAI funds for the same stadium," a FIFA statement said. "The terms agreed between FIFA and the FAI were that the loan would be reimbursed if Ireland qualified for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Ireland did not so qualify. Because of this, and in view of the FAI's financial situation, FIFA decided to write off the loan as per 31 December 2014."

        If Warner is involved, it would be deemed bribery.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: FF on June 04, 2015, 01:27:28 PM
        Elan come better than "if Warner was involved it would be bribery"

        That in itself is jumping through hoops. You making it difficult to see when you on kicks and when you serious, which blunting the incisiveness of your posts. At least for me.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: E-man on June 04, 2015, 01:39:52 PM
        Anyone figure out who co-conspirator #23 is?

        "67. At various times relevant to the Indictment, CoConspirator
        #23 was a high-ranking official of one of FIFA's
        national member associations, an official of FIFA and CFU, and a
        businessman. "

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: FF on June 04, 2015, 01:45:27 PM
        Well... the baker is 65
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on June 04, 2015, 02:06:42 PM
        Just as I have been saying all along, Sepp Blatter has not resigned. All he has done is to announce his intension not to run in the next FIFA elections, so that he can put his specially groomed successor in place, that is all.

        I have no idea why you carrying on as though you're saying something new... everybody know he didn't immediately resign, but rather indicates that he is resigning and will stay until after the special election.  The bolded is inaccurate, he didn't say anything about running or not running, he said he is resigning.  FIFA bylaws call for special elections after four months notice, so that's when a successor will be elected.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on June 04, 2015, 02:10:42 PM
        Elan come better than "if Warner was involved it would be bribery"

        That in itself is jumping through hoops. You making it difficult to see when you on kicks and when you serious, which blunting the incisiveness of your posts. At least for me.

        elan just talking shit as usual... whenever people are at the point of litigating the "defendant" in the suit always free to pay the other party to settle the matter.  Here they put a monetary value on what the handball cost them, FIFA said okay we'll give you that amount, if you qualify you pay it back.  That is the cheaper option than paying lawyers to litigate some stupid suit over a handball.  Warner is a frigging thief and a conman... same for Blatter, yet for whatever reason elan running around looking for ulterior motives in everything.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on June 04, 2015, 02:31:53 PM
        Anyone figure out who co-conspirator #23 is?

        "67. At various times relevant to the Indictment, CoConspirator
        #23 was a high-ranking official of one of FIFA's
        national member associations, an official of FIFA and CFU, and a
        businessman. "



        Either Warner or Webb.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: E-man on June 04, 2015, 03:46:03 PM
        Anyone figure out who co-conspirator #23 is?

        "67. At various times relevant to the Indictment, CoConspirator
        #23 was a high-ranking official of one of FIFA's
        national member associations, an official of FIFA and CFU, and a
        businessman. "



        Either Warner or Webb.

        But those were both already named co-conspirators. This one is yet to be named.
        There's a thread at big soccer trying to figure them all out.

        #1 = Blazer (former general secretary of CONCACAF)
        #2 = Jose Hawilla (founder and owner of the Traffic Group)

        #4 = Enrique Sanz (current gen sec of CONCACAF)

        #10 = Julio Humberto Grondona (AFA)

        #14 = Daryan Warner (maybe Daryll?)

        http://www.justice.gov/opa/file/450211/download
        from paragraph 44

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Flex on June 04, 2015, 04:08:22 PM
        FIFA paid Ireland $5 million over Henry handball
        AFP


        London (AFP) - FIFA have confirmed they made a $5 million payment to the Football Association of Ireland after Thierry Henry's handball stopped Ireland qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.

        "We felt we had a legal case against FIFA because of how the World Cup play-off hadn't worked out for us with the Henry handball," Delaney said.

        "We came to an agreement. That was a Thursday and on Monday, the agreement was all signed and all done. It was a payment to the association to not proceed with a legal case."

        FIFA later issued a statement explaining: "While the referee's decision is final, and the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) ultimately accepted it as such, in January 2010 FIFA entered into an agreement with FAI in order to put an end to any claims against FIFA.

        "FIFA granted FAI a loan of USD 5 million for the construction of a stadium in Ireland. At the same time, UEFA also granted the FAI funds for the same stadium.

        "The terms agreed between FIFA and the FAI were that the loan would be reimbursed if Ireland qualified for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

        "Ireland did not so qualify. Because of this, and in view of the FAI's financial situation, FIFA decided to write off the loan as per 31 December 2014."

        France qualified for the 2010 World Cup at Ireland's expense after Henry blatantly handled the ball as he set up William Gallas for the decisive goal in a play-off match in Paris in November 2009.

        Delaney's claim comes amid a corruption scandal engulfing FIFA that has seen FIFA executives arrested, president Sepp Blatter announce his resignation and former executive committee member Chuck Blazer admit to paying bribes.

        Delaney said that Blatter's behaviour at the Soccerex football conference in Johannesburg 11 days after the match had hardened his resolve over the matter of compensation.

        "The way Blatter behaved, if you remember on stage, having a snigger and having a laugh at us..." he said.

        "That day when I went in (to discuss the agreement), and I told him how I felt about him, there were some expletives used."

        Henry was derided as a cheat in the aftermath of the match at the Stade de France, which ended in a 1-1 draw that saw France win 2-1 on aggregate.

        The FAI and the Irish government unsuccessfully petitioned world governing body FIFA for the game to be replayed or for Ireland to be admitted to the World Cup in South Africa as a '33rd team'.

        Henry, then with Barcelona, backed Ireland's calls for a replay and declared himself "extremely sorry", but rejected the accusation that he was a cheat.

        France went on to endure a disastrous World Cup, crashing out in the group phase after the players went on strike in protest at striker Nicolas Anelka's exclusion from the squad for clashing with coach Raymond Domenech.

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on June 04, 2015, 04:33:47 PM
        Th

        But those were both already named co-conspirators. This one is yet to be named.
        There's a thread at big soccer trying to figure them all out.

        #1 = Blazer (former general secretary of CONCACAF)
        #2 = Jose Hawilla (founder and owner of the Traffic Group)

        #4 = Enrique Sanz (current gen sec of CONCACAF)

        #10 = Julio Humberto Grondona (AFA)

        #14 = Daryan Warner (maybe Daryll?)

        http://www.justice.gov/opa/file/450211/download
        from paragraph 44



        There are Defendants and then there are co-conspirators, and some can be both.  Jack was named as a defendant in the paragraphs outlining the conspirators so it's probably not him.  The only logical choice left is Webb.  Can't think of anyone else who is a CFU, CONCACAF and FIFA executive.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Deeks on June 04, 2015, 05:17:00 PM
        Only person could come close is Burrell.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: E-man on June 04, 2015, 07:29:35 PM
        Th

        But those were both already named co-conspirators. This one is yet to be named.
        There's a thread at big soccer trying to figure them all out.

        #1 = Blazer (former general secretary of CONCACAF)
        #2 = Jose Hawilla (founder and owner of the Traffic Group)

        #4 = Enrique Sanz (current gen sec of CONCACAF)

        #10 = Julio Humberto Grondona (AFA)

        #14 = Daryan Warner (maybe Daryll?)

        http://www.justice.gov/opa/file/450211/download
        from paragraph 44



        There are Defendants and then there are co-conspirators, and some can be both.  Jack was named as a defendant in the paragraphs outlining the conspirators so it's probably not him.  The only logical choice left is Webb.  Can't think of anyone else who is a CFU, CONCACAF and FIFA executive.

        #7 Bin Hammam
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: elan on June 04, 2015, 09:53:47 PM
        Elan come better than "if Warner was involved it would be bribery"

        That in itself is jumping through hoops. You making it difficult to see when you on kicks and when you serious, which blunting the incisiveness of your posts. At least for me.

        elan just talking shit as usual... whenever people are at the point of litigating the "defendant" in the suit always free to pay the other party to settle the matter.  Here they put a monetary value on what the handball cost them, FIFA said okay we'll give you that amount, if you qualify you pay it back.  That is the cheaper option than paying lawyers to litigate some stupid suit over a handball.  Warner is a frigging thief and a conman... same for Blatter, yet for whatever reason elan running around looking for ulterior motives in everything.

        That deal is madness. That's giving with one hand and taking with the other.

        Ireland did not qualify for 2010 and felt aggrieved, so they decided to take FIFA to court. FIFA on the other hand say ok leave it alone and we will compensate you.

        That's all well and good.

        However, the next move was to say that if you qualify for 2014 - a totally different and incomparable event - you have to reimburse what was given as compensation in another unrelated matter. The events of qualifying for 2010 had no bearing whatsoever on qualifying for 2014.

        Qualifying for 2014, and paying back the compensation for damages of 2010 is ludicrous. Then you weren't compensated. They reached a deal, but it was a shady one.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on June 04, 2015, 10:50:42 PM
        That deal is madness. That's giving with one hand and taking with the other.

        Ireland did not qualify for 2010 and felt aggrieved, so they decided to take FIFA to court. FIFA on the other hand say ok leave it alone and we will compensate you.

        That's all well and good.

        However, the next move was to say that if you qualify for 2014 - a totally different and incomparable event - you have to reimburse what was given as compensation in another unrelated matter. The events of qualifying for 2010 had no bearing whatsoever on qualifying for 2014.

        Qualifying for 2014, and paying back the compensation for damages of 2010 is ludicrous. Then you weren't compensated. They reached a deal, but it was a shady one.

        Of course it's "shady"... it was a legal shakedown.  Ireland used the timing to their advantage.  By suing they would have tied up the WC because the games couldn't start without a resolution... and no way that was going to resolve between December 2009 and June 2010, in time for the games to start.  It was only "shady" otherwise in that FIFA couldn't let it be known that they were vulnerable to suits over a bad call in a game... so rather than make it look like it was a sympathy/nuisance payment, they tried to say it was a loan.  It never was a bribe, not even close... so no comparison to Jack Warner's dealings.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: elan on June 04, 2015, 11:35:09 PM
        Fifa corruption crisis: pressure mounts on FAI over €5m payment (http://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2015/jun/05/fifa-corruption-crisis-pressure-mounts-on-fai-over-5m-payment-live?CMP=twt_gu)

        Calls for investigation into ‘arbitrary’ Fifa payments after Football Association of Ireland reveals compensation for Thierry Henry handball in World Cup play-off

        Quote
        Northern Ireland’s Jim Boyce, who retired as a Fifa vice-president last week, called for an investigation, saying:

        "I’m absolutely astounded. I have never heard anything as ridiculous in my life. If a payment of $5m has been paid because of a handball and threatened legal action, then I hope a full investigation will be carried out into this and any other such arbitrary payments."
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: maxg on June 05, 2015, 01:19:29 PM
        wait a minute..how much Jack get for Crouch/Sancho hair pull sending England to round 2 instead ah we   ;)
        Title: Blatter hints at long goodbye
        Post by: Socapro on June 05, 2015, 05:32:20 PM
        Just as I have been saying all along, Sepp Blatter has not resigned. All he has done is to announce his intension not to run in the next FIFA elections, so that he can put his specially groomed successor in place, that is all.

        I have no idea why you carrying on as though you're saying something new... everybody know he didn't immediately resign, but rather indicates that he is resigning and will stay until after the special election.  The bolded is inaccurate, he didn't say anything about running or not running, he said he is resigning.  FIFA bylaws call for special elections after four months notice, so that's when a successor will be elected.

        Really? Please bring the quote from his speech at the FIFA Press Conference.

        I listened to his speech twice I never heard him mention the word resign once.

        Maybe I wasn't listening properly so please help out ah friend who seems to be going a bit deaf.

        Much appreciation.

        In the meantime....

        Blatter hints at long goodbye (http://www.guardian.co.tt/sport/2015-06-05/blatter-hints-long-goodbye)
        Published: Friday, June 5, 2015 (T&T Guardian)

        (http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/President%20Barack%20Obama%20presented%20with%20soccer%20jerseys%20for%20his%20daughters%20Sasha%20and%20Malia%20by%20FIFA%20President%20Sepp%20Blatter%20and%20Jack%20Warner%20during%20a%20meeting%20in%20Oval%20Office%20on%20July%2027%202009.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/President%20Barack%20Obama%20presented%20with%20soccer%20jerseys%20for%20his%20daughters%20Sasha%20and%20Malia%20by%20FIFA%20President%20Sepp%20Blatter%20and%20Jack%20Warner%20during%20a%20meeting%20in%20Oval%20Office%20on%20July%2027%202009.jpg.html)
        President Barack Obama is presented with soccer jerseys for his daughters, Sasha and Malia, by FIFA President Sepp Blatter and Jack Warner during a meeting in the Oval Office on July 27, 2009.
        "Barack Obama and Sepp Blatter in the Oval Office" by White House (Pete Souza) / Maison Blanche (Pete Souza) - The Official White House Photostream.


        GENEVA—In soccer's version of the long goodbye, Sepp Blatter is staying put.

        Two days after announcing his decision to resign as FIFA president, Blatter sent a tweet with a picture of himself sitting at his desk, pen in hand. He wrote that he was already working on reforming the organisation that has been plunged into crisis by a U.S. corruption investigation.

        The 79-year-old Blatter said Tuesday that he plans to remain in office and lead reforms for up to nine months, until a new election is held to find a successor. That hold on power is unacceptable for some soccer leaders and anti-corruption experts.

        "He must go immediately," Lennart Johansson, the former FIFA vice president who lost the 1998 presidential election long dogged by claims of vote-buying by Blatter supporters, said Friday in Berlin. "People want us to be clean."

        Blatter has continued working while he is a target of a U.S. federal case which promises to implicate more people after four soccer and marketing officials made guilty pleas and 14 were indicted last week.


        Transparency International, the anti-corruption advisory group invited by FIFA to help with Blatter's first round of reforms amid a bribery scandal in 2011, said the veteran leader was not credible to lead changes.

        (http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Sepp%20Blatter%20at%20workat%20his%20desk.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Sepp%20Blatter%20at%20workat%20his%20desk.jpg.html)

        "Blatter cannot oversee the 'new' FIFA, he must go now," Transparency International managing director Cobus de Swardt said in a statement Friday. "World football cannot be left in limbo."

        Blatter's preferred exit strategy does follow FIFA's statutes—rules he helped craft in 40 years spent at soccer's governing body.

        The 27-member executive committee he chairs must meet and call for a special election congress of FIFA's 209 member federations. That ruling panel's next scheduled meeting is Sept. 24-25 in Zurich, but can be called together sooner.

        After the executive committee meets, an election would be held four months after the deadline set for would-be candidates to apply. It was a two-month campaign until new rules were written after Blatter's 2011 win.

        Blatter, therefore, said in his surprise resignation speech Tuesday that the election should not be held before December, and maybe as late as March.

        That extends his reign by up to nine months. And it gives him time to draft promised new rules which—if passed at the special congress—could impose term limits that ensure whoever follows has nothing like his nearly two decades in power.

        There is also a question if Blatter can see out his final months when no one at FIFA knows where and how fast the U.S. investigation is heading. If he leaves sooner than planned, FIFA statutes call for senior vice president Issa Hayatou of Cameroon to step up as interim president.

        Hayatou, the president of the African soccer confederation, has faced his own allegations of corruption during his 27-year tenure.—AP
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on June 05, 2015, 05:44:12 PM
        Really? Please bring the quote from his speech at the FIFA Press Conference.

        I listened to his speech twice I never heard him mention the word resign once.

        Maybe I wasn't listening properly so please help out ah friend who seems to be going a bit deaf.

        Much appreciation.

        In the meantime....

        Of course there are several ways of saying the same thing using different words. 

        Quote
        "While I have a mandate from the membership of FIFA, I do not feel that I have a mandate from the entire world of football -- the fans, the players, the clubs, the people who live, breathe and love football as much as we all do at FIFA.

        "Therefore, I have decided to lay down my mandate at an extraordinary elective Congress. I will continue to exercise my functions as FIFA President until that election.

        http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/02/football/sepp-blatter-resigns-fifa-speech/index.html

        Take yuh time.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Socapro on June 05, 2015, 05:54:41 PM
        Really? Please bring the quote from his speech at the FIFA Press Conference.

        I listened to his speech twice I never heard him mention the word resign once.

        Maybe I wasn't listening properly so please help out ah friend who seems to be going a bit deaf.

        Much appreciation.

        In the meantime....

        Of course there are several ways of saying the same thing using different words. 

        Quote
        "While I have a mandate from the membership of FIFA, I do not feel that I have a mandate from the entire world of football -- the fans, the players, the clubs, the people who live, breathe and love football as much as we all do at FIFA.

        "Therefore, I have decided to lay down my mandate at an extraordinary elective Congress. I will continue to exercise my functions as FIFA President until that election.

        http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/02/football/sepp-blatter-resigns-fifa-speech/index.html

        Take yuh time.

        Again like I said he never said he was resigning which is what you said that he said.
        I listened to his Press conference speech twice and he never used the word resign once in his speech.
        He did however say "I will organise extraordinary congress for a replacement for me as president. I will not stand. I am now free from the constraints of an election. I will be in a position to focus on profound reforms. For many years we have called for reforms. But these are not sufficient."

        I think the media in their enthusiasm to see Sepp go misled the public and now have been forced to correct their misinformation especially with the latest tweets and photos etc of Mr Blatter back to work as usual working at his desk.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on June 05, 2015, 06:21:15 PM
        Again like I said he never said he was resigning which is what you said that he said.
        I listened to his Press conference speech twice and he never used the word resign once in his speech.
        He did however say "I will organise extraordinary congress for a replacement for me as president. I will not stand. I am now free from the constraints of an election. I will be in a position to focus on profound reforms. For many years we have called for reforms. But these are not sufficient."

        I think the media in their enthusiasm to see Sepp go misled the public and now have been forced to correct their misinformation especially with the latest tweets and photos etc of Mr Blatter back to work as usual working at his desk.

        Blatter is resigning... in four months an extraordinary congress will be convened to elect his successor.   He was just elected for another four year term, yet here he is calling for new elections in four months.  But to you that doesn't mean he's resigning.  This is just too stupid to argue.  Moving on.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on June 05, 2015, 06:28:32 PM
        Daryan Warner's Plea Agreement (https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.documentcloud.org/documents/2093751/2013-10-23-daw-plea-transcript.pdf)

        Daryl Warner's Plea Agreement (https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.documentcloud.org/documents/2093750/daryl-warner-7-15-13-plea-transcript.pdf)
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Socapro on June 05, 2015, 07:47:09 PM
        Again like I said he never said he was resigning which is what you said that he said.
        I listened to his Press conference speech twice and he never used the word resign once in his speech.
        He did however say "I will organise extraordinary congress for a replacement for me as president. I will not stand. I am now free from the constraints of an election. I will be in a position to focus on profound reforms. For many years we have called for reforms. But these are not sufficient."

        I think the media in their enthusiasm to see Sepp go misled the public and now have been forced to correct their misinformation especially with the latest tweets and photos etc of Mr Blatter back to work as usual working at his desk.

        Blatter is resigning... in four months an extraordinary congress will be convened to elect his successor.   He was just elected for another four year term, yet here he is calling for new elections in four months.  But to you that doesn't mean he's resigning.  This is just too stupid to argue.  Moving on.

        I simply said that Sepp has not said that he is resiging, only that he will not stand again for President.
        Not trying to argue with you or anyone else, just trying to be accurate about what he said.
        Nor has Sepp resigned yet and he will still be President of FIFIA for another 4 months minimum that could possibly stretch to another 9 months.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Deeks on June 05, 2015, 08:54:04 PM
        he will still be President of FIFIA for another 4 months minimum that could possibly stretch to another 9 months.

        How you come by that "another 9 months" conclusion?
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on June 05, 2015, 09:09:03 PM
        I simply said that Sepp has not said that he is resiging, only that he will not stand again for President.
        Not trying to argue with you or anyone else, just trying to be accurate about what he said.
        Nor has Sepp resigned yet and he will still be President of FIFIA for another 4 months minimum that could possibly stretch to another 9 months.

        You continue to misconstrue what he said, and what is taking place.  Not only did he say he will not be a candidate, he also said he's giving up his mandate and calling for an extraordinary congress to elect a new President.  What do you take "giving up his mandate" to mean... if not that he's resigning? 

        FIFA statues call for a 4-month period before an extraordinary congress can be called, which means the next possible date will be sometime in late September/early October.  What do you think they will be doing at this extraordinary congress, if not electing a new President?
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Socapro on June 05, 2015, 09:19:36 PM
        he will still be President of FIFIA for another 4 months minimum that could possibly stretch to another 9 months.

        How you come by that "another 9 months" conclusion?

        According to article at this link (http://www.socawarriors.net/forum/index.php?topic=21817.msg927229#msg927229) at Reply #393 in this very thread, the new elections can be held anytime between December 2015 and March 2016 which works out at 4 months minimum and 9 months maximum.

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Socapro on June 05, 2015, 09:29:56 PM
        I simply said that Sepp has not said that he is resiging, only that he will not stand again for President.
        Not trying to argue with you or anyone else, just trying to be accurate about what he said.
        Nor has Sepp resigned yet and he will still be President of FIFIA for another 4 months minimum that could possibly stretch to another 9 months.

        You continue to misconstrue what he said, and what is taking place.  Not only did he say he will not be a candidate, he also said he's giving up his mandate and calling for an extraordinary congress to elect a new President.  What do you take "giving up his mandate" to mean... if not that he's resigning? 

        FIFA statues call for a 4-month period before an extraordinary congress can be called, which means the next possible date will be sometime in late September/early October.  What do you think they will be doing at this extraordinary congress, if not electing a new President?

        Where did I say they won't be electing a new FIFA President at the extraordinary congress?

        You didn't post anything there that I don't already know or disagree with. I already explained that I have no argument with you other that correcting what you stated that he said he would resign. Blatter never used those words but words more to the effect that he will not run for the post of President again, which you found it necessary to try to argue about.

        Let’s move on Bakes as this argument you seem to be salivating for is pointless and very petty and you are now resorting to making up stuff to argue about.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on June 05, 2015, 09:33:16 PM
        Where did I say they won't be electing a new FIFA President at the extraordinary congress?

        You didn't post anything there that I don't already know or disagree with. I already explained that I have no argument with you other that correcting what you stated that he said he would resign. Blatter never used those words but words more to the effect that he will not run for the post of President again, which you found it necessary to try to argue about.

        Let’s move on Bakes as this argument you seem to be salivating for is pointless and very petty and you are now resorting to making up stuff to argue about.

        The next regularly scheduled election is in four years... he didn't simply say he won't be running for election again, but yes, let's just leave you in your little confused world arguing to yourself that Blatter isn't resigning.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Socapro on June 05, 2015, 09:39:46 PM
        Where did I say they won't be electing a new FIFA President at the extraordinary congress?

        You didn't post anything there that I don't already know or disagree with. I already explained that I have no argument with you other that correcting what you stated that he said he would resign. Blatter never used those words but words more to the effect that he will not run for the post of President again, which you found it necessary to try to argue about.

        Let’s move on Bakes as this argument you seem to be salivating for is pointless and very petty and you are now resorting to making up stuff to argue about.

        The next regularly scheduled election is in four years... he didn't simply say he won't be running for election again, but yes, let's just leave you in your little confused world arguing to yourself that Blatter isn't resigning.

        Fella, I never said that Blatter is not going to resign from his position as FIFA President. What I said is that he never used the word resign in the speech he made which you claimed he did in your effort to correct what I said about him saying that he will not run for the position again.

        Now continue to imagine whatever you wish for the sake of another pointless ego-tripping argument. It’s obvious you can't help yourself.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on June 06, 2015, 07:51:56 AM
        Venezuela Football Federation Offices Raided After Rafael Esquivel Arrest
        Thomas Barrabi (International Business Times)


        Authorities raided the Venezuelan Football Federation’s offices in Caracas on Wednesday, days after Swiss police arrested the organization’s president, Rafael Esquivel, in Zurich. Esquivel was one of nine current and former FIFA employees the U.S. Justice Department indicted last week on corruption charges.

        The raid, which was carried out by members of Venezuela's military intelligence, was conducted “as part of the investigation into alleged irregularities” related to Esquivel’s actions, Venezuela’s Public Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement obtained by Reuters. Esquivel has served as the Venezuelan Football Federation’s president since 1988. Authorities did not provide further information on the raid.

        Esquivel was one of seven individuals arrested May 27 at a Zurich hotel by Swiss authorities acting at the U.S. Justice Department’s behest. The indicted international soccer executives stand accused of various forms of corruption, including money laundering and accepting more than $150 million in bribes and illegal kickbacks in exchange for preferential treatment on media and marketing rights, according to a U.S. Justice Department’s press release.

        The CONMEBOL Copa America soccer, South America’s premier soccer tournament, was among the events impacted by alleged corruption. Esquivel is a CONMEBOL executive committee member. He could be extradited to the United States to face the corruption charges, Reuters reported.

        The arrests came just hours before the start of the 65th FIFA Congress in Zurich, where the international soccer governing body held its presidential elections. Sepp Blatter, the longtime FIFA president who dodged scandal after scandal during his time in office, was not directly implicated in the corruption scandal. He won re-election on May 29, but resigned from the post in a surprise announcement earlier this week.

        “While I have a mandate from the membership of FIFA, I do not feel that I have a mandate from the entire world of football – the fans, the players, the clubs, the people who live, breathe and love football as much as we all do at FIFA,” Blatter said in a statement. “Therefore, I have decided to lay down my mandate at an extraordinary elective congress. I will continue to exercise my functions as FIFA President until that election.”


        Venezuela Freezes Accounts of Country's Disgraced Soccer Chief (Telesur)

        Venezuela's attorney general office Wednesday requested that the freezing of bank accounts and assets of Rafael Esquivel, the former president of the Venezuelan Football Federation. ​Esquivel was arrested last week in Zurich along with other eight officials from the soccer's global governing body and four executives of sports management companies over his role in the FIFA scandal. All of the indicted have been charged with corruption charges by the U.S. Justice Department, who is requesting their extradition to the United States

        According to the investigation, at least US$150 million were paid out in "bribes and kickbacks" in exchange for media and marketing rights to international tournaments. The recent resignation of FIFA President Sepp Blatter, just days after being re-elected to head the organization for a fifth term, underscores the depth of the crisis facing the powerful sports organization. The U.S. government also announced that the bank accounts of all those involved in the so-called “FIFA Gate” have been also frozen.

        Lawyers defending Esquivel requested his release for health reasons, arguing that he has renal failure which has kept him away from his activities last year. Venezuelan media reported Wednesday that a Swiss court is requesting his bail be set to at least US$3-4 Million. President Nicolas Maduro urged authorities to conduct an investigation on the country’s soccer federation, joining other regional leaders including Brazil’s Dilma Rousseff and Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa in weighing in on the scanda. Maduro also suggested that Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona would be a good choice as next FIFA president, after the organizations officials announced new elections would take place between December and March.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Flex on June 08, 2015, 04:06:40 AM
        Sancho calls for Jack to account for missing funds
        T&T Newsday Reports.


        SPORTS MINISTER Brent Sancho has called for embattled former football administrator Jack Warner to account for the US$10 million, which was sent to him from FIFA, on behalf of South Africa, to use for its Caribbean diaspora legacy programme.

        According to documents shown by BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) in an article yesterday, Warner used the payment for cash withdrawals, personal loans and to launder money. Sancho, in the same BBC story, said, “he (Warner) must face justice, he must answer all of these questions. Justice has to be served.

        “He will have to account, with this investigation, he will have to answer for his actions.”

        The documents also show US$360,000 of the Fifa money was withdrawn by people connected to Warner.

        Nearly $1.6million was used to pay the former Fifa vice-president’s credit cards and personal loans.

        The documents show the largest personal loan Mr Warner provided for himself was US$410,000. The largest credit card payment was US$87,000.

        Sancho said he is now angry and disappointed.

        “I’m devastated because a lot of that money should have been back in football, back in the development of children playing the sport. It is a travesty. Mr Warner should answer the questions,” he added.

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Flex on June 08, 2015, 05:22:38 AM
        Jose Mourinho believes FIFA corrupted 2012 World Coach of the Year vote
        By Duncan Day


        Generally open and honest about his thoughts to the media, Cheslea manager Jose Mourinho is not shy about making headlines.

        Today, he’s hinted that FIFA could have corrupted the 2012 World Coach of the Year award as he finished in second place to Vicente del Bosque.

        He uttered similar comments in 2013 but now with the news of FIFA corruption, starting with the arrests of several officials in Zurich, his insight looks to have some backing behind it.

        Del Bosque gained 34.1 percent of the votes to Mourinho’s 20.1 percent to win the accolade which is voted on by players, coaches and members of FIFA.

        [TRANSFERS: Papadopoulos completes Bayer Leverkusen switch]

        Concluding with “obviously something happened,” the Portuguese boss profiles the situation below, per ESPN FC.

        “In 2012, I was one of the three finalists and when I was told I was finishing second with a few votes behind the first, it looked normal to me.

        “But then the votes were made public. And my former player, a national team captain, called me, ‘Mister, there is something wrong. Because obviously, obviously, I gave you the vote, then in the list they put another coach’s name and that was not me.’

        “A few minutes later my Portuguese friend, a national team coach, called me, ‘Mister, don’t believe what you see in the list because obviously I vote for you.’

        “And a few minutes later I got a message from another national coach, ‘they changed my vote.’Who changed the vote? His federation? FIFA? Who?…It is not a drama. A drama is other things but at that time I said, ‘from this moment I don’t go back’ because obviously something happened.”


        This quote from Mourinho is interesting but assuming FIFA did rig this vote, what would Del Bosque have to do with anything? Maybe it could have been a personal preference of a certain billionaire, debating on funding FIFA in some way, to have Del Bosque win it.

        The FIFA money circle, after all, must be fairly extensive.

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Flex on June 08, 2015, 05:23:51 AM
        Morocco, not South Africa, won 2010 World Cup bid, according to report
        By Louis Bien


        Jack Warner allegedly solicited bribes from multiple countries to secure votes for their 2010 World Cup bids, then stabbed them in the back when South Africa was willing to pay more.

        Former FIFA vice president Jack Warner accepted a $1 million bribe to back Morocco's bid for the 2010 World Cup, but gave his support to the South Africa campaign because it gave him more money, the Telegraph reports. South Africa was awarded the bid despite the fact that Morocco allegedly earned more votes, according to the report.

        Morocco was not the only casualty of Warner's loose morals. The Telegraph reports that sources associated with Egypt's campaign claim Warner was offering seven World Cup selection votes at a price of $1 million each. Egypt did not receive a single vote as a result of what the Telegraph called an attempted "triple cross."

        South Africa's offering was reportedly much more lucrative. One South African newspaper claimed to have a 2007 email of FIFA president Sepp Blatter and South African president Thabo Mbeki discussing an alleged payment of $10 million into Warner's bank account.

        Warner was one of the central figures nabbed in an investigation by the United States Department of Justice that found rampant corruption throughout the highest levels of FIFA leadership. Charges included wire fraud, racketeering and money laundering.

        The World Cup selection process may be the most clear example of FIFA's corruption. Another FIFA executive, Chuck Blazer, admitted he solicited bribes from the South Africa campaign, and the selections of Russia and Qatar for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups have roundly been called into question.

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on June 08, 2015, 07:13:45 AM
        With all the disquiet regarding the bidding process, and discussion about who should get 2022, lost in it is that Morocco has made four attempts over roughly ... what 25 years? ... to host a WC, and might be able to state a reasonable case for consideration as an alternative or ameliorating venue. BUT, having pissed off Hayatou and Sepp by pulling out as host nation for the Africa Cup of Nations (due to Ebola concerns), I doubt they would have received even a glance from Sepp (or support from Hayatou) if Sepp were staying on, and was going to be influential in the process.

        Now, I'm not so sure. With Sepp exiting the stage, who knows.

        However, although Morocco is a CAF nation (and not AFC), one of the things it likely has to factor in is what, if any, potential consequences exist for a breakdown in Qatari-Moroccan relations. One would imagine it can't at present be seen as aggressively trying to derail Qatar.

        It creates an interesting situation because after four WC bids and losing to fellow CAF nation South Affica for 2010 ... apparently unjustly ... Morocco ought to be at the top of the line to host any WC, but is it unlikely another African nation would or could get to host soon after South Africa? Possibly. Not exactly a long span between France '98 and Germany '06.

        In my view doh, of all the nations (including the US), Canada is the nation that's stating and building the most compelling case for hosting 2026. If Morocco wants in, and any policy change occurs regarding Qatar, Morocco is best advised to go that route. 2026 makes sense for Canada hosting.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: davyjenny1 on June 08, 2015, 08:35:17 PM
        This is just another embarrassment for T&T - I'm not really looking forward to all the BS we will see in the media if they try to extradite Warner.
        This extradition process is a long way off. Whoever open the cookie jar maybe that finger may get pointed right back at the source. Many questions to ask; 1990 world cup,1994 world cup, the gold cup and many others. The person who have all the onions on Blatter is Jack as we-all know. Stay tuned for up dated developments as they are put out by the media outlets.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Deeks on June 08, 2015, 10:37:46 PM
        All of them were on the bloody take. The SA WC was a kind of gift to Mandela for the way he handled the transition from the apartheid situation.  It was a new Rainbow nation and all the goodwill that was extended to white South African by the Mandela regime. They convinced everyone to give it to South Africa. Look one set of Euro teams would go to SA and play and all a team would go to see Mandela. I remember AC Milan(we they were Euro top dogs) being hosted by the Mdiba himself. In addition they had hosted the Rugby WC a couple years before.

        But yes, Morocco was always making a bid for the WC for years now. The lost out to Germany(2006). One of their main point is their proximity to Euro. And it is compelling. I am almost sure they would have been the next CAF nation to get it. Who else in Africa can host the WC. Morocco appears to be the most stable country on the continent. Egypt has real issues with the military in charge. For the past two years FIFA had hosted the World Club championships there. That to me was a kind of trial run for their bid. They have a compelling case to be host.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on June 09, 2015, 09:09:28 PM
        Argentine Media Executive Wanted in FIFA Case Surrenders
        By Manuela Mesco And Giovanni Legorano (The Wall Street Journal)


        An Argentine media executive who was indicted by U.S. prosecutors in connection with an alleged bribery scheme involving former and current FIFA officials surrendered to Italian police after being wanted by authorities for two weeks, Italian police said.

        Alejandro Burzaco, the former chairman and chief executive of Argentine media company Torneos SA, turned himself in to police in Bolzano in northern Italy early Tuesday, the police said.

        According to a Bolzano police official and the Italian Interior Ministry, after he surrendered, Mr. Burzaco said he intended to give information on the FIFA scandal. A spokeswoman for the Italian police said Mr. Burzaco was accompanied by three lawyers—one Milan-based attorney and two Spanish-speaking attorneys. The lawyers couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.

        “Alejandro Burzaco surrendered today so he could expedite his arrival in the U.S. to address the charges head on,” said Sean Casey, a lawyer at Kobre & Kim in New York also representing Mr. Burzaco, in an emailed statement. Mr. Casey didn’t immediately reply to requests for additional comment.

        The Argentine media executive issued his latest public statement on Twitter on May 26, saying he was on his way to Zurich to attend FIFA meetings. He wasn’t heard from publicly after the U.S. indictments were unsealed that day. Bolzano is about 200 miles from Zurich.

        At the request of the U.S. government, Interpol issued a so-called Red Notice last week alerting authorities that there was a U.S. arrest warrant for Mr. Burzaco, along with two other Argentine executives and one Brazilian media executive, who are still being sought by law enforcement.

        The U.S. indictment charged Mr. Burzaco, 50 years old, with racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering.

        Mr. Burzaco, who Interpol says has Argentine and Italian citizenship, allegedly played a key role in a suspected $110 million bribery scheme involving top soccer officials to secure broadcasting rights of regional tournaments for his firm, U.S. prosecutors said.When Mr. Burzaco turned himself in, Italian police detained him, but didn’t immediately place him under arrest.

        Later in the day, an Italian judge ordered his arrest, said a spokesman for the Italian Interior Ministry. That judge ruled in favor of a request by Mr. Burzaco’s lawyers to place him under house arrest in a home he rented in the Bolzano area shortly before turning himself in to police Tuesday morning, said the spokesman. The spokesman said Mr. Burzaco would be moved to that home Tuesday evening.

        The U.S. now has to submit an extradition request to the Italians, and an Italian court will decide whether to grant it. However, Mr. Burzaco told Italian authorities on Tuesday that he won’t oppose extradition to the U.S., said the interior ministry spokesman.

        The U.S. Department of Justice declined to comment.

        Mr. Burzaco had close ties to top Argentine politicians and senior soccer officials at Argentina’s national soccer federation, said media executives and lawyers familiar with Mr. Burzaco’s career.

        Torneos, one of Argentina’s biggest sports-marketing firms, fired Mr. Burzaco last week. The Buenos Aires-based company said it was conducting an internal investigation and that it was seeking to assist authorities in their probe into Mr. Burzaco´s case.

        Torneos won most rights to broadcast editions of the Copa America regional soccer tournament and World Cups including last year’s World Cup in Brazil and the Copa America, set to kick off in Chile on Thursday.

        A Torneos official said Mr. Burzaco no longer works for the company and that it wouldn’t be making further comment.

        Argentina’s national soccer confederation declined to comment.
        Title: Fifa: Sepp Blatter's successor could be chosen on 16 December
        Post by: E-man on June 10, 2015, 10:34:01 AM
        Fifa: Sepp Blatter's successor could be chosen on 16 December
        by Richard Conway (BBC)

        Sepp Blatter's 17-year reign as boss of crisis-hit Fifa could come to an end on 16 December.


        The BBC has learned that is the likely date for an emergency meeting in Zurich to decide his successor.
        Representatives from all 209 member associations will be invited to the Swiss city to vote in a new presidential election.

        Blatter, 79, quit as president of world football's governing body just four days after being re-elected last month.

        The Swiss tended his resignation amid two corruption probes of his organisation.

        Seven Fifa officials were arrested on 27 May following a dawn raid on a luxury hotel in Zurich.

        They were among 14 officials and associates indicted by United States authorities on racketeering and bribery charges.

        Swiss prosecutors have also begun a criminal investigation into how the rights for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups were awarded.

        Sarah Rainsford, BBC Moscow correspondent:
        "Jerome Valcke is clearly frustrated he's become the focus of so much speculation in this corruption probe. When I intercepted him, to ask about whether he knew of a $10m (£6.4m) suspected bribe allegedly paid by South Africa to Jack Warner, he called me "a pain" and walked away. But at a press conference later he singled me out to respond. This was, after all, his first public engagement since the whole Fifa crisis broke. So the secretary general mounted a long and passionate self-defence. The funds were not Fifa money, he argued, but from the local World Cup committee in South Africa. As such, he had no responsibility to track where they went. After almost 10 minutes, Jerome Valcke said he would say no more on the matter: "It's closed." But the awkward questions to him - and to Fifa - surely won't stop."

        There is a long list of potential successors for Blatter.

        Among the possible candidates is Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, who lost out to Blatter in last month's election.
        A final decision on the date for a presidential election is not expected to be made until July, when Fifa will hold an extraordinary meeting of its executive committee.

        But it is believed holding an emergency congress in mid-December is Blatter's preferred option.

        That would give him just six months to devise and implement the reforms he has promised before leaving the organisation he has been a part of for more than 40 years.

        Domenico Scala, Fifa's independent head of audit and compliance, outlined last week that the process to replace Blatter would happen between December 2015 and March 2016.

        With the threat of further criminal indictments being handed down from US law enforcement agencies in the coming weeks or months, it appears Blatter has no desire to extend his tenure into 2016.

        Meanwhile, a delegation of Fifa officials, led by secretary general Jerome Valcke, is in Russia, visiting one of the sites for the 2018 World Cup.

        There have been suggestions the tournament could be stripped from the Russians if any wrongdoing is exposed by the new investigation into the bidding process.

        However, Alexei Sorokin, head of the local organising committee, told BBC's HARDtalk that the bid was clean, transparent and "done in accordance with all the practices that are in place in Fifa".
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Flex on June 11, 2015, 02:34:36 AM
        Jérôme Valcke, a Top FIFA Official, Says He Authorized $10 Million Transfer
        By ANDREW ROTH


        AMARA, Russia — The secretary general of FIFA on Wednesday said that he had authorized a $10 million transfer at the heart of a bribery scandal involving soccer’s governing body, but he maintained that he had done nothing wrong.

        During a news conference alongside Russia’s sports minister here, the FIFA official, Jérôme Valcke, also said that the 2018 World Cup in Russia “must be protected” and that bidding for the 2026 World Cup would be temporarily suspended because of the upheaval from the corruption allegations.

        Mr. Valcke is the “high-ranking FIFA official” who American investigators say transferred $10 million to accounts controlled by a regional soccer official in the Caribbean. On June 1, Mr. Valcke said in an email to The New York Times that not only had he not authorized the payment, but he did not have the power to do so.

        FIFA had sought to distance Mr. Valcke from the payment, saying in a statement June 2 that “neither the Secretary General Jérôme Valcke nor any other member of FIFA’s senior management were involved in the initiation, approval and implementation of the above project,” a reference to the soccer development fund in the Caribbean to which the $10 million had been pledged.

        A letter addressed to Mr. Valcke from a South African soccer official about the payments then surfaced, a development that was quickly followed by a surprise announcement from Sepp Blatter, the president of FIFA, that he would resign.

        On Wednesday, Mr. Valcke confirmed that in 2008 he had signed off on what amounted to a $10 million transfer of FIFA funds on behalf of the South African organizing committee of the 2010 World Cup to a Caribbean Football Union account administered by Jack Warner, the former FIFA vice president and one of 14 soccer officials and sports marketing executives who have been indicted by the United States for racketeering and other crimes.

        American authorities say the $10 million, officially designated to help develop soccer in the Caribbean, was the delayed payment of a bribe for the support of Warner and others in the 2004 vote that saw South Africa’s bid win the rights to host the 2010 World Cup. Mr. Valcke has not been indicted or named as a co-conspirator in the case, and on Wednesday he said he had not been questioned by the police.

        Mr. Valcke said that the payment was presented legitimately and that to his knowledge it was not a bribe. In its statement last week, FIFA had said the payment was authorized by the chairman of the finance committee at the time, Julio Grondona. Mr Grondona died last year.

        The American indictment does not say that the official referred to knew that the payment was being used as a bribe. If there was malfeasance, Mr. Valcke said, then responsibility does not lie with him, but with the regional soccer associations that should have tracked the use of the money.

        “Why is this the fault of FIFA when the money is not FIFA’s money, FIFA has no responsibility on this money, it is South Africa’s money, and it was a gift to the African diaspora in the Caribbean,” he said.

        He said that the process was transparent and that he was “amazed that people are jumping on this today.”

        “You’ve decided that, after Blatter, I’m the head to be cut?” he said.

        In a separate announcement, FIFA on Wednesday scheduled elections on Dec. 16 to select a replacement for Mr. Blatter.

        The investigations in the United States and Switzerland into bribery in the World Cup bidding process have raised the question of whether the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar could be moved.

        Mr. Blatter and Mr. Valcke have repeatedly dismissed the prospect, but the head of FIFA’s audit and compliance committee, Domenico Scala, said that if evidence emerged that the hosting rights were awarded based on bribery, then the awards “could be invalidated” by FIFA.

        Mr. Valcke was in Russia for a meeting with the 2018 World Cup Organizing Committee. Samara, a city on the Volga River, is one of 11 sites designated to host the World Cup. Mr. Valcke said that overall planning for the event was on schedule.

        Vitaly L. Mutko, Russia’s sports minister, denounced what he described as a campaign to blacken the reputation of the World Cup, which he said was similar to critical reports in the foreign news media before the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Mr. Mutko insisted there were “no threats” to Russia’s hosting of the 2018 World Cup.

        Despite calls in some quarters to re-examine the bidding for the 2018 World Cup, Russia’s position seems secure. The country has already made a huge financial investment in preparing for the event, and a decision to strip the tournament from Russia would cause havoc on the field as well, because the UEFA qualifying draw for 2018 is set for next month.

        If Russia were not to host the World Cup, the Russian team would have to go through the normal qualifying system, and it would be extremely difficult to alter that process once it has begun.

        In addition, only a handful of countries could host the World Cup on such relatively short notice. Any attempt to place the World Cup with two of the most obvious candidates — the United States and England — would be strongly opposed by supporters of Mr. Blatter, who have accused the two countries of maneuvering to oust him as president and of seeking to take the tournament away from Russia and Qatar.

        Mr. Valcke did say that bidding for the 2026 World Cup would be delayed — the vote was expected in May 2017 — adding that it would be “nonsense” to hold it in the midst of a scandal. But planning for Russia’s World Cup would go on, he said.

        “Whatever is happening at FIFA,” Mr. Valcke said, “the World Cup must be protected.”

        LINK - How the Indicted Officials Fit Into FIFA (http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/05/27/sports/soccer/fifa-indictments.html)

        RELATED NEWS

        FIFA suspends 2026 World Cup bidding amid corruption scandal
        rt.com


        FIFA has suspended the bidding process for the 2026 World Cup. The football organization is weathering the storm of a widening corruption scandal that touches on previous selections of host countries.

        "Due to the situation, I think it's nonsense to start any bidding process for the time being. It will be postponed," FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke told a news conference in the southern Russian city of Samara.

         Potential bidders for 2026 include the US, Mexico, Canada and several European countries. Valcke said the process would not be started anew, it was merely suspended.

        The host for the tornament is expected to be chosen by the 209 FIFA members in May 2017 at a meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Details of the new timetable and rules will be sent to member states soon, Valcke said.

        Samara is one of the World Cup 2018 host venues. Valcke was visiting the city to see how preparations for the finals are going.

        IFA has been mired by a scandal over alleged bribe taking and other forms of corruption. Valcke himself is connected to this.

        Earlier, the BBC published documents allegedly incriminating former FIFA Vice-President Jack Warner of misappropriating $10 million. Warner is among the football executives who were arrested in Zurich in May. US prosecutors alleged the money was paid as a bribe by South Africa to promote its 2010 World Cup bid.

        Valcke, who signed the transfer documents shown by the British broadcaster, said he has nothing to answer for.

        “If you think I am the next person after [ex FIFA President Sepp] Blatter, I say there is nothing to blame me for,” he said. “Don’t blame us for the fact that the transfer happened. Yes, my [signature] was on it. The question is why nobody asked about it at the time. Why should FIFA be responsible for that misappropriation case? That was not FIFA money.”

         Blatter was re-elected FIFA president on May 29 amid the unfolding scandal, only to resign his position several days later.

        He retains the position of acting president until a new election is conducted at an extraordinary FIFA Congress.

        Title: Swiss investigators seize Blatter and Valcke documents in FIFA raid
        Post by: E-man on June 11, 2015, 06:45:16 PM
        Swiss investigators seize Blatter and Valcke documents in FIFA raid
        worldsoccer.com

        Documents seized as probe into 2018 and 2022 World Cup continues.


        Swiss investigators, acting for the attorney-general’s offices, have seized more documents and electronic data from FIFA headquarters in their inquiries into the 2018-2022 World Cup bid scandal.

        The haul is understood to include material from the offices of president Sepp Blatter and the secretary general, Jérôme Valcke, who is under scrutiny over a $10m payment from South African World Cup organisers to the former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner. Authorities in the United States have alleged that this payment was a bribe. Valcke, along with Blatter, denies any wrongdoing.

        Swiss prosecutors and the FBI are looking into the controversial bidding process for the 2018 tournament, to be played in Russia, and the 2022 World Cup, awarded to Qatar.

        Meanwhile, the head of the German FA has called for term limits for the FIFA presidency and suggested the one member, one vote system for FIFA’s 209 associations should be up for discussion. Wolfsgang Niersbach also suggested that preliminary technical reports should be used to remove the weakest candidates for the World Cup.

        “If FIFA had deployed this process then Qatar, with the weakest technical evaluation, would not even have reached the vote,” he said.

        The pressure on FIFA will grow on Thursday when the European Parliament debates a motion for Blatter to step down immediately.

        The motion, which expresses the parliament’s “long-held view” that FIFA is full of “systemic, widespread and persistent fraud and corruption”, says the credibility of football’s governing body will not be restored until Blatter has gone and widespread reforms are instituted.

        Blatter has said he would step down once a successor is chosen – likely to be in December.

        Meanwhile, the Brazil legend Zico has confirmed he intends to stand for the presidency of FIFA, insisting it is his “duty”.

        “It’s sad for our sport to see what is happening in football today – the corruption… and the hard work of many other good people wasted – and I see it as my duty to use my experience and knowledge to try and stand for the presidency,” he said.


        Read more at http://www.worldsoccer.com/news/swiss-investigators-seize-blatter-and-valcke-documents-in-fifa-raid-362710#ySeHw2XTmYKWEA80.99
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on June 15, 2015, 06:21:44 PM
        Blatter could remain as FIFA head, close adviser tells Sky
        Reuters.


        Sepp Blatter could still perform a U-turn on his promise to stand down as FIFA president, a former adviser said on Monday, while FIFA did not directly deny the possibility.

        Klaus Stoehlker, who advised Blatter during the recent election campaign, told Sky News that Blatter could remain head of world soccer’s governing body if a “convincing candidate” to replace him did not emerge.

        FIFA said in a statement that Stoehlker, who was in a meeting when contacted by Reuters and unable to comment, was no longer working with Blatter.

        “Klaus Stoehlker’s mandate from the FIFA President ended on 31 May 2015. The FIFA President would like to point to his remarks from 2 June,” it said, referring to Blatter’s announcement that he would call a new election in which he would not be a candidate.

        English Football Association chairman Greg Dyke does not think Blatter will have a change of heart.

        “I think it (a U-turn) is extremely unlikely. I think it would be very controversial,” Dyke told Reuters

        “There would be a rebellion amongst a lot of people (if he did).”

        However, Blatter has changed his mind in the past. In 2011, he said his fourth mandate would be his last but he stood again this year.

        Blatter was re-elected for a fifth term as FIFA president on May 29 when his opponent Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein withdrew after Blatter had won the first round of voting by 133 to 73.

        Four days later, as corruption allegations continued to batter FIFA, Blatter said he would stand down and call a new election, due to be held between December and February.

        The FBI is investigating bribery and corruption at FIFA, including scrutiny of how soccer’s governing body awarded World Cup hosting rights to Russia and Qatar.

        U.S. Assistant Attorney General Leslie Caldwell noted on Monday that the investigation into FIFA is not shouldered solely by the United States and is instead shared by international law enforcement partners.

        The U.S. Justice Department “has worked closely with the lead FIFA prosecutors to obtain evidence from numerous countries across the globe,” Caldwell said at the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners conference in Baltimore.

        “Far from acting as the world’s corruption police, the United States is part of a formidable and growing coalition of international enforcement partners who together combat corruption around the world.” The confusion surrounding FIFA’s leadership took a new twist on Sunday when the Schweiz am Sonntag newspaper reported that Blatter, 79, may seek to stay on as president.

        The report said Blatter had received messages of support from African and Asian football associations, who voted for him at the election and want him to reconsider his decision.

        Blatter was honoured by the support and had not ruled out remaining in office, the newspaper said, citing an anonymous source close to him.

        Africa’s soccer confederation (CAF) said on Monday that it had not heard of any of its members asking Blatter to stay on.

        “At CAF level we are not aware of any African countries who have written to ask Blatter to stay on,” Kalusha Bwalya, a CAF executive committee member and president of the Football Association of Zambia, told Reuters.

        “We feel it is better to get on with our own work in the meantime and see what everyone has to say in the next months. Everybody is waiting for clarity.”

        “At the moment there are a lot of rumours floating about and everyone is rushing to turn the smallest piece of information into a story.”

        UEFA insiders told Reuters that European soccer’s governing body was left perplexed by the reports that Blatter would stand again and that the plot would be too outrageous even for a Hollywood script.

        Officially, European soccer’s governing body did not want to comment but the German football association (DFB) called on Blatter, who is staying on until the election, to leave quickly.

        “We only know the media reports which strengthen our clear position,” spokesman Ralf Koettker told reporters. “Blatter’s announced resignation must be formally completed as soon as possible.”

        Germany coach Joachim Loew said: “As far as I can speak as a coach, FIFA must have a new structure and there has to be a certain new start because all of this has damaged football, and that was dangerous. I think resigning from a resignation should normally not happen.”

        However, Domenico Scala, the official overseeing the process of choosing a new president, said on Sunday that Blatter’s departure was an “indispensable” part of planned reforms to soccer’s governing body.
        Title: Chuck Blazer agreed to go undercover at Fifa to avoid potential 75-year sentence
        Post by: Tallman on June 16, 2015, 08:20:21 AM
        Chuck Blazer agreed to go undercover at Fifa to avoid potential 75-year sentence
        By Rupert Neate (theguardian.com)


        Former Fifa executive Chuck Blazer agreed to go “undercover” to help the US government expose widespread corruption across world football in order to avoid spending the rest of his life in prison, according to details of his plea bargain made public on Monday.

        Blazer, 70, pleaded guilty to 10 charges, including bribery, money laundering and tax evasion, in 2013. The charges carried a maximum concurrent imprisonment term of 75 years, but Blazer agreed to become an informant for the FBI and US justice department – and collect evidence implicating other Fifa executives – in return for immunity from prosecution.

        The plea bargain agreement reveals that Blazer, who was general secretary of the North and Central American Concacaf governing body, began providing information to the authorities in December 2011 – more than three years before the US government charged 14 current and former Fifa officials with “hijacking” international football to run “a World Cup of fraud” to line their pockets by $150m.

        Blazer, who was a Fifa executive committee member from 1997 to 2013, secretly pleaded guilty in November 2013 in a closed Brooklyn courtroom. According to his plea bargain, which was redacted in parts, Blazer admitted that he, along with other Fifa officials, accepted bribes for voting for South Africa’s bid for the 2010 World Cup and a bribe related to the 1998 World Cup in France.

        “I and others on the Fifa executive committee agreed to accept bribes in conjunction with the selection of South Africa as the host nation for the 2010 World Cup,” he told the judge in the secret court session in November 2013.

        He told the judge his involvement in the acceptance of bribes in connection with the South African bid began “in or around 2004 and continuing through 2011”. In a nod to a wider top-level conspiracy at Fifa, Blazer added: “My actions described above had common participants and results.”

        South Africa won the right to stage the 2010 World Cup in 2004, after missing out on the 2006 tournament to Germany in controversial circumstances.

        Blazer also admitted to accepting bribes related to five Concacaf Gold Cup tournaments between 1996 and 2003.

        In exchange for avoiding jail time, Blazer agreed to “provide truthful, complete and accurate information” to prosecutors and to “participate in undercover activities pursuant to the specific instructions of law enforcement agents”. Blazer also agreed to testify at future trials of his former Fifa colleagues and pay back more than $11m in taxes he avoided.

        The fallout from the US investigation into Fifa has led to an unprecedented crisis for the governance of world football, forcing the dramatic resignation of Fifa’s longtime president, Sepp Blatter.
        Title: FIFA soccer scandal exposes Caribbean’s corrupt underbelly
        Post by: Tallman on June 16, 2015, 08:24:23 AM
        FIFA soccer scandal exposes Caribbean’s corrupt underbelly
        By David Adams (Reuters)


        At a Caribbean anti-corruption conference in the Cayman Islands in March last year, politicians and activists called on regional leaders to create a culture of integrity and transparency with zero tolerance for offenders. It didn’t seem to matter to the organizer that one of the main sponsors was the regional soccer body CONCACAF that was mired in a big bribery scandal.

        That organizer, the University College of the Cayman Islands, trumpeted CONCACAF’s involvement and said the aim of the gathering was “to raise awareness of the potential for corruption and decline in ethical standards across all the various sectors of society, including sports, and the consequent damaging effect on economies and social harmony.”

        Little more than a year later, CONCACAF is at the center of the turmoil engulfing FIFA, soccer’s world governing body, following U.S. prosecutors’ indictment last month of nine current and former officials and five business executives in a $150 million corruption case.

        Of the nine, four were members of CONCACAF, which also represents countries in North and Central America. The two most prominent from the Caribbean were former CONCACAF president Jack Warner, from Trinidad and Tobago, and the man who replaced him in that job - Jeffrey Webb from the Caymans, who was a speaker at the conference. Both had also served as FIFA vice presidents and members of its powerful 24-member executive committee.

        From the tiny Caymans, a British dependent territory, to the larger independent nations of Jamaica and Trinidad, the scandal has left the region facing questions about whether a culture of corruption is embedded in small island politics and society. The abuse of soccer, which has overtaken cricket and athletics in popularity in the region, has become a symbol of that problem.

        "There is a Jack Warner or two in every Caribbean parliament today," said  political scientist Tennyson Joseph at the University of the West Indies in Barbados, noting that poor public services in some islands had opened the door to populist would-be Robin Hoods.

        The scandal also risks damaging the island economies by deterring U.S. and other foreign banks from dealing with banks in the region.

        "Due to compliance requirements it's getting more and more difficult for local banks to find a correspondent bank that will take Caribbean business," said David Jessop, a veteran consultant to the Caribbean Council, a London-based non-profit trade advisory group.

        The indictment details a series of wire transfers between Caribbean banks and U.S. banks, and the U.S. authorities have indicated they will be reviewing such transactions to see if any institutions knowingly facilitated bribe payments.

        BLATTER PRAISED

        FIFA President Sepp Blatter, who announced on June 2 he will step down, is widely regarded in the Caribbean as a hero for championing developing countries, giving them the same power as big soccer playing countries in votes at the annual FIFA Congress and providing funds to develop the sport in the region.

        The corruption questions facing Blatter were “a small price to pay for all the good he has done," wrote sportscaster Orville Higgins in the Jamaican newspaper, The Gleaner last week.

        A number of former soccer officials, even those tainted by this scandal and earlier corruption investigations, have retained political influence.

        Warner, for example, was reelected to parliament in Trinidad despite his resignation as FIFA vice president and CONCACAF president in 2011 after he was the subject of a FIFA probe into his role at a meeting where bribes were paid to officials in the region.

        The U.S. indictment alleges that beginning in the early 1990s, Warner “began to leverage his influence and exploit his official positions for personal gain,” including soliciting and accepting bribes for his executive committee vote in the selection of who would host the FIFA World Cup in 1998 and 2010.

        He has denied the charges and is fighting extradition from Trinidad to the U.S. Warner and his lawyer declined to speak with Reuters for this article.

        His two sons, Daryll Warner, a former FIFA development officer, and Daryan Warner, have pleaded guilty to wire fraud and other financial crimes in the same U.S. case. For Daryan, e the charges largely relate to his obtaining tickets to World Cup games fraudulently and selling them at a substantial profit.

        In 2011, FIFA’s ethics committee investigated dozens of Caribbean soccer officials in what became known as the cash-for-votes scandal, following allegations that representatives of each federation in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) received envelopes stuffed with $40,000 in return for supporting Asian Football Confederation head Mohammed Bin Hammam in that year’s presidential election.

        Ten were sanctioned and five others issued warnings. FIFA initially suspended Jack Warner for his role in helping Bin Hammam but the case against him was dropped by FIFA when he resigned all of his soccer positions.

        Several continue to hold key posts, including Caribbean Football Union president Gordon Derrick of Antigua and CONCACAF Vice President Horace Burrell of Jamaica.

        Burrell was banned for three months from taking part in any football-related activity for apparent violations of FIFA’s code of ethics at the 2011 CFU meeting. Later that year, the committee gave Derrick a reprimand and a fine of 300 Swiss Francs ($322) for code of ethics violations at the same meeting.

        Burrell and Derrick did not respond to requests for comment.

        Burrell, a retired Jamaican army captain, is credited with helping Jamaica's team, known as the 'Reggae Boyz’, qualify for its only World Cup Finals in 1998. A food chain Burrell owns – the Captain’s Bakery – has sponsored some of the lower level leagues, also helping his popularity. He also teamed up with Webb to bring one of the chain's outlets to the Caymans.

        Webb’s arrest stunned many in the Caymans He had built a reputation as an official who could clean up CONCACAF after Warner’s reign, and was seen as a potential successor to Blatter.

        An attorney for Webb declined to comment.

        BLIND EYE

        Experts on Caribbean politics say none of this should be a surprise.

        Joseph from Barbados, pointed to an "under-developed democratic culture" in the Caribbean that could turn a blind eye to public corruption, deemed petty and excusable.

        The Caribbean lacks campaign finance laws creating a "black hole in dealing with corruption," said Trevor Munroe, the region's most prominent political scientist at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica.

        But that could be changing. Legislation before the Jamaican parliament seeks to regulate political contributions for the first time. Another bill would create an independent anti-corruption commission. Similar legislation has also been introduced in Trinidad.

        The scandal has also opened up other fissures in society, such as those between locals and foreigners living in the Caribbean. 

        When the Caymans only daily paper, the Cayman Compass, ran an editorial suggesting Webb was part of a culture of corruption on the small island chain, the publishers were accused of treason by the head of the government.

        Premier Alden McLaughlin suggested the paper's American owners were foreigners with no understanding of the island way of life. The publishers, David and Vicki Legge, saying they didn’t feel safe, fled to South Florida.

        For those running soccer teams in the region it has led to a lot of soul searching.

        "Somewhere along the way historically we have lost the idea of what the role of soccer and sport is in human development," said Renard Moxom, director of the Caymans national soccer teams.  "We need to get back to the real purpose of promoting the game. We really need to protect it. It's in a fragile state right now."

        (Additional reporting by Linda Hutchinson-Jafar in Port of Spain, Horace Helps in Kingston, and Brian Homewood in Zurich; Editing by Martin Howell)
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Socapro on June 16, 2015, 12:26:10 PM
        Blatter could remain as FIFA head, close adviser tells Sky
        Reuters.


        Sepp Blatter could still perform a U-turn on his promise to stand down as FIFA president, a former adviser said on Monday, while FIFA did not directly deny the possibility.

        Klaus Stoehlker, who advised Blatter during the recent election campaign, told Sky News that Blatter could remain head of world soccer’s governing body if a “convincing candidate” to replace him did not emerge.

        FIFA said in a statement that Stoehlker, who was in a meeting when contacted by Reuters and unable to comment, was no longer working with Blatter.

        “Klaus Stoehlker’s mandate from the FIFA President ended on 31 May 2015. The FIFA President would like to point to his remarks from 2 June,” it said, referring to Blatter’s announcement that he would call a new election in which he would not be a candidate.

        English Football Association chairman Greg Dyke does not think Blatter will have a change of heart.

        “I think it (a U-turn) is extremely unlikely. I think it would be very controversial,” Dyke told Reuters

        “There would be a rebellion amongst a lot of people (if he did).”

        However, Blatter has changed his mind in the past. In 2011, he said his fourth mandate would be his last but he stood again this year.

        Blatter was re-elected for a fifth term as FIFA president on May 29 when his opponent Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein withdrew after Blatter had won the first round of voting by 133 to 73.

        Four days later, as corruption allegations continued to batter FIFA, Blatter said he would stand down and call a new election, due to be held between December and February.

        The FBI is investigating bribery and corruption at FIFA, including scrutiny of how soccer’s governing body awarded World Cup hosting rights to Russia and Qatar.

        U.S. Assistant Attorney General Leslie Caldwell noted on Monday that the investigation into FIFA is not shouldered solely by the United States and is instead shared by international law enforcement partners.

        The U.S. Justice Department “has worked closely with the lead FIFA prosecutors to obtain evidence from numerous countries across the globe,” Caldwell said at the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners conference in Baltimore.

        “Far from acting as the world’s corruption police, the United States is part of a formidable and growing coalition of international enforcement partners who together combat corruption around the world.” The confusion surrounding FIFA’s leadership took a new twist on Sunday when the Schweiz am Sonntag newspaper reported that Blatter, 79, may seek to stay on as president.

        The report said Blatter had received messages of support from African and Asian football associations, who voted for him at the election and want him to reconsider his decision.

        Blatter was honoured by the support and had not ruled out remaining in office, the newspaper said, citing an anonymous source close to him.

        Africa’s soccer confederation (CAF) said on Monday that it had not heard of any of its members asking Blatter to stay on.

        “At CAF level we are not aware of any African countries who have written to ask Blatter to stay on,” Kalusha Bwalya, a CAF executive committee member and president of the Football Association of Zambia, told Reuters.

        “We feel it is better to get on with our own work in the meantime and see what everyone has to say in the next months. Everybody is waiting for clarity.”

        “At the moment there are a lot of rumours floating about and everyone is rushing to turn the smallest piece of information into a story.”

        UEFA insiders told Reuters that European soccer’s governing body was left perplexed by the reports that Blatter would stand again and that the plot would be too outrageous even for a Hollywood script.

        Officially, European soccer’s governing body did not want to comment but the German football association (DFB) called on Blatter, who is staying on until the election, to leave quickly.

        “We only know the media reports which strengthen our clear position,” spokesman Ralf Koettker told reporters. “Blatter’s announced resignation must be formally completed as soon as possible.”

        Germany coach Joachim Loew said: “As far as I can speak as a coach, FIFA must have a new structure and there has to be a certain new start because all of this has damaged football, and that was dangerous. I think resigning from a resignation should normally not happen.”

        However, Domenico Scala, the official overseeing the process of choosing a new president, said on Sunday that Blatter’s departure was an “indispensable” part of planned reforms to soccer’s governing body.

        As I have been saying he never resigned and is simply playing a clever chess game.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Sando prince on June 16, 2015, 01:27:26 PM


        https://www.youtube.com/v/oQpxsqf5slg
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on June 17, 2015, 06:15:45 AM
        Statement of the Attorney General of Switzerland at the media conference of 17.06.2015
        Office of The Attorney General of Switzerland.


        The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland OAG has opened criminal proceedings against persons unknown on the grounds of suspicion of criminal mismanagement and of money laundering in connection with the allocation of the 2018 and 2022 Football World Cups. That was on 10th March 2015. The opening of the OAG’s investigation was based on information contained in the GARCIA report as well as on information taken from the mutual legal request from the US Department of Justice DOJ. Later on, we have also received suspicious activity reports from the Swiss Financial intelligence unit, the Money Laundering Reporting Office Switzerland MROS. I will come back to the last point later on.

        We are aware that – as in any criminal investigations - different parties are involved with their specific, not necessarily matching interests. In Switzerland, criminal investigations have to respect the principle of secrecy. This legal requirement aims to uphold the presumption of innocence and, as a general rule, to do the least possible harm to all the parties involved. However, the goal of a classified criminal investigation is also the establishing of facts without any undo interference. In the case of an overriding public interest, the OAG can decide to disclose information to the broad public. The decision to disclose information has to be taken by the OAG respecting the main goals of the ongoing criminal proceedings and in accordance with the basic principles of criminal procedure.

        Based on these general rules, as a principle I never announce the initiating of criminal proceedings or in general, specific measures in an ongoing investigation. However, I do inform the public when there is something that has to be said. I will keep it this way, also in this current investigation. Having said that, I am well aware of the enormous public interest in our investigation. Equally enormous is the public interest in an independent criminal procedure. Our investigation is of great complexity and quite substantial. To give you an example: The OAG has seized around 9 Terabytes of Data. So far, our investigative team obtained evidence concerning 104 banking relations; be aware that every banking relation represents several bank accounts. This implies that the OAG has to process huge amounts of data. At the moment we are analyzing the unsealed and therefore accessible data. Based on this analysis, we define priorities in our investigation.

        I set up a tailor-maid Task Force. The head of the OAG’s white-collar crime division leads this Task Force. You find in that Task Force specialized and experienced prosecutors, experts in mutual legal assistance and a specialized forensic IT team from the Federal Criminal Police. Following the tactical needs of the investigation, the Task Force will be focused or extended.

        We note positively that banks in Switzerland did fulfill their duties to file suspicious activity reports. Partly in addition to the 104 banking relations already known to the authorities, banks announced 53 suspicious banking relations via the Anti-Money-Laundering-Framework of Switzerland.

        The procedure is huge and complex on many levels. I am well aware of that and will act accordingly.The risk of loss of evidence is obvious. Any kind of information on the ongoing investigation provided to the public can boost the danger of suppression of evidence. In this regard the OAG will not put at risk investigations neither in Switzerland nor abroad by any wrong acting or wrong communicating. Let me emphasize: The Swiss investigations are executed independently from the prosecutions of our US colleagues. Therefore, documents and data of our Swiss investigation will not be shared automatically with the US counterpart. The exchange of information has to respect the binding rules of mutual legal assistance.

        In concluding, we are faced with a complex investigation with many international implications. The prosecution is ongoing and will take time. It would not be professional to communicate at this moment a detailed time table. The world of Football needs to be patient. By its nature, this investigation will take more than the legendary 90 minutes. Be assured: The OAG will give priority to this case and will act according to the principles of the rule of law. There will be formal interviews of all relevant people. By definition, this does not exclude interviewing the President of FIFA and / or its Secretary General.

        Thank you very much for your interest in our work. Thank you for your understanding that after this information we will once again focus on our investigation.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on June 20, 2015, 10:15:46 AM
        According to Business Insider, Sepp Blatter has hired this guy (https://www.mcguirewoods.com/People/C/Richard-Cullen.aspx) to handle his stories.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on June 20, 2015, 10:18:25 AM
        FIFA president Sepp Blatter lawyers up, hires high-powered attorney Richard Cullen
        BY Teri Thompson, Christian Red, Nathaniel Vinton (New York Daily News)


        FIFA president Sepp Blatter has retained high-powered attorney Richard Cullen as his organization continues to face big criminal charges.

        Sepp Blatter has hired a big-time lawyer as big-time criminal charges continue to rock FIFA, the world soccer authority Blatter has led for 17 years.

        The Swiss-born Blatter hired high-powered Virginia lawyer Richard Cullen to represent him in the sprawling American corruption probe based out of the Eastern District of New York, Reuters first reported Wednesday afternoon. Blatter has not been charged.

        Cullen comes with white-shoe credentials and friends in high places: He is the chairman of the law firm McGuireWoods and is a former U.S. federal prosecutor. Perhaps more important, Cullen is a close associate of FBI director James Comey, whose agency has led the investigation, including within FIFA’s powerful executive committee.

        Nine FIFA members were among 14 people indicted last month on charges of wire fraud, money laundering and racketeering. Among those charged were several long-serving members of FIFA’s executive committee, which the 79-year-old Blatter chairs. On June 2, four days after he was re-elected to a fifth term, Blatter announced he would step down as FIFA president, but has yet to step aside.

        U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch unsealed the indictment in a packed conference room in the Brooklyn U.S. Attorney’s office on May 27, shortly after a series of arrests and raids by Swiss police in Zurich. Lynch indicated that more charges may come.

        Blatter, who has reportedly also retained top Zurich lawyer Lorenz Erni, was not named in the indictment, but the document describes transactions such as an alleged $10 million bribe that moved through FIFA accounts.

        “Richard Cullen is a very experienced and well-respected attorney who knows his way around the courthouse and the halls of government,” said Daily News legal analyst Tom Harvey. “Blatter scored in my mind by retaining him. But the charges in this case are serious and the facts are the facts.”

        Blatter also faces legal exposure in Switzerland, where FIFA is based, and where Swiss prosecutor Michael Lauber said Wednesday that investigators have identified 53 suspicious bank transactions and could summon Blatter and FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke for questioning. According to reports, Valcke has added his own U.S. counsel, New York defense attorney Barry Berke.

        Prosecutors in the U.S. have issued extradition orders for the defendants named in the indictment and have said they expect more arrests as they continue their investigation. According to the Eastern District indictment, prosecutors have so far uncovered $150 million in bribes stretching over more than two decades.

        A key government informant was longtime FIFA executive Chuck Blazer of New York, who began cooperating with the probe in late 2011 and kept his cooperation secret until last November, when the Daily News first revealed the Eastern District’s grand jury probe and Blazer’s extensive assistance.

        Blazer pleaded guilty to a wide range of crimes during a sealed proceeding in Brooklyn on Nov. 25, 2013. He has yet to be sentenced and is likely to serve as a witness against his former colleagues if they go to trial.

        Cullen, the Virginia attorney general from 1997-98, has represented a host of government officials who have found themselves in high-profile criminal investigations. According to a bio on his firm’s website, Cullen represented Tom DeLay, a Texas Republican and former majority leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, during the investigation into corrupt Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff. DeLay was not charged. Cullen also represented Ken Melson, who was pushed out of his job as acting director of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), but did not face charges, after a botched anti-gun-smuggling operation known as “Fast and Furious.” Cullen represented CIA and U.S. Defense Department officials in an investigation into interrogation techniques dating to the George W. Bush administration.

        “As the saying goes,” Harvey said of Blatter’s new attorney, “the presumption of innocence commences with the payment of a retainer, and I am sure the retainer was substantial.”
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on June 23, 2015, 07:37:01 AM
        Diego Maradona to stand as candidate for Fifa presidency, say reports
        The Guardian (UK).


        Diego Maradona has decided to stand as a candidate for the Fifa presidency to replace Sepp Blatter, the Uruguayan journalist and author Victor Hugo Morales has said.

        Morales said that Maradona had told him of his intention when he called the former coach of the Argentina team to check on the condition of his sick father on Sunday.

        “He told me he was going to run for president of Fifa and authorised me to inform,” Morales posted in Spanish on his Twitter feed. “‘I am a candidate’ were the two words Diego Maradona used to answer me when I consulted him about the nomination for the presidency of Fifa,” he added in another tweet.
        Sepp Blatter’s contradictory comments on Fifa reform bemuse Uefa
        Read more

        Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro, suggested this month that Maradona become the next Fifa president. The former Argentina captain, 54, has long been a trenchant critic of Blatter and last month said he was “enjoying” the corruption scandal that led the Swiss to announce he would stand down.

        Like the Brazilian Zico, another great former player who has announced his candidacy, Maradona might struggle to get the support of federations from five countries, as required under Fifa statutes.

        The Liberia Football Association chairman, Musa Bility, is the other candidate announced so far for a ballot likely to take place later this year or in early 2016.

        Morales is famous around Latin America for his passionate commentary of Maradona’s wonder goal against England at the 1986 World Cup. Maradona led Argentina to their second World Cup triumph in that tournament. The pair hosted a TV show together for the Venezuelan station, TeleSUR, during last year’s World Cup in Brazil.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on June 23, 2015, 07:44:34 AM
        Musa Bility: Liberia FA boss to stand for Fifa presidency
        By Piers Edwards and Sammy Darko (BBC Africa Sport).


        Liberia FA chairman Musa Bility has announced plans to stand for the presidency of Fifa, saying it is Africa's time to lead world football. The 48-year-old is the second person to declare his candidacy after former Brazil international Zico.

        "Africa is the largest voting bloc in Fifa and we must take the lead to bring football together," said Bility.
        "We all agree that football is facing a difficult moment and it is in difficult moments that great leaders emerge."

        Bility, who has led the Liberian FA since 2010, becomes only the second African to make a bid to become Fifa president. Current Confederation of African Football (Caf) president Issa Hayatou lost to Sepp Blatter in the 2002 presidential elections.

        On 2 June, 79-year-old Blatter announced he would step down as president amid allegations of corruption among Fifa officials. Last month, US authorities indicted 14 Fifa officials and associates on bribery and racketeering charges while Swiss prosecutors are probing alleged corruption surrounding bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

        Bility may be little known to most outside of Africa, but the Liberian is no stranger to making bold calls.

        He broke ranks with most of his African colleagues in 2011 by declaring he would vote against Blatter, who had been instrumental in bringing the previous year's World Cup to the continent for the first time, in that year's Fifa elections.

        Bility said Blatter's then challenger, Qatari Mohamed Bin Hammam, offered a "better platform" for football development in Liberia. A year later, the Liberian businessman stood alone when contesting controversial rule changes within Caf that ultimately allowed president Hayatou to be re-elected unopposed.

        In 2013, Caf handed Bility a six-month ban for violating statutes relating to the use of confidential documents - a punishment the Liberian claimed came as a result of his attempt to tackle African football's ruling body.

        Nonetheless, he thinks his outspoken past will help him in his surprise bid.

        "People know me to be bold, upright, outspoken and highly opinionated," he told BBC Sport. "I say it like it is. When it's not right, I don't back down and I think that has gained me some respect."

        Bility has yet to receive the backing of the five football associations needed to put him in the race but is confident he will secure them.

        "I have spoken to about half a dozen of the presidents of African football and I have their support - you can see the excitement," he said.

        "If I have one reason to believe that Africa is not going to stand by me, I am not going to put up my candidacy."

        Fifa has called an extraordinary meeting of its Executive Committee for July, when the date for the presidential elections will be decided - they are expected between December 2015 and March 2016.

        Key points of Musa Bility's plans for Fifa

        - Wants the current Fifa crisis to be dealt with in transparent fashion
           
        - Wants an improvement in both the financing and ease for Fifa's poorer members to receive development funds

        - Wants a reduction in the power of the 24-person Executive Committee
           
        - Intends to re-establish Fifa's agreed 10-year relationship with Interpol

        - Aims to redefine Fifa's partnerships with sponsors
           
        - Wants all officials who join Fifa to declare their assets before joining the organisation
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Deeks on June 23, 2015, 11:49:18 AM
        - wants FIfa not to select candidates who are MPs in their countries.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Tiresais on June 26, 2015, 06:51:21 AM
        Sepp Blatter says he has not resigned as Fifa president.
        BBC News

        The 79-year-old Swiss was thought to have ended his 17-year reign on 2 June amid claims of corruption in world football's governing body.

        But, according to Swiss newspaper Blick,  Blatter told a party at a Fifa museum: "I did not resign. I put myself and my office in the hands of the Fifa congress."

        Blatter is thought to be considering standing for re-election as president.

        Two criminal investigations into alleged Fifa corruption began in the week that Blatter was elected for a fifth term in charge.

        Four days after being voted president, Blatter - who is reportedly under investigation in the United States - said: "While I have a mandate from the membership of Fifa, I do not feel that I have a mandate from the entire world of football.

        Play mediaJump media playerMedia player helpOut of media player. Press enter to return or tab to continue.
        Blatter resigns as Fifa president

        "Therefore, I have decided to lay down my mandate at an extraordinary elective congress. I will continue to exercise my functions as Fifa president until that election."

        However Blatter did not use the words 'resign' or 'resignation'.

        Meanwhile, Blatter may not attend the final of the Women's World Cup in Canada because of the twin investigations into Fifa by American and Swiss authorities.

        He would normally present the trophy to the winning team, but Fifa will not confirm whether Blatter or secretary general Jerome Valcke will attend.

        A Fifa spokesperson said: "In terms of the Fifa president and the Fifa secretary general, their future travel plans will be confirmed in due course."
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Socapro on June 26, 2015, 07:30:07 AM
        Sepp Blatter says he has not resigned as Fifa president.
        BBC News

        The 79-year-old Swiss was thought to have ended his 17-year reign on 2 June amid claims of corruption in world football's governing body.

        But, according to Swiss newspaper Blick,  Blatter told a party at a Fifa museum: "I did not resign. I put myself and my office in the hands of the Fifa congress."

        Blatter is thought to be considering standing for re-election as president.

        Two criminal investigations into alleged Fifa corruption began in the week that Blatter was elected for a fifth term in charge.

        Four days after being voted president, Blatter - who is reportedly under investigation in the United States - said: "While I have a mandate from the membership of Fifa, I do not feel that I have a mandate from the entire world of football.

        Play mediaJump media playerMedia player helpOut of media player. Press enter to return or tab to continue.
        Blatter resigns as Fifa president

        "Therefore, I have decided to lay down my mandate at an extraordinary elective congress. I will continue to exercise my functions as Fifa president until that election."

        However Blatter did not use the words 'resign' or 'resignation'.

        Meanwhile, Blatter may not attend the final of the Women's World Cup in Canada because of the twin investigations into Fifa by American and Swiss authorities.

        He would normally present the trophy to the winning team, but Fifa will not confirm whether Blatter or secretary general Jerome Valcke will attend.

        A Fifa spokesperson said: "In terms of the Fifa president and the Fifa secretary general, their future travel plans will be confirmed in due course."


        What have I been saying all along? Many people have been deluding themselves about this.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Deeks on June 26, 2015, 09:22:34 AM
        Let Blatter play with words that I eh resign, etc. When the time and he eh step down. We will see fireworks. trust me!
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Peong on June 26, 2015, 06:41:43 PM
        Blatter fraid they produce a surprise arrest warrant when he steps off the plane.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on June 28, 2015, 02:47:46 PM
        Sepp Blatter told to end speculation surrounding FIFA presidency
        By Graham Dunbar (The Associated Press).


        Stop flirting with the FIFA presidency and say for sure you are going.

        Sepp Blatter got a clear message on Sunday from FIFA election monitor Domenico Scala to end speculation he wants to stay in office.

        "The times of flirting with the power are definitely gone," Scala said in a statement at the end of a week in which Blatter's toying with the word "resign" suggested the president of world football's governing body planned to hang on despite a growing corruption crisis.

        "I call on all concerned — including Mr. Blatter — to endorse in the interest of the reforms unequivocally the announced changing of the guard at the top of FIFA," Scala said.

        Blatter announced his planned exit on June 2 amid a crisis provoked by American and Swiss federal investigations of alleged bribery, racketeering and money laundering, implicating senior FIFA officials.

        Three weeks ago, the newly re-elected FIFA leader insisted he would not be a candidate in a fresh ballot to be held between December and March.

        However, Blatter has since fueled talk of a U-turn at FIFA by saying he technically did not resign.

        Blatter's choice of words is that he "laid down his mandate" which a special election congress of FIFA's 209 member associations will reallocate within months.

        The wordplay has provoked Scala, chairman of FIFA's independent audit and compliance committee, to send a clearer message.

        Earlier this month, Scala used more diplomatic language when he said that "it is clearly indispensable to follow through with the initiated process of leadership change as it has been announced."

        Blatter and Scala are working together on a slate of modernizing reforms which could be approved at the election congress to be held in Zurich.

        In an interview with Blatter published on Saturday by Swiss daily Walliser Bote, the outgoing FIFA president said early 2016 was a realistic date for the election.

        Blatter repeated to his local newspaper that he would not be a candidate, and felt it "liberating" to decide to leave FIFA after 40 years.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on June 28, 2015, 03:14:39 PM
        Costa Rica's Li retains home support as lawyer calls US case a 'legal absurdity'
        Mark Baber (InsideWorldFootball.com).


        The lawyer for Eduardo Li, president of Costa Rica’s Football Federation and a CONCACAF and FIFA executive committee member, has described the case against his client as a “legal absurdity” saying there is no evidence his client took bribes or participated in a criminal enterprise. Li was picked up in the Swiss police swoop on FIFA executives prior to the congress in Zurich last month.

        The US indictment claims that Li “together with others, did knowingly and intentionally devise a scheme and artifice to defraud FIFA, CONCACAF, and FEDEFUT and their constituent organizations, including to deprive FIFA, CONCACAF, and FEDEFUT and their constituent organizations of their respective rights to honest and faithful services through bribes and kickbacks, and to obtain money and property by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises.”

        The indictment then claims that to execute this scheme did “together with others” organise the “Wire transfer of $27,500 from Traffic USA’s account at Citibank in Miami, Florida, to a Wells Fargo correspondent account in New York, New York, for credit to an account in the name of Federación Costarricense de Futbol at Banco Lafise in Costa Rica.”

        The indictment also accuses Li of requesting and accepting a “six-figure bribe” from Traffic in exchange for agreeing to award Traffic media rights for World Cup matches, an accusation which seems to be at least partly based on the testimony of an unnamed Traffic executive, who is now presumably cooperating with US prosecutors.

        Li’s attorney in Costa Rica, Jose Miguel Villalobos, who is in contact with Li’s Swiss representatives said his client was fighting extradition because he is guilty of no crime and that he is not in negotiations with US prosecutors.

        Villalobos has said that US prosecutors either misunderstand how Costa Rica football works, by incorrectly assuming the national football federation accounts are the same as Li’s personal accounts, or are unfairly trying to pressure his client to lie and implicate others.

        FEDEFÚTBOL has stuck by Li, showing local authorities a copy of the agreement signed between Li and Traffic on behalf of the federation. Acting President Jorge Hidalgo has said that the $27,500 was part of a regular payment made by Traffic Sports USA to FEDEFÚTBOL according to the contract negotiated by Li granting the company exclusive broadcast rights to Sele games leading up to the 2018 World Cup.

        “This is neither a bribe nor has the Federation issued a check to Eduardo,” Hidalgo told local media, adding, “It’s obvious that the American authorities were mistaken.”

        Unfortunately for Li, US prosecutors, who effectively act as judge and jury in most cases (with only 3% of cases going to trial), work by “persuading” defendants to admit guilt or implicate others in return for far more lenient sentences than they would receive if they refused to cooperate and went to trial in a bid to maintain innocence. This being one of the reasons that many thousands of US prisoners and up to 4% of those on death row are widely considered to be innocent.

        The US does have an extradition treaty with Switzerland and, with the arrests, has already proved that it can exercise serious political muscle in the country. Those arrested can be held for 40 days before they go before a Swiss court for an extradition hearing. At which point evidence will have to be produced proving there are legal grounds for extradition.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: E-man on June 30, 2015, 02:19:27 PM
        FIFA's Sepp Blatter will not attend women's World Cup final in Canada
        Reuters


        FIFA President Sepp Blatter will not travel to Vancouver for the final of the women's World Cup on July 5 and has told organizers that personal reasons will prevent him from going, a U.S.-based lawyer for Blatter said on Tuesday.

        FIFA President Sepp Blatter will not travel to Canada for the final of the women's World Cup on July 5 for personal reasons, a U.S.-based lawyer for Blatter said on Tuesday.

        Senior executives of Zurich-based FIFA were charged with corruption on May 27 by prosecutors in the United States over bids for major soccer tournaments dating back 24 years and involving up to $150 million in purported bribes.

        Blatter came under pressure to step down, and he announced on June 2 that he would do so. U.S. prosecutors have not accused Blatter of wrongdoing but his stewardship of world soccer's governing body is under scrutiny, sources familiar with investigations in the United States and Switzerland have said.

        "He's not going to go to the finals in Canada," said the lawyer, Richard Cullen. "He has informed the organizers of that and cited personal reasons." Cullen said that FIFA Senior Vice President Issa Hayatou of Cameroon would preside at the trophy ceremony after the final in Vancouver instead.

        This will be the first time Blatter has not presented the trophy to the winners of the women's competition, which is held every four years, since he became FIFA president in 1998.

        Blatter, the self-styled "godfather of women's football," said before the tournament began on June 6 that he was looking forward to being in Canada.

        The tournament's semi-finals will be contested by the United States and Germany on Tuesday and England and Japan on Wednesday.

        Investigations by U.S. and Swiss authorities also include scrutiny of how FIFA awarded World Cup hosting rights to Russia and Qatar for the 2018 and 2022 men's tournaments.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Flex on July 03, 2015, 01:59:00 AM
        US files formal extradition request for 7 FIFA officials.
        T&T Express Reports.


        GENEVA (AP) — The United States has submitted a formal request for Switzerland to extradite seven FIFA officials arrested in Zurich as part of a corruption probe that has rocked soccer's world governing body.

        Switzerland's Federal Office of Justice said Thursday that the requests were received from the U.S. embassy in Bern. The expected demands submitted late Wednesday met a 40-day deadline since the seven were detained early May 27 in raids on a luxury hotel in FIFA's home city.

        All seven men detained in Zurich, including three current and former members of FIFA's executive committee, have already objected to extradition. They face around 20 years in prison.

        The widening American investigation already alleges bribery and racketeering worth more than $150 million involving high-ranking FIFA officials over a 24-year span.

        The U.S. Department of Justice published an indictment of 14 soccer and marketing officials in May which alleged bribery linked to awarding broadcast rights for international tournaments in North and South America.

        "These crimes are thought to have been agreed and prepared in the USA, and payments were allegedly routed through US banks," the Swiss justice ministry said in a statement Thursday.

        The seven will be heard by Zurich cantonal (State) police and granted a 14-day period to respond to federal officials about the extradition request, the Swiss justice ministry said.

        Swiss justice officials will then rule "within a few weeks" on whether to extradite them. That ruling can be appealed to Switzerland's top criminal court and supreme court.

        The seven men include FIFA vice president Jeffrey Webb of the Cayman Islands and Eugenio Figueredo of Uruguay, who was arrested two days before his FIFA vice presidential term expired.

        Costa Rican soccer federation president Eduardo Li was arrested two days before he was due to formally join FIFA's executive committee.

        Former Brazilian federation chief Jose Maria Marin led the 2014 World Cup local organizing committee and is a member of the FIFA panel organizing the men's and women's tournaments at next year's Olympic Games.

        The others are Venezuela FA chief Rafael Esquivel; FIFA staffer Julio Rocha, a development officer from Nicaragua; and Costas Takkas, a Briton who works for CONCACAF President Webb.

        The other seven men among the 14 indicted include disgraced former FIFA vice president Jack Warner of Trinidad and Tobago, and former FIFA executive committee member Nicolas Leoz of Paraguay, the longtime former president of South American governing body CONMEBOL.

        Warner and Leoz, who left FIFA in 2011 and 2013, respectively, to avoid sanctions for unethical behavior, are fighting extradition to the U.S. from their home countries.

        A further four men have entered guilty pleas which were unsealed in May. They include American former FIFA executive panel member Chuck Blazer and two sons of Warner.

        The indictment revealed that Blazer admitted being part of a $10 million bribe scheme with Warner for supporting South Africa's successful bid to host the 2010 World Cup. A third South American FIFA voter was also involved, Blazer alleged.

        FIFA has acknowledged that its secretary general Jerome Valcke helped transfer the money through its accounts at South Africa's request. FIFA and Valcke said the cash was believed to be for soccer projects for the African diaspora in the Caribbean, and was approved by Julio Grondona of Argentina, the chairman of FIFA's finance committee who died last year.

        American law enforcement officials have confirmed that FIFA President Sepp Blatter is a target of the investigation which is expected to bring more indictments.

        "Whoever accuses me of being corrupt has to prove it to me first," Blatter said in extracts of an interview released Wednesday by German weekly magazine Bunte. "But nobody can do that because I'm not corrupt."

        Blatter said June 2 he would leave office within months, as pressure built from the American case and a separate Swiss federal investigation focused on possible money laundering linked to the 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosting awards to Russia and Qatar, respectively.

        Blatter cannot be extradited from his native Switzerland to the U.S. without his consent.

        Still, he and Frenchman Valcke risk arrest in many countries. They did not travel to New Zealand for the Under-20 World Cup final played June 20 and will not go to Canada for the Women's World Cup final in Vancouver on Sunday.

        Blatter was re-elected for a fifth four-year term on May 29, then announced his planned FIFA exit four days later.

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Flex on July 04, 2015, 05:09:36 AM
        Webb named among 7 to be extradited
        T&T Express


        The United States has asked Switzerland to extradite seven FIFA officials arrested in an investigation into a global bribery scandal at football’s governing body, the Swiss Federal Office of Justice (FOJ) said on Thursday.

        The move marks the start of a legal process expected to last several months during which the officials, who have been in jail since their detention on US arrest warrants in May, will either keep fighting extradition to the United States or agree to go. The arrests of the seven, including two then-members of FIFA’s executive committee, took place in a raid on a luxury Zurich hotel on May 27, two days before FIFA’s annual congress, pitching the organisation into turmoil.

        US prosecutors say their investigation—which is running parallel to a separate Swiss inquiry—exposes complex money laundering schemes, millions of dollars in untaxed incomes and tens of millions in offshore accounts held by FIFA officials.

        The seven were among 14 people charged in cases involving more than US$150 million in bribes over a period of 24 years. Those being held in Switzerland include Jeffrey Webb, the former president of FIFA’s Americas confederation CONCACAF, and Eugenio Figueredo, who sat on the executive committee at the time of their arrest.

        The FOJ said it would rule on the extradition requests within a few weeks, based on statutory hearings and the responses of the FIFA officials.

        Edward O’Callaghan, a New York-based lawyer representing Webb, declined to comment on the extradition request and a lawyer for Figueredo did not respond to requests for comment.

        The US Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Under a bilateral treaty, US authorities had up to 40 days to file an extradition request -- by July 3. All seven of the officials had previously said they would contest extradition.

        Proceedings under the treaty are relatively straightforward, even if the defendants have the right to appeal along the way, legal experts say. If the FOJ orders extraditions, defendants may appeal to Switzerland’s Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona.

        The detainees were provisionally banned by FIFA’s own ethics committee following the arrests. FIFA has said that it is cooperating with the investigation.

        A Swiss court last month rejected one official’s request to be released on bail, citing the risk he might flee.

        Rafael Esquivel, 68, the former head of the Venezuelan Football Association, is among the seven FIFA executives held since the Zurich arrests. At a news conference on Thursday, the interim head of the association said Esquivel’s lawyers had received the extradition request on Wednesday and were already moving to block it.

        Esquivel is represented by a group of lawyers led by Gorka Villar, the son of Spanish Football Federation president and FIFA executive committee member Angel Maria Villar.

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on July 07, 2015, 02:55:44 AM
        Harold Mayne-Nicholls handed seven-year ban by Fifa’s ethics committee
        By Owen Gibson (The Guardian, UK).


        Fifa’s ethics committee has banned Harold Mayne-Nicholls, the Chilean who led the inspection teams for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, for seven years. He ranked Qatar’s as the only “high risk” option of the nine bidders yet it went on to controversially be chosen as the host of the 2022 tournament.

        The former head of the Chilean football association, who also at one stage considered standing against Sepp Blatter for the Fifa presidency, was being investigated over an email exchange with the head of Qatar’s Aspire Academy. During the bidding process, Mayne-Nicholls asked if his sons might be able to train there at his expense and also inquired about opportunities for his brother-in-law, a tennis coach. Nothing came of the exchange and yet now Mayne-Nicholls has been banned for seven years.

        Mayne-Nicholls was one of five football officials against whom cases were opened in the wake of the publication of a controversial summary of Michael Garcia’s report into World Cup bidding. Garcia subsequently resigned as head of the investigatory arm of Fifa’s ethics committee in protest at the way his 430-page report had been summarised.

        The remaining outstanding cases are against Spain’s Fifa vice-president Ángel María Villar Llona, Thailand’s Worawi Makudi and Franz Beckenbauer, who has since retired from Fifa.

        Mayne-Nicholls was incredulous that he was being investigated given that he was critical of Qatar’s suitability in his final report and that nothing came of the exchanges with Aspire.

        “For me it’s really strange that [the ethics committee] are losing energy, money and time over such an investigation but those are the rules and I have to follow them,” he said last year.

        Meanwhile, the former German president Christian Wulff has rejected allegations by Blatter that he tried to exert political pressure before the World Cup was awarded to Russia and Qatar. “The statement by Mr Blatter regarding former President Christian Wulff is false,” Wulff’s office said in a short statement.

        Blatter, who has said he will stand down as Fifa president in December after the organisation became implicated in criminal investigations in the US and Switzerland, this weekend said Wulff and the former French president Nicolas Sarkozy had tried to influence their voting representatives before the World Cup was awarded to Russia and Qatar.

        In an interview with the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag, Blatter added: “Therefore, we now have a World Cup in Qatar. The people who decided this should also take responsibility,” Blatter was quoted as saying.

        “Messrs Sarkozy and Wulff tried to influence their voting representatives. That’s why we now have a World Cup in Qatar,” Those who decided it should take responsibility for it,” said Blatter, who added he was tired of taking the blame for something he had no control over.

        “I act on the leadership principal. If a majority of the executive committee wants a World Cup in Qatar then I have to accept that,” Blatter said.

        He suggested that the German football federation (DFB) received a recommendation from Wulff “to vote for Qatar out of economic interests”.

        The former DFB president Theo Zwanziger wrote in his book that Wulff had asked about Qatar’s chances but he denied it had had any influence. Beckenbauer, an executive committee member at the time, has never indicated which country he voted for.

        It has long been claimed that Sarkozy leaned on Michel Platini, the Uefa president, to back Qatar in order to boost French trade links with the tiny Gulf state. But Platini has always insisted the decision was his alone and also denied any link with his son getting a job with a Qatar-owned sportswear firm.

        Blatter has repeatedly referred to the European vote winning the day for Qatar in a bid to put pressure on the Uefa lobby that opposed his re-election. What is undeniable is that it was European votes that helped Qatar defeat the USA in the final round of voting and that Sarkozy subsequently travelled to Doha to call for the World Cup to be moved to winter.

        A combative Blatter also refused to accept any responsibility over the mistreatment of migrant workers in Qatar.

        “Look at the German companies!” he said before naming railway and construction firms. “Deutsche Bahn, Hochtief and many more had projects in Qatar even before the World Cup was awarded.”

        And although Fifa insiders have moved to try and quell suggestions that he may try and stay on as president, Blatter left no doubt that he was trying to engineer a succession.

        “I’m there now to fight. Not for myself but for Fifa,” said Blatter, who added he was on the right path and had no doubts. “Self-doubt is a leader’s greatest enemy.”
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on July 07, 2015, 03:11:45 AM
        Mayne-Nicholls was interviewed recently on the BBC programme World Football. Having listened to it then, hmmm ... Form your own conclusions.

        http://iono.fm/e/182042
        Title: Jeffrey Webb reported to have agreed extradition to US
        Post by: Tallman on July 10, 2015, 04:44:45 PM
        Jeffrey Webb reported to have agreed extradition to US
        theguardian.com


        Jeffrey Webb, one of seven Fifa officials arrested in Zurich in May, has agreed to be extradited and face corruption charges in the United States, the Bloomberg website has reported.

        Webb is expected in federal court in New York within several days, according to a Bloomberg source.

        Webb, based in the Cayman Islands, became Concacaf president, a Fifa vice-president and exco member in May 2012, after Jack Warner resigned following a scandal over payments.

        He was seen as a potential successor to Sepp Blatter for the Fifa presidency but the US indictment has accused him of brazen corruption, being paid bribes that went into building a swimming pool at his house. The bribes are alleged to have been paid by the sports marketing company Traffic USA, in return for being awarded TV and marketing rights for the Caribbean countries’ qualifying matches in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

        Switzerland’s Federal Office of Justice said the suspect would be handed to the US authorities within 10 days, adding “the person didn’t wish to be named at the moment”. Webb’s lawyer declined to comment as did a spokeswoman for the US attorney’s office in Brooklyn.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on July 16, 2015, 06:02:18 AM
        Webb was extradited yesterday.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on July 19, 2015, 01:08:06 PM
        FIFA to decide day to replace Sepp Blatter as president
        Sky Sports News


        The most powerful officials in world football are gathering in Switzerland for an extraordinary meeting to decide the date of the election to replace Sepp Blatter as FIFA president.

        FIFA's Executive Committee will meet at FIFA headquarters on Monday morning to discuss a date, and wider reform, after Blatter announced his intention to leave his position.

        His decision came four days after his re-election in May, and nearly a week after seven FIFA officials were charged by the United States authorities over alleged corruption.

        Blatter has not been charged with any wrongdoing.

        Top executives will hold informal talks on the eve of the meeting inside the five-star Baur au Lac hotel, where the cheapest room is nearly £600-a-night.

        FA vice-chairman David Gill will attend the meeting, his first official role as a FIFA vice-president, after he previously refused to sit on the same committee as Blatter.

        Gill, who replaced Jim Boyce in May, remains hostile towards Blatter’s presidency, and the FA demands structural reform.

        "The reform programme cannot be left in the hands of Blatter," FA chairman Greg Dyke told Sky Sports News HQ ahead of the meeting. "We don't like him. This is a man who is probably in a state of shock. He was triumphant. He was going to run FIFA for the next four years, and actually gave it up after four days. FIFA is an organisation that has been corrupted over 40 years."

        Domenico Scala, the FIFA executive overseeing the election process, has declined to confirm or deny whether he intends to run for presidency, and is understood to have privately played down 'speculation' over his future plans.

        Scala issued a statement last month and said: "The times of flirting with the power are definitely gone. I call on all concerned - including Mr Blatter - to endorse in the interest of the reforms unequivocally the announced changing of the guard at the top of FIFA."

        The Premier League has also called for urgent reform at world football's governing body.

        "You sit there with some despair, really," Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore told Sky Sports News HQ during this month's Asia Trophy in Singapore. "It is the game you love, and the world governing body is going through such turmoil. Who is holding the organisation to account? Things have got to change; we know things have got to change. Let us hope the change is going to be made to bring some sort of impact to the game."

        Blatter intends to travel to Russia for the World Cup preliminary draw, which takes place in St Petersburg on Saturday, in his first trip outside Switzerland since he announced his intention to stand down as FIFA president.

        Video (http://www.skysports.com/football/news/12010/9917806/fifa-to-decide-day-to-replace-sepp-blatter-as-president)
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on July 19, 2015, 01:14:06 PM
        Jeffrey Webb pleads not guilty for part in FIFA corruption scandal
        Sky Sports News


        Jeffrey Webb has been released on bond after entering not guilty plea

        Former FIFA vice president Jeffrey Webb pleaded not guilty in a New York court on Saturday in connection with a massive international corruption scandal.

        Webb, 50, agreed to be released from custody on a £6.4m bond, and he has relinquished his passport to the FBI as well as agreeing to staying within a 20 mile radius of the US federal court in Brooklyn.

        He is the first former official from football's governing body to appear in a New York court in connection with the sweeping international scandal that has rocked the sporting world.

        FIFA president Sepp Blatter decided to step down from his role, after being re-elected in early June, admitting his mandate from world football did not feel complete.

        Webb was flown to New York from Switzerland earlier this week, the only one of seven FIFA officials arrested in Zurich not to contest extradition.

        His wife, a US citizen, her parents and grandmother signed his bond papers in court. Six other members of Webb's extended family will also sign his bond application.

        In all, 14 defendants stand accused of soliciting and receiving more than £96m in bribes and kickbacks across 24 years.

        US Attorney General Loretta Lynch unveiled the 47-count indictment in May, charging soccer officials and marketing executives with racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies.

        Besides serving as FIFA vice president, Webb was president of the Cayman Islands football association as well as CONCACAF, which oversees the sport in North and Central America and the Caribbean.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on July 20, 2015, 12:59:05 PM
        Fifa announce presidential election will be held in February 2016
        By Owen Gibson (The Guardian, UK).


        Sepp Blatter has begun the race to see him replaced as Fifa president, setting the election for February next year as Michel Platini emerged as his most likely successor.

        The sense of farce surrounding the scandal-hit body intensified when the prankster Lee Nelson, posing as a “North Korean World Cup bidding delegate”, showered the longstanding Fifa president with fake dollar bills seconds before his press conference was due to begin. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jX-poua7TdU)

        Nelson, whose real name is Simon Brodkin, has previously ambushed Kanye West at Glastonbury and posed as a member of the England football team. As the bills fluttered to the floor, Blatter appeared momentarily bemused before calling for the auditorium to be cleaned.

        Appearing before the press for the first time since he promised to step down amid a spiralling corruption scandal, he returned to announce a “reform taskforce” that he insisted would restore Fifa’s credibility.

        “I am still alive. After the tsunami on 27 May that came to Zurich, the waves have not taken me away. I am still here,” he said, referring to the dawn raids on the Baur au Lac hotel and the US indictments that followed.

        Following speculation Blatter would attempt to make a U-turn and stay on as president, the 79-year-old unequivocally vowed to stand down.

        “I will not be a candidate for the election in 2016,” he said, joking that he planned to become a radio journalist covering global politics. “There will be a new president. I can’t be the new president, because I am the old president.”

        The announcement came as it looked increasingly likely Uefa’s Platini would stand for the role. David Gill, the FA director who reversed his decision to resign from the Fifa executive committee after Blatter promised to go, praised Platini.
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        “My own personal view is that Michel has done a first-class job at Uefa. He has not officially put his name forward yet, but he is a football man, he has the experience and, like any good leader, he has a lot of good people around him because you cannot do it alone.”

        On the reform programme promised by the outgoing president, Gill said: “There are a lot of good ideas and many of them echo what the FA has been proposing for some time. It’s important that the recommendations are taken to the congress in February to ensure Fifa does really start on a new beginning.”

        However, reform campaigners argued that Fifa’s proposals were not an acceptable response.

        Platini held talks at the Baur au Lac on Sunday night with the Bahraini Asian Football Confederation president, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa, and Kuwait’s well-connected Fifa executive member, Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah.

        Platini, who has received backing from four confederations but not from Africa and Oceania, is understood to be weighing up his options and will take further soundings at the World Cup draw in St Petersburg on Saturday.

        “He has been pleased to hear a lot of words of support from some of the world’s leading football decision-makers,” said a Uefa spokesman. “He has been impressed by the fact that many people could see him as a possible successor.”

        Other potential candidates include the South Korean Chung Mong-joon, the Confederation of African Football president, Issa Hayatou, the former Brazil international Zico and the South African anti-apartheid campaigner Tokyo Sexwale.

        The election will take place eight months and 25 days after Blatter promised to step down following the dramatic US indictments against 14 football executives on charges including money laundering, fraud, tax evasion and racketeering.
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        The US investigation and a parallel Swiss probe into the awarding of the 2018 Russia World Cup and the 2022 tournament in Qatar are ongoing .

        Candidates will have until 26 October to announce whether they plan to stand under Fifa election rules but Platini, a former ally of Blatter who later fell out with his one-time mentor, is expected to clarify his plans in the coming weeks.

        As revealed by the Guardian, Domenico Scala – the head of Fifa’s audit and compliance committee – who has been put in charge of the reform process by Blatter, proposed the introduction of term limits, centralised “integrity checks” and transparency on pay and expenses at Fifa and its member confederations and associations.

        Blatter said the executive committee had approved the creation of a new taskforce to be headed by a neutral chairman. But the plans, the latest in a long line of reform promises, are unlikely to appease anti-corruption watchdogs and campaigners who believe the governance agenda should be separated from the election process and led by an external, respected figure.

        If Platini decides to stand, he will inevitably face renewed questions over his support for Qatar’s successful 2022 World Cup bid.

        Meanwhile, campaign groups including Transparency International are calling for an independent reform process led by a respected external figure. Coca-Cola last week became the first major sponsor to call for a wide ranging overhaul.

        Jaimie Fuller, the founder of the sportswear brand Skins that is backing the NewFifaNow campaign for independent intervention, said it would be a mistake to focus on the presidential election as the vehicle for reform.

        “This is not a Sepp Blatter problem, it’s a cultural problem within Fifa,” he said. “The problem is way bigger than the president. I don’t believe Platini or anybody else has the ability to go in and see what needs to be done.”

        Six of the seven executives arrested in May remain in custody in Zurich awaiting extradition hearings. Jeffrey Webb, the former Concacaf president and Fifa vice-president, has pleaded not guilty to corruption charges.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on July 20, 2015, 01:09:22 PM
        Michel Platini receives further backing to stand as Fifa presidential candidate
        The Guardian, UK.


        Michel Platini could announce as early as this week that he will stand for Fifa president after receiving backing from four out of the six confederations.

        The 60-year-old Uefa president has yet to make a final decision but sources say Asia has swung behind Europe, South America and Concacaf in supporting Platini to succeed Sepp Blatter.

        Platini held talks in Zurich on Sunday night with the Asian Football Confederation president, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa, and as significantly with Kuwait’s Fifa executive member Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah of Kuwait.

        Both men are key to the Frenchman’s chances of success – Al-Sabah is viewed as the most important broker in the International Olympic Committee and together with Salman should be able to swing 46 countries behind him, enough to secure a majority.

        Platini has long-held links with Kuwait – in 1988 at the invitation of the Emir of Kuwait he came out of retirement to make a guest appearance for the Arabic country in an exhibition match against the USSR, playing 21 minutes.

        Platini’s decision will rest on his personal feelings – he has in the past questioned whether he wants to give up his involvement with Uefa, and its influence over European football, in exchange for Fifa.

        Platini would be the clear favourite for Fifa however, and were he to win then Germany’s Wolfgang Niersbach would be a likely successor for the Uefa presidency.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Sando prince on July 28, 2015, 03:05:33 PM
        THE OPPORTUNIST WAS JUST WAITING FOR THE RIGHT OPPORTUNITY. Europe will soon be in control. See all the development happening in African and Asia don't be surprised if that comes to a gradual end soon  :)

        http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20150728/sports/michel-platini-will-run-for-fifa-president
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: E-man on July 28, 2015, 05:15:05 PM
        Sepp Blatter deserves Nobel Prize, says Russian President Vladimir Putin
        BY ESPN STAFF


        Russian President Vladimir Putin believes FIFA chief Sepp Blatter is innocent of corruption, and even deserves a Nobel Prize.

        Putin, whose country will host the 2018 World Cup, met Blatter before the event's preliminary draw on Saturday and said the leader of the football's under-fire world governing body had his respect.

        "We all know the situation developing around Mr Blatter right now," Putin said in an interview with Swiss broadcaster RTS. "I don't want to go into details but I don't believe a word about him being involved in corruption personally.

        "I think people like Mr Blatter or the heads of big international sporting federations, or the Olympic Games, deserve special recognition. If there is anyone who deserves the Nobel Prize, it's those people."

        The Nobel Peace Center announced last month that it would stop working with FIFA on the joint fair-play "Handshake for Peace" initiative after the corruption allegations that rocked world football.

        Blatter will step down as FIFA president in February, a decision he made in June following the bribery scandal that has led to the indictments of top FIFA officials. Blatter himself has not been indicted and denies any wrongdoing.

        FIFA's awarding of the World Cup to Russia, a country with a history of civil rights violations and which is currently involved in armed conflict with Ukraine, was one of many reasons that the U.S. justice department turned it's gaze toward football.

        The scandal put some doubt over whether the World Cup will stay in Russia, and Putin has previously criticised the U.S. for overstepping its bounds.

        He hit back at the U.S. again on Monday, implying that the Americans were trying to reopen the voting so they could host an upcoming World Cup instead.

        "The way there is this fight against corruption makes me wonder if it isn't a continuation of the bids for 2018 and 2022," Putin said.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Sando prince on July 28, 2015, 05:25:32 PM

        Platini coming. Kiss the the one country, one vote goodbye  ;)
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on August 17, 2015, 03:36:55 AM
        FIFA Official Agrees to Extradition, Just Not to U.S.
        By Rebecca R. Ruiz (The New York Times).


        A FIFA official indicted by the United States on corruption charges has agreed to be extradited, but not to the United States. The official, Julio Rocha, the former president of the Nicaraguan soccer federation, consented to be extradited from Switzerland to Nicaragua, Swiss officials said Friday.

        Mr. Rocha, 64, was among the seven FIFA officials arrested in May in Zurich, where they had gathered for FIFA’s annual congress. Accused of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes from sports marketing firms in connection with the sale of media rights to soccer matches, he has been in a Swiss jail since.

        The United States filed a request to extradite the seven officials in July, and Nicaragua filed its own request specific to Mr. Rocha last week, the Swiss authorities said.

        “The Nicaraguan criminal prosecution authorities, like their U.S. counterparts, suspect Rocha of having abused his office for personal gain,” Folco Galli, spokesman for the Swiss Federal Office of Justice, wrote in an email.

        The United States authorities will be given the opportunity to consent or object to Mr. Rocha’s extradition to his home country, Mr. Galli said. The United States attorney’s office for the Eastern District of New York, which brought the case against Mr. Rocha, declined to comment on Friday.

        If the United States objects to Mr. Rocha’s extradition to Nicaragua, the Swiss authorities will decide which country’s request should be granted. Consideration would be given to the timing of the two requests, the Nicaraguan citizenship of Mr. Rocha and where the suspected offenses took place, Mr. Galli wrote.

        The bribes said to have been paid to Mr. Rocha were transmitted through banks in Brazil; Miami; Managua, Nicaragua; and Madrid, according to the United States’ indictment. Mr. Rocha conspired with fellow defendants regarding bribe payments at meetings in Miami as recently as February 2014, prosecutors said.

        He continued to solicit illegal payments, the United States has charged, even after he stepped down as head of his country’s federation in 2012. Since 2013, he has served as a FIFA development officer based in Panama, overseeing soccer development in Central America.

        Only one of the six other officials with whom Mr. Rocha was held in jail has been extradited to the United States: Jeffrey Webb. On Friday, Mr. Webb, a resident of the Cayman Islands who owns property in the United States, appeared in federal court in Brooklyn for a procedural hearing. His next court date was set for Oct. 9.

        Two other defendants, Aaron Davidson and Alejandro Burzaco, businessmen accused of paying bribes to Mr. Rocha and Mr. Webb, are also in the United States and are set to appear in court on Sept. 18. Excluding Mr. Rocha, 10 men remain abroad, in countries including Brazil and Trinidad and Tobago; several are actively contesting the United States’ efforts to extradite them.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on August 17, 2015, 03:40:07 AM
        FIFA Names François Carrard to Lead Reform Committee
        The Associated Press


        GENEVA — FIFA has named François Carrard, who helped oversee a cleanup at the International Olympic Committee after the Salt Lake City bidding scandal, as the chairman of a group that will propose reforms for soccer’s corruption-plagued governing body.

        Carrard, a former director general of the I.O.C., was chosen Tuesday to lead a team of 12 officials picked by the six continental soccer confederations, plus two chosen by World Cup sponsors.

        The selection of Sheik Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah of Kuwait, a new FIFA executive committee member, as a member of the reform team confirmed his growing influence in world soccer.

        By including sponsors in the project, FIFA acknowledged its growing anxiety after the indictments of 14 soccer officials and marketing executives and guilty pleas by four others this year in a United States government investigation into racketeering and bribery in international soccer.

        “It’s a very big crisis,” Carrard said in a conference call with reporters. “The objective is to get acceptable reforms to the world and to restore FIFA’s credibility.”

        Carrard set a mid-September date for the panel’s first meeting and acknowledged that a Sept. 24-25 meeting of FIFA’s executive committee in Zurich was a “very tight” deadline for a report.

        Carrard, a Swiss lawyer, was the I.O.C.’s director general for 14 years until 2003, a period that included the scandal that led to the expulsions or resignations of 10 committee members connected to Salt Lake City’s winning bid for the 2002 Winter Games.

        The scandal prompted the committee to enact reforms, including the creation of an ethics commission, the introduction of term and age limits and a ban on visits by members to bid cities.

        Reform proposals being discussed for Sepp Blatter’s successor as FIFA president and for executive committee members include term limits, the publishing of salaries and stricter vetting of candidates.

        Carrard’s team includes three members of FIFA’s executive committee, whose integrity has been questioned in the past. Amid skepticism by World Cup sponsors and FIFA critics that his task force would lack both independence and figures from outside of soccer, Carrard said input from confederation officials would be “an asset.”

        Although Carrard praised previous FIFA anticorruption advisers led by Mark Pieth, a Swiss law professor, for providing “pillars” for his panel, he suggested that people from within the sport could achieve more.

        “At some point these outsiders are sitting on the clouds,” he said. “You have to be in the eye of the storm and moving the reforms with the people inside.”

        Carrard will choose up to five people to form an advisory board that will review his proposals.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on August 17, 2015, 03:44:50 AM
        Brazilian Implicated in FIFA Case Remains Free, Unlike Many Others
        By Rebecca R. Ruiz (The New York Times).


        Some are sitting in jail in Switzerland, while others are under house arrest in places including New York and Asunción, Paraguay. But of the 14 people indicted in May in a far-reaching corruption case within world soccer, only one remains a free man.

        José Margulies, 75, has not had his daily routine disrupted in São Paulo, Brazil, in a country whose constitution forbids the extradition of its citizens unless they are accused of trafficking drugs or of committing crimes that predate their Brazilian citizenship.

        “He’s living in Brazil as a free man because, according to Brazilian law, it’s impossible to charge him,” said Jair Jaloreto, Mr. Margulies’s lawyer. “He’s old and sick, and he mostly prefers to stay home with his wife.”

        Mr. Margulies has heart disease and diabetes, Mr. Jaloreto said. He was, however, on vacation in Germany when United States officials indicted him in May, according to Mr. Jaloreto; he returned to Brazil soon after and has not left since.

        As other countries have done with the implicated FIFA officials and business executives who live within their borders, Brazil has begun its own investigation into the United States’ allegations against Mr. Margulies. He was indicted on four counts of racketeering conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy, based on allegations that he, as a broadcasting executive, helped arrange illegal payments between marketing executives and soccer officials.

        But Brazil’s inquiry is expected to take at least a year, Mr. Margulies’s lawyer estimated, and in the interim he will remain free.

        “Without a judicial order, it’s impossible to arrest him,” said Antonio Sergio Pitombo, a lawyer with the Moraes Pitombo firm in São Paulo. But while extradition is unlikely, he said, it is not impossible. Mr. Pitombo suggested that under the Palermo convention, which relates to organized crime and corruption, the Brazilian authorities could agree to send Mr. Margulies to the United States temporarily to testify, requiring that he be returned to Brazil afterward.

        Mr. Margulies — who according to prosecutors also goes by José Lazaro, a “nickname,” according to his lawyer — was born in Argentina. He became a Brazilian citizen in 1973, decades before activities that led to the charges began. He also holds Polish and Argentine citizenship.

        The federal police in Brazil did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

        “It’s extremely common for countries all around the world to put in place protections for their own nationals,” said Rebecca Niblock, an extradition lawyer with Kingsley Napley in London, noting that Russia uniformly refuses to extradite its nationals and that Switzerland, too, offers its citizens strong protections.

        Though six of the indicted FIFA officials remain in Switzerland, where they were arrested, they are not citizens of that country. Another official, Jeffrey Webb, the former president of a regional soccer confederation, was also arrested there, but he consented to extradition and was arraigned in federal court in Brooklyn last month. Mr. Webb is out on bail in New York, as is Alejandro Burzaco, a marketing executive who turned himself in to the authorities in Italy.

        Elsewhere, several defendants are fighting extradition but have been arrested by local authorities who are carrying out their own investigations. Among them is Nicolas Léoz, who is under house arrest in Paraguay while that country continues its own inquiry into the charges against him.

        Ms. Niblock said it was not unexpected that Brazil’s investigation of Mr. Margulies might extend into next year while he remained free. “An investigation like this one would be immensely complicated, and a year would be perfectly reasonable,” she said.

        In the interim, Mr. Margulies is immune to arrest only if he remains in Brazil, and international authorities are on alert. In June, Interpol issued so-called red notices for Mr. Margulies and five other defendants, telegraphing that they are wanted by the United States authorities.

        On Friday, Pietro Calcaterra of Interpol confirmed that the notice for Mr. Margulies was still in effect, meaning if he were to travel outside of Brazil, the United States authorities would be notified upon his arrival in another country.

        Interpol is also still on watch for Jack Warner, a former FIFA vice president and a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago. Mr. Warner, too, has largely continued about his daily life in that country, where he is active in politics. But, unlike Mr. Margulies, Mr. Warner was arrested and required to surrender his passport before posting bail.

        Edward Fitzgerald, a lawyer representing Mr. Warner, did not immediately reply to a request for comment. The United States attorney’s office for the Eastern District of New York declined to comment.

        “Mr. Margulies is still wanted by the F.B.I,” Kelly Langmesser, a spokeswoman for the Federal Bureau of Investigation in New York, said Friday. “He’s a wanted fugitive, and we still have a poster out for him.”
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on August 17, 2015, 03:54:21 AM
        Updating the legal status of the 14 soccer and sports marketing officials charged in the FIFA corruption case
        By Rebecca R. Ruiz (The New York Times).


        Charged in the United States

        Jeffrey Webb, President of Concacaf, one of the six regional confederations that compose FIFA, and a vice president of FIFA.

        Webb, 50, pleaded not guilty on July 18 at an arraignment in United States District Court in Brooklyn to charges that he had solicited bribes to parcel out lucrative soccer media and marketing deals. Webb, who was arrested in Switzerland in May, was released on a $10 million bond secured by a mix of real estate holdings owned by him, his wife and other relatives; bank accounts; cars; and expensive watches and jewelry. He has been provisionally banned from all soccer-related activities by FIFA’s ethics committee.

        Aaron Davidson, president of Traffic Sports USA, a promoter of soccer events, and chairman of the board of the North American Soccer League.

        Davidson, 44, pleaded not guilty in Brooklyn federal court and was released on a $5 million bond secured by several real estate properties. Prosecutors told the judge in the case in July that Davidson was in talks for a plea deal, but no such deal has emerged. Davidson has been provisionally banned from soccer by FIFA and suspended from any role in the N.A.S.L.

        Alejandro Burzaco, president of the sports media company Torneos.

        Burzaco pleaded not guilty on July 31 to charges that he had paid bribes to top soccer officials in order to secure lucrative media and marketing contracts. Burzaco had surrendered to the Italian authorities after being declared a wanted person by Interpol in June. He and Webb are the only defendants who have been extradited to the United States. His bail was set at $20 million, twice the amount that secured Webb’s release.

        In Custody

        Eugenio Figueredo, former president of Conmebol, the South American soccer federation; Eduardo Li, president of the Costa Rican soccer federation; Julio Rocha, president of the Nicaraguan soccer federation; Costas Takkas, former president of the Cayman Islands soccer federation; Rafael Esquivel, president of the Venezuelan soccer federation; José Maria Marin, former president of Brazil’s soccer federation.

        These six men, and Webb, were arrested by the Swiss authorities in May at their luxury hotel in Zurich, where they had gathered for FIFA’s annual congress. While Webb has been extradited, the other six remain in custody in Switzerland. All have been provisionally banned from all soccer-related activities by FIFA’s ethics committee. Rocha has consented to extradition — to Nicaragua. Swiss officials are expected to decide whether to send him there, or to the United States, which requested extradition in July.

        Released on Bail

        Jack Warner, former president of Concacaf and former vice president of FIFA.

        Warner, who resigned from FIFA in 2011 amid an earlier ethics scandal, turned himself in to the police in his native Trinidad and Tobago in June. A judge read out the charges against him and released him on bail of about $400,000. He must report in to the authorities regularly as a condition of his release, but has so far been able to delay his extradition, even though the United States made a formal request on July 22. He has repeatedly, defiantly and, at times, comically professed his innocence.

        Under House Arrest

        Nicolás Leoz: former president of Conmebol and former member of FIFA executive committee.

        A judge in Paraguay ordered the detention of Leoz, 86, who had been receiving medical treatment for high blood pressure. Leoz, too, has been provisionally banned from soccer by FIFA.

        Hugo Jinkis and Mariano Jinkis (father and son), and president and vice president of the sports media company Full Play International.

        After the FIFA scandal broke, an Argentine judge quickly issued arrested warrants for Hugo and Mariano Jinkis, and that country’s tax authorities said they had opened an investigation into tax evasion. They turned themselves in to the police on July 18 after Interpol raided their company’s offices and issued red alerts for their arrest. Hugo, 70, and Mariano Jinkis, 40, are reportedly under house arrest.

        Arrest Warrant Issued

        José Margulies, sports media executive.

        Margulies was charged by the United States as an intermediary who facilitated illegal payments, reportedly in exchange for an annual commission. Margulies, 75, remains listed as “wanted” by Interpol, but because of Brazilian law he has not been arrested.

        (as of August 8, 2015)
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on August 17, 2015, 04:11:10 AM
        (http://fotos2013.cloud.noticias24.com/juadx63.jpg)

        On August 4, Nicaraguan authorities formally charged Julio Rocha with money laundering and unjust enrichment (criminal in the context of the Nicaraguan law, rather than civil) in the Sixth District Criminal Court of Managua.

        According to the charging documents, the State, the financial system and the Nicaraguan federation were identifed as the victims of the offences charged. Subsequently, the Nicaraguan authorities reached out to Interpol to secure Rocha's arrest (for Nicaragua; they are of course cognizant of the US interest in extradition to the US).

        The August 4 proceeding was not made public until this past weekend. In fact, although Nicaragua formally requested Rocha's extradition from Switzerland, Nicaraguan authorities did not share with the Swiss that local proceedings against Rocha had been initiated.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on August 18, 2015, 10:38:06 AM
        Chung Cannot Bank on Support of Japan, Says FIFA's Tashima
        By Reuters


        KUALA LUMPUR — South Korean FIFA presidential hopeful Chung Mong-joon cannot bank on the support of neighbouring Japan, FIFA executive committee member Kozo Tashima told Reuters on Tuesday.

        Tashima said he was pleased his good friend Chung was standing for president, but suggested Japan would instead vote at the Feb. 26 election for Michel Platini to head world football's governing body.

        "Of course as the same region, east Asia, we are so proud to have a candidate for FIFA (president)," the Japanese official told Reuters on Tuesday on the sidelines of an Asian Football Confederation conference.

        "We haven't decided who we will vote for, we should consider all candidates and the manifestos, what he is doing, what he has done."

        AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa last week declared his support for Platini. Around 30 to 35 of the AFC's 46 members traditionally vote in unison with Salman, and Tashima said it was always important for Japan, one of the region's wealthiest members, to be united with the rest of the confederation in electing leaders.

        Chung, a former FIFA vice-president, launched his bid to succeed Sepp Blatter on Monday in Paris, the home of UEFA President Platini.

        Frenchman Platini is favourite to win the election and take charge of the scandal-hit governing body.

        "We should discuss within the AFC. Sheikh Salman has already recommended Michel Platini," former Japan international Tashima told Reuters.

        "The AFC decided to support Blatter last time even against our very good friend Prince Ali as a candidate," he added, referring to May's FIFA election where the Swiss beat Jordanian Prince Ali bin al Hussein after receiving the support of Salman.

        Ex-Brazil player Zico, former Trinidad and Tobago midfielder David Nakhid and Liberian FA chairman Musa Bility have also said they are running in the election, while Ali and South African Tokyo Sexwale are considering taking part.

        Tashima said it was vital that whoever won the election brought about big changes in the running of the sport otherwise the body had no future.

        He said he wanted to hear more about plans to abolish the executive committee from Domenico Scala, the independent chairman of FIFA's Audit and Compliance Committee.

        U.S. prosecutors indicted nine football officials, most of whom had FIFA positions, and five marketing and broadcasting company executives, in May over a range of alleged offences, including fraud, money-laundering and racketeering.

        Blatter was re-elected for a fifth term as FIFA president on May 29, but four days later said he would lay down his mandate amid the worst crisis in the body's history.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on August 19, 2015, 02:23:37 AM
        FIFA Election: Chung paints Platini as Blatter insider
        by Paul Kennedy (Soccer America).


        Chung Mong Joon is an old hand when it comes to FIFA politics -- he served on the executive committee for 17 years and helped South Korea win the right to co-host the 2022 World Cup with Japan -- but he is running as an outsider in his bid to replace Sepp Blatter as FIFA president. His strategy is to paint favorite Michael Platini as an insider and too close to Blatter and the corruption scandal that has engulfed FIFA.

        "Recently, Platini said Blatter is his enemy," the 63-year-old billionaire whose family controls the industrial giant Hyundai, said, "but we know the relationship was like mentor and protege, or father and son."

        Platini, the UEFA president, was an outspoken critic of Blatter in recent presidential campaign, supporting Prince Ali of Jordan, who had ousted Ching from the FIFA executive committee in 2011.

        Chung launched his presidential bid in Paris.

        "Michel Platini was a great football player,"he said, "and he is my good friend. His problem is he does not seem to appreciate the seriousness of the corruption crisis at FIFA."

        Chung, 61, blamed Blatter for FIFA's problems and promised to serve only one term, long enough to clean up the organization.

        "The real reason FIFA has become such a corrupt organization is because the same person and his cronies have been running it for 40 years," said Chung. "If I'm elected I will serve only one term, four years. I can change FIFA in four years."

        Chung said the new FIFA president should be a crisis manager and reformer.

        "The core issue of the coming election is whether the 40-year-old system of corruption should continue or not," he said. “Organizations begin to corrupt and the leader thinks he is indispensable.”

        In the world of FIFA politics, enemies become friends and friends later become enemies. In 2011, Blatter supported Prince Ali in his successful to unseat Chung from the FIFA executive committee. Four years later, Prince Ali ran against Blatter for FIFA president.

        Chung, who holds degrees from MIT and Johns Hopkins, has unsuccessfully run for president of South Korea (2002) and mayor of Seoul (2014). His greatest achievement in soccer was as head of South Korea's bid to host the 2002 World Cup.

        Japan was the heavy favorite with a head start on its Asian rival, but South Korea eventually pulled even in a race so heated that FIFA decided to allow Japan and South Korea to co-host the event.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on August 23, 2015, 06:03:49 AM
        Zico gets praise from Asia but not Fifa vote for presidential elections
        Marcus Mergulhao (Times of India).


        Asian football, particularly Japan, recalls with fondness the role played by Zico in its development but just about nobody is willing to part with their nomination for the Fifa president's post.

        Ever since long-serving Fifa president Sepp Blatter surprisingly announced that he will quit his post and fresh elections were called, a raft of candidates have put their hand up. Leading the race is UEFA president Michel Platini, followed by former Fifa vice president Chung Mong-joon. And even though Zico has openly declared he intends to stand for the presidency, getting the required backing of five federations that would allow him to stand could be tough.

        The Brazilian legend and FC Goa chief coach is hopeful of securing the four nominations -- with Brazil guaranteeing him of a nomination if he gets the other four -- from countries where he has worked in the past. Japan remains an obvious choice but Fifa executive committee member and Japan FA vice-president Kozo Tashima remained non-committal.

        "Japan got recognition as a leading football nation globally only after Zico took charge of our national team. Previously, it was not possible (for us) to play friendlies against top ranked nations like England, Argentina and Germany.

        "It goes without saying that the Japanese national team has been successfully transformed (after playing top teams). Zico (as coach) encouraged the national teams' players to be self-reliant and strong mentally," Tashima told TOI.

        Asked specifically about the nomination for Zico, Tashima said "any matters related to Fifa presidential election would not be commented at the current moment."

        Tashima's silence, and even those from other Asian countries where Zico has worked previously, including Iraq, Uzbekistan, Qatar and even India, is understandable.

        AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has declared his support for Platini and just about nobody is ready to break ranks, at least openly.

        "It's easy for someone to vote for a Fifa presidential candidate but extremely difficult to hand over a nomination. A vote after all is secret but a nomination becomes public knowledge. Nobody will want to invite the wrath of the AFC when the president himself has announced that the confederation is backing Platini," said a high-ranking Asian football official.

        Frenchman Platini is favourite to win the election and take charge of the scandal-hit governing body.

        Besides Platini, Chung, the 63-year-old billionaire major shareholder of the industrial giant Hyundai, and Zico, former Trinidad and Tobago midfielder David Nakhid, Liberian FA chairman Musa Bility and South African Tokyo Sexwale are also considering throwing their hat in the ring.

        Zico will officially announce his campaign intentions on August 31 and then travel to Dubai for FC Goa's pre-season training.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on September 09, 2015, 10:44:45 AM
        Prince Ali back in the race to be FIFA president
        By Suleiman Al-Khalidi (Reuters).


        Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan is back in the race to be elected FIFA president having declared his candidacy on Wednesday four months after losing May's vote to Sepp Blatter.

        Prince Ali, 39, announced in a speech in the Jordanian capital that he would run again for the top job at world soccer's governing body.

        “Friends I stand here in this ancient place in the timeless heart of Amman to once again launch my candidacy for the Presidency of Fifa,” Prince Ali said.

        “Let me be clear, I want to finish what we started,” he added.

        “We have come too far to walk away now. I have thought long and hard on this, I believe in the road we started, I believe in the moments I shared with people all over the world, who told me their hopes and dreams.”

        Prince Ali is the third heavyweight to declare following UEFA chief Michel Platini of France, and former Asia vice-president Chung Mong-joon of South Korea.

        He also said in his declaration speech that his campaign will depend on reforming the organization.

        “It is only through new leadership that FIFA can change I do not believe that FIFA can give this sport back to the people of the world without new leadership, untainted by the practices of the past.

        “Since the last election, I have thought long and hard about how to reform FIFA. It will be a difficult task. We must overcome deep-seated corruption and political deal making.

        “I will not be a pawn for others. I cannot leave the field that I have cleared, only to allow a flawed system to continue.

        “To Member Associations of FIFA I say, you are the backbone of football and FIFA should serve you. FIFA will not be run as the personal fiefdom of an all-powerful clique.”

        WORST CRISIS

        Ali lost by 133-73 votes to incumbent Blatter in the election on May 27 before the Swiss announced he was standing down from the position four days later after FIFA was plunged into the worst crisis in its 111-year history following arrests of its officials and others two days before the election.

        A fresh election to find a successor to Blatter will be held in Zurich on Feb. 26 and Ali will again campaign on an anti-corruption, reform program.

        Backed by Platini in May's election, Ali now faces him as an opponent in the race, describing the Frenchman as a "Blatter protege" who is not the man to lead FIFA into a new era of transparency and democracy.

        Ali has already defeated Chung in an election when he took his Asian vice-presidency seat on the FIFA executive committee in 2011 which ended the Korean's 17-year stint at FIFA's top table.

        Ali subsequently lost his place on the FIFA executive earlier this year.

        Speaking at the Soccerex global convention in Manchester this week, Ali said: "I have tremendous respect for Mr Platini both as the UEFA president and a former footballer but at the same time there is a difference between UEFA and FIFA.

        "FIFA is in a crisis and we need a new beginning and, whether anyone likes it or not, Michel Platini's introduction into football governance was as a protege of Sepp Blatter. That's the reality.

        "I have sat down and talked with him, I have listened to his ideas and I think it's my responsibility to at least guarantee the future is different from the past and therefore I was not very encouraged by Michel Platini."

        He was equally dismissive of Chung, saying: "The important thing is to have a new beginning and to have new ideas and therefore any candidate who has been in the organization for a long time is not what is needed at this time."

        Ali confounded many observers by forcing a second round of voting in May's election after denying Blatter an outright two-thirds winning margin in the first round.

        However, it is hard to see him collecting so many votes again, especially if UEFA members back their president Platini and the Asian confederation also throws its weight behind the Frenchman.

        Candidates with nominations from five national associations must officially register their declarations with FIFA by Oct. 26.

        Liberian FA president Musa Bility, former Brazilian footballer Zico and David Nakhid, a former Trinidad & Tobago international, and all lightweights in FIFA political circles, have also said they are standing for the position.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on September 09, 2015, 10:50:12 AM
        (http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2015/9/8/1441721143181/5adee6bd-5f01-4c58-a5ef-a5304df95dc0-1222x2040.gif)

        http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/sep/09/paddy-power-ad-sepp-blatter-fifa
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on October 07, 2015, 02:55:23 PM
        A FIFA ethics panel has recommended that Sepp Blatter be suspended for 90 days. Reports indicate that a final decision will be rendered on Friday.

        However, based on comments from Mr. Blatter's attorney, the FIFA action has not been communicated formally.

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Sando prince on October 07, 2015, 05:30:39 PM

        (https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/12065691_10208140360776584_6634408096496380850_n.jpg?oh=608c70020a7178c9af309002605433ed&oe=569DD1CD)
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on October 08, 2015, 05:24:46 AM
        Sepp Blatter, Michel Platini and Jérôme Valcke suspended for 90 days
        By Owen Gibson, The Guardian


        • Swiss’s reign as president all but over after 17 years
        • Michel Platini’s ambitions as good as ended after sanction


        Sepp Blatter’s 17-year reign as the Fifa president is all but over after the ethics committee provisionally banned him for 90 days before the February election.

        The Uefa president, Michel Platini, who was the favourite to succeed his mentor-turned-rival until he too become embroiled in corruption allegations, has been handed an identical sanction, as good as ending his Fifa presidential ambitions.

        Both have been under extreme pressure since the Swiss attorney general, Michael Lauber, opened a criminal investigation into allegations Blatter mis-sold a World Cup TV rights contract to the disgraced former Fifa official Jack Warner in 2006 and made a “disloyal payment” of £1.3m to Platini in 2011. Blatter and Platini deny any wrongdoing.

        In addition, the Fifa secretary general Jérôme Valcke, who has already been put on leave for a duration of 90 days, has now been banned for 90 days. Fifa said in a statement: “The duration of the bans may be extended for an additional period not exceeding 45 days.”

        The former Fifa vice-president Chung Mong-joon, who had threatened to sue Blatter while claiming that he was being targeted on spurious grounds by the ethics committee to force him out of the race to succeed the president, has been banned for six years and fined £67,000. “The bans come into force immediately,” said Fifa.

        The move represents the latest stage in the slow-motion collapse of the Fifa house of cards since US prosecutors sent the organisation spiralling into crisis in May, though the extent to which Fifa remains mired in chaos is reflected in the fact that Issa Hayatou, the senior Fifa vice-president, is next in line to take over from Blatter.

        Hayatou was once censured by the International Olympic Committee over bribery claims, which he denied, and recently changed the statutes of the Confederation of African Football to allow him to retain the presidency he has held since 1988.

        At Uefa, the immediate replacement for Platini is likely to be the longstanding Spanish FA chief Ángel María Villar-Llona, who also remains under investigation by the Fifa ethics committee for failing to cooperate with Michael Garcia’s investigation into the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids.

        Platini had earlier released a statement criticising an “unacceptable” leak of his probable suspension that he described as “essentially an attempt to damage my reputation”.

        He added: “I have always acted and expressed myself with honesty, courage and candour, as I feel that this is my moral duty. If what is being reported regarding the intentions of the investigatory chamber of the Fifa ethics committee is indeed true, I will stop at nothing to ensure that the truth is known. Nobody should be in any doubt as to my determination to achieve that objective.”

        Blatter was re-elected in May days after US prosecutors alleged a “World Cup of fraud” in a 164-page indictment and charged 14 individuals, including nine current or former Fifa executives, with a series of offences. Days later he promised to stand down in February 2016 and has repeatedly reiterated his desire to remain in post until then.

        Blatter is technically free to return in January before the extraordinary congress he has called on 26 February to decide his successor.

        Platini had submitted his papers early on Thursday morning to stand as a candidate for the Fifa presidency but his hopes of succeeding Blatter appear to have been dealt a terminal blow.

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on October 08, 2015, 05:30:26 AM
        https://www.youtube.com/v/K3sEHjBIcTI

        Quote
        The former Fifa vice-president Chung Mong-joon, who had threatened to sue Blatter while claiming that he was being targeted on spurious grounds by the ethics committee to force him out of the race to succeed the president, has been banned for six years and fined £67,000. “The bans come into force immediately,” said Fifa.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on October 14, 2015, 08:27:55 AM
        FIFA bans South African official for six years over match fixing
        Deutsche Welle


        FIFA has continued to ban former officials from all footballing activities, with Lindile Kika the next to be suspended. The former South African football association head was involved in match fixing five years ago.

        The ethics committee for football's world governing body FIFA has banned South African official Lindile Kika from all footballing activity for six years.

        "The proceedings against Lindile Kika were opened in November 2014 in relation to several international friendly matches played in South Africa in 2010," FIFA's ethics committee said in a statement on Wednesday.

        Kika, an ex-member of the executive committee of the football association in South Africa, was involved in reports about Singapore-based convicted match fixer Wilson Perumal and his Football 4U organization linking up with officials in South Africa to fix matches before the country held the 2010 World Cup.

        FIFA found the results of warm-up matches against Thailand, Bulgaria, Colombia and Guatemala were fixed by the South African official.
        "The investigation was led by the chairman of the investigatory chamber of the ethics committee, Dr Cornel Borbely, in collaboration with the FIFA security division," the statement continued.

        FIFA judge Hans-Joachim Eckert found Kika guilty of breaching five sections of the ethics code, which were detailed in the statement. "The decision was taken on the basis of art. 13 (General rules of conduct), art. 15 (Loyalty), art. 18 (Duty of disclosure, cooperation and reporting), art. 19 (Conflicts of interest) and art. 22 (Commission) of the FIFA Code of Ethics."

        This comes just two days after Worawi Makudi, the head of the Thai Football Association, was handed a temporary ban.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on October 14, 2015, 08:32:44 AM
        FIFA Ethics Committee bans Thailand's Worawi Makudi
        Deutsche Welle


        Another former member of FIFA's Executive Committee has been handed a temporary ban from football. Worawi Makudi, the head of the Thai Football Association, is up for re-election to that post in the next few days.

        (http://www.dw.com/image/0,,18777097_303,00.jpg)

        FIFA's Ethics Committee announced in a statement posted on its website on Monday that it had handed the 63-year-old Makudi a 90-day ban from all activities related to national and international football - with immediate effect.

        According to the statement, the decision to ban Makudi was based "on the grounds that a breach of the Code of Ethics appears to have been committed and a decision on the main issue may not be taken early enough."

        "The case is now the subject of formal investigation proceedings," the statement concluded, without providing any details about the alleged breach.

        Maukudi was on the Executive Committee in December 2010 when it voted to award the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 tournament to Qatar.

        Switzerland's attorney-general has opened an investigation into the bidding process for the two tournaments, which was previously the subject of a FIFA ethics probe conducted by former chief ethics investigator Michael Garcia.

        Speaking to the AFP news agency, Makudi denied any wrongdoing and said he was determined to run for re-election as the president of the Thai Football Association on Saturday, even though the FIFA ban would appear to preclude this. "I will stand, I have done nothing wrong but it depends on FIFA," he said.

        Makudi also claimed that a Thai court had acted wrongly, when it handed him a suspended sentence for forgery back in July.
        "I am not guilty of anything. Under Thai law I still have the right to appeal (the Thai court decision)," he insisted. "I did not falsify anything, what I did was absolutely legal."

        Series of bans

        Makudi is just the latest high-profile soccer executive to be banned by FIFA's Ethics Committee. Last week, it imposed a six-year ban on South Korean former FIFA Vice President Chung Mong-joon in connection with the investigation into the 2018 and 2022 bidding process. He has denied any wrongdoing.

        In addition, FIFA President Sepp Blatter and UEFA President Michel Platini were handed provisional 90-day bans. Both have insisted that they are innocent and intend to appeal their suspensions.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: R45 on October 14, 2015, 10:29:47 AM
        Is it just me that will *not* be surprised if, as soon as Blatter's suspension is lifted, he finds a moral reason to run again in next year's election?
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on October 22, 2015, 04:50:32 AM
        Fifa confirms ethics investigations into Franz Beckenbauer and Ángel María Villar Llona
        By Owen Gibson, The Guardian


        • Fifa ends secrecy over names of executives being investigated
        • Proceedings ongoing in case of suspended president Sepp Blatter


        Fifa’s overworked ethics committee has confirmed for the first time that Franz Beckenbauer, the German football great, and Ángel María Villar Llona, the Spanish Fifa vice-president who is presiding over Uefa in the absence of the suspended Michel Platini, are among those under its investigation.

        Following a rule change on Tuesday by its executive committee, Fifa’s ethics committee confirmed that investigations into the pair had been concluded and they were now awaiting the verdict of Hans-Joachim Eckert, the German judge who heads the adjudicatory division.

        Ten of the 24 executive committee members originally eligible to vote for the contentious and chaotic decisions to take the World Cup to Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022 have been suspended or banned by Fifa’s ethics committee.

        The roll call released on Wednesday also included a new case against Amos Adamu, the Nigerian who served a three-year ban in 2010 after being caught by a newspaper investigation seeking almost $1m from undercover reporters. Details of the latest case against Adamu were not given.

        The statement also confirmed continuing inquiries into Jeffrey Webb of the Cayman Islands and Uruguay’s Eugenio Figueredo, both former Fifa vice‑presidents, and Nicolás Leoz, a former executive committee member from Paraguay. All three were indicted for bribery by the US Department of Justice in May. Ricardo Teixeira, the longtime Brazilian football leader and former Fifa executive committee member, is also under investigation, the ethics committee confirmed.

        The investigations into Beckenbauer and Villar Llona had already been reported after both refused to cooperate with Michael Garcia’s inquiry into the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Garcia later quit as Fifa’s independent ethics investigator in frustration at the publication by Eckert of what he saw as an incomplete summary of his 430-page report.

        Beckenbauer, who captained and coached World Cup-winning West Germany teams, twice refused to meet with Garcia and was barred from travelling to the World Cup in Brazil by a provisional suspension. It was lifted during the tournament when he sent answers to Garcia.

        More recently, he has also been under pressure following allegations in Germany that a £6.7m slush fund was created to buy votes to secure the 2006 World Cup. The allegations have been denied by the German FA and its president Wolfgang Niersbach.

        Villar Llona, who chairs Fifa’s legal committee and headed Uefa’s crisis meeting in Nyon this week in the wake of the suspension of Platini as president over an alleged £1.35m “disloyal payment” that he accepted from Sepp Blatter in 2011, is also under investigation. At a heated Fifa executive committee meeting in March 2014, he is understood to have been among those who attempted to stop Garcia questioning Fifa officials and have him thrown off the case.

        Blatter had previously accepted that “a bundle of votes” had been swapped between Spain and Qatar, in apparent contravention of the rules, but no official action was taken and Eckert made no mention of it in his final summary of Garcia’s report.

        It was widely alleged at the time that a bloc of seven votes was traded between Spain and Qatar.

        As previously revealed by the Guardian, the ethics committee confirmed that it aimed to judge Blatter and Platini during their 90 day suspensions. Platini still hopes to stand on February 26 for the Fifa presidency, despite the fact his suspension means he will miss the October 26 deadline to submit to an integrity check appearing to deal a killer blow to his hopes.

        Blatter is also under criminal investigation by Swiss authorities over the £1.35m payment to Platini in February 2011, nine years after the pair claimed it was due under the Frenchman’s contract that ended in 2002. The head of Fifa’s audit committee, Domenico Scala, has called it a “classic conflict of interest” but both deny wrongdoing.

        In a separate case, suspended Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke is accused of “misuse of expenses and other infringements of Fifa’s rules and regulations,” the ethics committee said.

        Valcke was suspended on the same day as allegations emerged that he had planned to sell World Cup tickets above face value. He strongly denied the allegations.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on October 22, 2015, 04:57:09 AM
        Fifa urged to adopt rotating presidency in post-Blatter era
        By Ralph Atkins and Malcolm Moore, The Financial Times


        (http://im.ft-static.com/content/images/e0b7518d-692c-4794-81c5-6562af0aef3e.img)

        Fifa should move to an EU-style rotating presidency to avoid future corruption scandals and because there are so few credible candidates to replace Sepp Blatter, according to the head of the body’s audit committee.

        Domenico Scala said the six football confederations, representing the main global geographical regions, could take turns to lead world football’s governing body, which is based in Zurich.

        Such a move would “address a number of governance issues”, he told the Financial Times in an interview in which he set out his proposals to reform the scandal-hit institution. If implemented, the reform would prevent any one individual from controlling international football in the way Mr Blatter did for 17 years.

        Mr Scala, who said he was setting out his reform ideas to set a “benchmark”, was speaking as Fifa confirmed an election to choose Mr Blatter’s successor would be held on February 26.

        Mr Blatter and Michel Platini, Uefa president and originally the favourite to succeed him, were suspended for 90 days by Fifa’s ethics committee this month after the Swiss authorities opened a criminal investigation into a SFr2m payment from Fifa to Mr Platini in 2011. The move in effective ended Mr Blatter’s career at the top of world football, although Uefa declined to suspend Mr Platini.

        Mr Scala said Mr Platini could enter the leadership race at a later date, subject to an integrity check. But, he said, the “very short list of candidates for the presidency” was a reason for reforming Fifa’s leadership.

        In future, Fifa presidents could hold office for two to four years, he suggested: “Every system which diminishes the power of individuals, and creates checks and balances, reduces the risk of misconduct. It would help eliminate the ‘old boys’ network’ and better represent the diversity of football worldwide.”

        Fifa was thrown into turmoil in May with the arrest of seven officials in Zurich and US allegations that executives took bribes of $150m in a culture of “rampant, systemic and deep-rooted” corruption.

        With Quinn Emanuel, the US law firm, also conducting internal investigations into Fifa’s activities, Mr Scala warned that more revelations about misconduct were likely. “You cannot exclude that more things might be found,” said the former finance chief at Syngenta, the Swiss agribusiness group.

        The Swiss authorities’ investigations have focused on a SFr2m payment made in 2011 by Mr Blatter to Mr Platini, allegedly for work performed between 1999 and 2002. Mr Scala said the agreement had not been recorded in Fifa’s accounts until the payment occurred.

        “That is a serious omission, and both parties were members of Fifa’s executive committee and knowingly approved each year financial statements, which were incorrect by SFr2m. That could be seen as falsification of the accounts.”

        As well as heading Fifa’s audit committee, Mr Scala is also chairman of its ad hoc election committee, which will decide on the eligibility of candidates for the presidency. No decision would be taken on Mr Platini while his suspension remained in place, he said. That meant Mr Platini could, in theory, still have time to secure the necessary approvals before the February 26 contest.

        Mr Scala last month published a paper on possible Fifa reforms, which included limiting the time football officials could remain in office and steps to reduce the power of the confederations.

        Fifa’s executive committee should also be overhauled to create a governing board and a management board, Mr Scala told the FT. “This would split oversight and strategy from commercial activities and day-to-day activities. Because Fifa officials today have two or three responsibilities, there are inevitably conflicts of interest,” he said.

        “If we implemented my reform proposals, we would have a well-run institution,” he added. “Fifa is obliged to deliver. If it doesn’t, it has no chance of changing perceptions about the institution. Doing nothing is not an option.”

        The official committee that is laying out Fifa reforms gave its preliminary findings on Tuesday, saying the organisation’s executive committee, its main decision-making body, should be stripped of executive power and instead “oversee strategic matters”.

        It compared the future role of the Fifa president with that of a company chairman, while the organisation’s general secretary would be its chief executive in charge of day-to-day management.

        The committee — headed by Francois Carrard, the former International Olympic Committee director-general, who helped steer that body through its own corruption scandal in 1998 — said Fifa should impose a 12-year term limit and an age limit of 74 on its president.

        In addition, senior officials should disclose their remuneration, and grants for developing football, which have allegedly been used as bribes in the past, should be audited by three independent committee members, it said.

        “It is abundantly clear that football fans and our commercial partners will no longer accept anything short of full transparency in how football is governed,” a statement from the reform committee said.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on October 22, 2015, 05:02:00 AM
        FIFA ExCo confirms February election, approves more transparency for ethics proceedings
        FIFA.com


        At its extraordinary session in Zurich today (October 20), the FIFA Executive Committee approved a set of important measures to further strengthen its governance and increase the transparency of Ethics Committee proceedings while reiterating its commitment to necessary reforms already underway. The Executive Committee also confirmed 26 February 2016 as the date for the elective extraordinary congress.

        The committee agreed to an important change to the rules governing investigations and decisions made by the independent Ethics Committee. Article 36 of FIFA’s Code of Ethics will be amended to allow the Ethics Committee, at its discretion, to publish more information about its ongoing proceedings. The independent chairmen of the committee’s two chambers, Hans-Joachim Eckert and Cornel Borbély, had strongly advocated such an amendment, which will increase the transparency and understanding of their work.

        Domenico Scala, in his capacity as chairman of the FIFA Ad-hoc Electoral Committee, provided information to the Executive Committee regarding the ongoing process for the FIFA presidential election. He explained that candidacies for the FIFA Presidency that are submitted in due time and form, but which relate to candidates who are subject to a (provisional or definite) ban from taking part in any football-related activity, will not be processed by the Ad-hoc Electoral Committee as long as such ban is valid and in force. The chairman also told the Executive Committee that, should such a ban be lifted or expire before the FIFA presidential election, scheduled for 26 February 2016, the Ad-hoc Electoral Committee would decide, depending on the respective exact point in time, on how to proceed with the candidacy concerned. Furthermore, Domenico Scala explained that the Appeal Committee Chairman Larry Mussenden has withdrawn from his position on the Ad-hoc Electoral Committee to avoid any appearance of a potential conflict of interest. Larry Mussenden’s deputy, Fernando Mitjans, will assume the role.

        The Executive Committee also welcomed the preliminary recommendations developed by the 2016 FIFA Reform Committee and presented by its chairman, François Carrard, in an interim report. The Reform Committee will submit the final set of reform proposals to the FIFA Executive Committee at its next session in December 2015. The final proposals will be submitted to the FIFA Congress for consideration at the extraordinary congress in February 2016.

        The Executive Committee stated its commitment to working on a roadmap to rebuild FIFA’s reputation and trust with a key focus on implementing the reforms. “I was pleased to see unity among the Executive Committee members during our discussions of reform and its critical importance to our organisation and world football. Increasing the transparency of ethics investigations is just one example of our firm commitment to change,” said Acting FIFA President Issa Hayatou. “It was also significant that we set the course for the upcoming presidential election.”

        Other decisions taken by the Executive Committee included the following:


        - Ángel María Villar Llona has been appointed as acting chairman of the Organising Committee for the FIFA World Cup.

        - Acting President Issa Hayatou has assumed the position of acting chairman of the FIFA Emergency Committee while Ángel María Villar Llona has been appointed as the UEFA representative and Hany Abo Rida as the CAF representative on the committee

        - Due to the frequency and the high volume of qualifying matches for the 2018 FIFA World Cup (851), the committee agreed to establish a specific bureau and an emergency bureau for the preliminary competition. The bureaus will be chaired by Sheik Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa.

        - The Executive Committee ratified the decision of the FIFA Emergency Commitee to set up a normalisation committee for the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) with functions which will include revising the FAT electoral code and conducting the election of a new FAT executive committee by 15 February 2016 at the latest.

        - The next meeting of the FIFA Executive Committee will be on 2/3 December in Zurich.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on October 22, 2015, 05:06:38 AM
        Human rights group wants Sheikh Salman barred from Fifa presidency bid
        By Owen Gibson, The Guardian


        • Sheikh Salman accused of crackdown against pro-democracy athletes
        • Bahraini Fifa executive committee member has not yet said he will stand


        Human rights campaigners have called on the acting Fifa president, Issa Hayatou, to bar the Asian Football Confederation president, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa, from standing in February’s presidential election, accusing him of taking part in a crackdown against pro-democracy athletes in Bahrain in 2011.

        The Guardian last week revealed that human rights organisations had serious concerns over Sheikh Salman’s likely candidacy, accusing him of being part of a committee that identified athletes and footballers who took part in pro-democracy demonstrations in 2011 and were later imprisoned and tortured. Sheikh Salman has denied the allegations.

        Fifa on Tuesday reiterated there would be no delay to the 26 February Congress to decide Blatter’s successor, with applications due in by next Monday, 26 October. Sheikh Salman, who previously supported Michel Platini before he too was suspended, is believed to have received backing from across the world.

        In a letter sent by the Bahraini Fifa executive committee member to his AFC colleagues this week, he said that he was not yet a candidate and criticised the English media for suggesting he was on the verge of standing. However, he went on to say that he had been urged by a number of senior figures to stand and was on the verge of formalising his candidacy. He wrote: “Before I submit my name to Fifa and formalise my candidacy – if I do – and as your president it is my obligation and duty to seek your advice and opinion.”

        In the letter to Hayatou, who chaired Tuesday’s executive committee meeting in place of the suspended Sepp Blatter, the Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain organisation calls for Sheikh Salman to be barred. The letter, from the ADHRB executive director, Husain Abdulla, said: “In 2013, our organisation wrote to Fifa president, Mr Joseph Blatter, expressing our deep concern over allegations of unethical behaviour conducted by Fifa committee member and president of the Asian Football Confederation, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim [sic] al-Khalifa. Sheikh al-Khalifa is a member of the Bahraini royal family and previously served as president of the Bahrain Football Association (BFA).

        “As we explained in our previous communications, there is credible evidence that Sheikh al-Khalifa aided and abetted crimes against humanity while he was president of the BFA. In light of news that Sheikh al-Khalifa is seeking election as president of Fifa, we write now to urge you to terminate Sheikh al-Khalifa’s candidacy for this position in the emergency meeting of the Fifa executive committee.”

        The letter, which has been seen by the Guardian, claimed: “The government of Bahrain established a committee, through the country’s Olympic Committee, to punish more than 150 members of the sporting community who participated in the protests.” The letter referred to claims that Sheikh Salman examined photographs of protesters and identified Bahraini athletesgovernment. “Security forces used this information to arrest, detain, torture, and publicly defame these athletes,” it added. “Although Fifa initiated an investigation in 2011 into the attacks against the players, the investigation was ostensibly dropped after many of the players were released from prison. Despite the releases, some players remain in detention today. Additionally, many other players are suspended from their club teams and are therefore ineligible to be considered for a spot on the national team.”

        In 2014, another human rights group, the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy, wrote to the then head of the investigatory arm of the Fifa ethics committee, Michael Garcia, to ask it to again look into the issue with specific regard to Sheikh Salman’s role. Garcia responded that it was beyond the remit of the ethics committee, though the institute disputed this. Now, it has been reported in Germany that the Fifa ethics committee is set to examine the claims. Each electoral candidate must also undergo a so-called integrity check after 26 October.

        After the executive committee approved a change to the rules, the Fifa ethics committee will on Wednesday confirm for the first time the names of all of those under investigation.

        Asked about his role in the 2011 crackdown while standing for the presidency of the AFC, backed by Blatter and Platini, in 2013 Sheikh Salman said: “I would like to reiterate that in my capacity as the president of the Bahrain Football Association, I have always been committed to manage, control and develop our game independently and autonomously without any kind of outside interference.

        “I can assure anyone that the BFA is being guided according to the highest possible governance standards of integrity and transparency – fully in line with the AFC and Fifa statutes; and no action has been taken under my direction against any member of the football community.”

        Challenged after his election victory, he said: “I just have one question: You talk about allegations but the question is, do you have the proof? Somebody talks about the government, I don’t think this is our business in football. If anybody has the proof that the Bahrain Football Association has violated the statutes of Fifa or AFC, then present it. Otherwise we move on.”

        Asked to comment on the situation last week by the Guardian, the AFC and Sheikh Salman’s office failed to respond.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on October 22, 2015, 05:38:47 AM
        https://www.youtube.com/v/_cyUQ2YU7AQ
        How work gets done.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on October 24, 2015, 12:14:04 PM
        French diplomat Champagne enters race for FIFA presidency
        Deutsche Welle


        Once a member of France's diplomatic corps, Jerome Champagne now wants to lead FIFA. Champagne has spoken critically of giving the 2022 World Cup to Qatar and of inequality in world football.

        (http://www.dw.com/image/0,,18772110_303,00.jpg)

        Former diplomat-turned-football executive Jerome Champagne officially announced his candidacy to become the next president of FIFA on Friday. The 57-year-old Frenchman is the fourth official candidate to seek the top job at world football's scandal-hit governing body.

        Champagne is set to face UEFA head Michel Platini, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, and former Trinidad and Tobago national captain David Nahkid. All are vying to replace outgoing chief Sepp Blatter, who has led FIFA since 1998 and is stepping down at a time of crisis for the organization.

        Prosecutors are investigating both Blatter and Platini among wider probes into corruption and bribery within FIFA that have seen many executives arrested in separate US and Swiss inquiries into tournament-buying and distribution of marketing rights.

        Champagne highlights inequality in world soccer


        Speaking of his candidacy, Champagne, who has helped create a mediation mechanism between the Palestinian and Israeli national football teams, seemed far away from the legal trouble plaguing other parts of the organization.

        Champagne talked instead of the need for strong governance through FIFA and its five continental associate organizations in order to spread the wealth of a multi-billion dollar sport.

        "The 20 wealthiest clubs in the world have a cumulative turnover of 6.2 billion euros ($6.90 billion) per year, but more than half the 209 national football federations survive with less than 2 million euros a year (each)," he told Reuters news agency.

        "The national team of Papua New Guinea plays only two matches a year because they cannot afford the plane tickets. The annual budget is not even half a million euros."

        The ex-diplomat also pointed in his Reuters interview out the disparity between the surroundings of FIFA's headquarters in Zurich and some of the conditions national leagues are forced to play in.

        "Near my flat in Zurich is a park; there are six football pitches, five natural and one artificial; this suburb of Zurich has more good quality pitches than the whole of the Democratic Republic of Congo, with 70 million inhabitants," he said.

        Champagne has also spoken of his intention to reconsider the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar if he is elected. This tournament, along with the one in Russia in 2018, is part of the corruption investigation led by Swiss prosecutors.

        The FIFA presidential election will take place in Zurich next February.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on October 24, 2015, 12:17:47 PM
        Zwanziger: 'There was a slush fund'
        Deutsche Welle


        Theo Zwanziger has accused his successor as German FA president, Wolfgang Niersbach, of lying about a slush fund allegedly used for Germany's 2006 World Cup bid. FIFA confirmed it would launch an investigation.

        (http://www.dw.com/image/0,,17426491_303,00.jpg)

         Theo Zwanziger, former president of the German FA (DFB), has told "Spiegel" that Germany's World Cup 2006 Organizing Committee had access to a slush fund.

        "It is obvious that there was a slush fund within the German World Cup bid," said the 70-year-old. "And it is also clear that the current DFB president hasn't only known about it for a few weeks, as he claims, but rather since 2005 at the latest. The way I see it, Niersbach is lying."

        Zwanziger's comments followed a day after current DFB president Wolfgang Niersbach rejected allegations of buying votes to secure the hosting rights to the 2006 World Cup, while confirming the reported 10.3 million Swiss (6.7 million euros, $7.6 million) francs payment to FIFA to secure extra financial support.

        "The awarding of the 2006 World Cup was completely above board," Niersbach said at the launch of the new German Football Museum. "There were no slush funds; there was no vote-buying."

        When asked, he could not answer why the deposit was necessary to secure more funds.

        German news magazine "Spiegel" reported earlier this week that money was paid into a slush fund by then-Adidas CEO Robert Louis-Dreyfus, which was to be used to buy the votes of four Asian members of FIFA's Executive Committee when it voted on the matter in mid-2000. "We don't know what FIFA did with the 10 million francs," Niersbach had said on Thursday.

        FIFA said this week it would launch its own investigation into the allegations.

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Deeks on October 28, 2015, 06:33:16 AM
        Forumites, FIFA announced the candidates for the presidency job and David name is not there. Did he dropped out?
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: FF on October 28, 2015, 06:47:41 AM
        He didn't drop it out. It sound like FIFA drop him out.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Deeks on October 28, 2015, 12:12:46 PM
        Blatter now saying that they had decided give Russia the WC before the vote.  BBc

        http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/

        Suspended Fifa president Sepp Blatter has suggested there was an agreement in place for Russia to host the 2018 World Cup - before the vote took place.

        The 79-year-old told Russian news agency Tass of a "discussion" in 2010 about future World Cups.

        He added a late swing in voting that gave Qatar the 2022 World Cup undid a similar agreement to hand it to the US.

        The Swiss is serving a 90-day ban alongside Uefa chief Michel Platini and both deny any wrongdoing.

        Asked whether it was a mistake to hold voting for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments simultaneously, Blatter replied that before the ballot: "It was agreed inside the group that we go to Russia because it has never been to eastern Europe, and for 2022 we go back to America.

        "And so we would have the World Cup in the two biggest political powers."

        But he added that four votes from Europe later switched from the USA to Qatar.

        The bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments is the subject of an ongoing Swiss criminal investigation. It was begun alongside a US inquiry following the arrest and indictment of several top executives by the US Department of Justice on corruption charges.

        What else did Blatter reveal?
        In a wide-ranging interview, Blatter, who will be replaced as head of world football's governing body at an election on 26 February, also said:

        •Russia will "never" lose the 2018 World Cup
        •England are "bad losers" over perceived media criticism of the 2018 and 2022 Word Cup bidding process
        •Most national football associations "don't like" Uefa-backed Fifa presidential candidate Gianni Infantino
        •His own current suspension is a "total nonsense" and the Fifa ethics committee has failed him
        English Football Association chairman Greg Dyke says the governing body will investigate Blatter's revelation that there was a pre-vote agreement to hand the 2018 World Cup to Russia.

        The FA spent £21m, including £2.5m of public money from local authorities, on England's failed bid to host the 2018 tournament.

        Dyke, giving evidence to the UK Parliament's Culture, Media and Sport Committee, said it would be "very nice" to get that money back.

        Blatter said it was "his dream" for his ban to end in time to conduct the February congress when the election to replace him with one of seven candidates will take place.

        Blatter on 'jealous' Platini
        He also admitted he should have stood down after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil but stayed because of concerns that Uefa, European football's governing body, would become too dominant within Fifa.

        "The other confederations were afraid that Uefa would take over everything because they have the money and the players," said Blatter.

        "Uefa has an anti-Fifa virus."

        Uefa president Platini was the target for most of Blatter's criticism, with the Frenchman accused of being motivated by "envy and jealousy".

        The two are currently suspended while Fifa investigates a £1.35m payment made to Platini in 2011, which the pair say was for work he did as Blatter's adviser.

        "At the beginning it was only a personal attack - it was Platini against me," said Blatter.

        "He started it, but then it became politics and when it is in politics, it is not any longer Platini against me.

        "It is then those who have lost the World Cup - England against Russia. They lost the World Cup and the USA lost the World Cup against Qatar.

        He added: "Platini wanted to be Fifa president but he did not have the courage to go as the president and now we are in such a situation in football."
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on October 28, 2015, 02:44:34 PM
        (http://msalx.veja.abril.com.br/2014/08/09/0346/pe6Cx/jose-maria-marin-presidente-da-cbf-e-o-deputado-romario-paz-original.jpeg?1402459918)
        Despite the photo, Romario was not his biggest fan.

        Brazil's Marin agrees to US extradition in FIFA corruption case
        Deutsche Welle


        Jose Maria Marin, who led the organizing committee for World Cup 2014 in Brazil, has agreed to relocation to the US pending trial. He's wanted on racketeering charges and could face up to 20 years.

        Switzerland's justice ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that the 83-year-old Marin "must be placed in the custody of a US police escort and taken to the USA within 10 days." The ministry did not provide further details of the handover.

        Marin was among the FIFA officials arrested on May 27 in the FBI's dawn raids that were the precursor to Sepp Blatter's re-election as president, and then his announcement that he would step aside days later.

        The former president of the Brazilian Football Confederation, who coordinated the country's 2014 World Cup preparations, is accused of taking "bribes worth millions of dollars from sports marketing companies" in connection with four Copa America tournaments and the Copa do Brasil from 2013 through 2022. Marin agreed to extradition at a judicial hearing in Geneva on Wednesday.

        He is alleged to have shared these bribes with other football officials," according to the Swiss justice ministry. Marin could face up to 20 years if convicted.

        Of the seven officials arrested in May at FIFA's annual conference, Marin was the last to decide whether or not to fight the US extradition order. Cayman Islands banker Jeffrey Webb agreed to cooperate in May, and pleaded not guilty in July; the remaining five all intend to challenge extradition in Swiss courts.

        Marin succeeded Ricardo Teixera, himself implicated in a previous FIFA scandal concerning kickbacks on World Cup broadcasting deals, as the president of Brazil's CBF in 2012. He also took over the World Cup 2014 committee as Teixera resigned. He's one of 14 football and marketing officials indicted by US officials in one of the major investigations into FIFA currently underway. Most suspects in the FBI probe - which began with a focus purely on FIFA dealings in the US - hail from either North or South America.

        At the time of his arrest, Marin was working on preparations for the football tournament at the 2016 Summer Olympics, to be held in Rio de Janeiro.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bourbon on October 28, 2015, 04:05:23 PM
        Nakhid get shaft. USVI president nominate him and somebody else and you can only nominate one person so he didn't get the required nominations. Sounds like treachery.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on October 28, 2015, 04:49:36 PM
        Nakhid get shaft. USVI president nominate him and somebody else and you can only nominate one person so he didn't get the required nominations. Sounds like treachery.

        The nomination deadline was October 26. I gather that Nakhid's application indicating support was submitted to FIFA on or about at least 10 days prior to the deadline.

        Relevant question: Was the other application submitted prior to this? Even if so, another stout example of FIFA lacking moral authority. The process here raises red flags.

        Second, the party who submitted dual support should be/have been brought to task etc.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on October 29, 2015, 07:34:44 AM
        African Confederation Declines to Back Sexwale for FIFA Presidency
        worldfootballinsider.com


        (WFI) Acting FIFA president and African football chief Issa Hayatou has dealt a blow to Tokyo Sexwale’s hopes of securing CAF support for his campaign.

        Hayatou chaired a CAF Executive Committee this week, which reviewed the seven presidential candidates for the FIFA election on Feb. 26.

        CAF “granted audiences” with four of the candidates at the Cairo meetings – Sheikh Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa, Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, Gianni Infantino and Tokyo Sexwale.

        Sheikh Salman is understood to enjoy very strong support from the Asian Football Confederation of which he is president, while Infantino can count on significant European backing.

        South African Sexwale, an apartheid-era political prisoner who currently chairs FIFA's Israel-Palestine task force, had been hoping to receive a signal of African support for his bid early in the four-month contest. He is being touted as a 'clean' candidate by some.

        Liberian FA president Musa Hassan Bility also said he had considerable African backing before submitting his presidential bid to FIFA a few days ago. However, he is not a realistic prospect for the FIFA presidency.

        But CAF, largest of the football confederations with 54 voting members, has decided to leave its options open – at least for the time being. With two African candidates, Hayatou and CAF's ruling body have chosen diplomacy over favouring either of the bids.

        “After discussions with them, the CAF Executive Committee unanimously decided to leave the administrative procedures for the registration of candidates take its course, while giving plenty of time to decide, with the interest of the continent the primary objective,” CAF said in a statement.

        Suspended UEFA president Michel Platini and Jérôme Champagne are the other two candidates vying to replace Sepp Blatter in the election.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on October 29, 2015, 08:06:23 AM
        If Uefa had any moral backbone it would consider withdrawing from Fifa
        By Marina Hyde, The Guardian


        The only way these seven Fifa presidential candidates could be considered new brooms is if they were placed next to a recently unearthed fossilised sweeping implement believed to date back to the early Iron Age

        “I cannot deny something that I haven’t done,” declares the Fifa presidential frontrunner Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa, a statement which suggests he can only deny something he has done. He certainly denies having headed up a committee which identified dissident athletes during the 2011 Bahrain pro-democracy uprisings (many of whom were imprisoned and tortured), despite an announcement at the time by Bahrain’s official government news agency that he was to take this post, and an Associated Press report from the same era which also described him as the committee’s chair.

        “It’s not just damaging me,” he frets to the BBC of these mysterious contemporaneous documents, “it’s damaging the people and the country.”

        And I’ve no doubt the sensitivities of the Bahraini people are always his primary concern. Still, I hope no one ever tells Sheikh Salman that his country is consistently ranked near the very bottom of any index that measures freedom, his family’s regime considered among the most authoritarian on the planet. The shock of it could give him a fit of the vapours.

        Yet for a man who has not clocked up a whole lot of hours inside the democracy simulator, his grasp of electoral politics is strong. Given that the vast majority of Fifa’s member associations have about as much interest in the organisation being cleaned up as they have in football, Sheikh Salman has moved quickly to dismiss the mad idea that what Fifa actually needs is a genuine outsider to begin the mammoth task of reform. As he told the BBC: “You wouldn’t put a baker in charge of a bank.” Debatable. What if it was 2006 and Mr Kipling expressed an interest in running Lehman Brothers?

        It looks like we’ll never know, because the list of runners and riders for the Fifa presidential election is finally in – and it does not make an exceedingly good read. Behold, seven good men and true. Well, seven men, anyway. To the untrained eye, the headshots of the candidates could easily be mistaken for one of those increasingly familiar galleries of Fifa executives who are wanted or already charged by prosecutors.

        Indeed, Michel Platini occupies the intersection of the Venn diagram, being both under investigation for corruption and a candidate in the great anti-corruption election. I assume he is deluded enough to imagine himself the Aung San Suu Kyi of this process – under the equivalent of house arrest, yet still standing on heroic principle.

        Back in the real world, meanwhile, the only way these men could be considered new brooms is if they were placed next to a recently unearthed fossilised sweeping implement believed to date back to the early Iron Age.

        Almost the most excruciating entrant of all is the 11th-hour candidate, Uefa’s Swiss general secretary Gianni Infantino, who was clearly pushed forward by a European governing body devoid of anything approaching serious quality, but desperate to have someone to vote for that wasn’t Sheikh Salman. A Platini lieutenant who indicates wanly that he’d stand aside should his suspended boss somehow manage to get rid of the allegations against him, his last-minute candidacy only serves to underscore the moral inadequacy of the various Uefa members, who can see that the sheikh will likely be the winner but reckon they can just about cover their arses politically back home if they vote for someone else.

        What Uefa should really be considering, now they have surveyed the field and the way in which the wind is blowing, is the possibility of withdrawing from Fifa. Nuclear options increasingly feel like the only way to force the radical change the world governing body needs, and if Europe truly was the moral beacon it likes to fancy itself within the game, then this secession would be starting to feel inevitable. When you consider the financial allegations against Blatter are actually less morally repugnant than the human rights ones against Sheikh Salman … well, what are you really saving your depth charge for? Megatron to get through to the second round on a bye?

        As for whether such a game-changer is even remotely on the cards, the smoke signals are not encouraging at present. It doesn’t help that our own emissaries to European HQ are the FA chairman Greg Dyke and his vice-chairman David Gill, who have reportedly told the FA council “the only people they could really trust within Fifa and Uefa are each other”. I don’t want to dampen any flicker of optimism but it might help to think of them as Bob Hope and No Hope. These are the men who precipitously declared their support for Platini, only to see him engulfed in scandal. Yet instead of appearing remotely chastened by a turn of events that could only have been predicted by a few million casual observers of the situation, they had the FA issue a bizarre and wholly reprehensible statement in which they wished Platini “every success” in getting off the hook.

        So no one in their right mind can expect the English component of Uefa to show any real backbone. But if only the other, more serious nations would consider it. There really is nothing so terminally craven as forever waiting for the likes of McDonald’s or Coca-Cola to take the decisive “moral” stand, or imagining that it will be enough to have one of your own suits lose honourably to a man whose family regime stand accused of torturing footballers.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on October 29, 2015, 08:10:41 AM
        England 2018 World Cup bid chief slams Fifa ‘fix’ as an absolute scandal
        By Louise Taylor, The Guardian


        • Simon Johnson insists FA should take legal action against Fifa
        • ‘The process was corrupt and unfair,’ says bid chief operating officer


        A leading figure behind England’s 2018 World Cup bid has described Sepp Blatter’s statement that the tournament was always destined for Russia as an “absolute scandal”.

        “It’s an absolute scandal,” Johnson said. “I no longer work for the FA but I personally think they should bring an action to recover the costs of a bidding process which was neither fair nor transparent and we’ve now discovered was rigged.

        “I think the FA has an obligation to bring an action against Fifa to recover not just their own costs but those incurred by the 12 host cities who were part of the bid, our sponsors, contractors and the government.

        “The FA entered into a contract with Fifa to run a bid in accordance with certain rules – each bidder had to sign a bidding agreement – and, in my view, that contract has been invalidated. Fifa didn’t keep their side of the bargain. I think the bid’s sponsors are entitled to say to the FA: ‘You have a duty to recover the money we’ve spent.’”

        Previously a leading sports and media lawyer and senior FA official, Johnson is now chief executive of the Jewish Leadership Council but he retains an acute interest in the next step taken by his former employers. England spent £21m on its bid, including £2.5m of public money.

        “The FA would have to bring an action under arbitration at the court of arbitration for sport,” he says. “I’m sure the football associations from all the countries bidding for 2018 will be digging up their individual costs and I think Fifa have been a bit nervous about individual FAs bringing actions against them.”

        Accordingly the possibility of the world governing body attempting to reach out of court settlements has been raised in the light of a precedent involving the Irish FA being paid, it said, €5m as compensation for the refereeing error – namely the Thierry Henry handball incident during a play-off against France – which denied them the chance to participate in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

        Whichever way the matter is eventually settled, Johnson feels those involved in the England 2018 campaign are effective fraud victims and should be recompensed for what has proved a considerable waste of time and money, effort and energy.

        “It was a bid which united the entire country and was a source of considerable civic pride,” he said. “A region like the north-east would have benefited hugely from England hosting the World Cup. We’re grown-ups and we could accept losing after a fair and transparent process but we’ve now learnt that process was corrupt and unfair and apparently fixed.”

        Greg Dyke, the FA chairman, told the culture, media and sport select committee on Wednesday that “it would be very nice to get taxpayers’ money back”.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on November 02, 2015, 04:15:46 AM
        Meet the new boss, same as the old boss: how Fifa’s seven candidates rate
        The Guardian


        Prince Ali bin al-Hussein

        Jordan, 39. Odds 4-6 fav

        Fifa’s version of a clean break, fresh-start, man of the people candidate. The Jordanian prince and long-term Fifa insider – who said in 2012 he had “definitely … absolutely no ambitions” to be president – remains the bookies’ choice, though insiders aren’t so convinced. He took Sepp Blatter to the second round in May.

        Links to old regime: Anti-Blatter, but heavily embedded in Fifa’s football family. Served as an FA president since 1999 and a Fifa vice-president since 2011. When he announced his candidacy he looked to reassure Fifa colleagues: “I am one of you, and I know how hard you strive to define football.”

        Fresh start rating: About as fresh as it gets, by Fifa standards. Was one of only three Fifa executives – out of 26 – to turn down a free luxury Parmigiani watch in a gift bag in 2014. “I’m new and young,” he says. 4/10

        Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa

        Bahrain, 49. Odds 4-1

        Even Blatter was never accused of being complicit in the torture of footballers. That’s what Sheikh Salman brings to the table – an allegation, related to Bahrain’s 2011 crackdown on pro-democracy protestors, which he vehemently denies. He says human rights groups are spreading “false, nasty lies … some people have an agenda on their table”.

        Links to old regime: An FA head since 2002 and a long-time passionate Blatter man. Hailed the “Dear President” in a speech to his corruption-mired Asian Football Confederation in April.

        Fresh start rating: Backs Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022, but reckons he’ll “turn Fifa round really quickly”. 0/10

        Gianni Infantino

        Switzerland, 45. Odds 6-1

        Uefa’s general secretary and genial televised-draw compere stepped in to the contest as a hedging strategy when Michel Platini was suspended. As it stands, a credible candidate with Uefa’s total backing – but expect him to step out again if his boss is cleared.

        Links to old regime: A lawyer and administrator now in his 15th year at Uefa. General secretary since 2009.

        Fresh start rating: See above. 2/10

        Michel Platini

        France, 60. Odds 10-1

        Suspended, but still ahead of three other candidates in the odds. Retains his trademark self-belief. “I am, in all humility, the most able.” Platini says Fifa’s ethics committee are trying to sabotage him, and compares himself to a knight trying to enter a castle of injustice “while having boiling oil poured on my head”.

        Links to old regime: Used to be Blatter’s best friend. Not so much now.

        Fresh start rating: 0/10

        Jérôme Champagne

        France, 57. Odds 16-1

        Having a second run at the job, the French diplomat promises to “restore credibility” through transparent radical reform. He even produced a manifesto – unusual in Fifa world.

        Links to old regime: Blatter’s 2002 election campaign manager and confidant for 11 years. Said this week: “Mr Blatter has football and Fifa at heart. History will judge what he achieved for the globalisation of football.”

        Fresh start rating: Decent vision; tricky CV. 1/10

        Musa Bility

        Liberia, 48. Odds 16-1

        Liberia’s FA head since 2010, Bility says it’s Africa’s – meaning his – time to lead. “Football is facing a difficult moment, but it is in difficult moments that great leaders emerge.”

        Links to old regime: Opposed Blatter in 2011, backing the much-missed Mohamed bin Hammam instead. Was briefly banned by Africa’s confederation in 2013, and denied he won his 2010 FA election by paying $500 gifts to voters.

        Fresh start rating: 0/10

        Tokyo Sexwale

        South Africa, 62. Odds 20-1

        Social media’s favourite, and the bookies’ outsider. Ignore the odds: Sexwale (seh-wa-le) is a proper contender. A multi-millionaire (tick) mining tycoon (tick) and Fifa insider (tick), he has charisma and real life experience – including years of anti-apartheid activism as a former political prisoner, and being the host of South Africa’s version of The Apprentice. Less helpfully, he was also a key member of the nation’s 2010 World Cup bid team, which is now under serious scrutiny. He denies wrongdoing.

        Links to old regime: See picture (http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/oct/31/meet-the-new-boss-fifa-seven-candidates#img-2).

        Fresh start rating: For all his promises of a “shake up”, 1/10
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on November 03, 2015, 12:26:48 PM
        German FA headquarters raided over 2006 World Cup
        By Martyn Ziegler, The Independent


        The corruption crisis surrounding Germany's 2006 World Cup has intensified after tax authorities launched raids on the country's football federation (DFB) and private residences.

        Documents and hard drives were seized from the DFB's headquarters in Frankfurt and the homes of DFB president Wolfgang Niersbach, a Uefa and Fifa executive committee member, and his predecessor Theo Zwanziger, were searched.

        It follows the disclosure that the DFB made a secret payment of 6.7million euro (£4.6million) to FIFA in 2005. An internal audit has failed to find any trace of the 6.7million euros in the DFB's tax documents.

        Frankfurt's senior public prosecutor Nadja Niesen said in a statement: "Fifty officials from the Frankfurt tax investigators as well as the prosecuting authorities carried out searches of the offices of the DFB as well as the homes of suspects.

        Prosecutors in Frankfurt have started an investigation on suspicion of serious tax evasion connected to the awarding of the 2006 World Cup and the transfer of 6.7million euros from the DFB to Fifa."

        The 6.7million euro payment was revealed by German news weekly Der Spiegel last month. Der Spiegel alleged the money had originally been loaned by former Adidas chief executive Robert Louis-Dreyfus, acting in a private capacity, to set up a slush fund to buy FIFA votes for the 2006 World Cup.

        It claimed the money was later re-paid to Dreyfus in 2005 using Fifa as cover - the German World Cup organising committee made a 6.7million euro contribution for a gala opening ceremony at Berlin's Olympic Stadium which was later cancelled. Der Spiegel said the money was paid into a FIFA bank account in Geneva and from there transferred to a Zurich account belonging to Louis-Dreyfus, who has since died.

        The Frankfurt prosecutor's statement added: "The defendants are accused of causing the submission of inaccurate tax returns as part of their former responsibilities."

        Frank Beckenbauer, who lives in Austria, was president of the 2006 World Cup bid and last week admitted the DFB had made a "mistake" in paying the 6.7million euros, but denied that the money was used to buy votes.

        He said: "In order to obtain financial support from Fifa, a suggestion by Fifa's finance commission was followed which, in hindsight, should have been rejected.

        "No votes were bought in order to win the right to stage the 2006 World Cup."
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on November 03, 2015, 12:32:12 PM
        Swiss bank UBS cooperating with FIFA investigation
        ESPNFC


        Swiss bank UBS says it is "cooperating with authorities" who are investigating financial corruption linked to FIFA.

        UBS says in its quarterly report published on Tuesday it was contacted about "accounts relating to [FIFA] and other constituent soccer associations and related persons and entities."

        Switzerland attorney general Michael Lauber said in September he had reports of 121 accounts suspected of links to money laundering.

        The Swiss case relates to criminal mismanagement at FIFA and money laundering linked to the 2018-2022 World Cup bidding contests.

        An American federal case has convicted and indicted football and marketing officials on charges of bribery linked to the World Cup and continental tournaments in North and South America.

        UBS joins Credit Suisse and Julius Baer among banks in Switzerland to acknowledge they are helping prosecutors.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on November 03, 2015, 12:36:10 PM
        FIFA reform will be limited, says head of panel proposing changes
        Reuters


        (http://s3.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20151103&t=2&i=1092008262&w=644&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEBA20WO)

        The Swiss lawyer heading up a committee charged with reforming the structure and management of world football body FIFA says major changes to the organisation's voting structure and imposing term limits on executive committee members will be difficult to achieve in the short term.

        Francois Carrard, a former International Olympic Committee (IOC) director general, told Reuters in an interview on Tuesday that his committee supports a 12-year term limit for FIFA's president, but such limits on executive committee members may not be the best course of action.

        "There are situations in some countries where you have wise leaders who could be useful for more than eight or 12 years," Carrard said before speaking at an international conference on sport security in New York.

        Carrard did say his committee supports an age limit of 74 years old for FIFA executive committee officials.

        FIFA has been criticized for not having term limits for its leadership, allowing Sepp Blatter of Switzerland to head the organisation for nearly three decades. Swiss authorities opened a criminal investigation into Blatter in September and FIFA's ethics committee suspended him from office for 90 days.

        Blatter denies any wrongdoing. The Swiss probe added to FIFA's troubles months after U.S. prosecutors announced indictments of nine high-level football officials and five marketing and broadcasting company executives. They were accused of orchestrating multi-million dollar bribery schemes over 24 years.

        Carrard was appointed to head the 2016 FIFA Reform Committee in August. He was IOC's director general for 14 years until 2003 and led the organisation through its own crisis following the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics vote scandal.

        Carrard told Reuters that none of his committee's proposals have been finalized yet but they should be by December. These proposals would be presented to the FIFA congress for a vote on Feb. 26, the same day the body will elect a new president.

        "We have to be very careful and refrain from over simplistic, Western ideas about corporate governance," he said, stressing that FIFA is an international association not a company with shareholders.

        He said his committee would be recommending significant changes to foster greater "financial transparency" in FIFA's activities, notably including new rules to require public disclosure of the salaries of top FIFA officials, which have been considered secret. Later at the event, Carrard also said he would support increasing the number of women on FIFA's executive committee.

        Carrard said any proposals would require a three-quarters majority vote by FIFA's 209 member nations. Carrard said it might be difficult to convince FIFA delegates to support radical reform proposals to the voting structure of the organisation, which would significantly water down their influence.

        Under the current system, tiny nations such as Liechtenstein and San Marino have the same voting power on major issues as large countries such as Russia and the United States do.

        Carrard, noting that he had just a few months to draft and present initial proposals, said he believes that offering limited reforms first with an eye to presenting deeper changes down the line is the practical way forward. He said any more fundamental revisions to FIFA's voting structure would still likely be "one to two years" away.

        Carrard said that challenge "requires absolutely new leadership" at the top of FIFA.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on November 03, 2015, 12:39:28 PM
        Fifa ethics team continues to probe FAI payment
        By Paul Kelly, Irish Examiner


        FIFA’s independent Ethics Committee is continuing to study the secret €5m agreement between FIFA and the FAI, and could yet open a formal investigation into the affair.

        Details of the January 2010 deal, reached after Ireland’s controversial World Cup play-off defeat by France two months earlier, were published in full in June this year.

        The independent Ethics Committee, which recently imposed provisional 90-day bans on FIFA president Sepp Blatter, vice-president Michel Platini and general-secretary Jérôme Valcke, is currently examining documents relating to the confidential agreement.

        These are believed to include the statement posted by the FAI on its website on June 6 detailing the “exact timelines” around the €5m payment, and revealing that a further $400,000 was paid for “FAI Regional Centres”.

        Andreas Bantel, the spokesman of the Investigatory Chamber of the independent Ethics Committee of FIFA, told the Irish Examiner yesterday:“It is a fundamental part of our work to carefully analyse any facts on the table, be this media reports, information from whistle-blowers or any results of pre-investigations. If this analysis leads to an initial suspect, the Investigatory Chamber of the Ethics Committee will open a formal investigation into the respective matter.”

        While the Ethics Committee never states in advance whether a formal investigation is about to begin, the fact that its study of the €5m deal is now into a second week suggests the matter is being taken seriously. Any such investigation would centre on alleged breaches of the FIFA Code of Ethics by representatives of football’s world governing body.

        The FAI has declined to comment on the continuing probe, or to respond to other questions about the financial agreement with FIFA.

        If a formal investigation is launched, FAI Chief Executive John Delaney is likely to be called as a witness, having co-signed the agreement document with Valcke and FIFA then-deputy Secretary General Markus Kattner, who is currently acting as Secretary General during Valcke’s suspension.

        FIFA’s independent Ethics Committee consists of two chambers. The Investigatory Chamber is chaired by Cornel Borbely, a Swiss barrister specialising in economic crime investigation.

        Its five members include the Chief Justice of the Guam Supreme Court, Robert Torres, who is currently investigating Blatter for FIFA’s payment of 2m Swiss francs to Platini in February 2011.

        The Adjucatory Chamber, which imposes penalties on FIFA representatives found guilty of breaching the Code of Ethics, is chaired by Hans-Joachim Eckert, a presiding judge of the Munich Penal Court that deals with corruption, tax fraud and economic crime.

        Formal investigation proceedings are currently in progress in relation to at least nine FIFA representatives. Proceedings regarding two other officials – Spanish football supremo Ángel María Villar Llona and German legend Franz Beckanbauer – have already been passed on to the Adjucatory Chamber.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on November 03, 2015, 12:46:56 PM
        The following comes after Indonesia's disqualification the 2018 FIFA World Cup and AFC Asian Cup 2019 qualifiers based on intervention by Indonesian government authorities into the affairs of Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI).

        Statement of the joint FIFA/AFC delegation to Indonesia
        FIFA.com


        Today, 2 November 2015, the joint FIFA and AFC delegation led by Mr. Kohzo Tashima (FIFA Executive Committee member) and including HRH Prince Abdullah (FIFA Executive Committee member) and Mr. Mariano Araneta (AFC Executive Committee member) held a meeting with President of the Republic of Indonesia HE Joko Widodo in order to find a solution for Indonesian football following the suspension of PSSI by the FIFA Executive Committee on May 30, 2015 and the decision of the FIFA Executive Committee on September 25, 2015 to set up a high level delegation to go to Indonesia. Prior to this meeting, the delegation met with the PSSI President and other PSSI officials.

        It was apparent that FIFA, AFC, PSSI and the Government are of the common view that Indonesia is a high potential football country and that reforms are needed to maximize their potential. The President of the Republic of Indonesia understood that any reform must occur under the auspices of the FIFA Statutes, but the Government is welcomed as a stakeholder in the reform. The President of the Republic of Indonesia expressed his sincere concern about the affairs of Indonesian football and reiterated his commitment to the development of the game. The delegation would like to express their sincere gratitude to all parties, including the President of the Republic for the productive meeting.

        On 3 November 2015 the delegation will meet with other key Indonesian football stakeholders, including APPI (Indonesian Players’ Association) and Indonesian Super League. A final meeting will be held with PSSI.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Mose on November 06, 2015, 11:41:24 AM
        Apparently Blatter's not feeling well.
        http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/sepp-blatter-fifa-medical-incident-1.3307538

        Quote
        Sepp Blatter undergoing stress-related health checks
        79-year-old being evaluated by doctors
        Thomson Reuters Posted: Nov 06, 2015 12:08 PM ET
        Suspended FIFA President Sepp Blatter is undergoing stress-related health checks but is not in hospital, a spokesman for the suspended FIFA president said on Friday.
         
        "He is under medical evaluation, the doctors took him out for a few days, the doctors expect to him be back around Thursday or Friday of next week," Blatter spokesman Klaus Stoehlker told Reuters.
         
        "He is under tremendous pressure from so many sides and perhaps this is a little bit difficult for a man who is not the youngest."
         
        Blatter, 79, led soccer's governing body for 18 years and was provisionally suspended for 90 days in October amid the worst corruption scandal in FIFA's history.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Soccer 19 on November 06, 2015, 12:36:09 PM
        Apparently Blatter's not feeling well.
        http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/sepp-blatter-fifa-medical-incident-1.3307538

        Quote
        Sepp Blatter undergoing stress-related health checks
        79-year-old being evaluated by doctors
        Thomson Reuters Posted: Nov 06, 2015 12:08 PM ET
        Suspended FIFA President Sepp Blatter is undergoing stress-related health checks but is not in hospital, a spokesman for the suspended FIFA president said on Friday.
         
        "He is under medical evaluation, the doctors took him out for a few days, the doctors expect to him be back around Thursday or Friday of next week," Blatter spokesman Klaus Stoehlker told Reuters.
         
        "He is under tremendous pressure from so many sides and perhaps this is a little bit difficult for a man who is not the youngest."
         
        Blatter, 79, led soccer's governing body for 18 years and was provisionally suspended for 90 days in October amid the worst corruption scandal in FIFA's history.

        Well that's a shocker    :rotfl:
        From all those years keeping things bottled up Mr. Blatters conscience is finally catching up with him. :cheers:

        The human body always tells the truth at some point  :busshead:


        19
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on November 07, 2015, 05:26:30 AM
        FIFA Puskás Award: Ten best goals of the year announced
        FIFA.com


        The race to determine the winner of the FIFA Puskás Award for the “best goal of the year” has started today, 6 November 2015, on FIFA.com and francefootball.fr. Fans from across the world will decide which of the ten goals chosen by FIFA and selected Football Committee members will be the winner of this award.

        The ten goals are (in alphabetical order of the scorer’s names):

        David Ball - 29.03.2015, Fleetwood Town - Preston North End, League 1 (England)

        Gonzalo Castro – 12.04.2015, Real Sociedad - Deportivo de la Coruña, Primera Division (Spain)

        Alessandro Florenzi – 16.09.2015, AS Roma – FC Barcelona, UEFA Champions League

        Wendell Lira – 11.03.2015, Atletico-GO – Goianesia, Campeonato Goiano (Brazil)

        Carli Lloyd – 05.07.2015, USA – Japan, FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™

        Lionel Messi – 30.05.2015, Athletic Bilbao  - FC Barcelona, Copa del Rey (Spain)

        Philippe Mexes – 25.07.2015, AC Milan – Inter Milan, Friendly Match

        Marcel Ndjeng – 13.07.2015, SC Paderborn – Bolton Wanderers, Friendly Match

        Esteban Ramirez – 02.11.2014, Herediano - Deportivo Saprissa, Primera Division (Costa Rica)

        Carlos Tevez – 09.11.2014,  Juventus – Parma Calcio, Serie A (Italy)

        Videos of the ten goals, as well as the list of scorers and the voting tool, can be found here: http://www.fifa.com/ballon-dor/puskas-award/index.html and on FIFA on Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/user/FIFATV)

        Users of FIFA.com and francefootball.fr will be able to choose from the ten goals until 30 November, when the three goals with the most votes will be disclosed. Immediately after the announcement on 30 November, FIFA.com and francefootball.fr users will be able to vote again for their favorite from the three remaining goals. The winner will be revealed on the day of the FIFA Ballon d’Or on 11 January 2016. Voting will close during the show.

        The FIFA Puskás Award, created in honor and in memory of Ferenc Puskás, the captain and star of the Hungarian national team during the 1950s, will be presented for the seventh year in a row at the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2015, which will be held at the Kongresshaus in Zurich.

        During a televised show, the winner of the FIFA Ballon d’Or for the best player of 2015 as well as the FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year 2015 will also be revealed. Meanwhile, the FIFA World Coach of the Year for Men’s Football award and the FIFA World Coach of the Year for Women’s Football award will be presented for the sixth time.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on November 07, 2015, 05:49:15 AM
        Quote
        Carlos Tevez – 09.11.2014,  Juventus – Parma Calcio, Serie A (Italy)

        MY VOTE!!!  :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on November 10, 2015, 05:51:12 AM
        Should there be a separate 'goal of the year' award for women?
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on November 13, 2015, 09:06:31 AM
        Wham?! Allyuh eh voting? Opinions on de goals? Vibes up de thread.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Deeks on November 13, 2015, 09:25:32 AM
        Should there be a separate 'goal of the year' award for women?

        Yes!!! But the same prize money!
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Deeks on November 17, 2015, 01:07:54 PM
        Germany vs Holland in Hannover, Germany, cancelled for security reasons.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on December 03, 2015, 02:12:13 AM
        FIFA Corruption Case Brings Another Wave of Pre-Dawn Arrests
        By REBECCA R. RUIZ, MATT APUZZO and SAM BORDENDEC. 3, 2015 (New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/03/sports/fifa-scandal-arrests-in-switzerland.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0))


        ZURICH — Swiss authorities began a new series of pre-dawn arrests Thursday in the broad investigation, led by United States officials, into corruption in international soccer. More than a dozen people were expected to be charged, law enforcement officials said, nearly doubling the size of an already huge case that has upended FIFA, soccer’s multibillion-dollar governing body.
        Some of the arrests took place at the same luxury hotel where other FIFA officials were arrested in May. Swiss police entered the hotel, the Baur au Lac, through a side door at 6 a.m. local time. A hotel manager told visitors in the lobby they had to leave the property because of “an extreme situation.”

        The police were targeting current and former senior soccer officials on charges that include racketeering, money laundering and fraud, authorities said. The new charges were expected to hit South and Central American soccer leaders particularly hard, the officials said.

        Alfredo Hawit of Honduras and Juan Ángel Napout of Paraguay were among those arrested, multiple people familiar with the investigation said. Hawit is the president of Concacaf, the regional confederation that includes North and Central America and the Caribbean. Napout is the president of Conmebol, the South American confederation. Both are FIFA vice presidents and members of the powerful executive committee.

        Hawit assumed control of Concacaf last spring, following the indictment of Jeffrey Webb, the confederation’s former president. Reacting to the allegations contained in the United States indictment unsealed last spring, Hawit said in a statement that he was “profoundly disappointed” that the organization was once again “the victim of fraud.”

        The arrests, coming as FIFA’s leaders gathered in Zurich, served as a high-profile reminder that despite the organization’s promises of reform, soccer’s top officials remain under intense legal scrutiny by the investigation.

        “FIFA became aware of the actions taken today by the U.S. Department of Justice,” FIFA said in a statement. “FIFA will continue to cooperate fully with the U.S. investigation as permitted by Swiss law, as well as with the investigation being led by the Swiss Office of the Attorney General.”

        The full roster of people charged Thursday morning was not immediately clear. Law enforcement officials said the list did not include Sepp Blatter, FIFA’s longtime president, or Jérôme Valcke, his suspended deputy.

        Swiss authorities confirmed on Thursday morning that they had taken two FIFA officials into custody and that those individuals were accused of accepting millions of dollars in bribes related to the sale of marketing rights for World Cup qualifying matches and soccer tournaments in Latin America.

        Local authorities in Zurich were expected to hold hearings for those two individuals later in the day, Switzerland’s Federal Office of Justice said.

        The apprehended people may submit to being extradited to the United States immediately, but if they oppose it, authorities said, Switzerland will await a formal extradition request from American prosecutors within 40 days.

        In May, United States officials announced charges against 18 people of 12 nationalities. They described two decades of corruption in which officials rigged World Cup bids and steered marketing and broadcast contracts in exchange for bribes — paid out through convoluted financial deals and briefcases full of cash. Mr. Blatter quickly announced plans to resign.

        The United States Justice Department was expected to unseal indictments in the case as early as Thursday morning, according to several law enforcement officials who were briefed on the case and spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the investigation. F.B.I. and United States tax agents, along with federal prosecutors in New York, have spent years building the case against FIFA. They promised this spring to rid the organization of corruption.

        Melanie Newman, a spokeswoman for the Justice Department in Washington, had no comment Thursday morning.

        United States authorities have long predicted more charges in the case, but the number of people involved — nearly as many as were charged in May — was not expected.

        The arrests came about three hours before members of FIFA’s executive committee were to begin the second part of their two-day meeting to discuss governance reforms. The mood among the soccer officials after Wednesday’s meetings was mostly upbeat; one high-ranking official said there was a “sense of purpose” from the leadership during the meetings, a feeling that the reforms would be a strong step in the right direction after the turmoil of the past six months.

        Television crews reported the scene in front of the Baur au Lac hotel early Thursday morning. Credit Pascal Mora for The New York Times
        On Wednesday night, a group of about 40 to 50 soccer officials — including the executive committee members and their spouses or companions, as well as many top FIFA administrators such as Markus Kattner, the acting secretary general, and Marco Villiger, the organization’s chief lawyer — attended a lavish dinner at Sonnenberg, an upscale restaurant known for its view of the city. A wide array of choices were available — the restaurant is known for its meat dishes — and afterward a number of officials went to the bar at the Baur au Lac for the customary nightcap.

        The hotel, which sits along the banks of Lake Zurich, gained notoriety after it was the site of the arrests in May but has had a long relationship with FIFA. In the aftermath of the May arrests, FIFA approached soccer officials who were coming to Zurich for business trips in subsequent months and offered the choice of booking accommodation at another hotel in the city (provided, of course, the rates were not substantially higher than the negotiated package rates FIFA receives at the Baur au Lac, where rooms for the public start at $650).

        A few officials accepted the offer, choosing to stay at other hotels, such as the Park Hyatt, during meetings in July and September. For the most part, however, tradition ruled and, despite its history, the Baur au Lac was full with soccer leaders yet again this week.

        As one official, speaking in the lobby of the hotel on Wednesday, said, “Things change slowly around here.”

        Members of FIFA’s executive committee are meeting in Zurich this week to approve a set of reform measures. The group is under pressure not just from investigators but also from sponsors. Five World Cup sponsors, including Adidas, McDonald’s and Coca-Cola, signed a letter this week urging FIFA to ensure independent oversight of the reforms.

        A new election to select a replacement for Mr. Blatter is set for February. He has been under suspension, along with several other top officials, since Switzerland announced in late September that he was the focus of a separate criminal inquiry. Several other countries, including Brazil and Trinidad and Tobago, have opened investigations of their own.

        This spring’s arrests were met around the world with a mixture of praise and derision. Many soccer fans were thrilled that American law enforcement officials had set their sights on FIFA, which had been dogged by corruption allegations for years but faced few consequences. Mr. Blatter, however, said the charges were retribution for United States’s not being chosen to host the 2022 World Cup. “It doesn’t smell good,” he said.

        More broadly, the case raised questions about how the American government interprets its own authority to prosecute people for crimes committed overseas. To do so, the law requires some link between the crime and the United States. In the FIFA case, the government said American banks were used in the scheme. That has been enough to establish jurisdiction in other cases, a precedent that has been particularly useful in prosecuting international terrorism suspects.

        Whether or not an American courthouse was the ideal venue for the case, Justice Department have said, it became clear that FIFA was operating corruptly for years and no other country was doing anything about it. “They clearly thought the U.S. was a safe financial haven for them,” Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch said this spring.
        -----------------
        Sam Borden reported from Zurich, and Rebecca R. Ruiz and Matt Apuzzo from Washington. Michael S. Schmidt contributed reporting from Washington, William K. Rashbaum from New York and Calum MacKenzie from Zurich.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on December 03, 2015, 05:57:46 AM
        You can still vote!
        FIFA.com


        And then there were three.

        The FIFA Puskás Award celebrates the best goal of the past year and, most importantly, is chosen by you. Countless FIFA.com fans have cast their votes to whittle the original list of ten goals down to just three: Alessandro Florenzi, Wendell Lira, and Lionel Messi.

        The three goals showcase different qualities and each have caught the imagination of the football world. Florenzi's strike for Roma against fellow contender Messi's Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League will be one for fans of long-range efforts. The make-shift full-back picked up possession deep in his own half and sped off down the right flank before unleashing a shot 55 metres out with his right foot that soared over German goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen. Relive Florenzi's magic moment here.

        For fans of acrobatic efforts, look no further than Wendell Lira. "As the ball was played into me, I turned and knew that I only had one option,” the 26-year-old told globeesporte.com. “I wanted to volley it. Thank goodness I managed to score such a wonderful goal.” While his description sounds exciting enough, watch the goal for yourself. The truth is that his strike was even more breathtaking than words can express.

        If long-range strikes or acrobatic efforts aren't your thing, Lionel Messi showcases the beauty of the solo goal. Messi's electrifying solo effort against Athletic Bilbao in the final of the Copa del Rey came on 30 May 2015. “I don’t think I’m quite aware of just how great a goal Leo’s was. I just want to go home and enjoy it,” said Barcelona coach Luis Enrique after his side’s 3-1 win at the Camp Nou. You can now enjoy it for yourself. Watch Messi weave his mazy magic here.

        Which goal gets your vote? You can still vote for your favourite goal from the final three contenders right here! (http://www.fifa.com/ballon-dor/puskas-award/index.html) The winner will be revealed on the day of the FIFA Ballon d’Or on 11 January 2016. Voting will close during the show.

        Select your favourite and cast your vote for the FIFA Puskás Award 2015. The decision is in your hands!
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Sando on December 03, 2015, 06:55:11 AM
        FIFA Corruption Case Brings Another Wave of Pre-Dawn Arrests
        By REBECCA R. RUIZ, MATT APUZZO and SAM BORDENDEC. 3, 2015 (New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/03/sports/fifa-scandal-arrests-in-switzerland.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0))


        ZURICH — Swiss authorities began a new series of pre-dawn arrests Thursday in the broad investigation, led by United States officials, into corruption in international soccer. More than a dozen people were expected to be charged, law enforcement officials said, nearly doubling the size of an already huge case that has upended FIFA, soccer’s multibillion-dollar governing body.
        Some of the arrests took place at the same luxury hotel where other FIFA officials were arrested in May. Swiss police entered the hotel, the Baur au Lac, through a side door at 6 a.m. local time. A hotel manager told visitors in the lobby they had to leave the property because of “an extreme situation.”

        The police were targeting current and former senior soccer officials on charges that include racketeering, money laundering and fraud, authorities said. The new charges were expected to hit South and Central American soccer leaders particularly hard, the officials said.

        Alfredo Hawit of Honduras and Juan Ángel Napout of Paraguay were among those arrested, multiple people familiar with the investigation said. Hawit is the president of Concacaf, the regional confederation that includes North and Central America and the Caribbean. Napout is the president of Conmebol, the South American confederation. Both are FIFA vice presidents and members of the powerful executive committee.

        Hawit assumed control of Concacaf last spring, following the indictment of Jeffrey Webb, the confederation’s former president. Reacting to the allegations contained in the United States indictment unsealed last spring, Hawit said in a statement that he was “profoundly disappointed” that the organization was once again “the victim of fraud.”

        The arrests, coming as FIFA’s leaders gathered in Zurich, served as a high-profile reminder that despite the organization’s promises of reform, soccer’s top officials remain under intense legal scrutiny by the investigation.

        “FIFA became aware of the actions taken today by the U.S. Department of Justice,” FIFA said in a statement. “FIFA will continue to cooperate fully with the U.S. investigation as permitted by Swiss law, as well as with the investigation being led by the Swiss Office of the Attorney General.”

        The full roster of people charged Thursday morning was not immediately clear. Law enforcement officials said the list did not include Sepp Blatter, FIFA’s longtime president, or Jérôme Valcke, his suspended deputy.

        Swiss authorities confirmed on Thursday morning that they had taken two FIFA officials into custody and that those individuals were accused of accepting millions of dollars in bribes related to the sale of marketing rights for World Cup qualifying matches and soccer tournaments in Latin America.

        Local authorities in Zurich were expected to hold hearings for those two individuals later in the day, Switzerland’s Federal Office of Justice said.

        The apprehended people may submit to being extradited to the United States immediately, but if they oppose it, authorities said, Switzerland will await a formal extradition request from American prosecutors within 40 days.

        In May, United States officials announced charges against 18 people of 12 nationalities. They described two decades of corruption in which officials rigged World Cup bids and steered marketing and broadcast contracts in exchange for bribes — paid out through convoluted financial deals and briefcases full of cash. Mr. Blatter quickly announced plans to resign.

        The United States Justice Department was expected to unseal indictments in the case as early as Thursday morning, according to several law enforcement officials who were briefed on the case and spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the investigation. F.B.I. and United States tax agents, along with federal prosecutors in New York, have spent years building the case against FIFA. They promised this spring to rid the organization of corruption.

        Melanie Newman, a spokeswoman for the Justice Department in Washington, had no comment Thursday morning.

        United States authorities have long predicted more charges in the case, but the number of people involved — nearly as many as were charged in May — was not expected.

        The arrests came about three hours before members of FIFA’s executive committee were to begin the second part of their two-day meeting to discuss governance reforms. The mood among the soccer officials after Wednesday’s meetings was mostly upbeat; one high-ranking official said there was a “sense of purpose” from the leadership during the meetings, a feeling that the reforms would be a strong step in the right direction after the turmoil of the past six months.

        Television crews reported the scene in front of the Baur au Lac hotel early Thursday morning. Credit Pascal Mora for The New York Times
        On Wednesday night, a group of about 40 to 50 soccer officials — including the executive committee members and their spouses or companions, as well as many top FIFA administrators such as Markus Kattner, the acting secretary general, and Marco Villiger, the organization’s chief lawyer — attended a lavish dinner at Sonnenberg, an upscale restaurant known for its view of the city. A wide array of choices were available — the restaurant is known for its meat dishes — and afterward a number of officials went to the bar at the Baur au Lac for the customary nightcap.

        The hotel, which sits along the banks of Lake Zurich, gained notoriety after it was the site of the arrests in May but has had a long relationship with FIFA. In the aftermath of the May arrests, FIFA approached soccer officials who were coming to Zurich for business trips in subsequent months and offered the choice of booking accommodation at another hotel in the city (provided, of course, the rates were not substantially higher than the negotiated package rates FIFA receives at the Baur au Lac, where rooms for the public start at $650).

        A few officials accepted the offer, choosing to stay at other hotels, such as the Park Hyatt, during meetings in July and September. For the most part, however, tradition ruled and, despite its history, the Baur au Lac was full with soccer leaders yet again this week.

        As one official, speaking in the lobby of the hotel on Wednesday, said, “Things change slowly around here.”

        Members of FIFA’s executive committee are meeting in Zurich this week to approve a set of reform measures. The group is under pressure not just from investigators but also from sponsors. Five World Cup sponsors, including Adidas, McDonald’s and Coca-Cola, signed a letter this week urging FIFA to ensure independent oversight of the reforms.

        A new election to select a replacement for Mr. Blatter is set for February. He has been under suspension, along with several other top officials, since Switzerland announced in late September that he was the focus of a separate criminal inquiry. Several other countries, including Brazil and Trinidad and Tobago, have opened investigations of their own.

        This spring’s arrests were met around the world with a mixture of praise and derision. Many soccer fans were thrilled that American law enforcement officials had set their sights on FIFA, which had been dogged by corruption allegations for years but faced few consequences. Mr. Blatter, however, said the charges were retribution for United States’s not being chosen to host the 2022 World Cup. “It doesn’t smell good,” he said.

        More broadly, the case raised questions about how the American government interprets its own authority to prosecute people for crimes committed overseas. To do so, the law requires some link between the crime and the United States. In the FIFA case, the government said American banks were used in the scheme. That has been enough to establish jurisdiction in other cases, a precedent that has been particularly useful in prosecuting international terrorism suspects.

        Whether or not an American courthouse was the ideal venue for the case, Justice Department have said, it became clear that FIFA was operating corruptly for years and no other country was doing anything about it. “They clearly thought the U.S. was a safe financial haven for them,” Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch said this spring.
        -----------------
        Sam Borden reported from Zurich, and Rebecca R. Ruiz and Matt Apuzzo from Washington. Michael S. Schmidt contributed reporting from Washington, William K. Rashbaum from New York and Calum MacKenzie from Zurich.

        That's funny..

        T&T investigating corruption, I guess the world doesn't know T&T very well.

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Adam Lake on December 03, 2015, 09:31:19 AM
        http://www.foxsports.com/soccer/story/fifa-defers-decision-on-40-team-soccer-world-cup-starting-in-2026-120315

        FIFA defers decision on 40-team World Cup starting in 2026

        AP
        Dec 3, 2015 at 9:06a ET
        ZURICH --

        The FIFA executive committee has deferred a decision on expanding the World Cup to 40 teams starting at the 2026 tournament.

        The German soccer federation says the FIFA administration will have further talks about the plan, which is supported by Asia and Africa.

        The idea to add eight teams was part of FIFA reform proposals being considered Thursday. The executive committee had the power to make it FIFA policy without approval of the 209 member federations.

        The 2026 bidding should start next year with the United States, Canada and Mexico the expected candidates.

        The 40-team World Cup was first suggested by UEFA President Michel Platini in 2013. It is an election pledge by FIFA presidential candidate Gianni Infantino, the UEFA general secretary.

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: lefty on December 03, 2015, 10:05:24 AM
        http://www.foxsports.com/soccer/story/fifa-defers-decision-on-40-team-soccer-world-cup-starting-in-2026-120315

        FIFA defers decision on 40-team World Cup starting in 2026
        .........................


        don't know 32 seems the most uncomplicated number for world cup finals, always seemed kinda odd choosing 16 from 24 and the process invovled in doing that
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Adam Lake on December 03, 2015, 10:16:23 AM
        http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2015/m=12/news=fifa-executive-committee-approves-kick-off-times-for-the-2018-fifa-wor-2741645.html

        FIFA Executive Committee approves kick-off times for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia

        The FIFA Executive Committee has approved the kick-off times for the 2018 FIFA World Cup™ and the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017 during the first of two days of meetings in Zurich.

        The opening match of both tournaments, as well as the FIFA World Cup Final, will be played at 18.00 Moscow time (UTC + 3).

        Taking into account time zone considerations, the FIFA Executive Committee also amended the 2018 FIFA World Cup match schedule accordingly by swapping the following matches between Kaliningrad and Ekaterinburg: Match #21 and #26, #32 and #36, #44 and #45.

        The next step in the development of the match schedules will be the assignment of kick-off times to matches, factoring in such considerations as daily temperatures and local time zones. Updated versions of the match schedules should be approved in March 2016, during the meeting of the Organising Committee for the FIFA World Cup.

        The final match schedules, which will include the participating teams, will be unveiled after the FIFA Confederations Cup Draw, in November 2016, and after the FIFA World Cup Final Draw, in December 2017.

        The kick-off times of both competitions using Moscow’s time zones*, are as follows,

        2018™ FIFA World Cup Russia  - 14 June to 15 July

        Opening match: 18.00
        16 June: 13.00, 16.00, 19.00, 22.00
        Group stage matches for the days with three matches: 15.00, 18.00, 21.00
        Last round of group stage matches with simultaneous kick-offs, Round of 16 and Quarter-finals: 17.00, 21.00
        Semi-finals: 21.00

        Match for third place: 17.00
        Final: 18.00

        FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017 - 17 June to 2 July

        Opening Match: 18.00
        First two rounds of group stage matches: 18.00, 21.00
        Last round of group stage matches: 18.00
        Semi-finals: 21.00
        Match for third place: 15.00
        Final: 21.00
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Majestic on December 03, 2015, 11:24:46 AM
        ...investigation, led by United States officials, into corruption...

        dis is more funny
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: davyjenny1 on December 03, 2015, 11:51:58 PM
        Yahoo Sports: FIFA scandal deepens with 16 indicted for corruption

        http://sports.yahoo.com/news/fifa-scandal-deepens-16-indicted-corruption-230237617--sow.html;_ylt=A0LEVjt4KGFWhzoA_DkPxQt.;_ylu=X3oDMTByMjB0aG5zBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzYw--

        Washington (AFP) - The multi-million dollar corruption scandal engulfing FIFA widened with 16 people indicted by US justice officials who pledged an unremitting crackdown on an "outrageous" betrayal of trust.
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            Photos Of The Human Race That Are Simply Stunning Your Daily Dish Sponsored 

        The latest dramatic twist in a long-running saga began with a dawn raid on a luxury Zurich hotel where Swiss authorities arrested South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) president Juan Angel Napout, and Alfredo Hawit, head of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean (CONCACAF).

        Hours later, the two appeared on a list released in Washington of 16 men -- all from the same two confederations -- indicted on charges of corruption.

        They included Ricardo Teixeira, the former head of the Brazilian Football Confederation and a former FIFA vice-president; Ariel Alvarado, a Panamanian who sits on FIFA's disciplinary committee; and Rafael Callejas, president of Honduras 1990-1994 and former head of the Honduran football federation.

        "The message should be clear to every culpable individual who remains in the shadows, hoping to evade our investigation: You will not wait us out. You will not escape our focus," US Attorney General Loretta Lynch said.

        Lynch also revealed that eight other people indicted since authorities launched an earlier wave of FIFA raids in Switzerland in May had now pleaded guilty.
        View gallery
        The FIFA corruption scandal deepens
        The main players in the deepening FIFA corruption scandal (135 x 156 mm) (AFP Photo/S.Ramis-K.Tian/P …

        Among those were Jeffrey Webb, a former FIFA vice president and head of CONCACAF, who has admitted racketeering and money laundering.

        As part of his plea deal, he has agreed to forfeit more than $6.7 million in assets.

        Webb and banned former CONCACAF chief Jack Warner, who was indicted earlier, were also accused of siphoning off cash intended for disaster relief, according to the new indictment.

        Hawit, a Honduran national, and Napout of Paraguay are both opposing extradition to the United States, the Swiss justice ministry (FOJ) said.

        Both are suspected of taking millions of dollars in bribes in return for selling marketing rights for regional tournaments and World Cup qualifying matches, the FOJ said.
        View gallery
        US Attorney General Loretta Lynch speaks about the …
        US Attorney General Loretta Lynch speaks about the corruption scandal engulfing FIFA at the Justice  …

        - Epicentre of graft -

        Hawit's predecessor in charge of football in Honduras insisted that he had done nothing wrong.

        "He assured and guaranteed that he was not involved in anything illicit," Callejas said.

        FIFA's remaining leadership approved a series of measures aimed at improving transparency and curbing the authority of the body's much-maligned executive committee, which has emerged as an epicentre of graft.

        The measures include a 12-year term limit for FIFA's president and other senior leaders, public disclosure of compensation for top officials and a pledge to include more women in senior positions.
        View gallery
        South American Football Confederation president Juan …
        South American Football Confederation president Juan Angel Napout, seen here (right) with FIFA Presi …

        They must be approved at a meeting of FIFA's 209-member associations in February, when a replacement will also be chosen for the organisation's suspended president Sepp Blatter, who is the subject of a Swiss criminal investigation.

        The head of the reform effort, Francois Carrard, told journalists that the measures offered FIFA an opportunity "to renew itself."

        Acting president Issa Hayatou, also implicated in previous corruption allegations, said Thursday's arrests "underscore the need to establish a complete programme of reforms."

        Despite the pledges for change, outsiders, including major corporate sponsors, may remain sceptical of whether FIFA is capable of fixing itself.

        The arrests were carried out at the five-star Baur au Lac hotel, a favourite of FIFA's officials, and the same spot where seven football executives were arrested in May on charges of corruption dating back decades.
        View gallery
        Swiss authorities conduct an early-morning operation …
        Swiss authorities conduct an early-morning operation to arrest FIFA football officials at the Hotel  …

        Blatter has been suspended for 90-days and is facing tougher punishment by FIFA's ethics watchdog.

        - Millions of dollars -

        The man who had been tipped to succeed him, European football chief Michel Platini, has also been suspended over taking a $2 million payment and could be hit with a lifetime ban from football by the end of the month.

        Aside from term limits, a full restructuring of the executive committee was approved.

        Both Hawit and Napout sit on the executive committee, although their arrests may trigger swift suspensions by the ethics committee.
        View gallery
        Alfredo Hawit, pictured on November 5, 2015, was arrested …
        Alfredo Hawit, pictured on November 5, 2015, was arrested by Swiss authorities at a luxury Zurich ho …

        The Swiss justice ministry said the two had been arrested following requests from the United States issued on November 29.

        Prosecutors in New York suspect the two "of accepting bribes of millions of dollars," the FOJ statement said.

        The arrests, and the meeting on reforms, came on the fifth anniversary of the 2010 vote that controversially awarded the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 tournament to Qatar.

        Before his suspension, Blatter tipped Carrard to lead a reform drive, after the Swiss lawyer had been widely praised for cleaning up a rotten International Olympic Committee more than a decade ago.

        Carrard told reporters that the panel had scrapped an idea for a 74-year age limit for senior officials, calling it "arbitrary."

        But in a surprise move, his panel proposed expanding the World Cup from 32 teams to 40 in 2026 to broaden inclusion at the world's premier sports event, although it was not immediately clear how that would aid anti-corruption efforts.

        The plan has not yet been approved by the executive committee and remains under review.

        Carrard and Hayatou faced tough questions as to whether FIFA insiders could be part of the effort to clean up their act.

        "I am aware that the road will be difficult," Carrard said, but stressed that "if you want to achieve reform it must also be carried out from within
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Flex on December 04, 2015, 06:38:21 AM
        FIFA corruption crackdown continues
        By STEPHON NICHOLAS (NEWSDAY).


        The CONCACAF region continues to be fraught with shame as its third president in a row was yesterday arrested on charges of racketeering and bribery.

        It was deja vu for the corruption-riddled FIFA as indictments were issued for 16 officials including CONCACAF acting president Alfredo Hawit who was held yesterday in a US Department of Justice early morning swoop in Switzerland.

        The predawn exercise mirrored that of May earlier this year where other FIFA honchos including previous CONCACAF boss Jeffrey Webb were detained by the FBI in a covert operation that also involved Swiss authorities.

        Former CONCACAF boss and ex-FIFA vice-president Jack Warner is also on the wanted list by the FBI to face similar charges but is currently battling extradition in Trinidad after TT AG Faris Al-Rawi gave the all-clear for him to depart.

        The ex FIFA bigwig is also challenging the Extradition Order issued by the USA, saying it goes against local extradition laws.

        The 16 new defendants arrested yesterday included nine CONMEBOL officials and seven high ranking members from CONCACAF such as former President of the Republic of Honduras Rafael Callejas; Hector Trujillo, a judge at the Guatemala Constitutional Court; Ariel Alvarado (Panama Federation president); Brayan Jiminez (head of Guatemala Federation); Rafael Salguero (ex-Guatemala football head) and Reynaldo Vasquez (former El Salvador football boss).

        US Attorney General Loretta E Lynch, in an address to the media yesterday, revealed that Webb was among eight officials arrested in May who have pleaded guilty, forfeiting close to US$200 million.

        She also sounded a warning to other FIFA officials that her country would be proactive in bringing other FIFA members alleged to have been involved in illicit activities to justice.

        “The Department of Justice is committed to ending the rampant corruption we have alleged amidst the leadership of international soccer – not only because of the scale of the schemes, or the brazenness and breadth of the operation required to sustain such corruption, but also because of the affront to international principles that this behaviour represents,” said Attorney General Lynch.

        “The message from this announcement should be clear to every culpable individual who remains in the shadows, hoping to evade our investigation: You will not wait us out. You will not escape our focus.” As news of the latest FIFA scandal rocked the football world yesterday, former TT FA president Raymond Tim Kee was left struggling to find words when told by Newsday about the latest developments.

        “Alfredo? Alfredo was arrested? You kidding me. Wow,” he said, taking a few seconds to come to grips with what transpired.

        “Well I am really thoroughly surprised to hear that. Those are all men with whom I would have dealt with over the years and of course held them in the high esteem. I am really disappointed to hear Alfredo was in that. We spoke about that (corruption) after all the things (May arrests) started - Alfredo and I - and I am disappointed to hear that.

        “He was one of those persons I held respect for. He was always kind of idealistic in some of the things he said and we shared (sentiments) about not doing crooked, wrong things. At the other hand, I never demonstrated any kind of looseness so nobody might take the chance to tell me anything.” Tim Kee noted though that he is in support of the clean-up operation of football’s governing body as “football deserves clean, good governance because too many lives depend on it and it brings joy and happiness to so many homes and lives.”

        Asked how CONCACAF and FIFA can purge itself from the scourge of corruption, Tim Kee was frank: “Once you go in and find anything out of sorts, you have to go right down deep and get to the root and clean it or destroy it and start afresh. When you clean and tweak here and there you will be missing the root and the root will be dormant...

        It is good (cleaning FIFA), I am saddened but so long as you identify an ailment, you have a responsibility to dig deep and clean from the root.” He noted that the TT FA constitution implemented by him which stresses good governance and democracy was given rave reviews by FIFA’s representative and believes other CONCACAF territories and even FIFA can adopt it and lay the groundwork for a positive way forward.

        Present head of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TT FA) David John-Williams was coy however to speak on the arrest of the past and present FIFA officials given he is just four days into his post.

        “I can’t really comment much on that. I just saw it on the news this morning so I don’t know the circumstances but all I can say is it’s unfortunate. I think the problems in football worldwide is well documented. Whichever administration is newly elected whether its Trinidad, Grenada, Barbados or CONCACAF they will be under tremendous scrutiny. The problems are well documented so we just have to deal with it. It’s too early in my tenure to comment on that. I just want to see how it unfolds,” he said.

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: dreamer on December 04, 2015, 08:33:06 AM
        Once again Uncle Tim is stunned (either true naively or stated dishonestly) that all his friends and associates in CONCACAF were snatched in the crime syndicate dragnet. Either conclusion is pathetic.
        Next time when they grab Uncle Burrellito from Jamdown, he is likely to say again how surprised he is.
        Timmo, I would suggest that you lay low and cut down on international travel if you know you've been dabbling in "stuff".

        Thank God for a change in TTFA administration, new immediate plans to pay Pellurud and avoidance of T&T from being banned from the 2022 World Cup.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: dreamer on December 04, 2015, 07:23:27 PM
        US says eight guilty pleas in FIFA corruption scandal
        https://www.youtube.com/v/SFFVg2f2Y24
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on December 06, 2015, 04:44:35 AM
        Judge in FIFA Scandal Arrested When Cruise Ship Docks in Florida
        By Matt Apuzzo (The New York Times).


        Federal agents boarded an international cruise ship as it docked in Florida before dawn on Friday and arrested one of the world soccer officials who had yet to be captured in a broad corruption investigation, the F.B.I. said.

        The official, Héctor Trujillo, the general secretary of the Guatemalan soccer federation who is also a judge on the Constitutional Court of Guatemala, was arrested by federal customs agents. He was expected to appear in a federal courtroom in Florida, said Kelly Langmesser, an F.B.I. spokeswoman.

        Mr. Trujillo, 62, was on an island cruise Thursday when the Justice Department announced charges against him and 15 others. Checking the cruise itinerary, federal agents saw that the ship was not scheduled to stop before it arrived in Port Canaveral, Fla.

        It was unclear whether Mr. Trujillo was aware of the indictments while at sea, but Internet access and phone service are available on many cruise lines.

        At around 6 a.m. Friday, agents with Customs and Border Protection boarded the ship and arrested Mr. Trujillo without incident, Ms. Langmesser said.

        For the last five years, Mr. Trujillo has been the general secretary of Guatemala’s national soccer federation. During that time, he has simultaneously served as a judge.

        Announcing the charges against the array of individuals on Thursday, Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch specifically mentioned Mr. Trujillo and his seat on his country’s constitutional court. Ms. Lynch characterized him as “purportedly dispensing justice by day while allegedly soliciting bribes and selling his influence within FIFA.”

        Mr. Trujillo is accused of accepting money from business executives in exchange for lucrative sports marketing contracts, including from a Miami-based company called Media World that figures prominently into the United States’ case.

        The indictment unsealed Thursday refers to multiple bribe negotiations in Miami involving Media World, Mr. Trujillo and other defendants. Those defendants include Brayan Jiménez, president of the Guatemalan soccer federation, and Rafael Salguero, a former president of that federation who rose higher in the ranks of world soccer and assumed a role on FIFA’s executive committee.

        The negotiations referred to contracts signed in 2010 and 2014. The bribes traveled around the world in deliberately roundabout ways, with one particular six-figure bribe wired from Miami through Panama City in an effort to conceal the transaction, according to the indictment.

        Mr. Trujillo and his fellow officials were mindful of their illegal activity, the indictment suggests. It quotes from a meeting in Chicago last July at which the men insisted that nothing related to the transactions should be discussed over the phone and detailed the manner in which a bribe payment had been concealed.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on December 06, 2015, 04:54:41 AM
        FIFA scandal leads to sponsor crisis, with 27 of 34 partner slots empty
        ESPNFC


        FIFA's sponsorship 'black hole' is so acute that 27 out of 34 slots for potential partners remain unfilled.

        The corruption scandal has proved so toxic that no new sponsors have joined since the 2014 World Cup, while several have severed all ties with the world governing body including top partners Sony and Emirates.

        Out of 14 tier one and tier two partner slots, only seven are currently filled. Efforts to find 20 regional sponsors -- four from each continent -- have failed completely.

        The loss of income has had a drastic effect on FIFA's finances -- it has forecast making a deficit of £67 million for 2015, the first time it will have made a loss since 2001.

        FIFA marketing director Thierry Weil said: "FIFA is in contact with various companies and potential sponsors, but we are also realistic, and understand that until reforms are passed at the extraordinary congress, and a new president is elected, that it will be challenging to sign new partnerships.

        "Given the ongoing discussions, I am confident that once the reforms are approved by the congress, we will indeed be able to realise our sponsorship concept.''
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: kev on December 08, 2015, 07:22:44 AM
        This programme went out yesterday on BBC with a smug Andrew Jennings hamming it up somewhat. (tongue in cheek, I think)


        http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b06tkl9d/panorama-fifa-sepp-blatter-and-me
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on December 16, 2015, 04:46:16 AM
        From what I gather, Andrew Jennings has leveraged his mastery of the subject matter into PhD research (unless there happens to be someone with his name and a coinciding interest). More to follow.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on December 16, 2015, 04:49:27 AM
        Sepp Blatter likens Fifa ethics committee to ‘Spanish Inquisition’
        By Owen Gibson, The Guardian


        Sepp Blatter has likened the Fifa ethics committee process that could lead to him being banned from football for years to the Spanish inquisition in a letter that itself appears to breach the terms of his suspension.

        The Fifa president had resolved to carry on his tradition of writing an end of year letter to all 209 members of the governing body despite being provisionally suspended for 90 days over a £1.35m “disloyal payment” to Michel Platini, the suspended Uefa president.

        Although it is not on Fifa-headed paper, it is understood that in writing to all 209 FAs around the world Blatter has breached the terms of his provisional ban from all football-related activities. His spokesman, Klaus Stöhlker, said Blatter was unconcerned about whether he had technically breached the terms of his ban. “He is more concerned about the fairness of the hearings and the outcome,” he said.

        In the letter Blatter is understood to have written: “Although I have been suspended I am not isolated and will certainly not be silenced.”

        As he prepares to face the ethics committee on Thursday, with the investigatory arm having requested a life ban but a suspension of six to seven years seen as more likely, Blatter is understood to have written that he was “bewildered by the insinuations and allegations brought against me by the investigatory chamber of the ethics committee”.

        The 79-year-old Swiss, who this year resolved to stand down as Fifa president following the US indictment of what prosecutors described as a “World Cup of fraud”, insisted the process by which Platini received the payment nine years after it was originally due as part of a gentleman’s agreement between the pair was above board.

        “However, the way in which the investigatory chamber of the ethics committee has communicated on the current proceedings, demanded the maximum penalty and reinforced public prejudgment has reached a tendentious and dangerous dimension,” he added. “These proceedings remind me of the inquisition.”

        It was Platini’s lawyer who first revealed that the investigatory arm of the ethics committee was seeking a life ban for both men over the payment, which was made in 2011 weeks before Blatter was re-elected for a fourth term.

        The pair face charges including corruption, conflict of interest and noncooperation. Blatter’s case will be heard on Thursday with Platini’s following on Friday, with a decision expected on Monday next week.

        Blatter also says in the letter, seen by the Guardian that he has always “faced up to the challenges with honesty, respect and fair play”. He says he has maintained the values passed down to him by his parents: “Never accept any money which you have not earned, always pay off your debts.
        Advertisement

        “I will continue to fight for my rights – and at the end of this week, I will present my case before the adjudicatory chamber with great conviction and a strong belief in justice”.

        Blatter also faces a Swiss criminal investigation over the £1.35m payment and Platini has been interviewed as “someone between a witness and an accused person”. Both men have denied wrongdoing.

        In the letter, Blatter again reaffirms his innocence. “In the current case, the adjudicatory chamber of the ethics committee must pass judgment on the legality of the bill for two million Swiss francs – stemming from the 1998 agreement between Fifa and Michel Platini – and whose payment [of the remaining amount] was only requested in 2010-11,” he says.

        “I can assure you that it was legal because it was based on a verbal agreement. And agreements must be adhered to. This payment was put through the full administrative process, the correctness of which was confirmed by all competent Fifa bodies – including the congress.”
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on December 16, 2015, 04:51:28 AM
        Steven Gerrard, Andrea Pirlo can't play friendly in banned Kuwait - FIFA
        ESPNFC


        ZURICH -- FIFA has stopped Steven Gerrard, Andrea Pirlo and Xavi Hernandez from playing in a friendly in Kuwait because of the Gulf nation's ban from international football.

        Kuwait was suspended by FIFA in October because of government interference. The ban from international competitions extends to active players registered with clubs from taking part in the Football Champions Tour friendly in Kuwait on Friday against a local all-star team.

        Organizers say Pirlo and Gerrard, who play in Major League Soccer, as well as Qatar-based Xavi are no longer able to participate.

        FIFA acting secretary general Markus Kattner wrote to member associations last week reminding them that the Football Champions Tour game was also covered by Kuwait's suspension.

        "Such principle is, of course, also to be followed at all sporting levels involving football in the territory of the state of Kuwait,'' Kattner said.

        On Tuesday, the FIFA disciplinary committee will consider sanctions for Kuwait for failing to fulfill a World Cup qualifier against Myanmar last month after it was banned. The ruling is not expected this week.

        The International Olympic Committee has also suspended Kuwait, risking its athletes' chances of qualifying and competing at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.

        Kuwait's top sports official, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah -- a FIFA executive committee member and head of the ANOC group of national Olympic bodies -- has been unable to resolve the dispute.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on December 16, 2015, 04:54:14 AM
        Leoz to be extradited to US to face corruption charges
        The Associated Press


        (http://pics.mcclatchyinteractive.com/wire_photos/a6985m/picture49841485/ALTERNATES/FREE_960/Argentina%20FIFA%20Investigation%20Leoz.JPEG)
               
        ASUNCION, Paraguay --Nicolas Leoz, the former head of the South American football confederation, is being extradited to the United States to face corruption charges linked to FIFA.

        A Paraguay appeals court approved the extradition on Tuesday.

        Leoz has been under house arrest in his native Paraguay since being indicted by U.S. authorities in May, charged with taking millions in bribes as the head of CONMEBOL, and as a member of FIFA's executive committee.

        Leoz headed CONMEBOL from 1986-2013. His successors, Eugenio Figueredo of Uruguay and Juan Angel Napout of Paraguay, have also been indicted by U.S. authorities.

        Figueredo remains in a Swiss jail, and Napout has consented to extradition to the U.S.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on December 16, 2015, 05:05:15 AM
        FIFA defendant Juan Angel Napout posts $20 million bond after not-guilty plea
        New York Daily News


        (http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2467135.1450229680!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_970/soccer-fifa-callejas.jpg?enlarged)

        Perhaps it's just prudent for soccer administrators to set aside $10 million for a rainy day.

        Former FIFA vice-president Juan Angel Napout of Paraguay pledged that much as part of a bond package securing his release from custody while he awaits trial on charges that he took bribes related to the lucrative business of international soccer tournaments.

        Napout pleaded not guilty Monday in Brooklyn, where the U.S. Attorney's office is prosecuting a massive, global crackdown on soccer corruption. His $10-million deposit, due Tuesday, was part of a $20-million bond package approved by federal magistrate judge Robert Levy

        Napout also pledged a $7-million letter of credit from a bank and $3-million in real estate. His wife and daughter signed the bond as well, strictly as a gesture of what Levy called "moral suasion."

        "He will have more reason to fulfill the conditions of the bond if you've signed it," the judge told the women.

        Napout, who was arrested Dec. 3 and came to the U.S. voluntarily, wore a gray sweater, black pants, and sneakers, faces charges of racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, and money laundering conspiracy. He is accused of taking bribes from companies seeking marketing rights for tournaments such as the Copa Libertatores and the Copa America while he was president of CONMEBOL, the FIFA-affiliated confederation that governs soccer in South America.

        The conditions of his release require that he remain in New York or South Florida under electronic monitoring, and make no contact with his 26 co-defendants in the case. He must pay for a private security service to accompany him on limited outings as well as 24-hour video surveillance at his home.

        Also in the Brooklyn court Monday was Rafael Callejas, the former president of the Honduras national soccer federation - and before that, the president of Honduras itself from 1990 to 1994. Callejas, who also pleaded not guilty, is not at the moment seeking bail. As he left the courtroom, Callejas gave a thumbs-up to a spectator in the courtroom who later identified himself as the defendant's cousin.

        Swiss authorities said Monday that another defendant in the U.S. case, Eduardo Li of Costa Rica, has agreed to be extradited to Brooklyn from Switzerland, where Li was arrested on May 27.

        Fifa vice-president Juan Angel Napout denies bribery after extradition
        BBC News


        Fifa vice-president Juan Angel Napout has pleaded not guilty to bribery charges in New York after being extradited to the US, his lawyer said.

        The president of the South American football federation Conmebol was detained in Zurich earlier this month.

        Mr Napout, a Paraguayan, is accused of taking bribes worth millions of dollars linked to the sale of marketing rights to South American tournaments.

        He resigned following his arrest and is currently banned from football.

        Earlier in the day, former Honduras President Rafael Callejas also pleaded not guilty to bribery at the federal court in Brooklyn.

        Mr Callejas, who led his country between 1990 and 1994, is a current member of Fifa's television and marketing committee.

        Both men are among 16 current and former senior football officials indicted by US authorities investigating corruption in the organisation earlier this month.

        The FBI investigation was initially sparked by the controversial award of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, as well as the bidding process for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

        But the inquiry has since been widened to look at Fifa's dealings over the past 20 years. The US says the corruption was planned in the US and US banks were used to transfer money.

        Fifa President Sepp Blatter has always denied any wrongdoing, but in September he was made the subject of a parallel Swiss criminal investigation.

        Swiss justice authorities also said Eduardo Li, a former president of the Costa Rican federation who was arrested in Zurich in May, had dropped his appeal against extradition to the US.

        Meanwhile in Peru, authorities have opened an investigation into the current head of the Peruvian Football Federation (FPF), Edwin Oviedo, as well as 65 other people.

        Prosecutors are examining the FPF's bank accounts and balance sheets amid suspicion that sports activities were used to launder money, AFP news agency reports.

        And in Brazil, former stars including Rai and Paulo Cezar Caju have called for the resignation of Brazilian Football Confederation President Marco Polo Del Nero, who has been indicted in the US for "racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies".

        "We need a more democratic institution in order to rebuild Brazilian football," Rai told BBC Brasil.

        Mr Del Nero is currently on a leave of absence.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on December 16, 2015, 05:07:04 AM
        Eduardo Li agrees to extradition to the United States
        By Michael Krumholtz, The Tico Times


        (http://www.ticotimes.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/000_Mvd6604049-1-715x800.jpg)

        After spending more than six months in a Swiss detention center, former Costa Rican football head Eduardo Li has decided to face his judicial fate in the United States. Li, who was arrested in May along with other figures of football’s international governing body FIFA, agreed to be extradited to the U.S. to face a pair of indictments from the U.S. Justice Department that charge him with wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy, as well as other acts of bribery.

        Last week, Li met with his legal team in Switzerland, according to his Costa Rican attorney Róger Guevara.

        “After consulting with his lawyers, Eduardo has decided it’s in his best interest to offer himself up for extradition,” Guevara said in an emailed statement Tuesday. “The principal of innocence covers Eduardo, in the U.S. and in Costa Rica, and he has taken the decision of directly facing the charges in the United States after undergoing the process of extradition.”

        In the email to The Tico Times, Guevara said that Li alerted Swiss authorities on Friday that he would accept the extradition order that he had previously appealed. Sometime within the next eight days, Li will be taken to the U.S.

        If convicted in U.S. courts for the four counts levied against him, Li could face up to 20 years in prison and be subject to civil forfeiture, meaning he would have to give up any money and acquisitions stemming from the alleged bribes.

        Swiss authorities initially decided to extradite Li in September, but he appealed to the government’s justice ministry while in prison. On Dec. 4, the U.S. government released a second indictment against FIFA officials, who prosecutors say have for years taken bribes and kickbacks in a massive, widespread corruption scandal.

        Li was mentioned heavily in the recent 240-page indictment by the U.S. Eastern District Court of New York. The newest indictment alleges that Li asked for a $600,000 bribe from sports media company Media World in exchange for the rights to televise Costa Rica’s qualifying matches leading up to the 2022 World Cup (http://www.ticotimes.net/2015/12/10/costa-rica-prosecutors-investigate-football-official-eduardo-li-after-international-indictments). He received $300,000 of the requested bribe, according to prosecutors, through bank accounts located in Miami, Florida and Panama under Warrior Holding, S.A., a company located in Santa Ana, Costa Rica. Li’s friend Orlando Guerrero is listed as treasurer of the company.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on December 16, 2015, 05:31:30 AM
        Sierra Leone rejects FIFA demand to reinstate FA
        Yahoo Sports


        Freetown (AFP) - Sierra Leone has rejected demands by FIFA to reinstate its dissolved football association, cautioning the world governing body on Tuesday to "respect national laws".

        FIFA has given the west African nation until Wednesday to comply with the directive or risk an immediate ban from all international competition.

        "Our decision stands and it will not be changed," Ibrahim Bangura, of the National Sports Council (NSC), told reporters in the capital Freetown.

        "The Ministry of Sport and the Sports Council have the responsibility to govern sports in Sierra Leone and will stand by the decision to dissolve the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA).

        "FIFA must follow procedures and respect national laws. Our decision is final and cannot be changed or overturned by anyone outside our jurisdiction."

        Deputy sports minister Ismael Al-Sankoh Conteh said the NSC had been forced to take action last week after the SLFA dissolved a seven-man committee set up to identify delegates for the association's next congress.

        The NSC says the committee was set up by FIFA and endorsed by Sierra Leone's President Ernest Bai Koroma.

        FIFA outlaws government interference in the running of football and frequently suspends national associations, with Kuwait, Nigeria and Cameroon among the most recent targets for sanctions.

        Online sports news portal Football Sierra Leone printed a letter on Saturday it said was from acting FIFA secretary general Markus Kattner, warning SLFA general secretary Chris Kamara of a possible ban.

        "The decisions of the National Sports Council appear to amount to government interference in the internal affairs of the SLFA," Kattner says in the letter.

        He warns that unless the NSC backs down, the matter will be referred to FIFA's Emergency Committee, which would almost certainly result in the SLFA being suspended.

        "We would like to underline the dire effects a suspension could have on Sierra Leone football," Kattner says.

        "It would for instance mean that no team from Sierra Leone of any sort (including clubs) could have any international sporting contact."

        SLFA president Isha Johansen urged the government to think again in a statement on Tuesday pleading for her organisation to be allowed to "create a culture of good governance".

        "Striving to retain independence has been a huge challenge and has made the Sierra Leone football industry the focus of much international and national attention," she said.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: dreamer on December 16, 2015, 07:11:18 AM
        Good stuff Seeker.
        Notice how normally power-hungry Uncle Burrell declined to accept the kushy Concacaf president job
        Surely he is worried about being snatched away in a Zurich conference as the noose is tightening around the mafia
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: dreamer on December 16, 2015, 08:35:42 PM
        The 16 New Defendants
        http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/sixteen-additional-fifa-officials-indicted-racketeering-conspiracy-and-corruption


        As set forth in the superseding indictment, the 16 newly-indicted defendants are all current or former soccer officials who acted at various times in a fiduciary capacity within FIFA and one or more of its constituent organizations:

        CONCACAF Region Officials
        •Alfredo Hawit: Current FIFA vice president and Executive Committee member and CONCACAF president.  Former CONCACAF vice president and Honduran soccer federation president.
        •Ariel Alvarado: Current member of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee.  Former CONCACAF Executive Committee member and Panamanian soccer federation president.
        •Rafael Callejas: Current member of the FIFA Television and Marketing Committee.  Former Honduran soccer federation president and former president of the Republic of Honduras.
        •Brayan Jiménez: Current Guatemalan soccer federation president and member of the FIFA Committee for Fair Play and Social Responsibility.
        •Rafael Salguero: Former FIFA Executive Committee member and Guatemalan soccer federation president.
        •Héctor Trujillo: Current Guatemalan soccer federation general secretary and judge on the Constitutional Court of Guatemala.
        •Reynaldo Vasquez: Former Salvadoran soccer federation president.

        CONMEBOL Region Officials
        •Juan Ángel Napout: Current FIFA vice president and Executive Committee member and CONMEBOL president.  Former Paraguayan soccer federation president.
        •Manuel Burga: Current member of the FIFA Development Committee.  Former Peruvian soccer federation president.
        •Carlos Chávez: Current CONMEBOL treasurer.  Former Bolivian soccer federation president.
        •Luís Chiriboga: Current Ecuadorian soccer federation president and member of the CONMEBOL Executive Committee.
        •Marco Polo del Nero: Current president of the Brazilian soccer federation.  Announced resignation from FIFA Executive Committee on Nov. 26, 2015.
        •Eduardo Deluca: Former CONMEBOL general secretary. Nationality:  Argentina
        •José Luis Meiszner: Current CONMEBOL general secretary. Nationality:  Argentina
        •Romer Osuna: Current member of the FIFA Audit and Compliance Committee.  Former CONMEBOL treasurer. Nationality:  Bolivia
        •Ricardo Teixeira: Former Brazilian soccer federation president and FIFA Executive Committee member.

        Hope we doh see any more folks from T&T on lists like this
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on December 21, 2015, 04:24:32 AM
        Blatter and Platini have been given 8 year bans. Adieu, mes amis; the game is up!
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: dreamer on December 21, 2015, 01:05:31 PM
        Saw that. More good news Seeker.
        We need to see more real life stories like this that prove crime does not (in the long) run pay.
        It's not worth it and locals must understand that.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: pull stones on December 21, 2015, 02:43:31 PM
        jennings must be laughing his fat ugly ass off. on the same note jack warner in my foolish opinion was the one who brought the heat on these men by over extending his hand. jack should have ate as little as he could have shoveled in his greedy mouth and humbled himself and come to an amicable agreement with the 06 players instead of heaping all this heat on his back.

        and blatter himself should have took control of the situation and called off jack and guide him to resolve his issues and stop bringing so much attention to the federation.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on December 22, 2015, 04:57:12 AM
        http://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2015/dec/21/sepp-blatter-ill-be-back-fifa-video
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on December 25, 2015, 09:55:47 AM
        (http://www.ovaciondigital.com.uy/files/article_main/uploads/2015/12/24/567c299e983b7.jpg)

        FIFA ex-vice president Eugenio Figueredo jailed pending Uruguay trial
        The Economic Times


        MONTEVIDEO: Fallen FIFA vice president Eugenio Figueredo was jailed pending trial in his native Uruguay Thursday after being extradited from Switzerland to answer charges in the massive corruption scandal roiling international football.

        Figueredo, the former president of South American confederation CONMEBOL, arrived Thursday morning and was taken directly to an initial court appearance, where he was remanded in custody, court sources told AFP.

        But Judge Adriana de los Santos may still grant him house arrest, as his lawyer has requested, the sources said.

        Figueredo faces two to 15 years in prison if convicted.

        The 83-year-old ex-football boss was one of seven top FIFA officials arrested at a Zurich luxury hotel in May, a raid that kicked off an unprecedented crisis at world football's governing body.

        The United States, which led the investigation, is also seeking to extradite Figueredo on charges of soliciting multi-million-dollar bribes from sports marketing firms.

        Figueredo had agreed to be sent to Uruguay but is fighting extradition to the United States. The Swiss justice ministry (FOJ) had approved his extradition to both countries, and said in November it would be up to the United States to decide whether to let Uruguay have priority.

        "If the US authorities do not agree, the issue will be decided by the FOJ," it said at the time.

        Figueredo's lawyer has said her client is in poor health and should be granted house arrest because of his age.

        Figueredo was head of the Uruguayan Football Association from 1997 to 2006 and became CONMEBOL president in 2013.

        CONMEBOL's last three presidents have all been arrested in the scandal, plunging the South American confederation into crisis. At FIFA, the spiralling scandal took a dramatic new turn last week when the organization banned disgraced president Sepp Blatter from football for eight years over ethics violations.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on January 06, 2016, 04:04:33 AM
        Jerome Valcke, Sepp Blatter's former right-hand man, faces 9-year ban
        CBC


        Chairman of FIFA ethics committee makes recommendation for punishment

        Sepp Blatter's former right-hand man is facing a nine-year ban from soccer.

        The chairman of the FIFA ethics committee, Cornel Borbely, recommended the ban for Jerome Valcke on Tuesday after concluding his investigation. In his final report, Borbely also asked that Valcke be fined 100,000 Swiss francs ($100,000 US) and that his 90-day suspension be extended for another 45 days.

        Valcke, a Frenchman who served alongside Blatter for nearly a decade, was accused of violating six articles of the FIFA code of ethics, including confidentiality and conflict of interest.

        The former television journalist and sports marketing executive was originally banned for 90 days in October, a month after being put on leave by FIFA. The ban will expire at the end of day on Tuesday.

        Last year, Valcke was implicated by a FIFA ticketing partner for using work and private email accounts to discuss a World Cup black market ticket deal. Valcke has denied that he sought cash from sales of top-category tickets for matches at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil he knew were being offered at several times face value.

        The FIFA code of ethics allows for charges of breach of confidentiality and loyalty, which could be levelled simply for doing official business through private email accounts.

        A final decision on banning Valcke will come from ethics committee chairman Hans-Joachim Eckert, the judge who last month banned both Blatter and Michel Platini for eight years each.

        Valcke, whose main duty at FIFA was overseeing organization of the World Cup, rose to the top administrative job at FIFA soon after being fired in 2006 during a scandal.

        As marketing director, he was implicated in misleading World Cup sponsor MasterCard during contract renewal talks. FIFA and Blatter eventually signed with Visa, provoking a legal suit from MasterCard which was settled for $90 million US.

        Valcke's conduct and business ethics were severely criticized by a federal judge in New York who heard the case.

        FIFA fired Valcke and other marketing officials involved in the deal, then re-hired him several months later as secretary general after Blatter was re-elected president.

        FIFA has been in crisis since the federal investigations of bribery and corruption implicating senior soccer officials were revealed in May.

        Valcke was identified as having processed transfers of $10 million US from FIFA accounts which were alleged by the U.S. Department of Justice to be bribes for CONCACAF officials to support South Africa's successful bid to host the 2010 World Cup.

        FIFA and Valcke said the payments were authorized by then-finance committee chairman Julio Grondona, after being requested by South African officials to be paid from their tournament organization funds.

        Still, Blatter announced his planned resignation on June 2, the day after FIFA and Valcke's role in the affair was revealed.

        Blatter has said FIFA's troubles stem from the December 2010 decision to award Russia and Qatar hosting rights to the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, respectively. Valcke has been blamed for urging FIFA in 2008 to run a dual bidding contest, in order to secure long-term commercial security amid the economic downturn.

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on January 06, 2016, 04:00:04 PM
        According to Blatter's spokesperson, Klaus Stoehlker, Blatter is upset that he "can't" attend the upcoming Ballon d'Or awards.

        Perhaps, he could try pulling a Platini (showed up at the recent Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai, disregarding the FIFA edict).
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on January 07, 2016, 07:18:09 PM
        Michel Platini Ends Bid for FIFA Presidency
        By Andrew Das, The New York Times.


        Michel Platini said Thursday that he was ending his bid to become FIFA president, dropping out of a race that technically did not include him and one that he is officially barred from winning.

        In a series of interviews, Mr. Platini said he would continue his fight to overturn his eight-year suspension from world soccer, imposed last month by FIFA’s ethics committee. But he said pursuing that cause and the presidency before the Feb. 27 FIFA election was unworkable.

        “I don’t have the means to fight on equal terms with the other candidates,” Mr. Platini told The Associated Press. “I have not been given the chance to play the game.”

        Mr. Platini, a member of FIFA’s governing executive committee since 2002 and the top official of European soccer since 2007, has harshly criticized his ban, which was imposed in December after the ethics committee deemed his actions in soliciting and accepting a $2 million payment from FIFA in 2011 “did not show commitment to an ethical attitude.” Suggesting a conspiracy to keep him out of the race to replace the similarly suspended Sepp Blatter as FIFA president, Mr. Platini has vowed to appeal the ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

        “I can’t have any regret in that story because things fell upon my head while I haven’t done anything wrong,” Mr. Platini told The A.P. in an interview in Nyon, Switzerland. “I’m struggling to understand what happened, unless there was a will somewhere to prevent me from bidding.”

        Once a favorite to win the election, Mr. Platini is barred not only from voting in it but even from attending it. And even if he succeeds in having his suspension overturned, it is unclear if Mr. Platini can pass the new integrity checks required by FIFA to enter the race. On Thursday, he acknowledged that even if he was successful, he would not have enough time to campaign for the support he would need to win.

        Mr. Platini’s announcement and CAS’s recent rejection of appeals by two other disqualified candidates mean the field of approved challengers bidding to replace Mr. Blatter remains at five. They are: Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, who lost a challenge to Mr. Blatter at the FIFA congress last May; Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa of Bahrain, the powerful Asian Football Confederation president; the South African businessman Tokyo Sexwale; Jérôme Champagne, a former aide to Mr. Blatter; and the longtime European soccer official Gianni Infantino.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on January 19, 2016, 10:00:48 PM
        FIFA is still paying Sepp Blatter his estimated $6 million salary despite ban from football
        By Cork Gaines, Business Insider


        Despite being banned from the world of international football for eight years, Sepp Blatter will continue to receive his salary from FIFA until a new president is elected in late February, a FIFA spokesperson confirmed to Simon Evans of Reuters.

        Blatter, along with Michel Platini, were kicked out of soccer in December when the FIFA ethics committee handed down 8-year suspensions for both over a $2 million conflict-of-interest payment FIFA made to Platini that was approved by Blatter and is part of a Swiss criminal investigation.

        As Evans notes, Blatter was originally suspended for 90 days in early October which means Blatter will ultimately be paid five months of his salary during a period in which he was not serving as FIFA's president. Issa Hayatou, the president of the African Football, has been serving as the acting FIFA president and presumably is also being paid during Blatter's suspension.

        While Blatter's salary is unknown, FIFA's financials do say that they paid out $39.7 million in salaries in 2014 to "key management personnel," which would include Blatter. Using that data and other pieces of evidence, Roger Piekle Jr. of Sporting Intelligence was able to make a strong argument that Blatter's salary is in the range of $6-16 million per year.

        If we use the lower end of that range, that would mean Blatter will ultimately be paid at least $2.5 million during his suspension, which is more than the payment to Platini that led to the suspensions in the first place.

        In 2011, Blatter claimed that his salary at the time was "$1 million, perhaps a bit more."
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on January 20, 2016, 06:33:09 PM
        German FA backs Gianni Infantino to replace Sepp Blatter
        The Guardian


        Infantino, the Swiss general secretary of Uefa, is one of five candidates for the election, which is due to take place on 26 February amid the worst crisis in Fifa’s troubled history.

        There is no clear favourite but Infantino would have a head start if he were to capture the majority of the 53 European votes. Each of Fifa’s national associations holds one vote.

        The German FA co-president, Reinhard Rauball, said: “Gianni Infantino is the Europeans’ candidate and the best one. Through his work as general secretary of Uefa he knows all aspects of the game, has outstanding international connections and speaks six languages.”

        The Asian Football Confederation president, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa, the former Fifa deputy general secretary Jérôme Champagne, the South African businessman and politician Tokyo Sexwale and the Jordanian former Fifa executive committee member Prince Ali bin al-Hussein are Infantino’s rivals.

        Rauball added: “With his reputation and experience he meets the necessary conditions for structural changes and to take on the challenges ahead.”

        Forty-one individuals and entities have been indicted in the US for corruption and money-laundering, and Fifa’s own ethics committee has banned leading officials – including Blatter, barred for eight years.

        The German FA is the biggest federation in the world in terms of membership but it has been dealing with its own scandal related to the 2006 World Cup, which prompted the resignation of Rauball’s predecessor, Wolfgang Niersbach, last year.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on January 20, 2016, 06:37:16 PM
        Iraq to back Prince Ali in FIFA election
        Rediff Sports


        The Iraq Football Association (IFA) pledged their support for Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein in next month's FIFA presidential election, the Jordanian royal said on Wednesday.

        Ali will stand against Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, former FIFA deputy general secretary Jerome Champagne of France, South African businessman and politician Tokyo Sexwale and UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino in the Febuary 26 vote.

        "The FA has endorsed Prince Ali in a letter to FIFA," IFA president Abdul Khaliq Masood said in a statement published by Ali's bid team.

        "We have decided that Iraq's vote will go to Prince Ali because Prince Ali has always supported the development of football in Iraq, Jordan and our region."

        Ali hosted a delegation from Iraq including Masood and Iraq Minister of Sports and Youth Abdul Hussein Abtan on Monday as he attempts to drum up support ahead of the election to decide who will succeed Sepp Blatter as president of the scandal-hit body.

        Blatter, who beat Ali in the most recent FIFA presidential election last May, and UEFA president Michel Platini were both handed eight-year bans from soccer last month for ethics violations.

        Both deny any wrongdoing but their absence has left the global game leaderless as it tries to dig itself out of a slew of corruption cases, with criminal investigations under way in the United States and Switzerland.

        Ali returned to Jordan at the start of the week to meet the Iraqi delegation after campaigning in Africa and the Caribbean, where his team said he "picked up private commitments of support from several other nations".

        Rival Infantino said previously he had major support in the Caribbean region, which has 25 votes in the 209-member election being held in Zurich.

        Salman is expected to win the bulk of support among the AFC's 46 members after the regional body's executive committee passed a resolution in November urging all Asian representatives to vote for the Bahraini.

        Abtan, though, told Iraqi state television that his country would back Ali.

        "We are very pleased to support Prince Ali. He is the best man for the job. We greatly appreciate everything Jordan has done to support Iraqi sports and youth over the years," he told Iraq state television.

        Ali said he had held discussions with Abtan and Masood over the lifting of a ban that prevents Iraq from hosting home international matches.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on January 20, 2016, 06:50:37 PM
        Regarding the candidacy of Tokyo Sexwale (South Africa).

        "Sleeping in the same prison room with Nelson Mandela is not enough to win the FIFA presidency. ... We have listened to all the candidates and we know what each of them is bringing on board and who shares in our vision. ... You can read from them that some are very serious about their bid and others are just walking through ... just like Tokyo Sexwale.

        For Sexwale, he came to one of our executive committee meetings at CAF and all his campaign messages were that: I was the rugby secretary at Robin Island, I was the chairman of the football team at Robin Island, I slept in the same hotel room with (Nelson) Mandela at the Robin Island and so on.

        But it is funny because those things are not enough to win you the FIFA presidency. ... As for Sexwale, I can say I’m even [more] experienced and competent than him."


        --- Kwesi Nyantakyi, President of the Ghana Football Association
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on January 30, 2016, 02:47:00 AM
        French football federation to vote for Gianni Infantino in Fifa election
        The Guardian


        The French football federation will support Gianni Infantino in next month’s Fifa presidential election, its president, Noël Le Graët, has announced.

        Infantino, Uefa’s general secretary, is one of five candidates to succeed Sepp Blatter as the head of world football when the election is held on 26 February.

        He has the unanimous backing of Uefa’s executive committee – with one member, the Football Association’s vice-chairman, David Gill, describing him as “the stand-out candidate”.

        And the French federation has opted to support the Swiss in preference to the French national Jérôme Champagne, who spent 11 years working at Fifa, including a spell as deputy secretary general.

        A statement from Le Graët on fff.fr read: “In agreement with its executive committee (11 of 12 members in favour), the French football federation has decided to support the candidature of Gianni Infantino in the election for the presidency of Fifa.

        “Gianni has all the qualities required to succeed. He has the experience, the talent, a work ethic and his convictions, which he has demonstrated as general secretary of Uefa alongside Michel Platini.

        “He has laid out an ambitious programme which is good for football and our federations, focusing on a necessary restoration of the image of Fifa but also the economic development and educational values of our sport throughout the world.

        “Gianni wishes to preserve democracy and equality between the 209 federations. This is another major focus of his commitments and his plan for the future of Fifa and football, to which French football is also committed.”

        The Asian football president Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa of Bahrain, Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein of Jordan and the South African politician and businessman Tokyo Sexwale are the other candidates for the Fifa presidency.

        The Uefa president, Platini, withdrew from the race after being banned from footballing activity for eight years following an investigation into a £1.3m payment received from Fifa in 2011.

        Platini has appealed against his ban while a separate appeal from Fifa’s ethics committee seeks to increase it. The French sport newspaper L’Equipe reported on Friday that Platini’s appeal as well as that of the ethics committee will be heard at Fifa’s headquarters in Zurich on 15 February. Blatter’s appeal will be heard the following day.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on January 30, 2016, 03:07:15 AM
        Sepp Blatter’s appeal against eight-year ban to be heard on 16 February
        The Guardian


        The disgraced Fifa president, Sepp Blatter, will return to the headquarters of the world governing body on 16 February when his appeal against his ban from the sport will be heard, according to his adviser.

        Blatter, head of Fifa since 1998, was banned in December from all football-related activity for eight years by the body’s ethics committee.

        “Mr Blatter will attend an appeal hearing on 16 February, at the home of Fifa, and we expect the decision as soon as possible,” Thomas Renggli said.

        Blatter’s case will initially be dealt with by Fifa’s own appeal committee. Renggli said that, if he is unsuccessful, he will go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne.

        Blatter, 79, who has denied wrongdoing, was banned for ethics violations over a £1.35m payment Fifa made to the Uefa president, Michel Platini, with Blatter’s approval in 2011.

        Platini, who had been the favourite to succeed Blatter, was also banned for eight years. The election for the new Fifa president will take place in Zurich on 26 February.

        A total of 41 individuals and entities, including many former Fifa officials, have been charged with corruption-related offences in the United States as part of the wider scandal.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on January 30, 2016, 03:14:15 AM
        Paraguayan Dominguez takes the hottest seat in football as president of CONMEBOL
        By Mark Baber, InsideWorldFootball.


        Alejandro Dominguez of Paraguay was elected unopposed as president of CONMEBOL, the governing body of South American football, after Wilmar Valdez of Uruguay withdrew his candidacy.

        Dominguez also becomes a FIFA vice president and member of the FIFA executive committee until May 2019 and steps into the shoes of three former CONMEBOL presidents, all of whom have been arrested as part of the US-led anti-corruption campaign.

        Unsurprisingly, in his first speech as president of CONMEBOL, Alejandro Dominguez stressed the importance of recovering the credibility of CONMEBOL, saying: "We cannot fail to recognize that we are in a time of crisis and we know the responsibility of what it means taking over the Presidency of CONMEBOL, but we are confident that together we will be able to restore the credibility of the Confederation, with the emphasis on transparency in our management."

        Dominguez, a close friend of previous president, Juan Angel Napout of Paraguay, who is currently on bail in the USA, continued: "CONMEBOL is currently enduring a bad institutional period, we are sure of this, but we are starting a new era in which everything will be done with transparency and clarity. Establish control systems that helps our accounts to be up to date and which will prevent any individual or private entity to profit over the interests of football."

        The new president also emphasised the importance of supporting South American clubs and retaining local talent saying: "As far as the game itself is concern, we will seek to empower our South American clubs with a frank and open relationship which will allow us to retain most of our South American players for our tournaments. Help them to stay and demonstrate their full potential here at home. Hopefully we can retain our best."

        "Fair play, fair play, on and off the field will be the flag ship of this new stage we begin today with the support of all the South American leadership."

        During the Extraordinary Congress in Asuncion, CONMEBOL members also voted for Argentina association president Luis Segura for a second vacancy on the FIFA executive committee.

        The Congress was also attended by Gianni Infantino and Prince Ali bin al Hussein of Jordan who are looking to pick up support in the FIFA presidential election, with Dominguez undoubtedly due to play a key role in deciding which candidate will benefit from a potential CONMEBOL bloc vote. CONMEBOL's indication was that they were getting behind Infantino.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on January 30, 2016, 03:26:14 AM
        CONMEBOL pledges bloc vote to Europe's Infantino
        By Andrew Warshaw, InsideWorldFootball.


        (http://www.insideworldfootball.com/images/2016/01/conmebol_HQ.jpeg)

        Gianni Infantino appears to have stolen a march on his rival candidates for the FIFA presidency by gaining the support of South American federations who comprise 10 of the 209 voting countries.

        CONMEBOL said in a statement that its executive committee had agreed to give the UEFA general secretary unanimous backing in the February 26 election.

        That doesn't necessary mean the federations will follow suit because the exco has no vote but it seems highly likely Infantino did enough at the CONMEBOL congress in Paraguay to wrest support away from his rivals, especially Prince Ali bin al-Hussein.

        CONMEBOL said it "unanimously agreed to vote as a bloc for Mr Gianni Infantino" next month. The confederation's past three presidents have been indicted in the United States in the corruption scandal that has brought FIFA to its knees but newly elected CONMEBOL chief Alejandro Dominguez of Paraguay has vowed to turn the page.

        With the likelihood of gaining a big majority of his 53 members in Europe, Infantino could already have more than 70 votes in the bag. Africa's strategy, potentially key to the outcome of next month's ballot with its 54 votes, will become known after the Confederation of African Football's executive committee meeting on February 5 in Rwanda.

        CAF signed a working agreement this month with the Asian Football Confederation, whose president, Sheikh Salman of Bahrain, appears to be the leading contender in the five-candidate race.

        CONMEBOL's endorsement of Infantino came two days after it elected Dominguez who succeeded another Paraguayan, Juan Angel Napout.

        Napout had previously pledged support to UEFA President Michel Platini but both have since been suspended for different alleged offences while Platini has withdrawn from the election.

        Infantino has yet to be endorsed by the English Football Association, though he is scheduled to meet the media on Monday at Wembley Stadium to outline his plans.

        "I am honoured to have the unanimous support of my colleagues at CONMEBOL and I'd like to thank them, along with colleagues from UNCAF, UEFA and the many other Football Associations that have declared their support for my candidacy and my vision to take FIFA and Football vision to take FIFA and Football Forward," Infantino responded.

        "I have met and discussed the future of FIFA and the global game with many Football heads all over the world in recent weeks and months and these conversations, based on placing Football back on the centre stage, have reaffirmed my view we are at the dawn of a new era. We must seize this opportunity and introduce a new order of responsible leadership at FIFA.

        "Associations are the bedrock of our game and I look forward to meeting with more colleagues between now and 26 February to discuss how together we can deliver change and rebuild trust in FIFA. I will work tirelessly to restore FIFA's reputation and give back to the game the credible, trustworthy governing body it deserves. Together we can take FIFA Forward."
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on February 02, 2016, 11:14:49 AM
        FIFA pulls plug on CONMEBOL and CONCACAF funding
        By Andrew Warshaw, InsideWorldFootball


        In an unprecedented move that will heap even more hardship and anguish on to both scandal-hit confederations, FIFA has blocked a reported $20 million in funding to CONMEBOL and CONCACAF - just when they are trying to put their respective houses in order.

        The two bodies, covering the whole of the Americas, have been at the centre of the ongoing crisis that has engulfed world football and so far seen 41 individuals and sports marketing companies charged in the United States.

        "We can confirm that in light of current proceedings involving individuals related to CONMEBOL and CONCACAF, FIFA has put contributions towards these two Confederations on hold until further notice," said a FIFA statement.

        "We are currently assessing further steps to be taken to increase the level of assurance which may again enable FIFA to release such funds in the future."

        The FIFA move will take a huge financial toll on both confederations. Reuters quoted a source close to CONCACAF as saying it had not received $10 million in payments, including funds from FIFA's Financial Assistance Programme.

        CONCACAF has seen its last three presidents indicted by the Department of Justice with Jack Warner, FIFA's former senior vice-president now banned for life, Jeffrey Webb - not so long ago touted as the saviour of world football's governing body - and Alfredo Hawit all facing charges.

        Last week, in an effort to clean up its act, the confederation, currently operating without a president, unveiled details of reform measures due to be voted in at its Extraordinary Congress in Zurich one day before the FIFA presidential election.

        "CONCACAF has fulfilled all of FIFA's requests for documents and information regarding the new administrative, compliance, and procurement processes that have been implemented at the Confederation to ensure the issue is resolved in a timely manner," said an email sent to Bloomberg News .

        CONMEBOL, plagued by bribery and corruption more than any other region, has lost virtually an entire generation of federation leaders but is also striving desperately to turn over a new leaf amid the ongoing US investigation. Last week Alejandro Dominguez of Paraguay was elected unopposed as president and stressed the importance of recovering the region's credibility "in a time of crisis."

        "Fair play, fair play, on and off the field will be the flag ship of this new stage we begin today with the support of all the South American leadership," he said.

        It is unclear to what extent the FIFA move could hit this coming summer's Copa America tournament in the United States which CONMEBOL and CONCACAF are jointly staging.

        And there is another twist. CONMEBOL has just endorsed Gianni Infantino's bid to become FIFA president but the decision to cut off funding hardly enhances the confederation's reputation. Nor does it tally with Infantino's intention to massively increase development funding to all six confederations if he wins on February 26.

        FIFA Blocks $20 Million in Payments to Scandal-Ridden Groups
        By Tariq Panja, Bloomberg Business


        FIFA has blocked $20 million in funding to the organizations that oversee soccer in the Americas, dealing yet another blow to the confederations at the center of a sprawling U.S. corruption case.

        "In light of current proceedings involving individuals related to Conmebol and Concacaf, FIFA has put contributions towards these two confederations on hold until further notice," the global soccer regulator said in an e-mailed statement to Bloomberg News. "We are currently assessing further steps to be taken to increase the level of assurance which may again enable FIFA to release such funds in the future."

        A U.S. Department of Justice probe into decades of corruption in global soccer has led to charges against 39 people for crimes including racketeering, money laundering and wire fraud. Most of them are officials or sports marketing executives connected to Conmebol, the body responsible for soccer in South America, and to Concacaf, its equivalent in Central America, the Caribbean, and North America. The charges have created havoc in both organizations, which have seen operations badly disturbed by the probes.

        "Concacaf has fulfilled all of FIFA’s requests for documents and information regarding the new administrative, compliance, and procurement processes that have been implemented at the Confederation to ensure the issue is resolved in a timely manner," Concacaf said in an e-mail. Conmebol’s director general Gorka Villar didn’t reply to an e-mail seeking comment.

        Police in Paraguay raided the offices of Conmebol on Jan. 8 to search for documents on behalf of U.S. authorities. For their parts, FIFA and the two regional organizations are conducting internal investigations that may reveal more evidence of wrongdoing.

        The scandal has taken a financial toll. In a letter to members on Jan. 5, Concacaf said it hadn’t received $10 million in FIFA funds and was trying to straighten out the group’s finances. After former president Jeffrey Webb and other officials were arrested in May, the group wasn’t able to access $9 million in a Cayman Islands bank account for several months and struggled to find a new bank. The crisis has led to the group stopping annual stipends to its 41 member nations and canceling all of its committee meetings until further notice.


        "The confederation was operating with approximately $2 million in available cash - an extremely precarious situation," Concacaf wrote in the letter, which was reviewed by Bloomberg News. "While our internal investigation is ongoing much of the financial situation was the result of poor budgeting and excessive spending by the prior administration."

        The group is currently being managed by Alvarez & Marsal, an international bankruptcy consultancy which took over management of Lehman Brothers following the investment bank’s 2008 collapse. According to the letter, Concacaf was expected to have operating reserves of $28 million for the year ended Dec. 31 2015.

        Details of Conmebol’s finances are less clear. Following his election last week, the confederation’s new president Alejandro Dominguez announced plans for an immediate audit of the organization’s account, something his predecessor Juan Angel Napout also committed to before his arrest in December.

        "I agree we cannot be in a worse situation," said Dominguez, a friend and former associate of Napout’s, after his election. "I believe that anything that can happen from now has to be good."

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on February 02, 2016, 11:33:14 AM
        Mourinho, Capello, Figo and Roberto Carlos support Infantino. It seems that a consensus winner is emerging.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on February 03, 2016, 07:23:50 AM
        http://edition.cnn.com/2016/02/03/football/gianni-infantino-fifa-presidency-race-football/index.html

        (TM please embed video).
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on February 03, 2016, 11:38:18 PM
        Prince Ali Blasts 'Collective Punishment' of CONCACAF & CONMEBOL
        By Matthew Rogerson, Goal.com


        Presidential candidate Prince Ali bin al-Hussein believes Fifa has questions to answer after the suspension of payments to Concacaf and Conmebol amid the corruption scandal involving world football's governing body.

        In a statement this week, Fifa confirmed it had put financial contributions to both Concacaf and Conmebol - governing bodies for North, Central American and Caribbean and South American football respectively - on hold and that it would seek to "increase the level of assurance" before releasing further funds.

        Officials from Concacaf and Conmebol were among those indicted by the U.S department of Justice on charges of racketeering conspiracy and corruption.

        The federations are set to jointly put on the Copa America Centenario in the United States this year and Prince Ali - who will seek to succeed Sepp Blatter at Fifa's Extraordinary Congress this month - described the decision as "collective punishment".

        "I have read reports that a FIFA spokesperson has announced that funding to Concacaf and Conmebol has been suspended with immediate effect," he said.

        "Who is the spokesman; which Fifa committee does he represent; who decided that 45 Member Associations should suffer collective punishment as a result of individuals' bad actions; who decided to hold these votes to ransom less than three weeks before the election and who exactly will decide when the funding will be reinstated."

        The last three Concacaf presidents, Jack Warner, Jeffrey Webb and Alfredo Hawit, were among those indicted while former Conmebol presidents Nicolas Leoz and Angel Napout have both agreed to extradition over the past two months.

        Prince Ali will go up against Jerome Champagne, Gianni Infantino, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa and Tokyo Sexwale to be the next Fifa president, with elections set for February 26.

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on February 04, 2016, 06:02:52 AM
        Salman expects "remarkable surprises" in FIFA vote. (http://worldfootballinsider.com/Story.aspx?id=38038)

        Meanwhile, Infantino continues to register big name endorsements. Alex Ferguson is aboard with Infantino's candidacy ... as are the French and Russian federation's.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on February 07, 2016, 12:15:52 PM
        Background Watson was suspended from the FIFA watchdog in September 2014 pending the outcome of this case. He had also been treasurer of the Cayman Islands Football Association and was a vice-president of the Caribbean Football Union.

        Watson guilty on five counts
        Cayman News


        (CNS): The former chair of the Health Services Authority, Canover Watson (45), has been found guilty of two counts of conspiracy to defraud, one count of conflict of interest, one count of fraud on government and one count of breach of trust in relation to the nine week corruption trial over the lucrative CarePay hospital payment and verification system. But he was found not guilty of money laundering before he was led out from the Grand Court and remanded in custody.

        After deliberating for just over a day, the six women and one man on the jury revealed four unanimous guilty verdicts at 2:30 Thursday afternoon but returned to their deliberations following directions from the judge that they could reach a majority verdict if they were not unanimous on the remaining two counts. Watson placed his head in his hands as the first four verdicts were read out and then had a nerve-racking wait before the jury returned with their verdicts on the remaining counts.

        After another hour and twenty minutes inside the privacy of the jury room, they returned at 3:50pm to deliver another guilty verdict for the breach of trust and an acquittal on the still serious charge, count five, the transfer of criminal property (money laundering).

        The judge remanded Watson in custody in the wake of the verdicts and scheduled a sentencing hearing for 10:30 on Friday morning. Following the adjournment, the George Town man, a one time community leader and 2007 winner of the Young Caymanian Leadership Award, was handcuffed and taken by police to HMP Northward.

        During the nine week corruption trial, the jury listened to live evidences from Watson, who gave evidence in his own defence, and more than a dozen witnesses and examined reams of incriminating documentary evidence, including email correspondence, bank account details, spreadsheets and contracts.

        The crown’s case against Watson was that while he was chair of the HSA board, he created a company, AIS Cayman Ltd, of which he and his close friend and business partner, Jeffrey Webb, were the beneficial owners. AIS went on to win a contract, worth more than $11 million, with the HSA for a payment and verification system for patients insured with the government insurance company, CINICO.

        Prosecutors claimed he had manipulated the procurement process and bumped up the transaction fees and the cost of implementing the system, which was being supplied by a partner company in the contract, AIS in Jamaica, owned by Doug Halsall.

        Watson was also accused of doctoring the original contract to make it look as though the Cayman government was obligated to undertake a national roll-out of the payment system to the private health insurers and health care providers, and thereby conned the public purse out of more than $1.2 million.

        His former personal assistant, Miriam Rodrigues, who stood trial with him, was acquitted last month for lack of evidence.

        Jeffrey Webb, Watson’s absent co-defendant, has also been charged with corruption in this case but he has not yet been tried. Following his conviction in the massive FIFA corruption probe in the US, the former local football hero remains under house arrest at his home in Atlanta, Georgia, which, according to evidence in this trial, appears to have been paid with the ill-gotten gains from the hospital CarePay contract.

        As the judge thanked the jury for their hard work, he said it had been a long and complicated case in which the anti-corruption team and crown prosecutors had also worked very hard.

        In the wake of the verdicts, the Anti-Corruption Commission said the investigation was “a protracted and complicated one, during which the officers worked methodically and tirelessly, interviewing witnesses, analysing, assessing and recording data in order to progress the investigation to the point where Watson, and others, could be charged and prosecuted.”

        The ACC stated, “The concerns which resulted in the investigation of Mr Watson, and others, were brought to the Commission’s attention by individuals who took an active stand against corruption in the Cayman Islands. The Commission has continually reiterated the importance of the role of public officials and the positions of trust assigned to those roles. The Commission will continue to do its part to hold accountable those public officials who do not perform their duties honestly or with integrity and subsequently break the Law.”

        Thanking those who helped and assisted the investigators, the ACC also recognised the hard work and efforts of Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Patrick Moran and his team, which included local crown counsel, Toyin Saliko, and visiting counsel from the UK, Neil Ross.

        Canover Watson was represented by Ben Tonner from Samson & McGrath, led by visiting QC, Trevor Burke.

        Check back to CNS tomorrow for full coverage from the sentencing hearing.


        Watson handed seven-year term
        Cayman News


        (https://caymannewsservice.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Canover-Watson-exits-the-courthouse-after-being-found-guilty-of-corruption2.jpg)

        (CNS): Canover Watson, who was convicted yesterday in the hospital CarePay corruption case, has begun serving a seven-year sentence in HMP Northward after Justice Michael Mettyear delivered his sentencing ruling Friday morning. Based on UK guidelines, the judge handed out concurrent seven-year terms for the conspiracy convictions and three-year terms for the counts of conflict of interest and breach of trust. The judge said that, as a non-violent or sexual offence, the sentence should not be so long as “to crush” the man’s spirit but he said the 45-year-old George Town man had acted out of greed.

        Watson, whose lawyer described him as “ruined” by his fall from grace, faced condemnation from the judge. Justice Mettyear said the evidence against him was overwhelming but instead of pleading guilty, he twisted and turned and invented a detailed and complicated web of lies. “You have not shown a jot of remorse,” he noted.

        Justice Mettyear said Watson was able to succeed because of position of power and trust as chair of the Health Services Authority Board and had little regard for the people he was working for. He was “supremely confident” of his ability and used his position and reputation to ensure that senior officials accepted his word and not question his conduct.

        “You are a certified accountant and you behaved shamelessly,” the judge said, as he pointed to the many falsified documents. “You fooled a number of senior civil servants and possibly a minister and tried to fool the jury, but there you failed,” he said. “You were already a wealthy man when you started. This was sheer greed and contempt for your fellow Caymanians.”

        The judge said he was prepared to accept that Jeffrey Webb, a convicted racketeer, was the senior partner controlling the bank accounts, but he said Watson played his part in full. “I am satisfied that, of the two, you are the cleverer,” he said.

        The judge also set a timetable for a confiscation hearing regarding the kickbacks and payments Watson creamed off in conspiracy with Webb. In relation to the original contract, the two men took over $2 million for themselves, he said, but if the launch of the CarePay system gone as planned, they would have taken more than $3 million. Although the potential kickbacks from the national rollout are not exactly known, the crown claims that if things had gone according to plan, they could have enriched themselves by more than $8 million from the public purse.

        The judge said he had asked Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Patrick Moran, who led the crown’s case, if there was a legal way to bar Watson from serving as a director in any company in the future but he was advised that no such legislation exists in Cayman. However, he then made a recommendation to the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority and other relevant entities that Watson not be allowed to hold a licence and he directed that the accounting body under which Watson is certified was notified of his conviction.

        Following his ruling, the judge sent Watson down to the cells to begin serving his seven-year term. He then commended the two RCIPS Anti-corruption Unit officers, Richard Oliver and Anthony Hill, for what he described as their “magnificent detective work” on the case.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on February 09, 2016, 10:12:57 PM
        (http://www.nacion.com/deportes/futbol-costa-rica/Eduardo-Li-presentarian-Unidos-ARCHIVO_LNCIMA20160204_0028_5.jpg)

        Bail hearing set for FIFA corruption scandal suspect
        Daily Mail


        Li was one of seven top football officials arrested in a raid on a Zurich luxury hotel in May. That kicked off an unprecedented crisis at FIFA, world football's governing body.

        Li's arrest came two days before he was to have been elected to the FIFA executive committee in representation of CONCACAF, football's governing body in North and Central America as well as the Caribbean.

        Switzerland extradited Li to the United States in December to face charges that include fraud and money laundering. Li says he is innocent.

        After Honduran Alfredo Hawit, the suspended president of CONCACAF, was moved to house arrest last week, Li is the only suspect left behind bars in the United States.

        The spiraling scandal at world football's governing body FIFA has led to the suspension of its president Sepp Blatter from any activity related to football.

        Li was one of seven top football officials arrested in a raid on a Zurich luxury hotel in May. That kicked off an unprecedented crisis at FIFA, world football's governing body.

        Li's arrest came two days before he was to have been elected to the FIFA executive committee in representation of CONCACAF, football's governing body in North and Central America as well as the Caribbean.

        Switzerland extradited Li to the United States in December to face charges that include fraud and money laundering. Li says he is innocent.

        After Honduran Alfredo Hawit, the suspended president of CONCACAF, was moved to house arrest last week, Li is the only suspect left behind bars in the United States.

        The spiraling scandal at world football's governing body FIFA has led to the suspension of its president Sepp Blatter from any activity related to football.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on February 12, 2016, 08:58:15 PM
        http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/10164557/jerome-valcke-banned-from-football-related-activity-for-12-years
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on February 18, 2016, 02:47:08 PM
        Mobiles banned from FIFA voting booths to ensure secrecy
        Reuters


        Mobile phones and cameras will be banned from polling booths at next week's FIFA presidential election to ensure each vote remains secret, one of the candidates said on Wednesday.

        Frenchman Jerome Champagne said he raised the issue with the electoral committee because he was concerned some voters had come under pressure to photograph their ballot papers to prove they had taken part.

        FIFA's 209 member national associations (FAs) each hold one vote. Five candidates are standing to replace outgoing president Sepp Blatter, banned for eight years amid a widening graft scandal that has shaken world football's ruling body.

        The six continental confederations do not vote but four of them have nominated their preferred candidates.

        Champagne said he wrote to Domenico Scala, head of the electoral committee, on Monday to say that "FIFA member associations and their leaders are under intense pressure to determine their vote on Feb. 26.

        "Past experience, as well as the information currently circulating, is showing that in order to assure compliance with directives, voting members are being required to take pictures of their voting form with a mobile phone," he added.

        In the reply seen by Reuters, Scala said all delegates would be reminded "the use of mobile phones, cameras or other electronic equipment suited to record the voting process are not permitted in the voting booths".

        It added that "ballot papers will only be handed out to delegates once they are in the voting booths".
         
        Champagne told Reuters he was "satisfied with the answer by the electoral committee. It is a concern, it is important I know and I'm sure I'm not the only candidate who has raised this issue".

        European football's governing body UEFA and South American counterpart CONMEBOL have backed Gianni Infantino as president while Asia's AFC and Africa's CAF have put their weight behind Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa.


        POLITICAL LOYALTY

        However, as long as voting is secret, member FAs can ignore their continental body's recommendations without being found out.
         
        Last week another candidate, Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan, spoke of reprisals being meted out to FAs that did not toe the political line.

        "Development projects mysteriously stall; tournament hosting bids are suddenly compromised or withdrawn; national teams start to mysteriously face less favourable fixtures or and even referees," he said.

        "All of these are effective ways to punish member associations that fail to demonstrate political loyalty."

        The other presidential candidate next week is South African Tokyo Sexwale.
         
        Last week CAF issued a statement that included a comment from the head of the South Sudan FA, Chabur Goc Alei, where he apologised for expressing support for "another candidate" other than Salman.

        "We would like to apologise to all member associations of CAF and our candidate for the FIFA presidency Sheikh Salman," he was quoted as saying.

        Champagne said he had also heard some FAs had come under government pressure at home over their votes.

        "I know cases of federations who, out of the blue, received a phone call from the ministry of foreign affairs of their own country," he said.

        "It's one of the principles of the Olympic charter and the FIFA statutes to have the decision within football not influenced by external parties."

        When contacted by Reuters, a spokesman for FIFA's electoral committee said they did not comment on remarks by candidates.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on February 18, 2016, 03:08:36 PM
        Blatter rules out endorsing any FIFA presidential candidate
        By Graham Dunbar, Associated Press.


        Geneva • Sepp Blatter insists he won't publicly support a candidate in the FIFA election, though he revealed Thursday that four of the five men have contacted him about the campaign.

        The suspended FIFA president told French radio station RMC that he could not intervene in the Feb. 26 ballot to succeed him.

        "I can't, it's not possible," Blatter said, after tantalizing his interviewers by saying that "four of the five candidates contacted me and spoke about it."

        Blatter declined to identify the fifth candidate even when it was suggested to be Prince Ali of Jordan, who he beat to win re-election last May.
           
        "You can deduce it was perhaps him that was against me. You are intelligent enough," Blatter said in an interview conducted at a favorite restaurant in Zurich attached to FIFA's former headquarters.

        The other candidates are: Asian soccer leader Sheikh Salman of Bahrain, UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino of Switzerland, former FIFA official Jerome Champagne of France and South African businessman Tokyo Sexwale.

        He also revealed that "several" of FIFA's 209 member federations have called asking him how they should vote.

        "Vote with your conscience. Vote for who you find good," Blatter said he told them.

        Blatter was giving his first interview since appearing before the FIFA appeal committee on Tuesday to challenge his eight-year ban from office for conflicts of interest.

        He robustly defended his former secretary general, Jerome Valcke, who was banned for 12 years by FIFA's ethics committee last week.

        "You can attack me, and I can defend myself, but you can't attack the secretary general Valcke," Blatter told his French interviewers.

        Valcke was found guilty of seven charges of misconduct, which included using private jets for sightseeing trips.

        "It's a question of financial controls at FIFA. It's not a question of ethics," Blatter insisted.

        Blatter, who picked Valcke as his top administrator in 2007, said he knew of the private flights at FIFA's expense but that the Frenchman was a good worker.

        "He managed FIFA well," Blatter said. "We made now an organization that has reserves of 1.3 or 1.4 billion (dollars)."

        Blatter said the ethics committee also should not have taken action against the $2 million payment from FIFA to Michel Platini that led to both getting eight-year bans.

        Repeating his insistence that both are innocent, Blatter suggested it was "an accounting matter" not ethics.

        Blatter and former France great Platini, who also appealed at FIFA this week, should get verdicts next Monday or Tuesday.

        In a live interview lasting almost one hour, Blatter repeated many of his claims and theories about why FIFA fell into a corruption crisis with dual American and Swiss federal investigations of corruption implicating top FIFA officials.

        Blatter is the subject of criminal proceedings opened by Switzerland's attorney general and is a target of the U.S. Department of Justice, which has indicted 41 officials and businesses.

        Blatter said the American authorities wanted to "take control of FIFA," and that a turning point was the U.S bid to host the 2022 World Cup losing to Qatar more than five years ago.

        Platini was again blamed by Blatter for letting himself be pressured by then-France state president Nicolas Sarkozy to switch his and other European voters' support from the American side to the Qataris two weeks before the December 2010 vote.

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Sando prince on February 23, 2016, 03:13:30 PM

        (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/storyimage/TT/20160222/LOCAL/160229923/AR/0/AR-160229923.jpg&MaxW=730&imageversion=Article)

        Campaign promises and track record of FIFA candidate Salman

        http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20160222/sports/campaign-promises-and-track-record-of-fifa-candidate-salman

        GENEVA (AP) — Sheikh Salman has had a target on his back all through the FIFA presidential election campaign.

        The Bahraini royal began the five-candidate contest knowing his home country's human rights record and treatment of national team players after Arab Spring protests in 2011 would be an issue.

        Still, it didn't stop Sheikh Salman from winning two presidential elections at the Asian soccer confederation. Also, no decisive new evidence has emerged during FIFA campaigning about his role during a crackdown on pro-democracy protests by the government led by his family.

        Sheikh Salman has been the presumed favorite for Friday's election because of endorsements from the executive committees of the Asian and African soccer confederations, which represent up to 100 of the 209 FIFA member federations.

        Here are some things to know about his election promises and track record:

        ___

        HUMAN RIGHTS

        From the start of his campaign, Sheikh Salman denounced any claim that he — as Bahrain soccer federation president — helped identify players to be detained if they attended protests, calling the accusations "nasty lies." Some players said they were tortured by government forces.

        The FIFA election committee approved the sheikh as a candidate. Two years ago, the FIFA ethics committee also rejected requests by activists to open a case.

        Sheikh Salman told The Associated Press he is accountable only for decisions by soccer bodies: "Whatever is related to the political side and government side is not a concern of mine."

        Election rival Prince Ali of Jordan aimed this barb: "How are you then going to earn the respect of the entire world and players across the world, as well as FAs (football associations), if you couldn't even take care of your own?"

        ___

        CONTINUITY

        Despite his ban, Sepp Blatter looms over an election decided by voters who repeatedly gave him power when FIFA was in reputational crisis. In 2002, 2011 and 2015.

        Sheikh Salman strongly supported Blatter last May against Asia's then-FIFA vice president, Prince Ali.

        Some voters see Gianni Infantino, the sheikh's biggest rival, as representing a wealthy and arrogant UEFA which fought with FIFA and Blatter for years.

        The sheikh defends FIFA. His manifesto says FIFA "does not need a revolution, it just needs to be re-thought, re-positioned and re-energized."

        ___

        CAUTIOUS LEADER

        Sheikh Salman's manifesto hedges on expanding the 32-team World Cup — "(it) cannot be used as an election tool" — and spending more of FIFA's $1.4 billion reserves and $5 billion-plus income from each tournament.

        Instead of across-the-board increases to all 209 members, he prefers "needs-based" development funds.

        Sheikh Salman has been risk averse at the Asian soccer confederation. The soccer body's auditors advised reviewing a $1 billion, eight-year marketing deal with World Sport Group brokered by disgraced former president Mohamed bin Hammam.

        The PricewaterhouseCoopers report said AFC's competition assets were undervalued by tens of millions of dollars. The deal remains in place.

        "Even if the risks (to the AFC) are 20 percent or 50 percent I'm not ready to take it," the sheikh told the AP.

        As FIFA president, Sheikh Salman would be hands-off, delegating to staffers in Zurich and taking no salary.

        ___

        CLEAN-UP OPERATION

        Sheikh Salman says he can restore FIFA after a corruption crisis because he already did that in Asia.

        His challenges on being elected in 2013, after FIFA twice banned Bin Hammam for life, included ending factional disputes and clearing out corrupt officials.

        "If you have a very fair leader ... who can bring people together in mutual consensus, it can be done," Sheikh Salman said.

        Still, the AFC never appointed a planned ethics committee despite publishing on its website a Code of Ethics dated July 2013.

        "The ethics code in Asia hasn't been approved but it has been approved as a concept to create it," the sheikh told the AP this month.

        Instead, evidence was handed over to the FIFA ethics committee, which banned an AFC executive committee member from Laos in November for taking an irregular payment.

        Officials implicated in wrongdoing, including by PricewaterhouseCoopers, also won AFC executive committee seats in elections last April.

        "You cannot decide and reject someone if you don't have any proof or a decision against them," Sheikh Salman told the AP.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on February 24, 2016, 01:49:06 PM
        Fifa election: Prince Ali loses bid to suspend Friday's vote
        BBC Sport


        Friday's Fifa presidential election will go ahead as planned after candidate Prince Ali bin al-Hussein lost a bid to have it suspended.

        Prince Ali, 40, is unhappy with voting arrangements but the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) rejected his case.

        The Jordanian wanted transparent voting booths to ensure the election, to find Sepp Blatter's successor, is fair.

        "I have done all I can. I regret that the system let us down," he said.

        "It is now imperative that voters abide by the ban on mobile phones and cameras in the voting booth.

        "I look forward to Friday's vote and remain as committed as ever to the goal of reforming Fifa."

        World football's election commission rejected Prince Ali's original request to suspend it if it could not "ensure that the vote is conducted in secret" and Cas ratified that decision on Wednesday.

        Ali wants to ensure delegates do not photograph their ballot papers when they choose the next president, claiming they could be put under pressure to produce evidence of their vote to interested parties.

        Prince Ali is one of five contenders looking to succeed the Swiss, who is stepping down at world football's governing body after 18 years.

        He is up against:

        * South African businessman Tokyo Sexwale
        * Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa
        * Former Fifa deputy general secretary Jerome Champagne
        and
        * Uefa general secretary Gianni Infantino.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on February 24, 2016, 01:51:48 PM
        http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/fifa/12170047/Fifa-president-election-live.html

        Any T&T media on the ground tracking the proceedings?
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: soccerman on February 24, 2016, 02:51:53 PM
        I think Fox Sports bring everything live starting at midnight Thur night/Fri morning.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on February 25, 2016, 06:01:11 PM
        Deeks said after Jack Warner CFU, CONCACAF and FIFA eh go want nutten to do with a Trini, but here we are after Blatter (Swiss) and Infantino (also Swiss) is deep in the mix. Different folks, different strokes? Or it doh matter?
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Deeks on February 25, 2016, 06:47:27 PM
        Deeks said after Jack Warner CFU, CONCACAF and FIFA eh go want nutten to do with a Trini, but here we are after Blatter (Swiss) and Infantino (also Swiss) is deep in the mix. Different folks, different strokes? Or it doh matter?

        I meant to say that no Trini will ever get into position of power in FiFa ever again
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on February 26, 2016, 01:02:08 AM
        US Soccer has announced that it is sticking with Prince Ali for the upcoming vote (they backed him last year). One wondered whether they would.

        With the decision to back Ali, there is a telling modicum of consistency in US Soccer's position. Also says a lot about what is happening behind the scenes that the US is not aligning with some of its allies in Europe. The second round of voting should be a blast.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on February 26, 2016, 01:03:32 AM
        Deeks said after Jack Warner CFU, CONCACAF and FIFA eh go want nutten to do with a Trini, but here we are after Blatter (Swiss) and Infantino (also Swiss) is deep in the mix. Different folks, different strokes? Or it doh matter?

        I meant to say that no Trini will ever get into position of power in FiFa ever again

        In my view, that's an overstatement of the relevance of nationality. Despite its structural demerits, there is enough to suggest that the environment of global football administration is more sophisticated than that.

        What needs to occur to avoid the outcome you suggest ... is for us to choose sophisticated brokers and stewards locally as football administrators. If we do that locally with success, it will transmit regionally and beyond. That's the template for not ceding influence and for not being relegated to the margins. It's also the template for kicking stereotypes to the curb. The people we put forward must mirror our collective conscience and the best of our values.

        Although FIFA exhibits some of the common pathologies of large global institutions, inescapable internal reforms offer the prospect that new players are not branded with the same iron that branded the fathers (the JWs) for their indiscretions. But we, as people interested and invested in football, have to insist on high standards and expectations within our local game ... not just lip service. We have to actually hold people accountable, not merely talk about doing so.

        Local football in T&T can't continue to be run as if it is 12:01 am on August, 31, 1962. Trading a foreign oppressor for a local oppressor does not move the ball up the field. For as many of the valuable introductions Sepp Blatter made to football globally, he also exploited his understanding of how local oppressors acquiesce to European presumptions regarding the rest of the world.

        One of FIFA's issues has not merely been corrupt practices ... it also has been how Blatter figured out how to configure global football as a plantation in which he could make sharecroppers out of some, serfs out of others, and tithing lords out of willing and benefiting accomplices.

        We still get a seat at the table, but we have to boot the cannibalistic model off the field. It starts today with what we vote in Zurich.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Flex on February 26, 2016, 05:31:09 AM
        Corneal says Champagne best for football.
        By Walter Alibey (Guardian).


        Although UEFA secretary general Gianni Infantino appears to be in a two-way battle with Sheik Salman Bin Ebrihim Al Khalif, in the FIFA Presidential election today in Zurich, Alvin Corneal, a technical advisor at the world governing body, feels that Jerome Champagne is the  man whom the region ought to have thrown its support behind.

        Apart from the pair, Infantino will also face Prince Ali Hussein and Tokyo Sexwale to head the governing body for world football.

        Corneal, who wears a number of caps in the sport, from ex player to coach, commentators, instructor and now advisor believes Champagne, a Frenchman, has what it takes to take the sport further. “He is passionate about the sport and has the will to stamp out corruption within it, a stance he made at the last election in which he pulled out of the race in the midst of widespread allegations of corruption” Corneal stated.

        Corneal noted that the sport has been mired in corruption and politics which have led to its current state. He was adamant that none of the other candidates appear genuine in their manifestos.

        Of main concern is the benefit that Caribbean islands and the Concacaf will gain from the result today, saying as he examined the manifestos he was sure that only Champagne will ensure that all member countries  receive assistance, both financially and otherwise.

        According to Corneal: “I think all those other countries have become bitter with the Caribbean and Concacaf because of desperate attempts by Blatter—who was suspended by the FIFA, along with Michele Platini —the UEFA president after being found guilty of wrongdoings by a FIFA Independent Ethics Committee, to ensure that poorer countries were assisted with their development.   

        Countries were initially given US$500, 000 subvention but this amount was increased to US$750, 000 to include both men and women’s football. However this will not be given to the T&T Football Association which is being led by David John-Williams after FIFA ordered that accounts of the association’s books be submitted if it were to receive the funding. Corneal believes the entire Concacaf and Caribbean faced being sidelined if anyone else but Champagne should emerge victorious today.

        T&TFA president David John-Williams was reported as saying he supported Infantino but Corneal said such a decision will have more consequences than benefits. “It was a decision that could hurt Caribbean football. If all islands are being made to vote independently, it would mean we would lost our bargaining power in voting which people such as Jack Warner and others fought for in the past,” Corneal said.

        Contacted Warner said he was not interested in what happens at the elections. “I do not watch, go, or even speak about football after spending almost 30 years in the sport, and to be treated the way I was,” Warner said.

        RELATED NEWS

        Soccer Leaders to Elect New FIFA President.
        By Graham Dunbar & Rob Harris (AP).


        Soccer leaders prepared to elect a new FIFA president on Friday, with Asian confederation head Sheikh Salman of Bahrain the favorite to succeed Sepp Blatter.

        Voting was scheduled to begin after 1300 GMT following speeches by the five candidates. No candidate is expected to win in the first round, where 138 votes from the 207 eligible voters are needed for victory.

        Sheikh Salman, backed by most voters in Asia and Africa, would likely have the momentum for victory if he gets at least 104 votes. That would be a winning simple majority in the second round.

        Gianni Infantino of Switzerland, the general secretary of European governing body UEFA, is expected to be the Bahraini royal's main rival.

        The other candidates are: Prince Ali of Jordan, who conceded to Blatter after a first-round vote last year; former FIFA official Jerome Champagne of France; and Tokyo Sexwale, a South African businessman and former anti-apartheid activist.

        "You do not deserve leadership marked by controversy ... empty promises, fear and condemnation," Prince Ali said in the first address by the candidates.

        Blatter was re-elected for a fifth term in May but, amid escalating corruption scandals, bowed to pressure four days later and announced he would resign. Blatter was subsequently banned for six years for financial mismanagement and was absent Friday after 40 years as a fixture at FIFA meetings.

        Before electing FIFA's first new president since 1998, 87 percent of the 207 voting federations passed wide-ranging reforms to protect against corruption and curb the powers of its new president.

        Those include preventing presidents from serving more than three four-year terms, reducing their powers and guaranteeing more independent oversight for FIFA's decision-making and spending. The executive committee will be renamed the FIFA Council with more female members while there will be stricter integrity checks will also control top officials.

        The vote was taken after the Palestine federation argued for a delay to let the new president lead the process. Blatter ordered the reform review in June after American and Swiss federal investigations hit FIFA.

        FIFA and its lawyers hope the reform will help show U.S. prosecutors the soccer body is serious about changing its culture, and protect its status as a victim in the American investigation.

        Still, the new era FIFA hopes for will not easily escape the fallout from Blatter's scandal-hit leadership.

        "We will set up a FIFA that is more transparent," interim president Issa Hayatou said in a speech. "It will win back the respect of everybody throughout the world."

        Sheikh Salman has been the most criticized and scrutinized candidate through the four-month campaign.

        The 50-year-old former Bahrain soccer federation president has strongly denied claims that, after Arab Spring protests in 2011, he helped identify national team players to be detained. They later alleged abuse and torture by government security forces.

        The winner of Friday's vote will become the ninth elected president in FIFA's 112-year history.

        The new president will inherit financial problems provoked by the corruption crisis, and ailing staff morale, detailed by acting secretary general Markus Kattner.

        "We are currently $550 million behind our goals," Kattner said, reminding of a conservative budget target of $5 billion revenue from the 2018 World Cup in Russia. "(There is) general uncertainty that is affecting morale of the FIFA team."

        FIFA has not signed any new World Cup sponsors since the 2014 tournament in Brazil, and has acknowledged that potential deals were on hold until after the election.

        FIFA will publish its 2015 financial report next month. It is expected to show a loss of at least $100 million, dropping cash reserves to $1.4 billion.

        Fifa president: Who are the election candidates? When is the vote? How does it work?
        By Samuel Stevens  (Independent).[/color]


        Everything you need to know ahead of the Fifa extraordinary congress on Friday where Sepp Blatter's successor as president will be determined

        Who are the candidates?

        Gianni Infantino, 45, Italian/Swiss

        Uefa general secretary, joined in 2000 as a lawyer

        “Fundamental reforms must be at the heart of Fifa to ensure that it regains the trust of both the football world and the wider public. These reforms need to be structural but also cultural in nature. In this respect, Fifa must demonstrate that it has the strength and determination to reform itself into a modern, well governed, institution which is a worthy leader for the world’s number one sport.”

        Headline policy: Expanding the World Cup to upwards of 40 nations, ensuring less reputable football countries are represented.

        Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa, 50, Bahraini

        Asian Football Confederation president and Fifa vice-president

        “My track record demonstrates that I can be relied upon to serve associations and the global football community with distinction and to lead Fifa through this critical transition. Starting out as a player, I then worked my way up through the ranks of the Bahrain Football Association to become president. Consequently, I fully understand the daily realities and difficulties faced by associations, clubs and players in everyday football.”

        Headline policy: Splitting Fifa into two entities, one for commercial practises and another for footballing operations.

        Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, 40, Jordanian

        President of Jordan Football Association and founder and president of the West Asian Football Federation, former Fifa vice-president

        “I know well the challenges faced every day to develop football in countries around the world. I also know Fifa well from the inside, having served as Fifa vice-president and as a member of both the Fifa executive committee and the AFC executive committee for the past four years. Most importantly, I am a straight-forward person with straight-forward ideas and ethics — a person who loves our sport. I believe in uncompromising integrity. In good leadership. In fair play. In a service oriented approach. And in hard work.”

        Headline policy: Total development of football around the world, quadrupling the amount of money member associations receive to increase sustainability.

        Jerome Champagne, 57, French

        Consultant in international football, a former diplomat who worked at Fifa as an executive and advisor to Sepp Blatter for 11 years

        “In my view, and as I've written and said many times, we must continue and further improve what has been done well under the mandates of presidents [Joao] Havelange and [Sepp] Blatter: implement development programs, organize Fifa competitions on every continent, and take the correct sports policy decisions (e.g. the exclusion of South Africa because of apartheid in 1976). But we must do more. We must do better. Above all, we must do it differently.”

        Headline policy: Strengthening the role of national associations, involving leagues, clubs and players in the decision-making process.

        Tokyo Sexwale, 62, South African

        Mining businessman, anti-apartheid campaigner and ex-member of the Fifa anti-discrimination task force

        “All this occurs in the midst of unprecedented action by law enforcement agencies against several leaders of FIfa. As a presidential candidate, I fully understand that these are difficult times for Fifa, which demands extraordinary and resolute leadership. These events, do not mean the death knell of football, the biggest sport in the world played since time immemorial and still to be played for many generations to come.”

        Headline policy: Growing and developing football worldwide, enhancing all nations not just the recognised 'bigger' countries.

        How will it work?

        Fifa’s 207 eligable member states (Kuwait and Indonesia are excluded) will be invited to vote in alphabetical order in a secret ballot from midday. Prince Ali has called for the governing body to use transparent voting booths after claims some candidates photographed their ballots in the 2015 election - which saw outgoing Swiss president Blatter defeat the Jordanian - to inform interested parties of who they were supporting.

        In the first round, there will only be a winner if one candidate secures more than two-thirds of the votes. This appears unlikely, however, owing to the voting habits of various regions, meaning just a straight majority would be enough in the second round of voting.

        If there remains a need for a third round to be held, the candidate with the lowest amount of votes in the previous round will be eliminated.

        The afternoon’s preliminary agenda has been revealed on Fifa’s website and goes as follows; Welcome, roll call, appointment of scrutineers, suspension or expulsion of a member, approval of the agenda, appointment of the agenda, appointment of five members to check the minutes, president’s address, reform of Fifa’s organisational structure, vote on proposals for amendments to Fifa’s statutes, election of replacement of members or judicial bodies, election of the president and, finally, the president’s closing remarks. In short, it’s going to be a long day, but one which aims to outline how Fifa will deal with accusations of corruption in the new era regardless of who is elected.

        Each candidate will have an allotted 15 minutes to address the congregation. It is hoped that voting will commence at around 1.30pm on Friday afternoon but these events are renowned for delays. It is within the bounds of reality, for example, for the various rounds of voting to last into the early evening.

        What about the proposed reforms?

        Before the presidential election takes place, the 207 eligable Fifa nations will gather for the extraordinary congress to agree and finalise a set of reforms which, it is hoped, will eradicate the chances of another corruption scandal engulfing the organisation. Chiefly among the planned proposals is the intention to set fixed terms for officials and set the benchmark for full disclosure of the payment structure at Fifa.

        It is expected that the executive committee will be replaced by a 36-member council designed to set global policies and include at least six female representatives. The proposals need to be approved by at least 75 per cent of the members to be passed.

        Before the election in the summer of 2015, arrests were made at the request of the United States Department of Justice. Many remain under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in co-ordination with Swiss authorities, over corruption allegedly involving more than $150m (£98m) worth of bribes dating back 24 years.

        On Wednesday, Blatter and former Uefa counterpart Michel Platini saw their appeals against eight-year bans, for a "disloyal payment" of £1.3m between the pair, rejected but their suspensions were reduced from eight to six years by Fifa's appeals committee.

        The candidates' manifestos

        Gianni Infantino (http://www.fifaforward2016.com/manifesto/): Uefa general secretary, supported by the Football Association.

        Prince Ali Al Hussein (http://www.sportingintelligence.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Prince-Ali-manifesto.pdf): Fifa vice-president, runner-up in the previous election.

        Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa (https://shaikhsalman.org/WorldFootballRedefinedRestructuredRevitalised.pdf): president of the Asian Football Confederation.

        Jerome Champagne (http://www.sportingintelligence.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Jerome-C-manifesto.pdf): former executive at Fifa from 1999 to 2010.

        Tokyo Sexwale (http://www.sportingintelligence.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Tokyo-Sexwale-manifesto.pdf): South African businessman.

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on February 26, 2016, 06:47:08 AM
        https://www.youtube.com/v/aHdiUw0KGno&index=3&list=PLCGIzmTE4d0jQSt_mtIm7AYKeUignR_tm
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on February 26, 2016, 06:50:31 AM
        FIFA Congress approves landmark reforms
        FIFA.com (http://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/news/y=2016/m=2/news=fifa-congress-approves-landmark-reforms-2767108.html)


        FIFA’s member associations have today approved a package of landmark reforms that pave the way for significant improvements to the governance of global football, including a clear separation of commercial and political decision-making, greater scrutiny of senior officials, and commitments to promoting women in football and human rights.

        The reforms were supported by 179 of the 207 member associations present and eligible to vote at the Extraordinary Congress in Zurich. The Congress will also elect a new FIFA President.

        The reforms were based on proposals made by the 2016 FIFA Reform Committee and the subsequent recommendations put before the Congress by the Executive Committee in the form of draft FIFA Statutes. They represent an essential step towards the modernisation of FIFA’s institutional culture in key areas such as the clear separation of political and management functions, term limits, the disclosure of individual compensation, greater recognition and promotion of women in football and a commitment to enshrining human rights in the FIFA Statutes. Furthermore, they include statutory principles of good governance for member associations and confederations, such as compulsory annual independent audit reports as well as independent judicial bodies to ensure a separation of powers on all levels of football structures.

        “We stand united in our determination to put things right, so that the focus can return to football once again,” said Acting FIFA President Issa Hayatou. “The hard work of restoring trust and improving how we work begins now.”

        “This will create a system of stronger governance and greater diversity that will give football a strong foundation on which to thrive. It will help to restore trust in our organisation. And it will deter future wrongdoing.”

        The main aspects of the approved reforms have been incorporated into an amended version of the FIFA Statutes. A summary of the approved reforms is available here.

        In accordance with art. 29 of the current edition of the FIFA Statutes, the statutory amendments passed today will come into effect for the members 60 days after the close of the Congress.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on February 26, 2016, 07:07:59 AM
        Opening Statement to the FIFA Congress by Issa Hayatou, Acting President. (http://resources.fifa.com/mm/Document/AFFederation/Bodies/02/76/71/10/20160226_ActingPresident_EOC_EN_Neutral.pdf?t=1456478616100)
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on February 26, 2016, 07:12:07 AM
        FOLLOW LIVE http://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/news/y=2016/m=2/news=extraordinary-fifa-congress-to-be-streamed-live-on-fifa-com-2766712.html?intcmp=fifacom_hp_module_news_top

        (Tokyo Sexwale has withdrawn his candidacy. And now there are four candidates).
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on February 26, 2016, 09:12:33 AM
        First Round Ballot

        Prince Ali  27 votes
        Sheik Salman 85 votes
        Jerome Champagne 7 votes
        Gianni Infantino 88 votes

        (Kuwait and Indonesia are ineligible to vote). Total votes cast=207.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: soccerman on February 26, 2016, 09:23:27 AM
        So will the second round consist of voting for the top two candidates?
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on February 26, 2016, 09:28:10 AM
        So will the second round consist of voting for the top two candidates?

        All candidates are eligible to proceed to the Second Ballot. None of the candidates have withdrawn.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: FF on February 26, 2016, 10:04:18 AM
        For the first round to win you needed 2/3 majority. 138 out of 207 votes. For the second one someone just needs a simple majority rather than two-thirds. So either Sheikh Salman or Infantino needs to inch to 104 votes to seal it on this round, or else we lose the person in last place and go on, and on, and on, and on...
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: soccerman on February 26, 2016, 11:05:55 AM
        ESPN is saying Gianni Infantino  won the election

        http://www.espnfc.com/blog-fifa/story/2815796/gianni-infantino-beats-sheikh-salman-for-fifa-presidency
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Dynamite Warrior on February 26, 2016, 11:13:12 AM
        So DJW back the right horse. Hopefully Infantino will follow through and help with the creation of the Caribbean Super League.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on February 26, 2016, 12:35:47 PM
        https://www.youtube.com/v/KQLEUr9zRNs&feature=youtu.be
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on February 26, 2016, 12:51:54 PM
        So DJW back the right horse. Hopefully Infantino will follow through and help with the creation of the Caribbean Super League.

        As a matter of first priority ... hopefully, he can facilitate in resolving our funding problem.

        (What did he have to say about the CSL?)
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on February 26, 2016, 01:00:44 PM
        To my absolute surprise, at the press conference, Infantino minutes ago mentioned the Caribbean league. Clearly this was part of the bait dangled to secure support.

        (Thus far, he has responded to questions in German, Italian, English, French and Spanish ... without any interpretation and was on the verge of doing the same in Portuguese).
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Storeboy on February 26, 2016, 01:52:43 PM
        So DJW back the right horse. Hopefully Infantino will follow through and help with the creation of the Caribbean Super League.

        ...and Corneal backs the guy (Champagne) who gets zero votes in the 2nd round. Does it suggest that Alvin Corneal is completely void of understanding of World football?
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Dynamite Warrior on February 26, 2016, 03:03:03 PM
        To my absolute surprise, at the press conference, Infantino minutes ago mentioned the Caribbean league. Clearly this was part of the bait dangled to secure support.

        (Thus far, he has responded to questions in German, Italian, English, French and Spanish ... without any interpretation and was on the verge of doing the same in Portuguese).

        Definitely. And we know rightly or wrongly DJW is a strong  backer of the Super League. Hopefully it works out though because I think the creation of a FIFA ran Caribbean League can be extremely helpful to our football.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: soccerman on February 26, 2016, 06:46:28 PM
        Shaka all over ESPN with this, from ESPN to ESPN 2, even on ESPN News... For all you know he might be on ESPN Deportees as well

        Good for him though, take advantage of the opportunity and become a prominent figure on the network.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Tobago28 on February 26, 2016, 09:53:59 PM
        really was disappointed with DJW when he supported Infantino early but it proved to be the right decision. Kudos to him, this right decision could proved very fruitful.

        Give credit when due
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Controversial on February 27, 2016, 07:20:39 AM
        Where David mind is?

        It's with w connection, the national team is secondary...
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on March 02, 2016, 11:02:51 PM
        What items do we have in the FIFA Museum? The Barbados FA has an article online about their items on display. (http://www.barbadosfa.com/news/?page=newslist&ID=660)
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on March 09, 2016, 12:21:55 PM
        FIFA Match Agent Pleads Guilty in U.S. to Corruption Charges
        By David Voreacos and Christie Smythe, Bloomberg.


        A Colombian soccer consultant pleaded guilty to paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to officials who awarded media and marketing rights, admitting he used sham contracts and Panamanian bank accounts to cover his tracks.

        Miguel Trujillo, 65, entered his plea in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, where he was the 13th of 40 people charged to have admitted guilt in a U.S. crackdown on soccer corruption in the Americas. Prosecutors say soccer officials and business executives paid more than $200 million in bribes for media and marketing rights to tournaments, World Cup siting votes and elections at FIFA, the sport’s governing body.

        In pleading guilty, Trujillo admitted paying bribes to help two marketing companies, Traffic Sports USA Inc. and Media World LLC, win rights to tournaments. Those events were staged by the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football, or Concacaf; regional soccer federations; and national federations in Central America and the Caribbean.

        He said he paid the bribes in advance of the World Cup qualifiers in 2014, 2018 and 2022 for Central American soccer federations.

        He and his co-conspirators “often used sham contracts and invoices in an effort to disguise the true nature of these transactions,” Trujillo said in court.

        Earlier Pleas

        Trujillo’s admissions buttressed earlier guilty pleas by Traffic Group founder Jose Hawilla and former Traffic USA Chief Executive Officer Fabio Tordin; Media World’s former CEO, Roger Huguet; and Concacaf’s ex-president Jeffrey Webb. Trujillo said he conspired with those three and 10 others not identified by name in court documents.

        Trujillo said he used several small companies he ran and Panamanian bank accounts to help move bribes through a labyrinth. One $80,000 payment moved from his company account at Multibank Inc. in Panama to a Bank of America Corp. correspondent account in New York to a Citigroup Inc. account in the name of a Caymanian lawyer, court documents show.

        Another payment for $170,000 went from his company’s Multibank account in Panama to a Deutsche Bank AG correspondent account in New York to a Loyal Bank Ltd. account in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. That account was in the name of a British Virgin Islands holding company run by a Concacaf official, court records show.

        Match Arranger

        Trujillo, a legal permanent resident in Florida, was licensed by FIFA to negotiate and arrange matches between the sport’s national associations, according to a statement from Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Robert Capers.

        Trujillo pleaded guilty to one count of money-laundering conspiracy, two counts of wire-fraud conspiracy, and one count of filing a false tax return. He agreed to forfeit $495,000.

        Trujillo’s attorney Joseph Steven Rosenbaum declined to comment after the hearing.

        In a separate hearing, the former president of the Venezuelan soccer federation, Rafael Esquivel, made his first appearance in federal court. Esquivel was extradited from Switzerland, where he was one of seven soccer officials arrested last May.

        He pleaded not guilty to racketeering conspiracy, wire-fraud conspiracy and money-laundering conspiracy.

        The case is U.S. v. Trujillo, 16-cr-108, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York (Brooklyn).
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on March 10, 2016, 05:49:29 PM
        CONCACAF split was crucial in deciding FIFA presidency. (http://mobile.royalgazette.com/article/20160227/SPORT01/160229727)
        Title: Show me the 4.4 Mo money !
        Post by: rotatopoti3 on March 16, 2016, 07:49:20 AM
        http://edition.cnn.com/2016/03/16/football/football-fifa-corruption-compensation/index.html
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Insider on March 16, 2016, 08:48:42 AM
        FIFA Match Agent Pleads Guilty in U.S. to Corruption Charges
        By David Voreacos and Christie Smythe, Bloomberg.


        A Colombian soccer consultant pleaded guilty to paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to officials who awarded media and marketing rights, admitting he used sham contracts and Panamanian bank accounts to cover his tracks.

        Miguel Trujillo, 65, entered his plea in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, where he was the 13th of 40 people charged to have admitted guilt in a U.S. crackdown on soccer corruption in the Americas. Prosecutors say soccer officials and business executives paid more than $200 million in bribes for media and marketing rights to tournaments, World Cup siting votes and elections at FIFA, the sport’s governing body.

        In pleading guilty, Trujillo admitted paying bribes to help two marketing companies, Traffic Sports USA Inc. and Media World LLC, win rights to tournaments. Those events were staged by the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football, or Concacaf; regional soccer federations; and national federations in Central America and the Caribbean.

        He said he paid the bribes in advance of the World Cup qualifiers in 2014, 2018 and 2022 for Central American soccer federations.

        He and his co-conspirators “often used sham contracts and invoices in an effort to disguise the true nature of these transactions,” Trujillo said in court.

        Earlier Pleas

        Trujillo’s admissions buttressed earlier guilty pleas by Traffic Group founder Jose Hawilla and former Traffic USA Chief Executive Officer Fabio Tordin; Media World’s former CEO, Roger Huguet; and Concacaf’s ex-president Jeffrey Webb. Trujillo said he conspired with those three and 10 others not identified by name in court documents.

        Trujillo said he used several small companies he ran and Panamanian bank accounts to help move bribes through a labyrinth. One $80,000 payment moved from his company account at Multibank Inc. in Panama to a Bank of America Corp. correspondent account in New York to a Citigroup Inc. account in the name of a Caymanian lawyer, court documents show.

        Another payment for $170,000 went from his company’s Multibank account in Panama to a Deutsche Bank AG correspondent account in New York to a Loyal Bank Ltd. account in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. That account was in the name of a British Virgin Islands holding company run by a Concacaf official, court records show.

        Match Arranger

        Trujillo, a legal permanent resident in Florida, was licensed by FIFA to negotiate and arrange matches between the sport’s national associations, according to a statement from Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Robert Capers.

        Trujillo pleaded guilty to one count of money-laundering conspiracy, two counts of wire-fraud conspiracy, and one count of filing a false tax return. He agreed to forfeit $495,000.

        Trujillo’s attorney Joseph Steven Rosenbaum declined to comment after the hearing.

        In a separate hearing, the former president of the Venezuelan soccer federation, Rafael Esquivel, made his first appearance in federal court. Esquivel was extradited from Switzerland, where he was one of seven soccer officials arrested last May.

        He pleaded not guilty to racketeering conspiracy, wire-fraud conspiracy and money-laundering conspiracy.

        The case is U.S. v. Trujillo, 16-cr-108, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York (Brooklyn).

        The TTFA had hired Miguel Trujillo to be their official match agent. I think he was the one who got the Uruguay match.

        However, I heard that they had to let him go because of this.

        Miguel Trujillo is very good friends with Jamal Shabaaz who recommended him to Williams and without doing any research, hired him.

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Mose on March 16, 2016, 11:58:55 AM
        http://edition.cnn.com/2016/03/16/football/football-fifa-corruption-compensation/index.html

        Here's a different take: http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/fifa-world-cup-bribes-us-1.3493402
        Quote
        FIFA admits to World Cup hosting bribes — and wants cash back
        Soccer's scandal-plagued governing body admits bribes paid in 1998, 2010 bids

        While acknowledging for the first time that votes were bought in past World Cup hosting contests, FIFA is seeking to claim "tens of millions of dollars" in bribe money seized by U.S. federal prosecutors.

        FIFA submitted a 22-page claim to the U.S. Attorney's Office in New York on Tuesday that seeks a big share in restitution from more than $190 million already forfeited by soccer and marketing officials who pleaded guilty in the sprawling corruption case.

        Tens of millions of dollars more is likely to be collected by U.S. authorities when sentences are handed down, and from dozens of officials currently indicted but who have denied bribery charges or are fighting extradition.
        ...

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Sando on March 16, 2016, 12:42:37 PM
        FIFA Match Agent Pleads Guilty in U.S. to Corruption Charges
        By David Voreacos and Christie Smythe, Bloomberg.


        A Colombian soccer consultant pleaded guilty to paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to officials who awarded media and marketing rights, admitting he used sham contracts and Panamanian bank accounts to cover his tracks.

        Miguel Trujillo, 65, entered his plea in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, where he was the 13th of 40 people charged to have admitted guilt in a U.S. crackdown on soccer corruption in the Americas. Prosecutors say soccer officials and business executives paid more than $200 million in bribes for media and marketing rights to tournaments, World Cup siting votes and elections at FIFA, the sport’s governing body.

        In pleading guilty, Trujillo admitted paying bribes to help two marketing companies, Traffic Sports USA Inc. and Media World LLC, win rights to tournaments. Those events were staged by the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football, or Concacaf; regional soccer federations; and national federations in Central America and the Caribbean.

        He said he paid the bribes in advance of the World Cup qualifiers in 2014, 2018 and 2022 for Central American soccer federations.

        He and his co-conspirators “often used sham contracts and invoices in an effort to disguise the true nature of these transactions,” Trujillo said in court.

        Earlier Pleas

        Trujillo’s admissions buttressed earlier guilty pleas by Traffic Group founder Jose Hawilla and former Traffic USA Chief Executive Officer Fabio Tordin; Media World’s former CEO, Roger Huguet; and Concacaf’s ex-president Jeffrey Webb. Trujillo said he conspired with those three and 10 others not identified by name in court documents.

        Trujillo said he used several small companies he ran and Panamanian bank accounts to help move bribes through a labyrinth. One $80,000 payment moved from his company account at Multibank Inc. in Panama to a Bank of America Corp. correspondent account in New York to a Citigroup Inc. account in the name of a Caymanian lawyer, court documents show.

        Another payment for $170,000 went from his company’s Multibank account in Panama to a Deutsche Bank AG correspondent account in New York to a Loyal Bank Ltd. account in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. That account was in the name of a British Virgin Islands holding company run by a Concacaf official, court records show.

        Match Arranger

        Trujillo, a legal permanent resident in Florida, was licensed by FIFA to negotiate and arrange matches between the sport’s national associations, according to a statement from Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Robert Capers.

        Trujillo pleaded guilty to one count of money-laundering conspiracy, two counts of wire-fraud conspiracy, and one count of filing a false tax return. He agreed to forfeit $495,000.

        Trujillo’s attorney Joseph Steven Rosenbaum declined to comment after the hearing.

        In a separate hearing, the former president of the Venezuelan soccer federation, Rafael Esquivel, made his first appearance in federal court. Esquivel was extradited from Switzerland, where he was one of seven soccer officials arrested last May.

        He pleaded not guilty to racketeering conspiracy, wire-fraud conspiracy and money-laundering conspiracy.

        The case is U.S. v. Trujillo, 16-cr-108, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York (Brooklyn).

        The TTFA had hired Miguel Trujillo to be their official match agent. I think he was the one who got the Uruguay match.

        However, I heard that they had to let him go because of this.

        Miguel Trujillo is very good friends with Jamal Shabaaz who recommended him to Williams and without doing any research, hired him.



        Sounds like a Tim Kee move.

        Just can't believe a man like DJW will believe in a man like Shabaaz.

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Mose on March 16, 2016, 01:19:53 PM
        FIFA Match Agent Pleads Guilty in U.S. to Corruption Charges
        By David Voreacos and Christie Smythe, Bloomberg.


        A Colombian soccer consultant pleaded guilty to paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to officials who awarded media and marketing rights, admitting he used sham contracts and Panamanian bank accounts to cover his tracks.

        Miguel Trujillo, 65, entered his plea in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, where he was the 13th of 40 people charged to have admitted guilt in a U.S. crackdown on soccer corruption in the Americas. Prosecutors say soccer officials and business executives paid more than $200 million in bribes for media and marketing rights to tournaments, World Cup siting votes and elections at FIFA, the sport’s governing body.

        ...

        The case is U.S. v. Trujillo, 16-cr-108, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York (Brooklyn).

        The TTFA had hired Miguel Trujillo to be their official match agent. I think he was the one who got the Uruguay match.

        However, I heard that they had to let him go because of this.

        Miguel Trujillo is very good friends with Jamal Shabaaz who recommended him to Williams and without doing any research, hired him.



        Sounds like a Tim Kee move.

        Just can't believe a man like DJW will believe in a man like Shabaaz.


        Isn't Shabazz supposed to be one of his closest advisors?
        And wasn't he appointed to a position as soon as DJW came into power?
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Bakes on March 16, 2016, 07:02:49 PM

        The TTFA had hired Miguel Trujillo to be their official match agent. I think he was the one who got the Uruguay match.

        However, I heard that they had to let him go because of this.

        Miguel Trujillo is very good friends with Jamal Shabaaz who recommended him to Williams and without doing any research, hired him.



        I was waiting to see how long it would take for people to connect the dots.


        Just can't believe a man like DJW will believe in a man like Shabaaz.



        This is laughable on so many levels.  None so blind...
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on March 17, 2016, 06:47:28 AM
        http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/03/16/470677860/fifa-says-it-was-victim-to-its-leaders-asks-for-millions-in-restitution
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Deeks on March 17, 2016, 08:31:50 AM
        So does this mean FIFA will asked Concacaf for Center of Excellence in Macoya?
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Sando on March 17, 2016, 09:45:34 AM

        The TTFA had hired Miguel Trujillo to be their official match agent. I think he was the one who got the Uruguay match.

        However, I heard that they had to let him go because of this.

        Miguel Trujillo is very good friends with Jamal Shabaaz who recommended him to Williams and without doing any research, hired him.



        I was waiting to see how long it would take for people to connect the dots.


        Just can't believe a man like DJW will believe in a man like Shabaaz.



        This is laughable on so many levels.  None so blind...

        Bakes, like you know more, fill us in?

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: rotatopoti3 on March 17, 2016, 06:07:05 PM
        So does this mean FIFA will asked Concacaf for Center of Excellence in Macoya?


        Deeks...dey goe mount ah JACK under it and think take it away.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: dtool on March 18, 2016, 05:38:29 AM


        The exclusive account of how a small band of federal agents and an outsized corrupt official brought down the sports world's biggest governing body.

        http://espn.go.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/14767250/the-exclusive-story-how-feds-took-fifa

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Deeks on March 18, 2016, 08:24:59 AM
        I read in bbc where FIFA has approved a 4th sub for Olimpic football.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Mad Scorpion a/k/a Big Bo$$ on March 18, 2016, 10:17:03 AM
        Reading this article it seems that Blazer unlock the unscrupulous spirit within Warner.  Santa Clause go dead like ah semp doh.  After he help heself and enjoy the spoils he sell everybody he could dong the river.  It really ha no honor among thieves nah.  Good for we football that Warner get so brazen as to engage in a "naked bribe" otherwise all now we might still have to deal with he shyte!!!
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on March 28, 2016, 12:39:10 AM
        FIFA scandal was China's chance, says top sponsor
        Daily Sabah


        Wang Jianlin, China's richest man, said FIFA's corruption scandal was an opportunity for big Chinese companies to further the country's lofty footballing ambitions by undertaking sponsorship deals with the global governing body. Wang's Dalian Wanda Group, China's biggest commercial property developer and an active buyer of global entertainment and sports companies, became the first Chinese top level sponsor of FIFA last week. At a news conference in Beijing last week, the 61-year-old multi-billionaire said he expected other companies to follow suit to help drive China's ambition to become a soccer superpower.

        "Two or three years ago, Chinese and Asian companies probably wouldn't even have had a chance to sponsor FIFA even if we wanted to. But because some western companies dropped out, we got the opportunity," he said.

        "To my knowledge, another Chinese company will become a FIFA top sponsor soon. If there are no surprises, there will be three Chinese top-level sponsors by the end of the year."If more Chinese brother companies become FIFA sponsors like Wanda, we will join forces to advance the interests of China soccer," he added. Led by China's President Xi Jinping, an avid soccer fan, China is aiming first to host the World Cup and then ultimately win it.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Deeks on March 28, 2016, 09:51:33 AM
        Go China ....... Go China.  ...... Go China.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on April 05, 2016, 12:43:26 PM
        Fifa president Gianni Infantino pulled into corruption scandal by Panama Papers
        By Owen Gibson, The Guardian.


        Leaked documents raise questions over role played by new Fifa president in TV rights deal while he worked for Uefa

        The new head of world football has been caught up in the sport’s corruption scandal because of documents that have been revealed by the Panama Papers leak.

        Files seen by the Guardian will raise questions about the role Fifa’s president, Gianni Infantino, played in deals that were concluded when he was director of legal services at Uefa, European football’s governing body.

        According to records, Uefa concluded offshore deals with one of the indicted figures at the heart of an alleged “World Cup of fraud” despite previously insisting it had no dealings with any of them.

        The emergence of the contracts from 2003 and 2006, which were co-signed by Infantino, link Uefa for the first time to one of the companies involved in the huge unfolding scandal that has brought down former Fifa president Sepp Blatter.

        Uefa has denied any wrongdoing by any of its officials or any other marketing partner.

        It said the contracts were all above board. Fifa has previously insisted Infantino had no dealings with any of the officials currently under investigation – or their companies.

        The disclosures are based on the leak of 11m documents from the files of the offshore financial law firm Mossack Fonseca, which were obtained by Süddeutsche Zeitung and shared by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists with the Guardian and other news organisations.

        Infantino is the Swiss-Italian former Uefa secretary general who won the race to succeed the disgraced Blatter in February. The files show that in 2006, when he worked at Uefa, the organisation sold the rights for broadcasting its club competitions in South America.

        The rights to the Champions League, the Uefa Cup and the Super Cup were acquired by an Argentinian company called Cross Trading. Cross Trading immediately sold on to broadcaster Teleamazonas for about three or four times the amount paid for them. The contracts covered the period from 2003 to 2006 and from 2006 to 2009.

        Cross Trading is a subsidiary of a company called Full Play, which is owned by Hugo Jinkis. Last year in an unrelated matter, Jinkis was alleged by US prosecutors to have handed over millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks to football executives to obtain and retain media and marketing rights.

        Jinkis, along with his son Mariano, is under house arrest in Argentina.

        Jinkis’s involvement in the deals with Uefa from a decade ago are set out in the Panama Papers. Cross Trading signed a deal with Uefa’s broadcasting and marketing partner, called Team. Infantino’s name appears on the contract as Uefa’s director of legal services.

        According to the contracts, Cross Trading, which was registered in the tiny South Pacific tax haven of Niue, agreed to pay $111,000 for the exclusive rights to broadcast Champions League football in Ecuador between 2006-07 and 2008-09.

        In the covering letter containing the fully executed contracts, Uefa states: “Congratulations on joining the family of broadcast partners for the 2006-2009 Uefa Champions League seasons … we look forward to working with you!”

        Ecuadorian broadcaster Teleamazonas then paid Cross Trading $311,170 for the Champions League rights.

        Uefa insisted the TV rights deals with Cross Trading were all above board and it could not have known when they were signed in 2003 and 2006 that Jinkis would be involved in the scandal a decade later.

        It said the rights were sold “pursuant to an open, competitive, tender process”, and that the offer from Teleamazonas/Cross Trading was 20% higher than the next best bid.

        “There is no suggestion whatsoever of any Uefa official or marketing partner taking any form of bribe or kickback, whether in relation to this tiny deal, or any other commercial transaction,” it said.

        Uefa added: “The TV contract in question was signed by Gianni Infantino since he was one of several Uefa directors empowered to sign contracts at the time. As you will have observed, the contract was also co-signed by another Uefa director. It’s standard practice.”

        It is unclear why Teleamazonas paid so much for the rights, but one possibility is that Cross Trading simply made a huge profit on the deal. Local sources also confirmed that a similar agreement was in place three years earlier, when Teleamazonas bought a similar package from Cross Trading for a fee believed to be about $400,000.

        Uefa reiterated that it received $111,000 for the Champions League rights over a three-year period and had no knowledge of any subsequent deal between Cross Trading and Teleamazonas. “The reason why Cross Trading appears as the contract partner in this deal is simply because Team was advised that Cross Trading had the mandate to act as exclusive buyer for all sports TV rights of Teleamazonas in the European area,” it said.

        “Neither Team nor Uefa had any reason to believe that there was anything suspicious or untoward about an agency relationship between Cross Trading and Teleamazonas.”

        It said any bilateral deals between Teleamazanoas and Cross Trading were “their business, not ours”. “We do know that Teleamazonas made the best offer for these FTA [free-to-air] rights in Ecuador. And that’s why we took it.”

        Uefa did not say why it had previously asserted that it had not had any dealings with any of the indicted companies or individuals.

        But having checked through thousands of contracts, it said it could confirm that in addition to two contracts with Cross Trading for the Champions League and Uefa Cup in Ecuador from 2003 to 2006 and 2006 to 2009, it had also signed a Euro 2016 hospitality sales agreement with Traffic Sports Europe, a Brazilian company named extensively in the US indictment.

        Fifa said that the matter was largely one for Uefa and that its assertion that “to the best of his knowledge Gianni Infantino had no dealings in his time at Uefa with any of the persons mentioned” was based on information received from Uefa.

        Fifa has been fighting on a number of fronts in recent months.

        Mossack Fonseca, the Panamanian firm at the centre of the Panama Papers leak, resigned as the registered agents of Cross Trading in June 2015. In the first quarter of 2015, the Mossack Fonseca files show that the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Seychelles was investigating Cross Trading and asked Mossack Fonseca for more information about the company.

        Mossack Fonseca has insisted it has strong due diligence protocols. “Over the last 18 months, we have reinforced our compliance department by hiring an additional 26 professionals to comply with new regulations as well as to conduct retroactive due diligence on all existing clients,” it said.

        Contained in the Mossack Fonseca files are the details of contracts signed between companies controlled by Jinkis and allegedly corrupt Fifa executives named in the US indictments, including the longstanding secretary general of the South American confederation, Conmebol, Eduardo Deluca; the Conmebol president and Fifa executive Nicolás Leoz; and the Uruguayan former Fifa executive Eugenio Figueredo.

        Infantino joined Uefa in 2000 and became secretary general in 2009. He in effect took over the running of the European confederation when Michel Platini was suspended by Fifa’s ethics committee over a £1.35m payment he received from Blatter in 2011.

        Infantino chose to stand for the Fifa presidency himself and secured a surprise victory after convincing Fifa’s 209 member associations that he would repair its damaged finances and raise more money for football development around the world.

        In the foreword to last month’s financial report, which revealed losses of £84.2m because of deserting sponsors and spiralling legal fees, he said it was to Fifa’s credit that it had acted to limit the damage to the organisation of the recent corruption scandal.

        “By taking the necessary steps to support reform at the extraordinary congress in February, I believe that we have turned a corner and that Fifa is poised to emerge stronger than ever,” he said. “My time in office will be focused on helping our member associations to fully implement the reforms at all levels of the game to ensure we restore full confidence in Fifa among all of our stakeholders.”
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on April 06, 2016, 09:12:28 AM
        Uefa offices raided by police after Gianni Infantino named in Panama Papers
        By James Riach, The Guardian.


        • Uefa confirm Swiss Federal Police entered governing body’s HQ
        • Fifa face calls to investigate Gianni Infantino’s role in TV deal


        Swiss police have raided Uefa’s headquarters in Nyon to seize details of a contract signed by the Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, following the Panama Papers leak.

        The files, seen by the Guardian, show that Infantino – formerly director of legal services at Uefa – co-signed a television rights contract in 2006 with two businessmen who have since been caught up in football’s corruption scandal. Uefa said it is co-operating fully with the Swiss police.

        A statement read: “Uefa can confirm that today we received a visit from the office of the Swiss Federal Police acting under a warrant and requesting sight of the contracts between Uefa and Cross Trading / Teleamazonas. Naturally, Uefa is providing the Federal Police with all relevant documents in our possession and will cooperate fully.”

        Uefa said that the recently-elected Fifa president Infantino was “dismayed that his integrity was being doubted” in media coverage of the case.

        The Mossack Fonseca documents detailed a 2006 contract to sell the Ecuadorian rights to the Champions League, the Uefa Cup and the Super Cup. The deal was with two figures who have since been accused of bribery as part of the US investigation into corruption at Fifa. Hugo Jinkis and Mariano Jinkis, his son, are currently under house arrest in Argentina.

        Cross Trading, the Jinkis’ Argentinian company which was registered in the South Pacific tax haven of Niue, bought the rights for $111,000, then immediately sold them to the Ecuadorian broadcaster Teleamazonas for $311,170.

        Uefa had initially denied doing business with any of the 14 individuals indicted by the FBI, but admits now its response was incomplete. After a full review of thousands of commercial contracts, it accepts the deal was done as part of an “open tender” – a process conducted by Team Marketing on behalf of Uefa - and the rights were sold to the highest bidder.

        Uefa said: “Neither Team nor Uefa had any reason to believe that there was anything suspicious or untoward about an agency relationship between Cross Trading and Teleamazonas.”

        It said any bilateral deals between Teleamazonas and Cross Trading were “their business, not ours”. “We do know that [it was the] best offer for these FTA [free-to-air] rights in Ecuador. And that’s why we took it.”
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Sando prince on April 08, 2016, 06:51:21 AM


        https://www.youtube.com/v/R3ZtCGDOZQg
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on April 19, 2016, 03:25:00 PM
        Skulduggery that led to US losing 1986 World Cup finals to Mexico
        By Keir Radnedge, World Soccer.


        Skullduggery is nothing new when it comes to World Cup host awards, whatever the controversies over Germany 2006 and South Africa 2010 as well as upcoming Russia and Qatar in 2018 and 2022 respectively.

        New evidence has been revealed of how the then FIFA president Joao Havelange comprehensively stitched up the United States over the award of the 1986 finals to Mexico.

        The tale is told by authors Claudia Fernandez and Andrew Paxman in new edition of their biography of the Mexican television mogul Emilio Azcarraga, owner of the Televisa entertainment giant whose ‘properties’ include Club America and Necaxa as well as the iconic Estadio Azteca**.

        Azcarraga’s opportunity to buy into world football came in the autumn of 1982 after Colombia was dropped by the world football federation as prospective host of the 1986 finals.

        Colombia had won host rights when the finals featured 16 teams. Subsequently, however, to fulfil Havelange’s promise to Africa in winning the FIFA presidency in 1974, the finals were expanded to 24 nations.

        During the 1982 finals in Spain Alfonso Senior, head of the Colombian federation, told Havelange that Colombia could stage the finals only if they reverted to 16 teams. That was impossible for Havelange so, in October 1982 after the Colombians refused to budge, he launched his search for a new host.

        The 1986 finals had been allocated to the Americas and no South American nations were economically capable. Canada and the United States both expressed interest. But already, according to Fernandez and Paxman, the die was cast.

        They describe how “days after Colombia’s withdrawal . . . Havelange flew to Mexico to meet his good friends Guillermo Canedo – then his most loyal supporter in the FIFA executive committee – and Emilio Azcarraga.

        “Within a few months this meeting was followed by the creation of a committee which would present a [hosting’ recommendation to the exco.

        “Once the commission members had been shown Mexico’s likely facilities by Canedo, they flew directly to Europe without bothering to consider the US and Canada.

        “FIFA’s rules required an inspection of all potential hosts but the committee made an exception on the grounds of omissions on the application files of those two countries. In March 1983 the commission presented a report recommending the choice of Mexico.”

        That was not the end of the fiction. Delegations from Canada and the US – along with Mexican federation president Rafael del Castillo – were invited to Stockholm on May 20, 1983 to present their candidatures to Havelange and his FIFA exco (observed by newly-promoted general secretary Sepp Blatter).

        Fernandez and Paxman say: “While Canada had no chance, the US came armed to the teeth with a delegation led by Henry Kissinger, former Secretary of State and negotiator of the latest peace deal between Israel and the Arabs, plus his ‘dream team’ which included another ex-Secretary of State in Cyrus Vance along with Pele and Franz Beckenbauer [veteran stars then with New York Cosmos].”

        Not only had Mexico already staged the finals, in 1970, but the US bid was vastly superior. FIFA’s minimum demands for the finals included 14 stadia with a minimum capacity of 40,000. US had all of that and more. Mexico had only six. As for transport, communications, transport and accommodation, it was also no contest.

        Kissinger and his team spent an hour outlining their bid in private to the exco. The Canadians needed half an hour. Del Castillo went in for just eight minutes and joked later: “Actually, I needed only one minute to convince them.” The vote for Mexico, announced Havelange afterwards, had been unanimous.

        Reasons for Havelange’s determination have remained the subject of speculation. Mexico was not the football power it would become. There was no significant money then in the domestic club game and the national team were regular whipping boys at the World Cup.

        However, say Fernandez and Paxman, Havelange had favours to repay and wider financial and business interests to pursue.

        Canedo, the former car salesman who had become Azcarraga’s football specialist, had been one of the first FIFA voters to switch to Havelange from incumbent Sir Stanley Rous in the 1974 presidential election. Two years later Havelange had powerfully endorsed an ultimately vain attempt by Azcarraga to buy the Brazilian channel TV Record.

        The 1986 finals were the first to run by a private corporation, Televisa, with Canedo as chairman of the organising committee. Azcarraga approved the expenditure of $45m which included $10m on building a international media centre in the heart of Mexico City which was later converted into a convention centre.

        At one stage the finals were endangered by the Mexico City earthquake of 1985 which left 5,000 dead. But Havelange, Azcarraga and Canedo were not going to be put off by such distractions. Further trouble erupted at the Opening Match between Italy and Bulgaria when the international TV signals went badly awry.

        Mexican president Miguel de la Madrid demanded a meeting with Azcarraga, Canedo, Havelange and directors of the the European Broadcasting Union. All was resolved. The finals were broadcast to the world – Hand of God and all. Televisa raked in millions of commercial dollars from the rights while leaving the Mexican government with a heavy loss on the new infrastructure.

        But, far more than the 1970 finals, the 1986 finals put Mexico on the football map.

        Not that Kissinger appreciated being outmanoeuvred.

        Later he reputedly observed that “my first real experience of soccer politics sometimes left me feeling nostalgic for the Middle East.”

        Title: The FIFA Scandal!
        Post by: rotatopoti3 on May 07, 2016, 04:42:42 AM
        http://espn.go.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/14655814/fifa-scandal-everything-need-know
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on May 13, 2016, 11:32:16 AM
        The FIFA Council today appointed Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura of Senegal as FIFA Secretary General (SG). Ms Samoura is a 21-year veteran of United Nations programmes who is currently the UN’s Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria. The announcement was made by FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the 66th FIFA Congress in Mexico City.

        “Fatma is a woman with international experience and vision who has worked on some of the most challenging issues of our time,” President Infantino said. “She has a proven ability to build and lead teams, and improve the way organisations perform. Importantly for FIFA, she also understands that transparency and accountability are at the heart of any well-run and responsible organisation.”

        As required under FIFA statutes, Ms Samoura will undergo an eligibility check administered by the independent Review Committee, per Article 37 of the FIFA Statutes. Ms Samoura will assume the role of FIFA Secretary General before mid-June.

        President Infantino praised Ms Samoura’s integrity, and said the Council was particularly impressed with her operational experience, as well as her expertise in governance and working in multi-cultural environments. He said her expertise will complement the long-standing and deep knowledge of world football within the FIFA leadership team and administration.

        “It is essential for FIFA to incorporate fresh perspectives – from outside the traditional pool of football executives – as we continue to restore and rebuild our organisation," President Infantino said. "No one exemplifies what we need more than Fatma does, and we are thrilled that she has joined our team.”

        Since starting her UN career as a senior logistics officer with the World Food Programme in Rome in 1995, Ms Samoura has served as country representative or director in six countries: Republic of Djibouti, Cameroon, Chad, Guinea, Madagascar and Nigeria. She speaks French (her mother tongue), English, Spanish and Italian.

        “Today is a wonderful day for me, and I am honoured to take on the role of FIFA’s Secretary General,” Ms Samoura said. “I believe this role is a perfect fit for my skills and experience – strategic, high impact team building in international settings – which I will use to help grow the game of football all over the world.

        "I also look forward to bringing my experience in governance and compliance to bear on the important reform work that is already underway at FIFA. FIFA is taking a fresh approach to its work – and I am eager to play a role in making that approach as effective and lasting as possible.”

        In her current UN role in Nigeria, Ms Samoura has wide-ranging responsibilities including budgeting, human resources, and procurement, among others. She coordinates the activities of approximately 2,000 staff members, and monitors and evaluates the security, political and socio-economic situation and trends in Africa’s most populous country.

        Prior to joining the UN, Ms Samoura spent eight years in the private sector, working in the fertiliser trading sector for Senchim, a subsidiary of Industries Chimiques du Senegal. Her areas of responsibility included product export and import programmes, tenders, and the establishment of a national distribution network.

        Ms Samoura earned her Masters Degree in English and Spanish at the University of Lyon; and a Post-Masters Degree in international relations/international trade from the Institut d’Etudes Supérieures Spécialisées (IECS)- Strasbourg-France.

        Source: FIFA/CAF.

        Interesting that her eligibility check occurs post-announcenent.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on May 13, 2016, 11:45:05 AM
        Each confederation will now receive $40m USD per 4 year cycle. Increase of 18m USD. And each member association will get $5m per 4 year cycle. Previous figure 1.6m USD.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Deeks on May 13, 2016, 03:38:21 PM
        Each confederation will now receive $40m USD per 4 year cycle. Increase of 18m USD. And each member association will get $5m per 4 year cycle. Previous figure 1.6m USD.

        I wonder how that will be distributed among Concacaf. How would the weaker association benefit from these grants.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on May 13, 2016, 05:35:58 PM
        Each confederation will now receive $40m USD per 4 year cycle. Increase of 18m USD. And each member association will get $5m per 4 year cycle. Previous figure 1.6m USD.

        I wonder how that will be distributed among Concacaf. How would the weaker association benefit from these grants.

        Not following.

        Everyone gets the same amount. Economies of scale, proper stewardship and fiscal prudence.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on May 14, 2016, 08:33:03 AM
        Domenico Scala: Fifa’s independent audit committee president resigns in protest at reforms
        The Guardian


        • Scala angry that new Fifa council has taken away ability to audit independently

        • ‘New rule undermines a central pillar of the good governance of Fifa’

        Domenico Scala, a Swiss businessman who led reforms to clean up scandal-plagued Fifa, has resigned his post at the governing body of world football, saying its independent watchdog committees had lost their independence.

        Scala, head of the audit and compliance committee, said the reform of Fifa, which is attempting to recover from the worst scandal in its history, had been undermined following a resolution by the Fifa Congress on Friday.

        The resolution, passed by 186 votes to one, gave the Fifa Council power to appoint or “dismiss any office holders” of its independent bodies such as the ethics committee and the audit and compliance committee.

        This effectively gives the council, which has replaced the former executive committee and is headed by Fifa’s president, Gianni Infantino, the right to fire ethics judge Hans-Joachim Eckert, ethics investigator Cornel Borbely and Scala himself.
         
        The ethics committee, which was reformed in 2012, has investigated and banned more than a dozen top officials for ethics violations.

        These have included former Fifa president Sepp Blatter and ex-secretary general Jerome Valcke as well as former executive committee members.

        Scala said the new rule “undermines a central pillar of the good governance of Fifa and it destroys a substantial achievement of the reforms“.

        “It will henceforth be possible for the council to impede investigations against single members at any time, by dismissing the responsible committee members or by keeping them acquiescent through the threat of a dismissal,” added Scala.

        “The bodies are factually deprived of their independence and are in danger of becoming auxiliary agents of those whom they should actually supervise.“

        Eckert and Borbely could not immediately be reached for comment.

        Previously, committee members could only be sacked by the congress, which is held annually and where each of Fifa’s 211 member associations hold one vote. Fifa council meetings can be called at short notice.

        During a speech to the congress earlier on Friday, Scala admitted that he had “made enemies“.

        The vote, on an apparently simple administrative issue, was taken late in Friday’s meeting, the first since Gianni Infantino was elected as president in February.

        Fifa passed a raft of reforms aimed at avoiding a repeat of the corruption scandal that has seen 42 football officials and entities indicted in the United States.

        “We are following a democratic process,” Infantino told reporters after the vote on Friday.

        “If we don’t act we are criticised and if we do act we are criticised, but we should also be criticised if we act in the wrong way. Do we wait one year for congress to dismiss committee members who should be changed?

        “We need to be flexible to accomplish all the changes.”
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Sando prince on May 21, 2016, 12:09:07 AM

        More trouble for FIFA

        http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/editorial/More-trouble-for-FIFA_61592

        Just a week ago, this newspaper found reason in this space to congratulate Canadian Soccer Association President Mr Victor Montagliani on his election to the presidency of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF).

        Mr Montagliani, who has pledged to lead in “a principled and professional way”, was elected against the backdrop of unprecedented charges of corruption and graft within CONCACAF and in the global governing body for football, FIFA.

        Hardly had the ink dried on this newspaper’s congratulatory commentary, came news of more upheaval within FIFA with the resignation of that body’s audit and compliance chairman, Mr Domenico Scala, because of an alleged “power grab” by FIFA President Mr Gianni Infantino. The latter replaced the disgraced Mr Sepp Blatter in February.

        Readers will recall that, for more than a year now, some leading CONCACAF, Caribbean Football Union, and FIFA officials have been under criminal investigation for alleged corruption. Among them is Mr Jeffrey Webb, a former vice-president of FIFA and head of CONCACAF. Mr Webb is now awaiting trial in the United States. And, another former head of CONCACAF and the Caribbean Football Union, as well as former FIFA vice-president, Trinidadian Mr Austin ‘Jack’ Warner, is fighting extradition to the United States.

        Also, while no criminal charges have been brought against them, former FIFA President Mr Sepp Blatter and French football legend Mr Michel Platini — the latter until recently headed European football’s governing body UEFA and was once favoured to replace Mr Blatter as head of FIFA — have been banned from football administration for a perceived highly irregular financial arrangement.

        Incredibly, Messrs Blatter and Platini have said that a 2011 payment, equivalent to £1.35 million made to the latter on the authorisation of the former was done purely on the basis of a verbal contract.

        In the latest turmoil, Mr Scala resigned after claiming that a vote by member federations at FIFA’s recent annual congress in Mexico City to give Mr Infantino’s ruling council power to dismiss members of the ethics committee, which investigates alleged corruption, would undermine recent reforms and good governance.

        There are allegations that the move was the result of a clash between Mr Infantino and Mr Scala over the size of the former’s salary.

        Mr Infantino has denied wrongdoing, insisting that the “emergency measure” which gave him additional powers, was only “short term” and became necessary in order to speed up FIFA reforms ahead of the next congress in a year’s time.

        Mr Infantino has also reiterated an election pledge to make his salary public knowledge once it is agreed on.

        Not surprisingly, given that global football is a growth industry, worth many billions of US dollars, the rest of the world — not least the game’s sponsorship and business partners — are looking on anxiously.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on May 25, 2016, 10:24:59 AM
        Fifa fires acting deputy secretary general Markus Kattner over bonus payments
        By Owen Gibson, The Guardian.


        Fifa’s deputy secretary general has been fired with immediate effect after the discovery of a secret bonus scheme that paid out millions of dollars over a period of years.

        World football’s embattled governing body said Markus Kattner, who had been acting secretary general since his predecessor Jérôme Valcke was suspended and then banned from football for 12 years, had been dismissed immediately.

        In a statement it said that an ongoing internal investigation had “uncovered breaches of fiduciary responsibilities in connection with his employment”.

        Sources close to the investigation said undeclared bonus payments running to millions of dollars had been paid between 2008 and 2014 under an arrangement known only to a small number of people.

        According to insiders, the former Fifa president Sepp Blatter and Valcke were aware of the payments.

        Sources said the payments came to light at the end of last week during an internal probe by the US law firm Quinn Emmanuel as a result of an ongoing trawl of millions of documents.

        Kattner is just the latest senior Fifa executive to be fired, banned or suspended following the discovery of alleged wrongdoing.

        Allegations against another member of the executive also run counter to the argument propagated by some in Zurich that it was only Fifa executive committee members who had gone rogue over the decades. But insiders insisted that knowledge of Kattner’s special arrangement was known to only a few individuals.

        Fifa’s ethics committee is likely now to open an investigation against the German official, 45, with charges of conflict of interest and disloyalty to Fifa among potential outcomes.

        Kattner joined Fifa as finance director in 2003 and took the deputy secretary general title in 2007, the year Blatter hired Valcke for the top administrative job of the world governing body. Kattner was promoted in an interim role when Valcke was suspended last September for financial wrongdoing and then fired in January.

        Fifa hopes that by turning over potentially incriminating evidence to the continuing US and Swiss criminal probes it can maintain its formal position as an injured party in the twin investigations.

        It was confirmed this month that Kattner was aware of the £1.35m payment made from Blatter to the former Uefa president Michel Platini in 2011 that led to both being banned from football for four years.

        Gianni Infantino, the new Fifa president, is likely to try to position Kattner’s dismissal as proof that he is determined to be tough on any historical wrongdoing that comes to light as he attempts to drive through reforms. This month he appointed Fifa’s first female secretary general, the Senegalese United Nations official Fatma Samoura.

        However, Infantino has also been drawn into a row over his reform efforts after Domenico Scala, head of the audit and compliance committee, quit over new rules that allow the new Fifa Council to remove members of independent bodies.

        Behind the scenes, there was a furious clash between the two men. Scala had the power to approve Infantino’s salary, which the new Fifa president was yet to be fixed.

        Since Blatter and Valcke were suspended amid Fifa’s meltdown, Kattner had regularly appeared before the media in his position as acting secretary general to outline planned reforms designed to begin the process of repairing its battered reputation. At the extraordinary Congress in February at which Infantino was elected president, Kattner told delegates: “The goal is to be considered a modern trusted and professional sports organisation by 2018.”
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on June 01, 2016, 03:01:47 AM
        The Indonesian FA president has been arrested on corruption charges said to be unrelated to football. However, the arrest may have an impact on the state of affairs in the local game ... following a return to normalcy, after a period of FIFA sanction due to government interference.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on June 03, 2016, 08:13:54 AM
        Blatter, Valcke and Kattner awarded themselves £55m, say Fifa lawyers
        By Luke Harding et al, The Guardian.


        Three high-ranking former Fifa officials – Sepp Blatter, Jerome Valcke and Markus Kattner – awarded themselves pay rises and World Cup bonuses totalling $80m (£55m) over their last five years in office, lawyers for Fifa have said.

        The lawyers said the contracted payments appear to break Swiss law, and evidence will be given to American and Swiss federal prosecutors who are investigating corruption implicating the world soccer body.

        “The evidence appears to reveal a coordinated effort by three former top officials of Fifa to enrich themselves through annual salary increases, World Cup bonuses and other incentives totalling more than 79m Swiss francs in just the last five years,” said Bill Burck of Quinn Emanuel, the US law firm retained by Fifa during its corruption crisis.

        Fifa revealed details of the contracts of its former president Blatter, former secretary general Valcke and former finance director Kattner one day after police raided Fifa to seize evidence for the Swiss investigation.

        The raid included searches in the office of Kattner, who was fired last week.

        Swiss attorney general Michael Lauber opened criminal proceedings against Blatter last September, and against Valcke in March.

        Both are suspected of criminal mismanagement of Fifa money. Blatter and Valcke deny wrongdoing but were banned for six and 12 years, respectively, by Fifa’s ethics committee.

        No additional criminal proceedings have been opened against Kattner.

        “Additionally, Fifa will refer the matter of these contracts and payments to the Ethics Committee for its review,” Fifa said in a statement.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on July 08, 2016, 10:50:37 AM
        Ticket prices for FIFA Confederations Cup and FIFA World Cup announced
        FIFA.com


        The ticket prices for the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup™ were announced in Moscow today following a Local Organising Committee (LOC) board meeting with FIFA participation. As for the South Africa and Brazil FIFA World Cups held in 2010 and 2014, a special category has been reserved for residents of the host country, who will be able to apply for FIFA Confederations Cup Russia group-match tickets starting at RUB 960. At least 100,000 tickets will be available in this specific category 4 for the “Tournament of Champions”, taking place from 17 June to 2 July 2017. The remaining ticket categories are priced from USD 70 to 245.

        For the 2018 FIFA World Cup, domestic residents will have access to at least 350,000 tickets in category 4, with prices starting from RUB 1,280. Tickets available to all football fans in the remaining categories will be on sale from 105 USD upwards.

        “We wanted to make sure that we priced tickets fairly to make the events accessible to as many people as possible. We therefore conducted thorough market research and have priced the tickets accordingly. The teams that have qualified to date for the ‘Tournament of Champions’ promise a great football festival here in Russia next year,” said FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura, who was in Moscow for her first working visit to the hosts.

        Ticket sales for fans wishing to attend the FIFA Confederations Cup will begin with a VISA exclusive pre-sales phase running from 8 to 17 November 2016. The first sales phase will then start on 1 December, five days after the Official Draw in Kazan.

        Russia, Germany, Australia, Chile, Mexico and New Zealand have already qualified, while the winners of UEFA EURO 2016 – or the runners-up should world champions Germany win – are also guaranteed a spot. The eighth and final participant will be decided in January at the conclusion of the 2017 CAF Africa Cup of Nations, when the full Russia 2017 match schedule will be known.

        For the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017, fans will be able to apply not only for individual match tickets, but also for ticket series for a specific host city. As well as those two options, fans wishing to follow their country at the 2018 FIFA World Cup will also be able to apply for team-specific ticket series.

        Fans will shortly find all relevant information, including the ticket price list and a FAQ document, on FIFA.com/tickets. To ensure that they do not miss out on anything, fans will also soon be able to sign up for ticketing information in the form of a newsletter.

        Ticket sales for the FIFA World Cup will only begin after next year’s FIFA Confederations Cup. For both tournaments, tickets will be available for purchase by the general public exclusively on FIFA.com
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on July 08, 2016, 10:54:54 AM
        FIFA restructures its administration to build a stronger and more sustainable organisation
        FIFA.com


        To create a more efficient, streamlined and purposeful operation that reflects the global reach, diversity and unifying nature of FIFA, world football’s governing body is currently undergoing a comprehensive restructuring of its administration. The new operating structure is aimed at creating an organisation that is better equipped to enact comprehensive reform, to exploit the vast opportunities to develop football and to better serve key stakeholders.

        “This is a significant step forward for FIFA as we build a better organisation, rebuild our reputation and prepare ourselves for the future. The changes will create a more efficient and sustainable FIFA, one more capable of implementing reform,” explained FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura.

        Fundamental to the organisational path forward is the splitting of FIFA’s operating structure into two distinct but synergistic parts. On the one hand, the “Football” branch, led by Deputy Secretary General and former international player Zvonimir Boban, will be dedicated to competitions and events, member associations, technical development and women’s football. On the other hand, the “Administration” branch, headed by Deputy Secretary General Marco Villiger, will include revenue generation, commercial activities, financial matters, legal and integrity matters, as well as administrative support.

        Key elements of the changes within the administrative team structure include:

        •   An improved Member Associations Division to better service the members and ensure that the FIFA Forward development programme is implemented in the most efficient and appropriate manner.

        •   A new and fully developed Women’s Football Division, with units for competitions, development, and governance and leadership.

        •   The creation of a Technical Development Division to better coordinate grassroots, coaching education and refereeing efforts as well as innovative development related to football; this will also include the new position of Technical Director

        •   A more robust structure to supervise the overall functioning of the Secretary General’s Office, led by the Head of Executive Office, which will provide strategic and advisory input on corporate planning, policy formulation, innovation, and change management.

        In accordance with the revised FIFA Statutes, in force since 27 April 2016, a new Chief Compliance Officer will ensure that FIFA’s business is run to the highest standards of governance, integrity and transparency.

        The restructuring – as for any organisation going through such a process – will lead to adjustments in staffing. New roles are being created and a few positions will become redundant as they no longer fit within the revised structure. The process is envisaged to be completed by September.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on July 18, 2016, 01:52:38 AM
        FIFA kick-starts overhauled development programme
        FIFA.com


        The FIFA Development Committee, chaired by FIFA vice-president and AFC President Shaikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, met in Zurich today (Wednesday, July 13) and started putting in motion Forward, FIFA’s overhauled development programme approved by the FIFA Congress in May 2016. Today’s meeting took place in the presence of the chairman of FIFA’s Audit and Compliance Committee, Tomaž Vesel.

        Member Associations and confederations can now apply for development funds under the Forward programme, which aims to provide 360-degree, tailor-made support for developing football, based on the following pillars:

        · More investment: FIFA will significantly increase financial support for football development, from USD 1.6 million to USD 5 million per four-year cycle for each member association. The confederations will now receive USD 40 million per four-year cycle, up from USD 22 million

        · More impact: FIFA will bring together all of its football support projects into one tailor-made contract of agreed objectives to be signed by member associations and confederations

        · More oversight: FIFA will introduce enhanced oversight controls to ensure that this increase in football development spending is transparent, including the publication of member associations’ and confederations’ annual financial statements on FIFA.com and annual accounts audited by an independent auditor as presented in the Forward Regulations

        “FIFA Forward’s aim is to best fulfil FIFA’s mission of developing the game around the world. This is not simply about providing more funds to member associations and confederations, but about providing concrete assistance to the football community via the transparent use of funds, and changing the culture towards a greater impact of FIFA’s development activities that can systematically be measured,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

        “Today’s Development Committee meeting marks a very important day as through Forward, we are making a qualitative step to improve the impact of FIFA’s development projects and better serve the member associations and confederations. The proper structure is being put in place to meet the challenges and ensure the successful implementation of the Forward programme,” stated Shaikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa.

        “One of the key priorities of our administration will be to ensure the proper implementation and oversight of the development projects, with enhanced accountability, regular monitoring and reporting. The success of Forward will ultimately not only depend on FIFA but on the work of all our member associations,” commented FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura.

        The Development Committee confirmed that member associations and confederations will have until 1 June 2017 to wrap up their contracts of agreed objectives with key performance indicators. Until that date, the committee will consider projects for approval on a case-by-case basis.

        Today’s meeting was the last of the Development Committee in its current composition. Following the reforms passed by the FIFA Congress in February 2016, the Development Committee will be overhauled and half of its members will be independent. The first meeting of the committee in its new structure is scheduled for October 2016.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on August 19, 2016, 07:11:18 PM
        Fabrice Jouhaud appointed FIFA Chief Communications Officer
        FIFA


        FIFA is pleased to announce that Fabrice Jouhaud has been appointed as the new FIFA Chief Communication Officer following a thorough recruitment process and will take up his position as of 15 August 2016. In his role he will be part of FIFA’s management board.

        Mr Jouhaud, from France, will draw on his experience as both a sports journalist and a print and television sports media manager. Prior to joining FIFA, he held the position of Chief Executive Officer at L’Équipe 21, a privately held sports TV channel.

        Mr Jouhaud holds an Executive Master’s degree in European Sports Governance from Sciences Po in Paris, France and a Master’s degree in Journalism from the Centre de Formation des Journalistes (CFJ), also in Paris.

        Mr Jouhaud will head up the Communications Division and will report directly to the Secretary General.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on September 08, 2016, 08:43:03 PM
        Interviews begin for 2017 and 2018 volunteers
        Russia 2018 Local Organizing Committee


        “Today I've taken one step closer to fulfilling my dream,” 17-year old Roman Dvoinikov revealed. As soon as Roman learned that Russia would host the 2018 FIFA World Cup™, he started planning how he could be a part of it. For this very reason he applied to volunteer at the event. Yesterday, he was one of the first 500 candidates to be interviewed at FIFA World Cup Volunteer Centres across Russia.

        "I'm a bit stirred up but nevertheless happy. In fact, I began to plan everything from the start. One of the most important steps was getting into university: I figured this had to be one of the competition's host cities and I chose Kazan. I think I can be proud of this, as it shows my motivation is extremely high,” said Roman.

        Such interviews with prospective volunteers for the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017 and 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ began on 7 September at all 15 Volunteer Centres set up at Russian higher-education establishments in all of the tournament’s Host Cities.

        The interviewers are aiming to establish the candidates’ key attributes, such as their ability to cope under pressure, their sense of responsibility and communication skills. The potential volunteers will also be asked to explain why they want to offer their services at the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017 and FIFA World Cup 2018, as well as answering a few general questions on their previous volunteering or work experience. Some questions will be asked in English language, in order to confirm the candidate's knowledge of the language matches that demonstrated during the online test.

        The interviewees who scored the highest marks will have every chance of joining the team of volunteers for the Confederations Cup and World Cup. Candidates who reside outside Russia will be interviewed via Skype. The list of successful applicants chosen to help organise and host the Confederations Cup will be finalised in the first quarter of 2017. Specialist training then begins in March before the first volunteers get down to work on 10 May.

        "Starting the interview process with prospective volunteers is a very important part of the Russia 2018 volunteer programme,” said Aleksandr Antimonov, Director of the World Cup Volunteer Centre in Ekaterinburg. “Our team set the target of not only organising a high standard of interview, but also of creating a sense of hospitality and a totally comfortable, friendly atmosphere for the candidates in the Volunteer Centre. There's a lot of work still ahead, but I'm sure that all together, LOC and Volunteer Centres, we will train up a fantastic team of volunteers for the World Cup."

        The mass recruitment campaign for Russia 2018 volunteers was launched on 1 June 2016, when the website FIFA.com/volunteers began accepting applications. According to information on 5 September, the Russia 2018 Local Organising Committee (LOC) has received more than 100,000 applications from potential candidates. The volunteer-selection process will continue until the end of 2016.

        Anybody who is interested can send in an application: the only requirement is that the candidate must be 18 or over on 10 May 2017 to volunteer for the Confederations Cup, while for the World Cup the cut-off date is 10 May 2018. Applications will close by the end of the year.

        The recruitment and selection of volunteers takes place at the 15 Volunteer Centres set up at Russian higher-education establishments in every tournament Host City. The centres, themselves selected on the basis of a competition, are already preparing for their role in the Confederations Cup next summer.

        In total, close to 5,500 volunteers will be involved in events surrounding the ‘Festival of Champions’ next year, compared to over 15,000 at the FIFA World Cup in 2018.


        Russia 2018 volunteer programme hits 100,000 applications
        Russia 2018 Local Organizing Committee


        Applications from individuals wishing to become volunteers at the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ have reached more than 100,000 over the first three months of the campaign. The applications are open until December 2016 by visiting FIFA.com/volunteers and candidates can also apply via Russia 2018 volunteer centers in all 11 FIFA World Cup Host Cities. The campaign was launched on 1 June by Russian President Vladimir Putin and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

        “While I have strength, desire and good health, I want to join the other volunteers at the turnstiles, assist at the places where the teams will eat and stay, and keep order at the stadiums”, says 59-year-old Galina Kukushkina, from Volgograd, who sent in the 100,000th application to be a volunteer at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia. “If needs be, I can meet visitors from all over the world at stations and airports, conduct tours around my home city and help our guests with transport and accommodation questions. I can also direct people in big crowds, regulate traffic at car parks and provide first aid.”

        “One hundred thousand applications from prospective volunteers is an amazing figure that shows how much people want to get involved in the hosting of the Confederations Cup and World Cup in Russia,” added Alexey Sorokin, CEO of the Russia 2018 Local Organising Committee. “We are confident that our volunteers will be active, responsible and always ready to help. Put simply, they will become a team in their own right.”

        In Russia the most applications were received by the volunteer centres in Moscow (26,249 applications) and Saint Petersburg (12,317). Also in the top five were Sochi (5,813), Rostov-on-Don (4,721) and Ekaterinburg (4,014).

        58 per cent of the candidates are currently women, while 78 per cent came from candidates in the 16 to 25 age range. Furthermore, 19 per cent of the applicants are aged between 26 and 40, while one per cent came from those aged between 41 and 60, and two per cent aged 60 and older.

        So far, the most popular positions applied for are in team services (15,576 applications), ceremonies operations (8,380 applications) and language services (6,338 applications). There will be around 5,500 volunteers involved in the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017 and 15,000 in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on September 15, 2016, 10:13:41 AM
        Guatemala is to be suspended from competition due to political interference. Just as well we are the ones moving on to the Hex.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Mose on September 15, 2016, 10:39:39 AM
        Guatemala is to be suspended from competition due to political interference. Just as well we are the ones moving on to the Hex.
        ??? Details?
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on September 15, 2016, 12:14:19 PM
        Guatemala is to be suspended from competition due to political interference. Just as well we are the ones moving on to the Hex.
        ??? Details?

        An entity in Guatemala, known as the "Tribunal de Honor de la Confederación Deportiva Autónoma de Guatemala" suspended for six months the FIFA-approved Normalization Committee that has been running Guatemalan football. The decision was influenced by the entity's dissatisfaction with a doping decision/procedure involving four players from Antigua FC (Mekeil Williams' former club).

        Now, the status quo is a wink-wink process that bears the underlying idea of forcing the hand of those who have interfered (The U17 and U20 NTs involvement in their efforts to qualify for their respective age group WCs and  likely Antigua FC and Suchitepéquez, who are involved in the CONCACAF Champions League, stand to be affected). Not to mention Guate is currently at the futsal WC in Colombia and this ain't a good look.

        Financial assistance of about 20 million quetzales or 2.7m USD also hangs in the balance from what I gather.

        Montagliani was in Guate a few days ago. There is no doubt Adela de Torrebiarte (at the helm of the Normalization Committee) mentioned the issue to him. However, I am not sure whether Primo Corvaro's visit to Guatemala was a regularly scheduled visit stemming from the normalization process, or whether it is precipitated by the issue spurring the imminent suspension and follow-up with Montagliani.

        (Posters will recall Corvaro was in T&T less than a year ago adddressing constitutional reform at the TTFA). He is also the person who was dispatched to Argentina not long ago in the midst of the nonsense there.

        "Wink-wink process" because despite these actions not being novel across the globe, local actors "don't get it" until the FIFA guy winks at the local federation guy and says "this is what we are going to do. They will "get it" once they receive our letter stating the consequences of interference."

        The attorneys' (for the Normalization Committee) have said that the NC's issue was with improperly applied protocols/procedure, not with a substantive appeal made on behalf of the four players.

        Anyone willing to guess that an Antigua FC fan or two hold influential positions.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Mose on September 16, 2016, 08:44:18 AM
        Thanks 'seeker! :beermug:
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Adam Lake on October 03, 2016, 02:26:36 PM
        FIFA president wants 48-team World Cup with 16 teams eliminated after one game

        By Caitlin Murray
        Oct 3, 2016 at 3:34p ET

        http://www.foxsports.com/soccer/story/fifa-president-wants-48-team-world-cup-with-16-teams-eliminated-after-one-game-100316

        FIFA president Gianni Infantino campaigned for his job on the idea of expanding the World Cup to 40 teams, but now he wants to expand it even further.

        Infantino proposed expanding the World Cup to 48 teams on Monday, according to reports. In his plan, 16 teams would go home after just one knockout match and then the tournament would continue with a 32-team group stage, which is how it works currently.

        Under his plan, there would be a play-in round of sorts, where 32 teams would have to duke it out in single-elimination match-ups at the World Cup to be granted entry into the group stage. Another 16 teams would be seeded into the group stage and bypass that play-in round.

        The decision on expanding the World Cup field will ultimately be up to FIFA Council, who will look at the proposal in January.

        "These are ideas to find the best solution, we will debate them this month and we will decide everything by 2017," Infantino reportedly said. "They are ideas which we put forward to see which one is the best."

        The idea would certainly give more teams a chance to go to a World Cup, but it remains to be seen how much support there will be for having 16 teams exit the tournament after just a single game. Another option, if FIFA wanted to consider it, could simply be to have a larger group stage with 12 groups of four teams, rather than the current eight groups of four teams. Or alternatively, each of the current eight groups could be expanded to six teams.

        The World Cup used to have 24 teams before it was expanded to 32 teams in 1998. That has been the format ever since.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Flex on October 04, 2016, 04:05:06 AM
        Infantino suggests 48-team World Cup.
        T&T Express.


        FIFA president Gianni Infantino, whose election promises included expanding the World Cup to 40 teams, proposed an even larger tournament with 48 teams yesterday.

        However, he suggested that 16 of those teams would go home after just one knockout match, and the remainder of the tournament would be played, as now, with a 32-team group stage, followed by a knockout phase.

        Infantino, speaking during an event at Bogota's Sergio Arboleda university, said a final decision would be taken by the FIFA Council in January, Colombian media reported. A FIFA spokesman confirmed that the reports were accurate.

        “These are ideas to find the best solution, we will debate them this month and we will decide everything by 2017,” Infantino was quoted as saying. “They are ideas which we put forward to see which one is the best.”

        Infantino said his suggestion was to have a preliminary knockout round involving 32 teams played in the host country, with the 16 winners reaching the group stage. A further 16 seeded teams would get a bye into the group stage, he said.

        Infantino was elected FIFA chief on February 26 to replace Sepp Blatter, who received a six-year ban for ethics violations.

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on October 21, 2016, 03:03:46 AM
        Aaron Davidson, the former president of the Fort Lauderdale Strikers was scheduled to plead guilty yesterday. Relevant article from the Miami Herald below.

        Soccer power broker to plead guity in FIFA bribery case. (http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/mls/article109179042.html)
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on December 05, 2016, 05:08:17 AM
        Caribbean official appeals at CAS in FIFA election case
        Associated Press


        Caribbean football leader Gordon Derrick has testified at the Court of Arbitration for Sport to challenge being barred from an election to become a FIFA vice president.

        CAS says a verdict in Derrick’s appeal against FIFA is expected early next year.

        Derrick, the Caribbean Football Union president from Antigua, failed an eligibility test in April to be a candidate for the presidency of CONCACAF, the governing body of North and Central America and the Caribbean.

        CONCACAF’s president also has FIFA vice president status and joins FIFA’s strategy-setting council.

        The FIFA audit and compliance committee did not publicly specify why Derrick was barred from the vote.

        Derrick was reprimanded by the FIFA ethics committee in 2011 in a wide-ranging investigation of alleged Caribbean bribery in that year’s FIFA presidential election.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on December 06, 2016, 06:00:06 AM
        Sepp Blatter loses his appeal against six-year ban from football
        The Guardian


        Sepp Blatter has lost his appeal at the court of arbitration for sport against a six-year ban from football.

        Blatter said in a statement on Monday it is “difficult” to accept but that “the way the case progressed, no other verdict could be expected”.

        The former Fifa president, who was banned for approving a £1.35m payment to Michel Platini in 2011, said he will accept the decision.

        “I have experienced much in my 41 years in Fifa. I mostly learned that you can win in sport, but you can also lose,” Blatter said. “Nevertheless I look back with gratitude to all the years, in which I was able to realise my ideals for football and serve Fifa.”

        The verdict ends Blatter’s hopes of becoming honorary president of football’s governing body which he left in disgrace. Blatter could have appealed against the Cas ruling to Switzerland’s supreme court. It can annul verdicts if legal process was abused.

        Still, his legal problems are far from over. Blatter, 80, now faces a separate Fifa ethics investigation into suspected bribery linked to multimillion-dollar bonuses in top executives’ contracts. Swiss prosecutors also opened criminal proceedings against Blatter for the Platini payment, and a sale of World Cup television rights. Blatter denies any wrongdoing.

        Blatter said on Monday that it was “incomprehensible” that his claim of having a verbal agreement in 1998 was not accepted “in spite of my testimony to the contrary and the testimony given by other witnesses”.

        The court of arbitration for sport was judging whether Blatter was guilty of unethically offering a cash gift and conflict of interest with Platini, who was a Fifa vice-president in 2011.

        Blatter and Platini both said the £1.35m was uncontracted salary based on a verbal agreement more than a decade earlier. From 1999 to 2002, the former France player was the newly elected Blatter’s presidential adviser.

        However, their explanation of a salary deal was doubted by Fifa’s ethics judges, and by the three-member Cas panel on Monday. “The payment amounted to an undue gift as it had no contractual basis,” Cas said in a statement.

        The Fifa ethics committee investigated after the payment emerged in September 2015 during a wider Swiss federal probe of alleged corruption linked to Fifa.

        Blatter and Platini – whose Fifa presidential bid was stalled, then ended, by the case – were banned from football duty for eight years in December last year. The Fifa appeal committee cut two years from both men’s bans as “appropriate recognition” for their long service.

        After a separate Cas appeal hearing, Platini’s ban was reduced in May to four years, ensuring he lost the Uefa presidency. When Blatter’s case came to the Cas in August, Platini testified on his behalf during a 14-hour hearing.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Deeks on December 08, 2016, 05:09:24 PM
        World Cup finals format: Three-team groups & 48 finalists in Gianni Infantino plan

        http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/38243334

        It appears we will be able to qualify in the near future, if Infantino plan is approved.

        Future World Cup finals will feature 16 groups of three countries in a 48-team tournament, if Fifa president Gianni Infantino gets his wish.

        Infantino, who became head of Fifa in February, previously spoke of expanding the World Cup from 32 teams to 40.

        Under his favoured 16-group structure the top two teams would progress to the last 32 and ongoing knockout matches.




        A decision will be made in January but any change would not be likely to take effect before the 2026 World Cup.

        Fifa's council will discuss the proposal at a meeting on 9 January but Infantino, 46, made expansion part of his election manifesto because he wants to allow more countries the chance to compete at football's flagship event.

        If world football's governing body does not adopt the 16-group format, other options that will be considered include:
        ◾Another version of the 48-team event which would see a 32 team one-game knockout round with the winners joining 16 teams who have qualified by right
        ◾Keeping the tournament at its present size of 32 teams
        ◾Expanding it to 40 teams (10 groups of four or eight groups of five).

        The number of teams competing at a World Cup last increased in 1998 when the tournament expanded from 24 to 32 countries.

        Uefa's Euro 2016 tournament featured 24 nations, an increase from the 16-team format in place since 1996.



        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Deeks on December 28, 2016, 04:37:48 PM
        Future WC expansion. From BBC: http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/38449674



        Global football federations are "overwhelmingly in favour" of plans for a 48-team World Cup, Fifa president Gianni Infantino says.

        The head of football's governing body outlined his vision for an expanded tournament comprising 16 groups of three teams earlier this month.

        The top two teams in each group would progress to the knockout rounds.




        A decision will be made in January but any change to the 32-team format is unlikely to come in before 2026.

        Fifa's council will discuss the proposal at a meeting on 9 January but Infantino, 46, made expansion part of his election manifesto.

        "We have to be more inclusive," he said at a sports conference in Dubai, adding that a 48-team tournament was the most financially appealing.

        "If we can have a format that does not add any additional matches but brings so much joy to those who don't have the chance to participate then we will have to think about that," Infantino said.

        "When discussed with the associations in the summits they were overwhelmingly in favour, but more discussions will have to take place."

        The number of competing teams at World Cups last changed in 1998, increasing from 24 to 32.

        The European Club Association, which represents the region's leading clubs, has rejected calls for the World Cup to be expanded.

        Infantino also said experiments around video technology in refereeing at the recent Club World Cup had been "very positive" and that he hoped the system would be used at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.


        The system was first used to award a penalty in Kashima Antlers' semi-final win over Atletico Nacional, with the referee alerted by an assistant watching a monitor.

        But there was confusion in the other semi-final between Real Madrid and Club America when the technology was used again.

        After the referee asked for a consultation following a Cristiano Ronaldo goal, play briefly restarted from a free-kick for an infringement before the goal was eventually allowed to stand.

        Infantino said tests in Japan had moved the system in "the right direction" but added "there is still a bit of fine-tuning to be made".

        Analysis

        Richard Conway, BBC Radio 5 live sports news correspondent

        Gianni Infantino may well have "overwhelming" support for Fifa's 48-country World Cup plan - but it is not universal.

        The European Clubs Association - which represents the biggest teams on the continent - is opposed. European teams provide 80% of the players to a World Cup so they are a significant stakeholder and will place pressure on Uefa.

        Uefa is still to make its position clear but other confederations are likely to welcome an expanded tournament.

        European nations take up a big proportion of the current 32 slots at the World Cup.

        Given there's no chance of any redistribution taking place, Fifa see an expanded World Cup as a way to appease many of its 211 members who miss out on the party. It also fulfils one of Infantino's key presidential manifesto pledges.

        Uefa may in the end go along with the 48-country plan given the likely support from the rest of the world. But it will likely want more of its countries to qualify too. Let the horse-trading begin.

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Deeks on December 28, 2016, 04:39:48 PM
         Things looking good for we in the future.  :) ;) ;D  :D
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Controversial on December 29, 2016, 12:51:50 AM
        Things looking good for we in the future.  :) ;) ;D  :D

        The cfu should have 1 and a half spots by itself or 2 because we hold so many votes... it will improve our football and expose us to greater competition ... however I don't see that happening because they are a bunch of sell outs in all the Feds
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on January 10, 2017, 05:43:36 AM
        FIFA proposes merger of CONCACAF and CONMEBOL qualifying tournaments
        Stabroek News


        FIFA has proposed merging the CONCACAF and South American qualifiers as part of its plans to expand the 2026 World Cup, a leading official from the region said in a newspaper interview.

        Venezuelan Football Federation president Laureano Gonzalez said the idea for the merger had come from FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

        Gonzalez, who is also a vice-president of CONMEBOL, the governing body for South America, said it would want at least 14 places at the finals for the two regions combined before accepting the proposal.

        CONCACAF represents North and Central America as well as the Caribbean.

        The FIFA Council is due to vote tomorrow whether to increase the number of teams at the finals from the current 32 to either 40 or 48 from 2026. FIFA will decide at a later date which regions will be awarded the additional slots.

        CONMEBOL currently has four-and-a-half places at the World Cup for its 10 members while CONCACAF, which has 35 FIFA members in its ranks, has three-and-a-half places.

        “There is a suggestion from Gianni Infantino to unify the CONMEBOL and CONCACAF qualifiers,” Gonzalez told the Venezuelan sports daily Meridiano.

        “This would have support if they gave us more places. At the moment, we have seven between the two confederations, plus two half places,” he said.

        “If this went up to 14, similar to what Europe has for more or less the same number of teams, the idea would catch  on the continent.”

        FIFA could not immediately be reached for comment.
        Europe currently has 13 places for 55 teams, plus one for 2018 World Cup hosts Russia.

        CONCACAF is also a leading contender to host the 2026 World Cup, possibly with a joint bid involving at least two out of the United States, Canada and Mexico.

        Gonzalez also said there was “a spirit” in the region in favour of holding a repeat of last year’s Copa Centenario in 2020, but with 24 teams instead of 16.

        The Copa Centenario, which celebrated the Copa America’s 100th anniversary, was a special tournament in addition to the regular Copa America.

        The Copa America is played every four years in the year following the World Cup and traditionally features 10 teams from CONMEBOL and two from CONCACAF. The Centenario, however, took place in the United States and featured six teams from CONCACAF plus the 10 from South America.

        CONCACAF also has its own biennial tournament, the Gold Cup, staged in odd-numbered years.

        Gonzalez said officials were in favour of another extra tournament in 2020, with a similar makeup to the Centenario but under a different name and with the format increased to 24 teams. "Obviously it wouldn’t be called Centenario,” said Gonzalez. “Our Copa America would continue to be played as usual.”

        Such a tournament may face opposition from European clubs, where many of the region’s top players are based.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on January 10, 2017, 06:00:17 AM
        https://youtube.com/v/4lRTLRCuGkE

        Best Goal Winner, 2016.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: g on January 10, 2017, 06:31:22 AM
        Combining CONCACAF and CONMEBOL into one qualifying tournament will be a logistical nightmare.

        Imagine Trinidad in a qualifying group and having two away qualifying matches against Chile and Canada in less than a week.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on January 10, 2017, 06:32:17 AM
        Interesting tidbit:

        According to  2016 FIFA Awards documentation, Bruce Arena voted for the USA and Stephen Hart is listed as having voted for T&T.

        However, curiously, no Captain vote was issued by Trinidad and Tobago. Also, no Media vote.

        The Coach vote attributed to T&T:

        1. Cristiano Ronaldo
        2. Lionel Messi
        3. Alexis Sanchez

        1. Claudio Ranieri
        2. Fernando Santos
        3. Zinedine Zidane

        Bruce Arena named as coach of US on ~ November 22. Announcement of Hart parting ways with the TTFA came ~ November 24.

        Bruce wasted no time in voting? Or ...?

        Votes cast by Maylee Attin-Johnson:

        1. Jill Ellis
        2. Pia Sundhage
        3. Phillipe Bergeroo

        Media votes cast by Kwame Laurence:

        1. Silvia Neid
        2. Pauw Vera
        3. Pia Sundhage

        No Coach vote submitted from T&T for Coach of the Year Award.

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on January 10, 2017, 10:29:39 AM
        Unanimous decision expands FIFA World Cup to 48 teams from 2026
        FIFA


        The FIFA Council has unanimously decided in favour of expanding the FIFA World Cup™ to a 48-team competition as of the 2026 edition. World football’s supervisory and strategic body held its third meeting at the Home of FIFA in Zurich on 9 and 10 January, and decided on a new tournament format with the 48 national teams split into 16 groups of three. The top two teams from each group will then advance to a 32-team knockout stage.

        The new 48-team competition format has been drawn up in such a way that there is no reduction in the overall number of rest days and a guaranteed maximum of seven matches for the teams reaching the final, while the current 32-day tournament duration is kept, so as not to increase the length of time for which clubs have to release their players.

        The decision was taken following a thorough analysis, based on a report that included four different format options. The study took into account such factors as sporting balance, competition quality, impact on football development, infrastructure, projections on financial position and the consequences for event delivery. Over the course of its next meetings, the FIFA Council is set to discuss further details regarding the competition, including the slot allocation per confederation.

        At its most recent meeting in October 2016, the FIFA Council had already discussed the scenarios to expand the competition format of the FIFA World Cup. By then, it had also defined a set of principles for countries to bid for the right to host the 2026 edition – a process that is currently scheduled to culminate in May 2020.

        The first day of the FIFA Council meeting saw the members split into five working groups dedicated to specific themes: women’s football, technical development, competitions, commercial matters and legal and corporate structures.

        On 10 January, as well as deciding on the expanded format, the Council agreed on a set of key dates related to the 2018 FIFA World Cup™ :

        ·        14 May 2018: Deadline for participating member associations to release a list of 30 players;

        ·        20 May 2018: Recommended final day of club competitions, with the exception of the UEFA Champions League final. Special exemptions may only be granted by the FIFA Council;

        ·        21-27 May 2018: Official rest period to be respected by clubs and participating member associations;

        ·        28 May 2018: Start of the release period for all participating member associations;

        ·        4 June 2018: Submission of final list of 23 players.

        The Council also approved the early adoption of the IFRS15 standard in FIFA’s financial reports.

        Furthermore, as part of the ongoing consultation process, the composition of the new committees has been decided and will be communicated once the respective members have been informed.

        The next meeting of the FIFA Council is scheduled to be held in Manama, Bahrain, on 9 May 2017 ahead of the 67th FIFA Congress.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Deeks on January 10, 2017, 10:31:07 AM
        Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;D. We will be in the WC regularly from now on. ;D
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: maxg on January 10, 2017, 11:10:20 AM
        Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;D. We will be in the WC regularly from now on. ;D
        "now" ?
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Mose on January 10, 2017, 11:33:56 AM
        Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;D. We will be in the WC regularly from now on. ;D

        Doh start counting dem chickens yet breds. Yuh forget what going on with we football right now?
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: maxg on January 10, 2017, 12:01:21 PM
        Ent Mose, dey could make it 76 teams and we will find ah way to excuse weself, right now
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: palos on January 10, 2017, 01:17:25 PM
        Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;D. We will be in the WC regularly from now on. ;D

        How u figure?
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Jumbie on January 10, 2017, 01:25:30 PM
        all about that $$

        not a fan of this
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Mose on January 10, 2017, 02:06:42 PM
        all about that $$

        not a fan of this

        Agreed!
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: gawd on pitch on January 10, 2017, 02:26:49 PM
        Allyuh forgetting that Suriname will be able to get their dutch born players by then. They might get that by 2022. And don't forget that Martinique  (who buss we ass) is also lobbying to become a FIFA member so they can participate in the WCQs. So the road for qualification is about to get harder. Don't mind this 48 WC.. Cause the way things looking, we might only get in with a 64 team world cup
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Mose on January 10, 2017, 03:19:38 PM
        Just heard from a coworker that CONCACAF will get 6.5 places for the 48 team world cup.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: soccerman on January 10, 2017, 04:08:24 PM
        Just heard from a coworker that CONCACAF will get 6.5 places for the 48 team world cup.
        We cyar even make the 4.5 places from CFU for de Gold Cup
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: MEP on January 10, 2017, 04:17:17 PM
        So it should be Mexico, US, Costa Rica and Panama guaranteed spots then Honduras, Haiti, Jamaica just based on current rate of development.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Deeks on January 10, 2017, 04:35:33 PM
        Nobody is guaranted. You still have to play football to qualify. The Hex should increase to 10 teams and have a long playoff like they do in South America.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: MEP on January 10, 2017, 06:14:12 PM
        Nobody is guaranted. You still have to play football to qualify. The Hex should increase to 10 teams and have a long playoff like they do in South America.
        based on current rate of development.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Peong on January 10, 2017, 06:18:17 PM
        We go be fighting up vs Nicaragua and suriname for a .5 spot
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: gawd on pitch on January 10, 2017, 07:04:18 PM
        Just heard from a coworker that CONCACAF will get 6.5 places for the 48 team world cup.

        This is what I thinking

        Concacaf 7 or 8. (So an extra 3 or 4)

        I cant see Conmebol getting more than 8. (So an extra 3)

        UEFA will probably get 17 (So an extra 4)

        CAF will probably get 8 (So an extra 3)

        AFC & OCF - 7 (So an extra 3)

        But dont count on T&T to make that. As I said previously, Suriname get that law passed in Netherlands. So Suriname will get their Dutch born for 2022. And Martinique and Guadelope lobbying for membership in FIFA.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: soccerman on January 10, 2017, 07:13:22 PM
        If the federation has any vision, they should start on a 10 yr plan for this starting with U12's-U14's.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: gawd on pitch on January 10, 2017, 07:25:51 PM
        If the federation has any vision, they should start on a 10 yr plan for this starting with U12's-U14's.

        Well said Soccer..
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: 100% Barataria on January 10, 2017, 07:29:13 PM
        If the federation has any vision, they should start on a 10 yr plan for this starting with U12's-U14's.

         ???  1824 or 1919?  Certainly not 2026.  Recite with me: http://www.beliefnet.com/prayers/protestant/addiction/serenity-prayer.aspx
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: soccerman on January 10, 2017, 08:10:35 PM
        If the federation has any vision, they should start on a 10 yr plan for this starting with U12's-U14's.

         ???  1824 or 1919?  Certainly not 2026.  Recite with me: http://www.beliefnet.com/prayers/protestant/addiction/serenity-prayer.aspx
        Lol true wtf was I thinking, I forget is T&T football so I'll join you and recite :praying:
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: FF on January 10, 2017, 08:23:58 PM
        Guys 7 or 8 spots out of 10 for Conmebol will be a joke.

        They will merge concacaf and conmebol and grant 14-16 spots. Guaranteed.
        Euro style qualifications which the way we looking will be the end of that for we.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: gawd on pitch on January 10, 2017, 08:35:39 PM
        Guys 7 or 8 spots out of 10 for Conmebol will be a joke.

        They will merge concacaf and conmebol and grant 14-16 spots. Guaranteed.
        Euro style qualifications which the way we looking will be the end of that for we.

        Dont know about that. The travelling will be too much. Even if they were to split the groups to make the travelling lighter, I'm sure concacaf will fight that till they last breath.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Deeks on January 10, 2017, 08:35:50 PM
        But dont count on T&T to make that. As I said previously, Suriname get that law passed in Netherlands. So Suriname will get their Dutch born for 2022. And Martinique and Guadelope lobbying for membership in FIFA.

        We can use foreign born players also, can we?
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: gawd on pitch on January 10, 2017, 08:53:19 PM
        But dont count on T&T to make that. As I said previously, Suriname get that law passed in Netherlands. So Suriname will get their Dutch born for 2022. And Martinique and Guadelope lobbying for membership in FIFA.

        We can use foreign born players also, can we?

        Those countries have a huge pool of foreign born that were exposed to the professional academy systems in Europe. Why yuh think Curacao, French Guyana and Martinique in the Caribbean cup? Who yuh think they calling on now to buss we ass? Their foreign born.

        Where you think the parents of all them black players with French and Dutch names in the EPL and other leagues come from? In fact Martinique and Suriname have so much depth, they can probably challenge some European national teams.. Dont forget they training in Europe and they will get more opportunities for games against UEFA opposition by virtue of location. Whereas us...
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Controversial on January 10, 2017, 09:10:35 PM
        Suriname is getting their ship in order, my uncle started football clinics a few years ago and pretty soon when the law takes effect, it will be a plethora of players vying for selection... I believe Frank will be up for head coach as well from what I've heard...

        So TT needs to get rid of this admin and get Hart and like minded people to restructure the program home and right the wrong and have things ready because teams like Suriname will not be a walk over in 4 years, I can tell you that for certain
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on May 17, 2017, 03:37:38 PM
        More FIFA Watchdogs Quit in Protest, Sparking New Soccer Crisis
        By Tariq Panja, Bloomberg.



        The latest ethics crisis shaking global soccer intensified Wednesday as two members of FIFA’s governance committee resigned over the firing of their chairman. Between the ethics committee and the governance committee, six officials have now been ousted or quit in protest in the last week.

        Navi Pillay and Ron Popper, both high level international human rights advocates, quit after Miguel Maduro, a former advocate general of the European Court of Justice, was replaced after just eight months leading FIFA’s governance and review committee. Maduro told Bloomberg last week he resisted internal pressure from senior officials before he was fired.

        Another member of the committee, New York University School of Law professor Joseph Weiler, also quit last week. FIFA’s independent ethics officers were also fired last week.

        “We accept their decision,” a FIFA spokeswoman said of Pillay and Popper.

        The departures are a challenge to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who rose to power after many of soccer’s senior leaders were caught in a global corruption scandal. Infantino has pledged he will restore the organization’s credibility, but his efforts to present a new FIFA at last week’s annual congress were overshadowed by his moves to replace the organization’s ethics leaders.

        The governance committee had been working to improve corporate governance at FIFA, which has been unable to attract any new major sponsors from Europe or the U.S. since the corruption scandal broke. The only partners it’s signed since then have come from aspiring World Cup host China and 2022 tournament host Qatar.

        Maduro learned he was being removed a day before he was due to fly to Bahrain for FIFA’s meeting. A year earlier Infantino had cited the hiring of the former Portuguese government minister as a sign of his commitment to good governance; last week, he said Maduro had to go to make room for greater international diversity on its committees.

        Several of Maduro’s recent decisions had been unpopular within FIFA’s establishment. He blocked Russia’s deputy prime minister, Vitaly Mutko, from retaining his seat on FIFA’s governing council because his role as Russia’s deputy prime minister conflicted with FIFA’s rules on political neutrality. High-ranking FIFA officials told Maduro that his decision to block Mutko’s re-selection bid would lead to serious difficulties with Russia, Bloomberg reported.

        Maduro also asked influential Kuwaiti sheikh Ahmad al-Sabah to resubmit for an integrity check after being identified as a co-conspirator in a separate U.S. soccer corruption case, Bloomberg News reported.


        Two more members leave FIFA governance panel
        The Associated Press



        In a further blow to FIFA's image under President Gianni Infantino, two more respected members of its governance oversight panel have left following the removal of their chairman last week.

        Navi Pillay, the former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and corporate human rights expert Ron Popper, have resigned, FIFA said on Wednesday.

        Their move follows the exit of Miguel Maduro, a Portuguese lawyer and former government minister.

        "The world of football still hasn't realized what is required if they really want to act under the rule of law and in a manner that is subject to effective, independent scrutiny," Maduro told The Associated Press on Wednesday in a telephone interview.

        Maduro's duties in less than a year with FIFA included vetting candidates for senior positions, and led to Russia's deputy prime minister Vitaly Mutko being barred from an election last month to retain his FIFA Council seat. Mutko was judged to be compromised by his political duties at home, where he remains head of the 2018 World Cup organizing committee.

        FIFA's head ethics judge Hans-Joachim Eckert and lead prosecutor Cornel Borbely were also replaced against their wishes. Most of their teams also were not retained, despite there being no clear transition plan for hundreds of ongoing cases.

        Maduro told The AP it was a "dramatic and drastic decision" for FIFA under Infantino to push through such upheaval without "strong justification."

        FIFA's appointment of Pillay in January gave credibility to Infantino's pledged commitment to anti-corruption reforms after years of financial scandals and criminal investigations of FIFA in the United States, Switzerland and elsewhere.

        Pillay, a South African judge, led the U.N.'s human rights office in Geneva from 2008-14.

        Pillay and Popper joined another governance panel colleague, New York University law professor Joseph Weiler who also resigned as an independent overseer hours after Maduro's exit was announced.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on May 18, 2017, 03:43:39 AM
        Infantino channels Blatter rather than marking clean break
        By Rob Harris, The Seattle Times.


        The FIFA ethics prosecutor ousted by Infantino this week was explicit when asked how the past and present presidents differ: Only their Swiss birthplaces.

        “One comes from Brig,” investigator Cornel Borbely said. “The other from Visp.”

        There is a clear difference. Infantino is not accused of financial wrongdoing like Blatter, who ruled the game for 17 years before being banished from power in disgrace after it became clear how he enriched himself through leading FIFA.

        Their thirst for power seems comparable at times, though, in the clandestine way decisions are made.

        The manner in which Infantino has accumulated power is at odds with the recommendations of the reforms he helped to craft after the 2015 scandal. The presidency, crafted into an executive position by Blatter, was intended to become more ambassadorial in the new era with the secretary general gaining the authority of a CEO. At the FIFA Congress in Bahrain, Fatma Samoura marked her first year as secretary general by being relegated to a bit-part role.

        The executive committee, so discredited under Blatter as members were led away in handcuffs and toppled on FIFA ethics violations, morphed into the council last year with a membership swelling to almost 40.

        And far from the body becoming more transparent, members were warned about speaking publicly about the decisions immediately after Tuesday’s meeting in Manama. The need for clarity was heightened by the uncertainty over why Borbely was jettisoned along with ethics judge Hans-Joachim Eckert. FIFA’s hierarchy sidestepped requests for detail, taking almost 24 hours to formulate a partial response.

        “(FIFA) has already lost the battle of public opinion, we had a good chance to rebuild that and we need to,” former presidential candidate Prince Ali said. “Things cannot be conducted behind closed doors. Everyone wants to know what is going on.”

        The void gave Eckert and Borbely a clear run for a day to elevate their own importance to the ethics process and issue hyperbolic — but unchallenged — warnings about the fate of soccer.

        The credentials of their replacements as head of the ethics chambers — a Colombian lawyer and Greek judge — have not been disputed. What remains a mystery is exactly why Eckert and Borbely were not only deemed inadequate but discovered their fates only as they flew to Bahrain where they were up for re-election.

        After Borbely said his removal will stall the progress of hundreds of ethics cases, Infantino turned on his investigator by asking why the backlog was so big.

        FIFA officials evaded questions for weeks about whether rumors Eckert and Borbely were being ditched were accurate, with the German council member indicating that he was misled by Samoura on the eve of Tuesday’s meeting. Reinhard Grindel demanded a “more transparent” process.

        The need for more gender equality and geographic diversity was the reason eventually delivered by Infantino on Thursday. Although Borbely was replaced by a Colombian woman, Maria Claudia Rojas, the judge’s role passed from a 69-year-old white German to a 69-year-old white Greek in Vassilios Skouris.

        Then there’s the curious case of Miguel Maduro, who was removed as head of the governance committee less than a year after being appointed at a time when Infantino was already on a mission to bring a wider geographic spread.

        The 211 soccer federations have the final say approving committee members in the congress and could have rebuffed Infantino. It’s rare, however, to find any debate in the open parliament of soccer. Dissent isn’t encouraged.

        “Bear in mind the majority of the congress are totally dependent on FIFA,” Prince Ali said, “so it is very hard to take an opposing view to a president.”

        When there was an open clash of views on Thursday — between the Israelis and Palestinians — Infantino engineered a way to prevent the motion being voted on. The president, however, introduced a new proposal that handed power to his council to resolve the matter over settlement teams in the West Bank. Once again, Infantino secured the overwhelming backing of congress in a move Prince Ali branded undemocratic.

        “The way business is conducted is the same,” Prince Ali, the Jordanian federation president, said as he compared the Blatter and Infantino administrations. “I don’t see the refreshing change, the openness, the transparency that everybody talks about really taking effect on the ground.”

        Infantino counters that the “new FIFA is a democracy, it is not a dictatorship.” And there was refreshing messaging from Infantino — notably embracing corruption investigations publicly in a manner often deficient within the International Olympic Committee leadership.

        But a strident warning to corrupt officials to leave soccer was eclipsed by the off-the-cuff attack on “fake news” and “FIFA bashing” he blamed for undermining his presidency

        In blaming the messenger — before later backtracking in genial exchanges with reporters — Infantino was channeling the divisionary rhetoric of Blatter. And Blatter is the last person Infantino should be trying to emulate.

        After a second congress was overshadowed by criticism of his use of presidential power, Infantino has two years remaining of his mandate to truly lead FIFA into the new, open era promised.




        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Deeks on May 18, 2017, 04:39:58 AM
        So friggin sad. Like nothing eh change.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Mad Scorpion a/k/a Big Bo$$ on May 18, 2017, 08:50:43 AM
        So friggin sad. Like nothing eh change.

        Surprised?
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on May 18, 2017, 09:09:26 AM
        Russia in de mix on all fronts. No escaping de Kremlin.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Sando prince on August 12, 2017, 01:35:05 PM


        I heard FIFA wants to extend to 40 teams by 2026 WC. Not sure if that is a good idea, because it would make the WC qualification period less competitive as more teams can now qualify for each region, which means there will be a decrease in desire around the world to follow WC qualification games and the level of competition among teams will be of less quality and lower standard of play. Also how does that work in South America? Now you will have a situation where 6 out of 10 teams would qualify?

        The WC tournament itself in 2026 will also lose some significance with possibly more games and more injuries as players will be coming off long club seasons. I know we in CONCACAF will say it may be good for us because we may now have four automatic spots. But I'm sure the standard of the WC will take a hit with this new move. I say if it's not broke don't fix it
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on September 12, 2017, 06:06:32 AM
        Former FIFA Official’s Testimony Could Raise New Ethics Questions
        By Tariq Panja, The New York Times.


        A former chairman of FIFA’s governance committee who accused top FIFA officials of pressuring him to ignore regulations said Saturday that if asked, he would provide specifics at a British parliamentary hearing this week.

        The testimony, to be given under a grant of immunity, could raise troubling new ethics questions for FIFA’s president, Gianni Infantino, whose critics remain skeptical of his commitment to leading the organization, world soccer’s governing body, into a new era of transparency and good governance.

        The former FIFA official, Miguel Maduro, was appointed by Infantino in 2016 to be the body’s independent head of governance. Maduro’s committee acted as FIFA’s gatekeepers, responsible for conducting eligibility checks on soccer officials before they could win coveted and lucrative places on top committees, including positions on the governing FIFA Council.

        But Maduro, a former Portuguese government minister, was fired by Infantino in May after eight months in the job, and after his departure he said his board had come under pressure from senior officials to ignore FIFA rules when it came to the eligibility of certain powerful executives.

        Maduro will be questioned by a panel of British lawmakers on Tuesday. Appearing in the House of Commons grants Maduro so-called privileged status, a type of immunity from legal action in Britain on libel claims, allowing him to speak freely — and perhaps provide names and details about events that he would not normally be able to discuss without fear of legal action.

        “I have always said that if I was asked to testify in front of a national parliament, then my obligation to cooperate would take precedence,” Maduro said in a telephone interview, his first public comments on Tuesday’s hearing.

        Damian Collins, the chairman of Parliament’s culture, media and sport committee, which invited Maduro, described the appearance in London as “really something unique.”

        “The level of public interest is so great that he’s decided to cooperate with a parliamentary inquiry and answer questions freely about what he knows from working inside FIFA, something which FIFA has actively restricted anyone from doing,” Collins said.

        FIFA’s ethics committee has been made aware of Maduro’s appearance, and it is that body that would be required to scrutinize any claims of wrongdoing that he may make. FIFA declined to comment on Maduro’s planned appearance or his potential testimony.

        For Infantino and FIFA, the stakes are high. Infantino won the FIFA presidency in February 2016, less than a year after the United States Department of Justice conducted a series of raids and arrests that toppled the organization’s previous leadership. Infantino has endured a bumpy ride as president, however, with his promises of steering FIFA into an era of transparency frequently undermined by continuing claims of wrongdoing against top soccer officials, as well as the sudden removal of officials hired to ensure that lofty promises of good governance were carried out.

        Maduro’s independent review committee, with its responsibility for vetting candidates for FIFA committees, made several decisions that proved internally unpopular, including one to block Russia’s powerful deputy prime minister, Vitaly Mutko, from running for re-election to the FIFA Council. The governance committee also demanded that a well-connected Kuwaiti sheikh, Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah, resubmit to an integrity check after he was identified as a co-conspirator in a separate United States soccer corruption case. Al-Sabah quit soccer rather than submit to an ethics check, though he remains a senior figure in the International Olympic Committee. He has denied all accusations of wrongdoing.

        Maduro declined to say what he was likely to reveal at Tuesday’s meeting with British lawmakers, but he said he would provide only information about which he had direct knowledge.

        When Infantino hired Maduro, who also served as the advocate general of the European Court of Justice, the FIFA president said the appointment highlighted FIFA’s commitment to good governance and its efforts to steer a path beyond its scandal-scarred past. Maduro’s removal, less than a year later, prompted several other independent members of FIFA’s governance panel to quit. They included the New York University professor Joseph Weiler; Navi Pillay, a former United Nations high commissioner for human rights; and the corporate human rights expert Ron Popper.

        FIFA’s prosecution of ethics violations remains under a cloud after Infantino also removed the heads of its judicial bodies at the same meeting at which Maduro was replaced. That came amid news media reports that a second ethics probe had started into Infantino’s conduct. He was cleared in an earlier investigation related to complaints about his expenses and his use of private jets.

        More revelations could come later in the week when one of those ousted ethics committee officials, the former chief investigator, Cornel Borbély, is scheduled to speak at a G-20 anticorruption meeting. But first Maduro will have his say.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on September 12, 2017, 06:16:11 AM
        England’s Soccer Federation Asks FIFA to Address Cybersecurity Ahead of World Cup
        By Tariq Panja, The New York Times.


        England’s soccer federation has written to FIFA to express concerns about the leak of confidential antidoping correspondence by a hacking group believed to based in Russia, and to request assurances about the soccer governing body’s cybersecurity preparations ahead of next year’s World Cup there.

        Since last year, leaks by the hacking group, known as Fancy Bears, have revealed confidential medical information of scores of top athletes, including tennis champions, track stars and an Olympic gymnast, who had received exemptions to take medication usually be banned under doping regulations. In August, the group turned its attention to soccer, naming 25 players granted similar waivers, known as therapeutic use exemptions, to take otherwise prohibited substances at the 2010 World Cup.

        Even before that hack, though, which also included an email from England’s Football Association’s integrity chief to FIFA, the English had been bolstering their cybersecurity to counter the growing threat from hackers worldwide, according to two people familiar with the organization’s plans. Among the precautions expected to be in place in Russia next year — England can qualify with a win or draw in its next match — England’s players and staff will be told to avoid public Wi-Fi networks as well as those in their team hotels, according to people familiar with the F.A.’s plans.

        The Football Association declined to comment on the letter, though FIFA confirmed its existence.

        “We can confirm that The F.A. has sent a letter to FIFA related to the Fancy Bears attack,” a FIFA spokesman said. “In its reply, FIFA has informed The F.A. in such context that FIFA remains committed to preventing security attacks in general, and that with respect to the Fancy Bears attack in particular it is presently investigating the incident to ascertain whether FIFA’s infrastructure was compromised.”

        In mocking messages revealing the 25 players’ names last month, the hackers also claimed there had been hundreds of positive doping tests in soccer in 2015 and 2016, including four in Britain linked to the use of the recreational drugs cocaine and ecstasy.

        WADA said its servers had not been compromised in the soccer case, suggesting the information had been acquired from FIFA’s computer systems.

        Coaches at the World Cup zealously guard their tactics and team selection plans for the monthlong event, often erecting fences around training fields to prevent such information from leaking out. Shortly before France’s opening game at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, a drone hovered above the team’s practice session, leading the team’s coach to express concerns about possible spying. At the 2015 Rugby World Cup, photographers managed to capture details of Australia’s tactics after staff members failed to keep them covered during preparations for the championship match against New Zealand.

        Fancy Bears’ original leaks about international athletes emerged about four months after the The New York Times published the account of Russia’s longtime antidoping chief, who revealed that he had run a yearslong doping program involving top Russian athletes. The hacks also are seen as a response to sports federations who banned Russian athletes from the 2016 Rio Olympics.

        Russia has denied that its government is behind the attacks. But law enforcement authorities have determined they originated there, according to the World Anti-Doping Agency.

        “For the purposes of computer security in general, FIFA is itself relying on expert advice from third parties,” FIFA’s spokesman said. “It is for this reason that FIFA cannot and does not provide any computer security advice to third parties.”
        Title: FIFA bans CFU president Gordon Derrick for 6 years
        Post by: Trini _2026 on September 20, 2017, 07:17:31 AM
        FIFA says bans Caribbean soccer official Gordon Derrick
        Reuters Staff
        ZURICH (Reuters) - Global soccer body FIFA said on Tuesday that it had banned Caribbean Football Union (CFU) president Gordon Derrick for six years from all soccer-related activities for violating several articles of its code of ethics.

        Neither Derrick, who has denied wrongdoing, nor the CFU could immediately be reached for comment.

        FIFA said the case against Derrick focused on “alleged conflicts of interest, offering and accepting gifts and other benefits, mismanagement of funds, abuse of position and disloyalty.” It did not give further details of the case.

        Derrick, who is also General Secretary of the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association (ABFA), was also ordered to pay a fine totaling 30,000 Swiss francs ($31,170), FIFA said.
        Title: Re: FIFA bans CFU president Gordon Derrick for 6 years
        Post by: pull stones on September 20, 2017, 11:42:34 AM
        here comes our neo jack warner to the rescue in the form of our very own fat faced dictator mr david oink oink williams to take up the mantle in is very own self serving capacity to take up where uncle jack left off. this thing us painful to watch all over again. may heaven help us. there's simply no progression in this CFU game we're definitely going in circles.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on March 23, 2018, 11:42:32 AM
        FIFA, LOC mark International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
        FIFA


        FIFA, the Russia 2018 Local Organising Committee (LOC) and Federal Centre in Tolerance joined forces yesterday to take part in a series of activities to mark International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination across Russia and to promote the message of anti-discrimination and diversity.

        With just under 85 days until the start of 2018 FIFA World Cup, dedicated lessons were taught in schools across Russia, winners of a nationwide art competition were unveiled at a special ceremony hosted at the Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center in Moscow, and FIFA’s Head of Sustainability and Diversity, Federico Addiechi, joined a panel discussion in Paris hosted by the European Football for Development Network.

        “The FIFA statutes are absolutely clear: racism and any other form of discrimination have no place in football,” said Addiechi.” In recent years, we have expanded our strategy and made great strides to fight it in football globally and ensure that our events are free of discrimination and inclusive for all.”

        The lessons were prepared in collaboration with the Federal Research and Methodological Centre of Psychology and Education in Tolerance and implemented by the LOC in schools across Russia. The activities aimed to excite and engage children and young people across three age groups and also educate them about using football as a platform to build tolerance and combat discrimination in society. In line with previous activities that took place in Russia last year to mark the International Day for Tolerance, the lessons featured a short film, as well as a series of individual and group tasks and discussions.

        The nationwide art contest, ran by the Federal Centre in Tolerance, came to an end at the Jewish Museum with a special ceremony announcing the winners and was attended by Zabivaka and a host of stars from Russia and the football community, such as Russia women’s national team players Lina Yakupova and Yulia Grichenko, as well as former footballer and a TV pundit Evgeniy Savin. The competition - which involved students and young artists from arts universities, vocational establishments, educational organisations across Russia - sought to engage young people aged 15-30 and Russian society to help build a discrimination-free environment and spread humanitarian values through the power of football.

        “In football everyone are equal, regardless of the ethnical group you belong to”, said Zoya Mitusova, a 29-year old artist from Voronezh, whose work was chosen the best in Football against stereotypes nomination. “This is why I depicted legs of people of different races stretching to the ball. I wanted to show that football unites everyone with the one goal and contrived antagonism”.

        FIFA builds further on diversity and anti-discrimination work in football

        Today’s activities build on FIFA’s ongoing work and commitment to promoting diversity and tolerance in football, as well as recent activities and initiatives it is carrying out with the Russia 2018 LOC, FIFA partners, NGOs and other stakeholders in this area.

        Some of the key activities that FIFA has introduced to combat discrimination in football include:

        *The introduction of an anti-discrimination monitoring system (http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/afsocial/anti-racism/02/60/42/16/fifaanti-discriminationmonitoringsystem_summary_may2015_neutral.pdf), which was carried out during the FIFA World Cup qualifiers and will be in place for the final competition

        *The introduction of a three-step procedure (http://www.fifa.com/confederationscup/news/y=2017/m=6/news=fifa-to-step-up-anti-discrimination-mechanisms-at-confederations-cup-2-2895101.html) for referees in case of discriminatory incidents at FIFA tournaments, which was in place for the first time at the FIFA Confederations Cup and will be implemented during the FIFA World Cup

        *The publication of a Good Practice Guide (http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/afsocial/anti-racism/02/70/94/34/goodpracticeguideondiversityandanti-discrimination_sept2017_neutral.pdf) for member associations

        *The creation of the FIFA Diversity Award (http://www.fifa.com/sustainability/news/y=2017/m=11/news=fifa-diversity-award-2017-crowns-soccer-without-borders-2918447.html)

        Ongoing measures also include proactively distributing information to fans, introducing enhanced security and monitoring procedures inside the stadium and delivering diversity training and education for all staff, volunteers and stewards – the latter also done in collaboration with Federal Research and Methodological Centre of Psychology and Education in Tolerance.

        For more information on FIFA’s work in the field of anti-discrimination, please click here (http://resources.fifa.com/image/upload/diversity-and-anti-discrimination-at-fifa.pdf?cloudid=arn2ylavxd26pnn2l83i).
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on March 23, 2018, 11:59:34 AM
        India loses bid to host 2019 U-20 FIFA World Cup, Poland to host event
        Business Standard


        India's bid to host the next U-20 FIFA World Cup ended in disappointment as world football governing body FIFA accorded the status to Poland.

        The European nation will host the next edition of the tournament in 2019. This was decided at the FIFA council meeting in Bogota, Colombia.

        Amid much fanfare, India had submitted its bid for hosting the mega event after successfully organising the U-17 World Cup last October.

        The success of the U-17 event emboldened the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to submit a bid for hosting another FIFA tournament in two year's time.

        Both India and Poland fulfilled the most important criteria - of having ready stadia.

        With the tournament scheduled to be held around May to June, Poland emerged as the preferred choice as it will be difficult for the players to play in the scorching Indian summer. It is believed that is what prompted FIFA to opt for Poland.

        The U-20 World Cup has featured players such Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi - who would go on to becomes legends of the game.

        While the legendary Maradona played in the 1979 edition in Japan, Messi featured in the 2005 tournament in the Netherlands.

        The last edition of the tournament was held in South Korea last year.

        Argentina have won the tournament most number of times (six), followed by their South American rivals Brazil, who triumphed on five occasions.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on April 23, 2018, 05:37:32 PM
        FIFA pushing for talks on $25-billion Club World Cup, global league plan
        Graham Dunbar, The Associated Press


        FIFA is forcing the pace on talks over a $25 billion offer to revamp the Club World Cup and create a global national team competition.

        FIFA President Gianni Infantino is seeking an urgent meeting in the next week with leaders of the six continental governing bodies, following his hosting of invited officials from some of Europe’s top clubs. That session was held last Friday, the world soccer body said on Monday.

        The European Club Association has strongly opposed FIFA’s hope for a four-yearly club tournament starting in 2021, which could rival the UEFA-organized Champions League.

        UEFA has also been skeptical of the Club World Cup expansion plan, and last year also proposed a Global Nations League to develop from its European version which kicks off in September.

        However, a similar worldwide project is tied into the FIFA-controlled $25 billion, 12-year offer from a Japanese-led consortium including investors from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.

        FIFA said it was holding “informal ongoing discussions with different stakeholders on the topic of the future Club World Cups.”

        Though FIFA published a statement last Friday after hosting agents to discuss transfer market reforms, a separate meeting also in Zurich with a select group of clubs was not announced in advance nor details given after.

        Infantino is set to meet “in the near future” with the presidents and general secretaries of the six continental confederations, FIFA said.

        They include UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, who has publicly doubted that a proposed 24-team Club World Cup could start in 2021.

        Currently, the Club World Cup is an annual, seven-team event in December for continental champions and the host nation’s league winner. It generates little interest in Europe, and the 2017 edition in the United Arab Emirates earned just $37 million revenue for FIFA.

        FIFA’s Infantino Calls for Rare Emergency Meeting Amid $25 Billion Offer
        By Tariq Panja, The New York Times


        FIFA President Gianni Infantino has called for an emergency meeting of the leading officials in international soccer to address a $25 billion rights offer from an investment group that could radically change some of the biggest competitions in the sport.

        In lengthy letter sent to members of the governing FIFA Council last week, Infantino called for a special meeting with leaders of soccer’s six regional bodies as soon as this week to discuss new details of the offer for control of a new quadrennial 24-team club tournament along the lines of the World Cup, FIFAs’s $5 billion cash cow, and a proposed league for national teams.

        The New York Times first reported details of Infantino’s secret talks with the group of international investors on April 9. Infantino disclosed the negotiations to FIFA’s board at a fractious meeting last month in Bogotá, Colombia.

        Officials have so far blocked Infantino from moving ahead with a deal that he said had to be signed within 60 days, in part because he declined to identify the members of the international consortium, citing a nondisclosure agreement, and also because they are concerned the event could compete with existing tournaments.

        It later emerged that one of the proposed investors is SoftBank, the Japan-based financial institution that runs the world’s biggest technology investment fund.

        The full FIFA Council is expected to address the offer during an extraordinary meeting in early May. The next scheduled meeting for that group had been set for June, days before the 2018 World Cup kicks off in Russia.

        “A meeting with the confederations will take place in due course but no date has been set yet,” said a FIFA spokesman, confirming the planned talks were to discuss details of the offer from investors. “Further consultation is also ongoing with different stakeholders on potential changes to the FIFA Club World Cup.”

        Emergency meetings are rare and reserved for the most vital matters. The last time FIFA called its top board for an unscheduled meeting was in 2015, after several of the board’s members were arrested in a dawn raid on a luxury Zurich hotel.

        Infantino’s rationale for the urgent meeting is twofold. He wants to persuade skeptical officials to allow him to forge ahead with negotiations on the proposed $25 billion deal. But he also wants to calm some members who have grown angry over what they see as Infantino’s aggressive pursuit of a deal that would lead to the biggest restructuring in soccer in several decades.

        During his campaign for the presidency of FIFA, Infantino promised fourfold increases in financing for soccer development to member nations. The $25 billion would provide Infantino with enough money to follow through on that commitment ahead of his bid for re-election next year.

        Opposition from powerful European soccer officials and some of the continent’s biggest clubs remains strong. Creating the event without the agreement of the world’s best clubs, employers of the top players required to make the events a success, is likely to lead to a protracted conflict in a sport that has been a battleground for primacy between national teams, which are governed by FIFA, and club soccer, which is overseen by the six regional confederations and their members.

        To win support, Infantino recently met with a handful of executives from the biggest clubs, including Germany’s Bayern Munich and Chinese-owned Inter Milan, according to people familiar with the situation. The discussion took place without the knowledge of the European Club Association, an umbrella group for about 200 teams from across a continent, which includes the vast majority of the world’s richest clubs. A spokesman for the E.C.A. said it had not been informed about the extraordinary FIFA Council meeting.

        In a briefing document sent to FIFA Council members before the Bogotá meeting, and seen by The New York Times, FIFA said it favored a 24-team global club championship, with half the participants drawn from Europe. That group would include the finalists from the four prior editions of the Champions League, soccer’s richest club event.

        FIFA estimated each edition of its proposed club competition could generate a maximum of $1 billion; the investment group is offering $3 billion for each tournament, with the remainder offered for a proposed nations league.

        European soccer’s governing body UEFA is largely opposed to the proposal. Both competitions proposed by FIFA would cause upheaval to its events, including the creation of a significant competitor to the Champions League, which generates billions of dollars in advertising and broadcast revenue. The global nations league also would usurp UEFA’s own version of a similar competition, which begins its first edition later this year.

        Confederations in Asia and the Americas appear to be largely supportive of the idea, which would guarantee more games against top European sides for their best clubs. But a German member of the FIFA Council, Reinhard Grindel, a critic of Infantino’s management style, told Infantino the organization should focus on national team soccer and not meddle in club affairs.

        In its most recent letter to members, FIFA explained that the money from the proposed deal would directly benefit its 211 member federations, the group that will vote in next year’s presidential election.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on June 08, 2018, 06:09:47 AM
        Ghana to dissolve football association over bribery allegations
        Reuters


        Ghana has decided to dissolve its national football association a day after officials, including the body’s president, were shown in a documentary taking kickbacks.

        The two-hour documentary, When Greed and Corruption Become the Norm by undercover journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, was provided to the authorities last month before being screened in public for the first time on Wednesday.

        Ghana Football Association president Kwesi Nyantakyi did not respond to multiple requests for comment. The GFA said it would cooperate with any investigation.

        Nyantakyi, who is also a member of the Fifa Council, the world football body’s legislative organ, was filmed in a hotel room allegedly taking a $65,000 bribe from a supposed businessman seeking to sponsor the Ghanaian football league.

        Information minister Mustapha Abdul-Hamid said in a statement that the government was shocked and outraged at the contents of the documentary and would refer the alleged culprits to the police for investigation.

        “Having regard to the widespread nature of the apparent rot involving top GFA officials, NSA [National Sports Authority] officials, match commissioners, football administrators and referees, government has decided to take immediate steps to have the GFA dissolved,” he said.

        He said the government would soon announce provisional measures to govern football activities until a new association could be formed.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: soccerman on June 08, 2018, 10:10:04 PM
        The saga continues, I hope the individuals who issued the bribe gets banned from all football related activities as well.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on June 20, 2018, 07:58:40 PM
        Sepp Blatter claims centre stage in theatre of the absurd as he makes appearance in Russia
        By Oliver Brown, The Telegraph


        The St Regis Nikolskaya is the type of Moscow hotel that feels wholly of a piece with Fifa’s ancien regime. With a lobby dripping in gold leaf, a resident pianist tinkling the ivories beneath a stained glass dome, and even a club sandwich carrying a price tag to trigger a soft whimper of despair, it is a byword for the opulence with which Sepp Blatter would cloak himself as president. How grimly apt, then, that despite his unmitigated disgrace and a six-year ban from the game he could once call his fiefdom, this was still the place to find him.

        Exile, evidently, has put barely a dent in his hubris. This is a man supposed to be serving a six-year ban from all football activity, arising from an unauthorised payment of £1.5 million to former Uefa chief Michel Platini, and yet here he breezed back into the World Cup with nary an ounce of repentance. Even before checking into his suite, he posed for selfies with startled Latin American fans. “How I was received here, with television cameras and all the rest, made me feel as if it was my World Cup,” he said, displaying more brass than the Moscow Symphony.

        Despite leading Fifa into a state of such pestilence that several senior executives had to be frogmarched out of the Baur au Lac under cover of their own bed linen, Blatter continues to feel that he is a man traduced.

        “I have done nothing wrong,” he shrugged. “I spent a lifetime of honestly serving.”

        Of course he did. There is nothing like a record of turning a blind eye to a multi-million-pound network of bribery and kickbacks to convince sceptics of one’s moral rectitude.

        Then again, Blatter has already run the full gamut of “wasn’t me, guv’nor” schtick in defending his 17 years of running Fifa like a latter-day Louis XIV. Here in Moscow, he reprised his old line of blaming the confederations, even after five straight elections of courting their votes with ever more lavish inducements. He also had the gall to claim that Fifa should have extended an official invitation to him, on the pretext that he was still the president, just with the tiny asterisk that he remained subject to investigations by the US Justice Department.

        It was a day that stretched the boundaries of absurdity. Just when you lose your ability to be dumbstruck by Blatter – the figure who bankrolled United Passions, the silver-screen document of Fifa’s creation and officially the worst-performing film in history, with a budget of £20 million and a box-office return of less than £100,000 – he pushes the envelope once more.

        He began by brazening it out beside the Kremlin walls, telling anyone who would listen that he was the honoured guest of Vladimir Putin. Odd, then, how Putin made sure not to be pictured alongside him at any stage. Dmitri Peskov, Putin’s spokesman, denied that any meeting had been arranged.

        Septic Sepp? At the diplomatic level, Blatter is radioactive. So what was he doing here? In part, it was to show the world that he was still soldiering on. Blatter has cut a somewhat pitiful figure since the roof fell in on his band of knaves: first came his dishevelled appearance at a Zurich press conference, then the reports of a nervous breakdown. But equally, it was as if he could not bear for a World Cup to pass without his presence. In the city where Lenin is preserved inside a mausoleum, Blatter labours under the delusion that he is football’s eternal leader.

        “I was elected for four years in 2015,” he said, proudly. “I never resigned, I was never voted out.”

        He even extended his overtures to the English all over again. Seven years after Fifa’s venal voting system left England with a mere two first-round votes for its 2018 bid, Blatter was urging the country to try afresh for the tournament in 2030. “They last had it in 1966, so it’s a long time ago,” he said. “I was told that it could be with Wales and Scotland, but I said, ‘Why not Ireland altogether?’ With 48 teams, you need more than one country to host it.”

        With that, Blatter was off to Luzhniki Stadium to watch Cristiano Ronaldo’s early goal sink Morocco. There were no velvet ropes for him this time, though, no silver-service butlers or token dignitaries. How Blatter would have loved still to be in Gianni Infantino’s position, sandwiched between Putin and the Saudi Crown Prince. Instead, he returned to the feast like Banquo’s ghost, haunting Fifa just when it purported to have disavowed the past.

        Blatter denied that he was an embarrassment to the organisation he brought to the brink of ruin. Indeed, as he returned from the match, he swept into the St Regis lobby with all the hauteur of old, flicking away TV interview requests. There was, apparently, a restaurant reservation to honour. Sure enough, he reappeared downstairs as the guest of a certain Vitaly Mutko, deposed head of the World Cup organising committee and alleged enabler of the worst ever state-sponsored doping racket in sport. For a dinner a deux, it was hard not to shake the sense that he and Blatter were made for each other.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Mad Scorpion a/k/a Big Bo$$ on June 22, 2018, 08:17:57 AM
        So because he ban from activities he need to stay in a dark empty room and dead? Steups this article dumb on several levels
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Deeks on June 23, 2018, 11:26:40 AM
        I don't see him in center stage unless they keep on focusing the camera on him. He is passe. The focus is on Messi, Neymar, "preety boy" CR7 and it appears that Lukaku  is in the spotlight now that he has 4 goals as CR7.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on August 23, 2018, 08:37:40 PM
        Fifa corruption: Brazil's Jose Maria Marin jailed for four years
        BBC


        A former head of Brazil's football association has been jailed for four years for corruption.

        Jose Maria Marin, 86, was one of seven Fifa officials arrested at a hotel in Zurich in May 2015.

        He was convicted of accepting bribes from sports marketing companies in exchange for contracts to broadcast tournaments such as the Copa America.

        In addition, Marin was fined $1.2m (£920,000) and ordered to forfeit $3.34m (£2.59m).

        He was sentenced in a Brooklyn federal court by judge Pamela Chen and he is the first official to be sentenced as part of an American investigation into corruption at Fifa.

        Marin, a former governor of Sao Paulo, was last year found guilty of six of the seven counts against him, relating to money laundering and wire fraud conspiracy.

        He was convicted alongside Juan Angel Napout, who led South America's football governing body Conmebol. He will be sentenced at a later date.

        Peru's Manuel Burga was cleared of taking bribes by a jury in the USA.

        Marin's lawyers say he will appeal against the sentence.



        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on August 29, 2018, 04:39:38 PM
        Official in Fifa bribery scandal jailed for nine years over football racketeering
        The Guardian


        A former South American football official has been sentenced to nine years in prison on charges arising out of the sprawling Fifa bribery scandal.

        Juan Ángel Napout of Paraguay was sentenced in New York on Wednesday. A jury convicted him late last year of racketeering and other charges stemming from a corruption scandal that shook the sport’s international governing body.

        Prosecutors had asked the judge to sentence the already-jailed Napout to 20 years in prison for taking millions of dollars in bribes from companies seeking marketing rights to major football tournaments. His lawyers said he deserved far less time, saying prosecutors exaggerated his role in the scheme.

        The 60-year-old is the former president of Paraguay’s football federation and of the South American football governing body Conmebol.


        Former FIFA Boss Sentenced to Nine Years in U.S. Prison
        By Patricia Hurtado, Bloomberg


        To his lawyers, he was a man who did hundreds of good deeds, including paying for his chauffeur’s knee surgery. But U.S. prosecutors said former South American soccer boss Juan Angel Napout sometimes moved illicit cash by dispatching his personal driver on 15-hour trips from Buenos Aires to Asuncion, Paraguay.

        Napout, 60, a Paraguayan who was president of CONMEBOL, the governing body for South America’s soccer, as well as a vice president of FIFA, international soccer’s governing association, was sentenced to nine years in prison on Wednesday after being convicted by a U.S. jury of getting $3.4 million in bribes and soliciting almost $25 million.

        In announcing the sentence in Brooklyn, New York, federal court, U.S. District Judge Pamela Chen said she had a hard time reconciling the portrait of Napout painted by his lawyers, family and friends, as a man of generosity and good character with the evidence she’d seen at trial.

        “Napout had a public face, one that is reflected in all the letters I’ve seen,” Chen said. “But then there was this hidden character he had, this hidden life.”

        Prosecutors sought a sentence of 20 years.

        "I know America is a compassionate country,” Napout told the judge before the sentence was handed down. “I beg you for your mercy.”

        Napout portrayed himself publicly as an agent of reform who tried to change CONMEBOL, which was plagued by years of corruption. But prosecutors argued that as soon as he joined the Paraguayan soccer association in 2010, Napout began taking bribes and collected perks like a $40,000 seaside vacation condo and more than $10,000 worth of tickets to a Paul McCartney concert.

        "He entered sports to make money when he had more than enough," prosecutor Kristin Mace said. "Napout led by example at CONMEBOL and FIFA; he led colleagues and subordinates to believe that bribe-taking was common practice."

        Napout was convicted in December of wire fraud and racketeering conspiracy by a federal jury in Brooklyn after a seven-week trial. He was cleared of money-laundering charges.

        His lawyers argued the evidence in his trial was just a small snapshot of his life. While they acknowledged that he was born into a wealthy family -- one friend described it as a "golden cradle" -- they said Napout spent his life helping those in need.

        "One act cannot erase a lifetime of good work," Napout’s lawyer Sylvia Pinera-Vazquez said.

        The five-hour sentencing hearing included an appeal from Napout’s wife, Karin Forster, who pleaded, "Please, your honor, give mercy and impose a sentence that allows him to return," to Paraguay.

        Message Sent

        Chen said the trial exposed the “rampant corruption in international soccer,” which must be addressed.

        “Clearly a message has to be sent to others that this behavior will be met with serious consequences,” she said. “You cannot steal millions in bribes from these organizations and go unpunished.”

        Prosecutors at the trial called almost 30 witnesses, including former sports-marketing executives who gave jurors an inside look into FIFA’s seamier side.

        Alejandro Burzaco, chief of sports-marketing company Torneos y Competencias SA, testified he paid at least 30 soccer bosses more than $160 million to secure broadcasting rights to South American tournaments and World Cup matches in 2026 and 2030. A former Citigroup Inc. banker, Burzaco testified that Napout was among at least six soccer officials who accepted payoffs.

        Jose Hawilla, the founder of Traffic Sports International Inc. who was caught lying to the U.S. in 2013, agreed to secretly record conversations for the Federal Bureau of Investigation for more than a year. Hawilla described paying bribes to multiple officials, dating to the 1990s.

        The case is U.S. v. Napout, 15-cr-252, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York (Brooklyn).




        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on August 29, 2018, 04:54:29 PM
        Webb seeks 8th new sentence date in FIFA racketeering probe
        By Brent Fuller, Cayman Compass


        Cayman Islands businessman Jeffrey Webb has asked that a U.S. court delay his sentencing in connection with the ongoing FIFA racketeering probe again.

        Federal prosecutors did not object to the request filed Aug. 20 and if the court in the Eastern District of New York agrees, it would be the eighth time Mr. Webb has received a sentencing date from the U.S. court.

        Mr. Webb’s attorney, Ernie Gao, has asked to postpone six months beyond the currently scheduled Sept. 7 sentencing date. That would put Mr. Webb’s sentencing into March 2019 – nearly four years after he was first arrested in Zurich, Switzerland.

        The former FIFA vice president was arrested in May 2015 and pleaded guilty in November 2015 to seven counts in a U.S. federal court indictment alleging he and dozens of other defendants conspired to rig sports marketing contracts for various world football events in exchange for millions of dollars in bribes.

        The scheme described by U.S. prosecutors alleged Mr. Webb and others at FIFA solicited bribes from sports marketing companies in exchange for directing lucrative broadcast and commercial rights deals for various football tournaments to the bribe-payers. Dozens of U.S. banks were used to make those alleged bribe payments to Mr. Webb and others, prosecutors said.

        It is unclear what Mr. Webb’s fate will be once his U.S. sentence is decided and any jail time assigned is served. He has been under house arrest since 2015, being allowed to venture out only for court-approved reasons, according to public records.

        The Cayman Islands national is facing separate charges of conspiracy to defraud the local government in connection with the CarePay public hospital swipe-card scandal, and Anti-Corruption Commission investigators are looking into another matter involving the Cayman Islands Football Association, of which Mr. Webb was president for more than 20 years.

        During earlier U.S. court proceedings, the presiding judge in the case noted that deportation was a likely result of Mr. Webb’s criminal conviction.

        Webb sentencing deferred for seventh time
        Cayman News Service


        Cayman’s fallen football hero, Jeff Webb,  who was convicted of racketeering offences relating to his time as president of the regional football body CONCACAF, has managed to postpone his sentence for the seventh time, according to information from the US court in New York dealing with the case. Webb has already given up over $6.7 million in relation to the FIFA bribery and corruption scandal, in which he was heavily involved. He was due to be sentenced on 7 September but his attorneys wrote to the courts on Monday asking for a six-month delay.

        There is no indication in the letter why his lawyers requested the delay but they indicated there was no objection from prosecutors.

        Webb pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy back in November 2016 following his high-profile arrest, along with other FIFA executives and officials from sports marketing firms, at the football organisation’s annual meeting in Zürich in 2015. Webb, who now lives in Georgia, was first jailed in Switzerland but was then placed under house arrest in the US.

        It is not clear why Webb’s sentencing hearings have been constantly postponed but it undermines the Cayman authorities’ ability to apply for Webb’s extradition to Cayman, where he is wanted in connection with a hospital corruption scandal here.

        His local business partner, Canover Watson, has already been tried, convicted, sentenced and released after serving just two years of his seven-year term. Webb has not yet answered the charges. It is understood that he is also wanted for questioning by the Cayman Anti-Corruption Commission in connection with an alleged financial scandal relating to local football body CIFA.

        The deferments of Webb’s sentencing hearings indicate that it is unlikely he will be incarcerated in relation to his FIFA crimes.

        The case, US v. Jeffrey Webb et al., case number 1:15-cr-00252,  is being heard in the US District Court for the Eastern District of New YorK.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on November 25, 2018, 08:03:53 AM
        Conmebol asks Fifa to stage the World Cup every two years
        By Jonathan Wilson, The Guardian


        Conmebol is lobbying Fifa to stage the World Cup every two years rather than every four, president Alejandro Domínguez confirmed on Friday.

        Having seen the success of the Uefa Nations League, he would also be open to the possibility of expanding that to include South American teams.

        “The proposal we have made to Fifa is to play the World Cup every two years and not every four,” Domínguez said. “Instead of having the Nations League in between we can just go ahead every two years and have a World Cup and that is for everyone.

        “It’s for the players because they could play four World Cups if we move to a two-year cycle. If we stay with this format many players will not be able to play more than two.

        “There are many solutions. We could hold the tournament in Europe, South America, North America, Africa and Asia without such a long wait. So we see an opportunity there and there is a proposal put forward to Fifa.”

        Money, needless to say, is a motivating factor. “In terms of economics Fifa make money and give more money,” Domínguez said.

        What that means for the existing continental tournaments is unclear. Domínguez insists he gets on well with both the Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, and the Uefa president, Aleksandar Ceferin, holding a global tournament in a slot currently reserved for the European Championship would clearly be to the benefit of Fifa.

        The Nations League is an appealing prospect and could serve as a compromise solution rather than abandoning the present structure altogether.

        Domínguez’s position at present is essentially that he is open to dialogue and keen to prevent Europe moving even further ahead of South America, economically and technically, than it already is. “I always say we have to work together and never say no, I always say why not,” he said.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: soccerman on November 25, 2018, 10:53:02 AM
        Don't know about every 2 years but if they can figure out a way to broaden the Champions League to a few a few non UEFA teams from Soth America like Boca and River, that could be exciting. No one really pays attention to the club WC anyway.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on December 27, 2018, 01:41:54 PM
        ‘There was blood everywhere’: the abuse case against the Afghan FA president
        By Suzanne Wrack, The Guardian


        Afghanistan women’s national team players have made detailed allegations to the Guardian of sexual and physical abuse they say they suffered at the hands of the president of the football federation, Keramuudin Karim.

        The players, who say they are speaking anonymously because of fears for their or their families’ safety, have made claims ranging from serious sexual and physical assault to harassment and threats to themselves or family members from Karim.

        One said Karim put a gun to her head after he punched her in the face and sexually assaulted her in a hidden bedroom accessed from his office, threatening to shoot her and her family if she spoke to the media.

        Another claimed Karim threatened, in front of her teammates at training, to cut her tongue after she ran off when being sexually assaulted, and then attempted to remove her clothes on another occasion.

        A third player alleged that Karim tried to kiss her neck and lips and that after she ran from the room she was dropped from the national squad and accused of being a lesbian. One of the other players also claims Karim spread a rumour that she was a lesbian.

        An investigation was launched and Karim and four other members of the federation (AFF) were suspended by the Attorney General’s Office in Afghanistan, after the Guardian in November published allegations of abuse. Fifa said it was looking into the claims and suspended Karim two weeks ago for 90 days “which may be extended pending proceedings”.

        All the allegations have been put by the Guardian to Karim, who has not responded to requests for comment.

        One player said she was targeted after training when going to Karim’s office to ask for money to cover transport costs. “I asked for help. He started trying to come closer to me. He said: ‘I want to come closer to you, I want to see your body.’

        “I tried to ignore him, I was very polite to him. I said: ‘Listen, I need money for my transportation, I don’t have money. Can you help me? If you can’t, please let me go.’ He said he would help me and told me to wait. I said I wanted to go home. He said: ‘Don’t worry, I will give you money.’

        “The president told me to follow him to the next room. So I went with him. I thought he was going to help me. I followed him into the next room. He went into another room and there was another room off that which was very dark. Inside that room there was a door. But you can’t see the door; it looks like the wall, it is hard to see it’s a door. It was open. In there it was like a hotel room, a bedroom with everything inside and a bathroom. He told me to go in. I went in, he was behind me and he locked the door.

        “He told me to sit on the bed. I was worried, I was shaking. He said: ‘Today I want to find out what is behind your clothes.’ I was telling him: ‘Leave me alone, I want to go home.’ I stood up and I said I wanted to go home and he said to me: ‘Scream as much as you want, there won’t be anyone hearing you, they can’t hear you.’

        “Then he started pushing me towards the bed. I stood up again. I said: ‘Leave me alone, I only came for support, I don’t want it any more, please leave me alone, let me go.’

        “He was telling me … that today he would find out if I was a lesbian or not – because I was with girls a lot and I looked a little like a boy.

        “I stood up and tried to fight, but he punched me in the face. I fell on to the bed. I tried to rise and go to the door but because the door used his fingerprint it was not possible to open it without his fingerprint. So I couldn’t get out. He punched me on the face and on my mouth. Blood was coming from my nose and lips. He started beating me, I fell on to the bed, and everything went dark …

        “When I woke up, all my clothes were gone and there was blood everywhere. I was shaking, I didn’t know what happened to me. The bed was covered in blood, blood was coming from my mouth, nose and vagina. I went to the bathroom. I washed my face and put my clothes on. I went back and said: ‘I will go like this and I will tell the media what happened to me.’

        “He took a gun, his gun, put it on my head and said: ‘See what I have done to you? I can shoot you in the head and everywhere will be your brain. And I can do the same with your family. If you want your family to be alive you should keep quiet.’

        “Then he threw money at my face and told me to take it and get out. He said he didn’t want to see my face. He opened the door and I left.”

        Unable to tell her family what had happened, she made up a sporting injury. “I did not feel well. I found out through friends in the team that the president had spread a rumour that I was a lesbian and that he had caught me with another girl and that is why I was kicked out. That was depressing for me and very dangerous for me.”

        Her decision to speak out is not without risk. “I know that my family is in danger and I know they will be when more comes out. But I want to stand and speak about it because of the future of girls. I want girls to have a safe environment.”

        She said Karim’s behaviour was widely known inside and outside the squad. “It became acceptable around women’s football, his behaviour.”

        Why was it not reported to the authorities? “He has huge power inside the system and inside the government,” she said of Karim, a former governor of Panjshir province and chief of staff in the ministry of defence before he took over the presidency of the AFF in 2004. “No one can stand up against him because he is so powerful … Today the girls can’t raise their voice because they are afraid. They can get killed.”

        A second player said she was asked to go to Karim’s office by a member of the federation. “I was not aware of his character,” she said. She claims Karim sat with her on a sofa. “He started talking and flirting with me. He started touching my body and then he tried to kiss me. I started crying, I was scared and I was panicking, I was trying to push him away.”

        She says she screamed, attacked him and was able to escape his grasp. For one month, she says, she hid. “I was feeling so weak and I couldn’t share my story. At the same time I was receiving phone calls from the federation and especially from the president, pushing me, pressuring me to come back because it was destroying his image.”

        She returned but, she says, her ordeal was far from over. “The president, whenever I was going to training, was coming on to the pitch and in front of everyone saying I was not polite, I talked a lot, and was directly threatening me, saying he would cut my tongue to silence me. He was non-stop abusing me and harassing me.”

        One day she says she was early for training at the federation. “I was sitting on the benches waiting for the rest of the team. He saw I was there on the security cameras. He started calling me on the phone. I was ignoring it so he came out himself and told me to come. I had to follow him, there was nothing I could do. I had to cross four doors – he had gone ahead and had me on the phone giving me instructions of where to go.

        “After the four doors I was in a bedroom. It was like a five-star hotel with a mirror, modern furniture, a bed, women’s stuff, perfumes and stuff on the drawers. When I got there and saw that I started recalling the stories I had heard … I was scared and I started crying, I thought it was the end of my life.

        “The president was naked and was on the bed waiting for me. When I started crying he got up and ran towards me and held me and was trying to pull my scarf and dress away. He was attacking and tearing at my dress. I was crying, I was screaming, I was struggling. I was very lucky. He received a phone call; I started screaming, he pushed me away and tried to silence me but I didn’t stop screaming. He had no choice then and he opened the door. When he opened the door I ran.”

        A third player claimed she went to Karim’s office “to get his signature” when her ordeal started. “I was trying to push him away and he was trying to kiss my neck and lips. I was telling him to behave and that he was the age of my grandfather and how could he do it? He told me he didn’t know why I was behaving weird with him, that I was so friendly with him outside.

        “I said I thought he was just a friend he was very social, and he told me that ‘Our friendship is having sex at the end’. I said: ‘I hate to even hear these things, let me go.’ I was trying to push him away and I ran from the room.

        “The first thing he did was take me off the list of the national team for a training camp abroad. He then was insulting me in front of everyone and accused me of being a lesbian and kicked me out of the federation.”

        She claims she witnessed the verbal abuse of the second alleged victim: “She was crying, everyone saw, he was insulting her.”

        The investigations and public support from various government officials including the Afghan president, Ashraf Ghani, offer hope, but all three players say trust is low. “I can’t trust the government,” one said. Another claimed: “Karim is a very powerful guy in government. He has a lot of influence and he has money – he can buy people.” She urged Fifa and foreign governments active in Afghanistan to take action.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on December 27, 2018, 04:19:49 PM
        I'll risk stating the obvious: even if Afghanistan offers to host the MNT, it probably would not be wise to take up the offer. Being charitable with "probably".
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Mad Scorpion a/k/a Big Bo$$ on January 07, 2019, 10:11:12 AM
        Somebody need to beat dat f**ka to ah frazzle and leave him on the practice pitch with ah dildo in he mowt!
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: soccerman on January 07, 2019, 03:59:30 PM
        This morning on the radio I heard about R Kelly and his disgusting behavior towards young girls and women, now to read this....it have real sick men in this world. I hope FIFA and the gov't can bring him to justice, no place for that in this world.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on November 20, 2019, 01:33:50 PM
        'Very likely' that China hosts the 2030 FIFA World Cup: Granada CF (https://www.cnbc.com/video/2019/11/20/very-likely-that-china-hosts-the-2030-fifa-world-cup-granada-cf.html).

        Here's another moral dilemma awaiting FIFA. I think we all understand how it's going to work out.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on April 06, 2020, 09:55:26 PM
        Three Media Executives and Sports Marketing Company Indicted in FIFA Case
        Media Release, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of New York


        Former Executives from U.S. Broadcasting Company 21st Century Fox and Spanish Sports Media Company Imagina Media Audiovisual SL, along with Argentina-Based Sports Marketing Company Full Play Group S.A., Charged with Bribing Soccer Officials
        A 53-count third-superseding indictment (the “Indictment”) was unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging sports marketing executives Hernan Lopez and Carlos Martinez, formerly of 21st Century Fox, Inc. (“Fox”); Gerard Romy, former co-CEO of Spanish media company Imagina Media Audiovisual SL (“Imagina”); and Uruguayan sports marketing company Full Play Group S.A. (“Full Play”) (collectively, the “New Defendants”) with wire fraud, money laundering and related offenses – including, as to Romy and Full Play, racketeering conspiracy – in connection with the government’s long-running investigation and prosecution of corruption in organized soccer.  The Indictment, returned under seal by a federal grand jury on March 18, 2020, includes additional charges against certain defendants located overseas who were previously indicted and have yet to be extradited to the United States.

        Defendants Lopez, Martinez and Full Play are scheduled to be arraigned on April 9, 2020, before United States District Judge Pamela K. Chen in Brooklyn. 

        Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Ryan L. Korner, Special Agent-in-Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Los Angeles Field Office (IRS-CI), announced the charges.

        “The charges unsealed today reflect this Office’s ongoing commitment to rooting out corruption at the highest levels of international soccer and at the businesses engaged in promoting and broadcasting the sport,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue.  “Companies and individuals alike should understand that, regardless of their wealth or power, they will be brought to justice if they use the U.S. financial system to further corrupt ends.”  Mr. Donoghue extended his thanks to the agents and other investigative personnel at the FBI New York Eurasian Joint Organized Crime Squad, the FBI’s Integrity in Sport and Gaming Initiative and the IRS-CI Los Angeles Field Office, as well as their colleagues in the United States and abroad, for their continuing effort in this case.

        “The profiteering and bribery in international soccer have been deep-seated and commonly known practices for decades.  These men, along with the general public, have known the FBI New York and our many law enforcement partners are investigating the illicit handshakes and backroom deals hidden in the infrastructure of soccer events, venues and marketing contracts.  The first public charges date back to 2015. This should illustrate to everyone still hoping to score millions corruptly, we're going to find you,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Sweeney.

        “As charged in the Indictment, over a period of many years, the defendants and their co-conspirators corrupted the governance and business of international soccer with bribes and kickbacks, and engaged in criminal fraudulent schemes that caused significant harm to the sport of soccer.  Their schemes included the use of shell companies, sham consulting contracts and other concealment methods to disguise the bribes and kickback payments and make them appear legitimate.  IRS-CI is proud to have worked alongside our partners at the FBI to unravel this trail of deception,” stated IRS-CI Special Agent-in-Charge Korner.

        As alleged in the Indictment, FIFA and its six continental confederations – including the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (“CONCACAF”), headquartered in the United States, and the Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol (“CONMEBOL”), the confederation governing soccer in South America – together with affiliated regional federations, national member associations and sports marketing companies, constitute an enterprise of legal entities associated in fact for purposes of the federal racketeering laws.  The principal – and entirely legitimate – purpose of the enterprise is to regulate and promote the sport of soccer worldwide.  Consistent with previous indictments returned in the case, the Indictment alleges that over a period of more than two decades, the defendants and their co-conspirators corrupted the enterprise by engaging in various criminal activities, including fraud, bribery and money laundering.

        As set forth in the Indictment, the New Defendants used their positions in the world of international soccer to engage in schemes involving the solicitation, offer, acceptance, payment and receipt of bribes and kickbacks, principally to obtain lucrative broadcast rights to various international soccer tournaments and events.   For example, as alleged:

        Lopez and Martinez, formerly high-ranking executives of Fox subsidiaries responsible for developing and carrying out Fox’s sports broadcasting businesses in Latin America, joined Full Play and other co-conspirators in a scheme involving the annual payment of millions of dollars in bribes to officials of CONMEBOL in exchange for the lucrative broadcasting rights to the Copa Libertadores, the region’s most popular club tournament, among other events.  Lopez and Martinez also relied on loyalty secured through the payment of bribes to certain CONMEBOL officials to advance the business interests of Fox, including to obtain confidential bidding information for the rights to broadcast the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments in the United States, rights that Fox successfully obtained.
         
        Romy was a high-ranking executive and shareholder of Imagina, a privately held, multinational media conglomerate based in Barcelona, Spain, that owned various subsidiaries around the world, including in the United States.  Romy participated in schemes to pay millions of dollars to high-ranking officials of the Caribbean Football Union (“CFU”) and of federations within the Central American Football Union (“UNCAF”), both regional soccer unions operating under the CONCACAF umbrella, to secure the media and marketing rights to FIFA World Cup qualifier matches organized by federations within the CFU and UNCAF.  In connection with the CFU scheme, Romy and his co-conspirators agreed to pay Jeffrey Webb, a senior official of the CFU and the president of CONCACAF, a $3 million bribe in exchange for a share of a contract awarding the media and marketing rights to CFU members’ home World Cup qualifier matches for the 2018 and 2022 qualification cycles.
         
        Full Play, a sports marketing company incorporated in Uruguay, based in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and owned by father-and-son defendants Hugo Jinkis and Mariano Jinkis, participated in numerous schemes to pay bribes to officials of CONMEBOL and CONCACAF in exchange for media and marketing rights to various soccer events, including World Cup qualifier and friendly matches, the Copa Libertadores, and multiple editions of the Copa América, a national team tournament administered by CONMEBOL.  Hugo and Mariano Jinkis, charged in the first indictment in the case unsealed on May 27, 2015, are among the defendants charged in the Indictment and remain fugitives.
         
        In connection with the above schemes, the Indictment charges Romy and Full Play with RICO conspiracy and all four New Defendants with wire fraud and money laundering offenses.  Each of the offenses carries a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment, and, if convicted, each defendant faces mandatory restitution, forfeiture and a fine.

        Other schemes alleged in the Indictment relate to the payment and receipt of bribes and kickbacks in connection with, among other things, contracts for the media and marketing rights to additional soccer events and FIFA’s selection of the countries to host various editions of the World Cup, including the World Cup hosted by Russia in 2018 and the World Cup scheduled to be hosted by Qatar in 2022.

        The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

        The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Samuel P. Nitze, M. Kristin Mace, Keith D. Edelman, Patrick T. Hein, Kaitlin T. Farrell, David C. Pitluck and Brian D. Morris, with assistance provided by the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and Organized Crime and Gang Section.

        The New Defendants:

        HERNAN LOPEZ
        Age: 49
        Los Angeles, California

        CARLOS MARTINEZ
        Age: 51
        Doral, Florida

        GERARD ROMY
        Age: 65
        Barcelona, Spain

        FULL PLAY GROUP S.A.
        Buenos Aires, Argentina





        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on April 07, 2020, 03:25:15 AM
        US prosecutors allege bribes in 2018, 2022 World Cup votes
        By Ronald Blum, AP News


        Prosecutors revealed new details of alleged bribes paid to FIFA executive committee members to gain their votes for Qatar to host the 2022 World Cup and charged a pair of former 21st Century Fox executives with making illegal payments to win broadcast rights for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.

        An indictment unsealed Monday in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn says Nicolás Leoz, then president of the South American governing body CONMEBOL, and former Brazil federation president Ricardo Teixeira received bribes to vote for Qatar at the 2010 FIFA executive committee meeting.

        Jack Warner of Trinidad and Tobago, president of the North and Central American and Caribbean governing body CONCACAF, received $5 million in bribes to vote for Russia to host in 2018 from 10 different shell companies that included entities in Anguilla, Cyprus and the British Virgin Islands, the indictment alleged. Guatemala federation president Rafael Salguero was promised a $1 million bribe to vote for Russia, according to the indictment.

        Leoz, who died last August, avoided extradition, as have Warner and Teixeira. Salguero pleaded guilty in 2018 to two counts of wire fraud conspiracy and one count each of racketeering conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy.

        Alejandro Burzaco, former head of the marketing company Torneos y Competencias, testified in 2017 that all three South Americans on the FIFA executive committee took million-dollar bribes to support Qatar, which prevailed over the U.S. 14-8.

        Former 21st Century Fox Inc. executives Hernan Lopez and Carlos Martinez were charged Monday with making payments to CONMEBOL officials to obtain broadcast rights bidding information from a co-conspirator whose identify was not identified in the indictment.

        ESPN had U.S. English-language television rights to the World Cup from 1994-2014, but Fox in 2011 gained the rights for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments. After the 2022 tournament in Qatar was shifted from summer to late autumn, a time when it is likely to get less attention in the U.S., FIFA awarded Fox rights for 2026 without competitive bidding.

        Also charged in the indictment, handed up by a grand jury on March 18, are former Imagina Media Audiovisual CEO Gerard Romy; and the Uruguayan sports marketing company Full Play Group SA.

        The indictment includes charges of wire fraud and money laundering. The charges against Romy and Full Play also allege racketeering conspiracy.

        “The profiteering and bribery in international soccer have been deep-seated and commonly known practices for decades,” William F. Sweeney Jr., assistant director in charge of the FBI’s New York field office, said in a statement. “Over a period of many years, the defendants and their co-conspirators corrupted the governance and business of international soccer with bribes and kickbacks, and engaged in criminal fraudulent schemes that caused significant harm to the sport of soccer. Their schemes included the use of shell companies, sham consulting contracts and other concealment methods to disguise the bribes and kickback payments and make them appear legitimate.”

        Since the first indictments were announced in May 2015, there have been 26 publicly announced guilty pleas, many from former soccer officials, including CONCACAF general secretary Chuck Blazer.

        CONMEBOL president Juan Ángel Napout and Brazil federation president José Maria Marin were convicted following trials. Napout is in prison in Florida and Marin was released from a prison last week. Some individuals await sentencing.

        Lopez was CEO of Fox International Channels, a 21st Century Fox subsidiary, and Martinez was president of Fox International Channels and an executive of Fox Latin American Channel Inc. They are accused of joining with Full Play to pay million of dollars in bribes to CONMEBOL executives in exchange for rights to the Copa Libertadores, South America’s annual club championship.

        “It’s shocking that the government would bring such a thin case,” Lopez’s lawyer, Matthew D. Umhofer, said in an email. “The indictment contains nothing more than single paragraph about Mr. Lopez that alleges nothing remotely improper. Mr. Lopez can’t wait to defend himself at trial.”

        Steven J. McCool, Martinez’s attorney, said in an email: “We are certain a jury will swiftly exonerate Carlos, as the charges against him are nothing more than stale fiction.”

        Carlos Ortiz said Full Play intends to plead not guilty at Thursday’s arraignment and his client “looks forward to vigorously defending itself against all of the charges at trial.”

        Romy’s lawyer, Robert J. Giuffra Jr., declined comment. Fox Sports did not respond to a request for comment.

        Romy is accused with joining his alleged co-conspirators to pay a $3 million bribe to Jeffrey Webb, the former president of the North and Central American and Caribbean governing body CONCACAF, for media and marketing rights to home World Cup qualifiers in the Caribbean for the 2018 and 2022 cycles. Webb pleaded guilty on Nov. 23, 2015, to several counts and awaits sentencing.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: pull stones on April 07, 2020, 07:17:08 AM
        Nothing new here. but what we really want is something juicy on infantino and fat boy. these is the fellers who’s hurting us right now and it would be real nice to get them out the way, and it would be a lovely coconut frosting on the cake if montagliani was some how implicated in the melange to make it a fiesta royale.

        oh well, it’s not really bad to dream since that’s all we have in CFU to look forward too, the people even take away we little regional tournament that used to give us a little hope and something to look forward too. I still say CFU should have its own confederation, and why not?
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Flex on April 29, 2020, 02:49:49 PM
        Panama Papers, off-shore TV rights deals and Lauber meeting cover-ups return to bite Infantino
        By Andrew Warshaw (insideworldfootball).


        FIFA president Gianni Infantino is once again facing allegations of wrongdoing in his dealings with Switzerland’s under-fire attorney general Michael Lauber over a tv rights contract he handled when he worked as UEFA’s legal affairs director.

        The Tribune de Geneve newspaper claims Infantino is suspected of having intervened with Lauber, shortly after he was elected FIFA boss in succession to Sepp Blatter, to get an investigation dropped about his awarding of the contract in question.

        The paper says it has supporting documentation that shows Infantino met with Lauber in 2016 to “get rid of an investigation that threatened him personally”.

        Until recently, Lauber who led the Swiss side of the FIFAgate scandal, had been investigating several cases of suspected corruption dating back to 2014.

        Last month, however, Lauber, who has denied any wrongdoing, was sanctioned for disloyalty, lying and breaching his office’s code of conduct. He also had his pay cut for a year after a watchdog found he repeatedly told falsehoods and broke a prosecutors’ code of conduct.

        According to the Tribune de Geneve, Infantino was “worried” about a specific investigation and wrote to his childhood friend, Rinaldo Arnold, who had become a senior prosecutor in Switzerland’s Haut-Valais region where they grew up together.

        “I will try to explain to the OAG (attorney general’s office) that it is in my interests that everything should be cleared up as soon as possible, that it be clearly stated that I have nothing to do with this matter,” Infantino wrote in an email quoted by the newspaper.

        Arnold, who had helped to set up a first meeting between Infantino and Lauber, allegedly replied: “What is important is the meeting in two weeks’ time. If you like, I can come with you again.”

        That meeting took place on April 22, 2016, the newspaper said, adding that what happened during it remains “a mystery”, and the OAG “refuses to speak about it”.

        The contract in question first emerged in files released as part of the Panama Papers offshore tax haven affair four years ago which laid bare the activities of the rich and powerful. According to the Tribune de Geneve,  criminal proceedings were opened in April, 2016,  against an unknown person on suspicion of “unfair management” and “breach of trust” by the Public Ministry of the Swiss Confederation (MPC) following the revelations.

        According to the  Panama Papers file, the contract was signed off in 2006 to Argentine father and son Hugo and Mariano Jinkis who bought TV rights for the Champions League to be shown in Ecuador and then are reported to have immediately sold them on for almost three times the price.  The father and son TV rights dealers are among those indicted in the US in the FIFAgate scandal.

        FIFA has responded to the Tribune de Geneve story by telling agencies  “the email referred to in the article was obviously obtained by hacking, which is an illegal and criminal act.”

        It added the article was “completely taken out of context with the sole objective of misleading the reader”.

        “Not only Mr Infantino had no reason to lie in that email, the email never said Mr Infantino wanted to ‘clear his name’,” FIFA added.

        But the Tribune de Geneve suggests that between July and September 2016, there were more than 20 calls between Swiss prosecutors and FIFA lawyers.

        “Prosecutors have apparently helped FIFA formulate its requests” as a plaintiff so that they could be “accepted by the OAG” – an attitude which “seems incompatible with the OAG’s duty of impartiality”, the paper said.

        In November 2017, “after a third informal meeting” between Infantino and Lauber, the OAG reportedly closed the investigation into the contract.

        Contact the writer of this story at andrew.warshaw@insideworldfootball.com

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on April 30, 2020, 07:45:18 PM
        Fifa takes action after Swiss authorities drop part of Sepp Blatter investigation
        David Conn and Philip Oltermann, The Guardian


        Fifa is preparing to press the authorities in Switzerland to prosecute Sepp Blatter for alleged corruption, after the Swiss attorney general dropped part of its investigation despite police reports listing years of apparent gifts and payments provided to the then vice-president, Jack Warner, in return for votes for Blatter in Fifa presidential elections.

        Senior Fifa officials are understood to be considering all options if the case against Blatter is discontinued, potentially including suing the attorney general’s office for failing to prosecute.

        In two Swiss federal police reports seen by the Guardian, a conclusion is drawn that Warner wielded crucial votes to support Blatter and elect him Fifa president in 1998 and 2002 in return for “preferential treatment”, including TV contracts for the 2010 and 2014 World Cups.

        From 1990 to 2011 Warner was president of Concacaf – the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football – which had more than 40 countries as members and whose votes, invariably wielded as a bloc, were crucial in presidential elections.

        Blatter’s tenure as president of Fifa, from his successful 1998 election campaign to his fall in 2015, was marked throughout by corruption allegations, which he denied, but efforts to oppose him, mostly marshalled by the Scandinavian countries’ FAs, failed to garner sufficient votes.

        One police report states Warner and Concacaf had “already been granted a financial advantage in May 1998” a month before Blatter, previously the Fifa general-secretary, was elected president for the first time. The other report contains details of a 2005 contract signed by Blatter, granting the TV rights for the 2010 and 2014 World Cups to the Caribbean Football Union, of which Warner was also president.

        The report noted that a $14m payment from a broadcaster for the rights was diverted by means of a sub-agreement to a company owned by Warner. It states $3.78m was due back to Fifa under the terms of the agreement but the CFU never paid it and Fifa has never received it.

        “On the basis of the information at hand,” the police report states in its conclusion, “a link can be established between the preferential treatment of Warner and the Concacaf votes required for Blatter’s election at the Fifa presidential elections in the years 1998 and 2002.”

        In a statement the Swiss Office of the Attorney General confirmed it is ending one part of its investigation into Blatter for alleged “aggravated criminal mismanagement”. This was opened in September 2015 as his presidency collapsed under multiple anti-corruption proceedings, mainly mounted by the US Department of Justice. The OAG said the concluded part relates to “the criminal investigation’s facts and accusations regarding the contractual relationship with the Caribbean Football Union”.

        Although the OAG said it continues to pursue other areas of its investigation, officials at Fifa working under Gianni Infantino, who replaced Blatter in February 2016, are said to be intent on pressing the case. Fifa as an organisation is formally classed as a victim in the proceedings and is taking legal action for the return of any money found to have been illicitly paid out. Some unfavourable comparisons are being drawn between the lack of prosecutions in Switzerland five years since investigations began and multiple convictions secured by the US authorities.

        Blatter has not been charged by US authorities and maintains his innocence of any wrongdoing. His representative said he had no comment to make. Warner is indicted for multiple corruption offences in the US, which he rejects, and he is contesting extradition proceedings from his home island of Trinidad. He did not respond to an email from the Guardian about the contents of the Swiss police reports.

        A Fifa spokesperson said in an official statement: “Fifa will continue to cooperate with all law enforcement agencies, including those in Switzerland, in the hope and belief that all those responsible for causing harm to football will finally be held to account.”
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on April 30, 2020, 07:51:07 PM
        "Someone" is anticipating Blatter as an object in the mirror gaining on him and is trying to avoid that piece ah vengeance.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Flex on May 26, 2020, 07:54:48 AM
        Gayle questions FIFA as it moves to help Zimbabwean FA clear debt.
        By Narissa Fraser (Newsday).


        ATTORNEY Matthew Gayle wants to know FIFA’s “real motive” behind appointing a normalisation committee to the TT Football Association (TTFA). This was his response to news that the world governing body for football agreed to help the Zimbabwean Football Association (ZIFA) clear its debt.

        The Herald newspaper in Zimbabwe, on Saturday, reported that FIFA would “bail out” ZIFA of its US$10 million debt. It said auditors are currently verifying figures with organisations and individuals owed. “FIFA have approved two of the eight project applications, which ZIFA tendered, under the FIFA Forward Programme.

        “The other project which, was approved and will receive funding from Zurich, is the association’s restructuring.”

        But in March, FIFA removed the former TTFA executive and appointed a normalisation committee owing to “low financial management methods” and “a massive debt.”

        The TTFA currently has a debt of approximately TT$50 million – a significantly lower total than ZIFA.

        Gayle, along with attorney Dr Emir Crowne are representing the embattled TTFA executive in an appeal against the committee’s appointment to TT’s High Court.

        Speaking with Newsday on Sunday afternoon, Gayle said the decision shows the “inconsistency and unfairness” of FIFA’s actions against the TTFA.

        “And it does suggest to me – in my humble opinion – that the real motive for the removal was not quite what FIFA has stated it was.”

        He added, “As to how it would help the legal case, we would need some time to think through the implications of it and study the actual happenings on the ground as it were in Zimbabwe.”

        He said despite FIFA’s claim the normalisation committee – headed by businessman Robert Hadad – is the “only legitimate leader,” of the TTFA, the constitution says otherwise. “It’s not a matter of my belief, it’s clear the TTFA is governed by its constitution.

        “There are means for removal of the elected executive, and a normalisation committee is being appointed FIFA is not one of those ways.”

        He said unless their tenure comes to an end or they retire, they remain the “duly elected executive.”

        On Saturday, TTFA technical committee chairman Keith Look Loy told Newsday he finds the decision shows how “cynical and hypocritical” FIFA is.

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on May 28, 2020, 08:35:08 AM
        This morning on the radio I heard about R Kelly and his disgusting behavior towards young girls and women, now to read this....it have real sick men in this world. I hope FIFA and the gov't can bring him to justice, no place for that in this world.

        Returning to this in light of the 90-day sanction imposed on Jean-Bart. An arrest warrant was issued for Keramuudin Karim and he was banned for life and fined a million Swiss francs. And, there has been significant condemnation that the arrest warrant has not been converted into an actual arrest by Afghan authorities (barring any subsequent  developments, I understand this to be where things have stalled). If FIFA makes a consistent determination, Jean-Bart is staring at involuntary retirement from football's front line.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Flex on August 29, 2020, 01:48:56 PM
        Infantino’s FIFA sees commercial revenues stall as staff count doubles.
        By David Owen (Insideworldfootball).


        August 28 – Gianni Infantino’s New FIFA may have enjoyed the odd commercial success, notably with esports, but it has failed to reignite the body’s value as a marketing vehicle for international corporations. This has been treading water since FIFA was engulfed by reputational issues in the final days of the Blatter era.

        The world governing body’s newly-published 2019 annual report indicates that marketing was still struggling in comparison with other revenue streams as we moved into the first year of a new business cycle.

        Revealing that 2019 revenue totalled $766 million, the document states that this “exceeded the budget by six per cent, thanks to increases in all revenue sources except marketing rights”.

        At $165 million, revenue from marketing rights was “slightly below budget for the year”, but still five per cent up compared to the same period of the previous cycle, the report goes on.

        Based on the detailed budget for 2019 set out in FIFA’s 2017 financial report, it seems to me that that adverb “slightly” is being asked to do an awful lot of work in the preceding sentence.

        Projecting total revenue of $722 million – which is indeed six per cent less than the $766 million finally achieved – the budget puts the expected contribution of revenue from marketing rights at $231 million.

        So the $165 million total appears to have undershot budget by $66 million, or a whopping 28.5 per cent.

        As the new report states, it is at least somewhat higher than the restated figure of $157.2 million generated from marketing rights five years ago in 2015.

        Admittedly, year one of FIFA’s standard four-year cycle is far from the most significant in commercial terms.

        Under the organisation’s initial 2019-22 revenue budget, dating also from the 2017 financial report, marketing rights over the entire period were forecast to yield $1.885 billion.

        In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, this has now been revised down to $1.766 billion.

        That would represent an increase of not much more than six per cent from the $1.66 billion generated by marketing in 2015-18, which itself was only marginally higher than the $1.63 billion it produced in 2011-14 when Blatter was still in his pomp. In a world in which Apple has doubled its market capitalisation to around $2 trillion in about two years, that sequence is not exactly an example of explosive growth.

        FIFA’s current roster of Partners consists of Adidas, Coca-Cola, Wanda, Hyundai/Kia Motors, Qatar Airways and Visa.

        One of the areas where Infantino’s FIFA has, by contrast, shown impressive growth is employment.

        According to the new annual report, the number of full-time employees at the end of 2019 was 947.

        Given that the average number of employees in 2014 was 474, this means that FIFA’s headcount has almost exactly doubled in the space of about five years.

        Personnel expenses, unsurprisingly, have rocketed too, from a restated $107.2 million in 2015 to $199.4 million in 2019.

        The pandemic may well alter prevailing trends, but at this rate, the bill for staff over the full cycle could exceed $800 million.

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on September 16, 2020, 10:53:30 AM
        Julius Baer in talks to settle Fifa corruption case with US authorities
        By Harry Dempsey and  Owen Walker, Financial Times


        Julius Baer is in “advanced discussions” with the US Department of Justice to resolve allegations in a money laundering and corruption case linked to international football’s governing body Fifa, in a step towards drawing a line under the scandal for the Swiss bank.

        The Zurich-based group said in a statement on Wednesday that the talks may result in a payment of tens of millions of dollars to the DoJ.

        Since becoming chief executive last year, Philipp Rickenbacher has sought to distance Julius Baer from the regulatory probes that have dogged the group in recent years. He has also tried to move the private bank away from asset gathering, instead focusing on its most profitable clients.

        Fifa case relates to Jorge Luis Arzuaga, an Argentine who worked for Julius Baer, who pleaded guilty in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, in 2017 to facilitating payments from a sports marketing company to Fifa officials.

        The DoJ-led investigation into Fifa came to a head in 2015 and led to the resignation of Sepp Blatter, Fifa’s longtime president.

        In February Swiss market regulator Finma banned Julius Baer from making large acquisitions as part of a set of sanctions for its shortcomings in the fight against money laundering.

        Those related to alleged cases of corruption between 2009 and 2018, linked to Fifa and also Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), a state-owned oil and natural gas group.

        A German banker who worked for Julius Baer in Panama pleaded guilty in 2018 in the US to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with PDVSA funds.

        The announcement came as the bank said that at a shareholder meeting on November 2 it will propose paying out the second tranche of its 2019 dividend, which it split out of caution amid the coronavirus pandemic.

        Rival Swiss banks UBS and Credit Suisse have also indicated they intend to restart dividend payments this year, with UBS suggesting it may even resume share buybacks.

        Other European banks are unlikely to pay dividends until next year after the European Central Bank urged the lenders to freeze payments until January at the earliest.

        Shares in Julius Baer were flat on Wednesday.

        The bank said that it is seeking the resolution of legacy regulatory and legal matters and that it has co-operated on the case since 2015.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on September 16, 2020, 12:36:17 PM
        FIFA’s Former No. 2 Caught Up in Scandal Had $11 Million Debt
        By Hugo Miller, Bloomberg


        A former FIFA official accused of accepting nearly $1.5 million in bribes told the Greek businessman accused of paying him the cash to delete most of their correspondence.

        Jerome Valcke, FIFA’s former secretary general, sent the message to Dinos Deris in October 2016, six months before Swiss federal prosecutors opened a criminal investigation against the pair and a third businessman in March 2017.

        “Dinos, I think you should delete all correspondence between us except the one related to FIBA or SportUnited but anything else, just trash,” Valcke wrote in an email presented as evidence on Wednesday at Switzerland’s Federal Criminal Court. SportUnited is Valcke’s company, which had consulting and advisory contracts with organizations including FIBA, the International Basketball Federation.

        “I am a bit paranoiac these last months,” Valcke said in an separate email sent a minute later.

        Asked about that during cross-examination on his second day of testimony, Valcke said he didn’t have anything to reproach himself about.

        “I only wanted to make sure that those around me” who might get dragged into this unfairly “would be protected,” he said.

        The trial is the first in Switzerland to shed light on how Valcke and other senior FIFA officials were striking deals for media rights to the soccer tournaments around the globe that earn FIFA hundreds of millions of dollars. The scale of the money flowing between the sport’s governing body and its business partners became public after American and Swiss prosecutors opened probes into corruption allegations at FIFA in 2015.

        Earlier on Wednesday, Valcke told the court a 500,000-euro ($593,000) payment that he was accused of accepting as a bribe from the Greek businessman was actually a loan. Valcke said he needed help to cover more than 10 million Swiss francs ($11 million) in personal debt. He had previously told Swiss prosecutors during interviews in 2017 that his debts were closer to 4 million francs.

        His bank, Credit Suisse Group AG, “wouldn’t give me a cent more,” Valcke told authorities in 2017 testimony read out in court Wednesday. “I don’t have a lot of people I can ask money from. I had to find someone who would lend me money, so I asked Dinos.”

        Valcke was in the administration of FIFA head Joseph “Sepp” Blatter, who ended up resigning. Most of FIFA’s board was replaced after the bribery probes and a series of early morning raids in high-end hotels near its headquarters.

        In April 2014, Valcke wrote to Deris, asking for a second loan after having secured an initial 500,000 euros.

        “Hi Dinos, One question,” he wrote in the email shown as evidence to the court on Wednesday. “Long story short. I have to find 1 million euros !! Can you make me a loan payable back either next December on our future business.”

        Valcke told the court his debts stemmed from the purchase of two homes in Switzerland worth 7 million francs as well as a 34-meter (112-foot) boat valued at more than 2 million francs. He also stands accused of aggravated criminal mismanagement related to his failure to tell FIFA about financial help he received to buy a third property, a villa in Sardinia.

        Valcke told the court he rejected the allegation of bribery and had never accepted money, other than a loan from the Greek.

        “I didn’t arrange a corrupt deal with Dinos Deris,” he said. Still, the court learned on Wednesday that Valcke was aware his behavior with Deris was viewed suspiciously.

        In a February 2014, Valcke emailed Deris, saying he had been told that morning that some people “are asking questions about you and why I protect you.”

        Deris is charged with bribery for 1.25 million euros he allegedly paid Valcke in exchange for favorable treatment of his bid for Greek and Italian media rights for 12 years of tournaments.

        Deris isn’t attending the trial because he is unwell, said his lawyer Alec Reymond but the judges decided he will face prosecution in absentia. Reymond said the whole trial is flawed and argued unsuccessful that it should be delayed because of an ongoing scandal involving Swiss Attorney General Michael Lauber’s undocumented meetings with FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

        Lauber resigned his post in July and is likely facing a criminal probe over the meetings he held with Infantino as part of his investigation into corruption at the organization. A specially-appointed prosecutor is already investigating Infantino.

        FIFA has said the meetings were legitimate and legal. Lauber said he accepted a Swiss court’s sanction of him in July but “rejected the accusation of lying.”

        Nasser Al-Khelaifi, chairman of BeIn Media Group, is accused of inciting Valcke to not tell FIFA about help he received from the Qatari to buy the Sardinian villa. At issue is whether Al-Khelaifi directly helped Valcke to buy the villa and use it for free given that BeIn Media was the sole bidder for the Middle Eastern media rights to the 2026 and 2030 World Cups.

        A rental contract for the villa was signed by Abdelkader Bessedik, an associate of Al-Khelaifi, according to news reports. Al-Khelaifi is also chairman of Paris Saint-Germain, one of France’s biggest soccer teams.

        The court on Wednesday was shown a BlackBerry Messenger message Valcke sent to his wife and an email he sent to the broker for the villa indicating that Al-Khelaifi was the buyer. Al-Khelaifi responded that he hadn’t sent the BlackBerry message to Valcke and had never spoken to the broker.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on September 16, 2020, 12:40:34 PM
        It’s a huge number': Fifa believes football has lost £11.1bn to Covid
        By Paul MacInnes, The Guardian


        Football across the world lost $14.4bn (£11.1bn) during the coronavirus crisis, analysis conducted by Fifa suggests. The governing body of the global game has revealed that 150 of its 211 member associations have applied for emergency Covid grants, with one executive describing the situation as “impossible” for Fifa to mitigate alone.

        The effect of the pandemic is estimated to have wiped $14.4bn from club and international football, even with restarts taken into account. “It’s a huge number and it covers the football economy in its entirety,” said Olli Rehn, the chairman of the Fifa Covid-19 relief plan steering committee. “It cannot be an exact figure, but it is an estimate of losses in 211 member associations.”

        Fifa estimates that the club game generates $40-45bn annually. Rehn says that whereas European clubs have lost the most money in total, the relative losses incurred elsewhere are much greater, with Latin America and Brazil in particular seriously affected. These estimates are Fifa’s baseline scenario.

        “If you look at the breakdown of losses in absolute and relative terms, European clubs and member associations were most impacted in absolute figures,” he said. “But relatively those outside Europe have struggled more, especially in Latin America, mainly as a result of revenue mix and season timing. Smaller countries that are dependent on Fifa will actually be hit least.”

        Rehn, a former European commissioner and head of the bank of Finland, said: “The loss under any scenario was too great for Fifa to mitigate alone. We are working very intensively with confederations to improve the situation.”

        This summer Fifa announced a $1.5bn programme of grants and loans designed to help its members. Each association was entitled to $1.5m in grants, with a third of that figure ringfenced for the development of the women’s game.

        Rehn said the majority of associations had applied for the women’s game grants, which he insisted would be subject to strict regulations that would stop the money being spent on other purposes. “Conditions are constructed so that you cannot use it, for example, for building new pitches,” he said. “Fifa’s funding flows are transparent. All beneficiaries have to account for ever single cent to auditors … We have learned our lesson and we are improving our actions.”
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on September 24, 2020, 12:36:06 PM
        FIFA’s Former No. 2 Caught Up in Scandal Had $11 Million Debt
        By Hugo Miller, Bloomberg


        A former FIFA official accused of accepting nearly $1.5 million in bribes told the Greek businessman accused of paying him the cash to delete most of their correspondence.

        Jerome Valcke, FIFA’s former secretary general, sent the message to Dinos Deris in October 2016, six months before Swiss federal prosecutors opened a criminal investigation against the pair and a third businessman in March 2017.

        “Dinos, I think you should delete all correspondence between us except the one related to FIBA or SportUnited but anything else, just trash,” Valcke wrote in an email presented as evidence on Wednesday at Switzerland’s Federal Criminal Court. SportUnited is Valcke’s company, which had consulting and advisory contracts with organizations including FIBA, the International Basketball Federation.

        “I am a bit paranoiac these last months,” Valcke said in an separate email sent a minute later.

        Asked about that during cross-examination on his second day of testimony, Valcke said he didn’t have anything to reproach himself about.

        “I only wanted to make sure that those around me” who might get dragged into this unfairly “would be protected,” he said.

        The trial is the first in Switzerland to shed light on how Valcke and other senior FIFA officials were striking deals for media rights to the soccer tournaments around the globe that earn FIFA hundreds of millions of dollars. The scale of the money flowing between the sport’s governing body and its business partners became public after American and Swiss prosecutors opened probes into corruption allegations at FIFA in 2015.

        Earlier on Wednesday, Valcke told the court a 500,000-euro ($593,000) payment that he was accused of accepting as a bribe from the Greek businessman was actually a loan. Valcke said he needed help to cover more than 10 million Swiss francs ($11 million) in personal debt. He had previously told Swiss prosecutors during interviews in 2017 that his debts were closer to 4 million francs.

        His bank, Credit Suisse Group AG, “wouldn’t give me a cent more,” Valcke told authorities in 2017 testimony read out in court Wednesday. “I don’t have a lot of people I can ask money from. I had to find someone who would lend me money, so I asked Dinos.”

        Valcke was in the administration of FIFA head Joseph “Sepp” Blatter, who ended up resigning. Most of FIFA’s board was replaced after the bribery probes and a series of early morning raids in high-end hotels near its headquarters.

        In April 2014, Valcke wrote to Deris, asking for a second loan after having secured an initial 500,000 euros.

        “Hi Dinos, One question,” he wrote in the email shown as evidence to the court on Wednesday. “Long story short. I have to find 1 million euros !! Can you make me a loan payable back either next December on our future business.”

        Valcke told the court his debts stemmed from the purchase of two homes in Switzerland worth 7 million francs as well as a 34-meter (112-foot) boat valued at more than 2 million francs. He also stands accused of aggravated criminal mismanagement related to his failure to tell FIFA about financial help he received to buy a third property, a villa in Sardinia.

        Valcke told the court he rejected the allegation of bribery and had never accepted money, other than a loan from the Greek.

        “I didn’t arrange a corrupt deal with Dinos Deris,” he said. Still, the court learned on Wednesday that Valcke was aware his behavior with Deris was viewed suspiciously.

        In a February 2014, Valcke emailed Deris, saying he had been told that morning that some people “are asking questions about you and why I protect you.”

        Deris is charged with bribery for 1.25 million euros he allegedly paid Valcke in exchange for favorable treatment of his bid for Greek and Italian media rights for 12 years of tournaments.

        Deris isn’t attending the trial because he is unwell, said his lawyer Alec Reymond but the judges decided he will face prosecution in absentia. Reymond said the whole trial is flawed and argued unsuccessful that it should be delayed because of an ongoing scandal involving Swiss Attorney General Michael Lauber’s undocumented meetings with FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

        Lauber resigned his post in July and is likely facing a criminal probe over the meetings he held with Infantino as part of his investigation into corruption at the organization. A specially-appointed prosecutor is already investigating Infantino.

        FIFA has said the meetings were legitimate and legal. Lauber said he accepted a Swiss court’s sanction of him in July but “rejected the accusation of lying.”

        Nasser Al-Khelaifi, chairman of BeIn Media Group, is accused of inciting Valcke to not tell FIFA about help he received from the Qatari to buy the Sardinian villa. At issue is whether Al-Khelaifi directly helped Valcke to buy the villa and use it for free given that BeIn Media was the sole bidder for the Middle Eastern media rights to the 2026 and 2030 World Cups.

        A rental contract for the villa was signed by Abdelkader Bessedik, an associate of Al-Khelaifi, according to news reports. Al-Khelaifi is also chairman of Paris Saint-Germain, one of France’s biggest soccer teams.

        The court on Wednesday was shown a BlackBerry Messenger message Valcke sent to his wife and an email he sent to the broker for the villa indicating that Al-Khelaifi was the buyer. Al-Khelaifi responded that he hadn’t sent the BlackBerry message to Valcke and had never spoken to the broker.

        The verdict is to be issued on October 30 per an announcement by the court, today.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on September 24, 2020, 12:40:14 PM
        Swiss parliament picks special prosecutor for FIFA case duty
        The Index Journal


        The Swiss parliament appointed special prosecutor Stefan Keller on Wednesday to investigate former attorney general Michael Lauber for his meetings with FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

        Criminal proceedings were opened against Infantino in July when Keller said he found “elements that make up reprehensible behavior” linked to meetings with Lauber in 2016 and 2017.

        Swiss lawmakers had previously met Keller’s request to lift the immunity from prosecution from which Lauber had benefited in the job he left last month.

        In a vote Wednesday, lawmakers confirmed Keller as the only candidate for the investigative role over Lauber, who led a long-running and ongoing series of criminal proceedings linked to international soccer officials.

        Lauber was recused from the FIFA investigation last year and disciplined in March amid fallout from media reports which revealed the Infantino meetings where neither took notes. Both have said they cannot recall details of their June 2017 meeting.

        Lauber now faces questioning for potential abuse of public office and breach of official secrecy.

        Infantino and a Swiss regional prosecutor, his childhood friend Rinaldo Arnold, are suspected of inciting Lauber. They all deny wrongdoing.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on November 06, 2020, 09:45:37 AM
        New FIFA laws will see agents' transfer earnings published
        SportsPro Media


        The sport's global governing body has begun a third round of consultation on the new regulations, after admitting it had been a 'mistake' by the old Fifa regime to deregulate agents in 2015.

        The regulations will include a licensing system, character tests, commission caps and the publication by Fifa of the money agents receive from their clients – both players and clubs.

        It will also prohibit conflicts of interest, such as club or national association officials owning stakes in player agencies. It has been reported that Fosun, owners of Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers, hold a stake in super-agent Jorge Mendes’ firm Gestifute via a subsidiary, which would be in breach of the rules when they come in.

        Agents will be consulted between now and the spring of 2021, and they will all receive the draft regulations and be asked for feedback. The regulations will then go forward for Fifa's governing council to approve between March and June next year before coming into force in September.

        The rules eliminate triple representation – where an agent represents the player, the buyer and the seller – and also place a ban on dual representation, except where the agent represents the player and the buying club.

        Fifa has acted to stop what it sees as 'excessive and abusive' practices among agents.

        Commission will be capped at three per cent of a player’s salary when representing a player, three per cent of a player’s salary when representing the buyer and six per cent when the same agent represents both the player and the buyer.

        An agent representing a selling club can earn a maximum of ten per cent of the transfer value.

        Ultimately, Fifa intends that these commissions will not be paid directly from a client to an agent, but instead go through a clearing house system.

        Fifa found that in 2019, just under UK£500 million (US$651 million) was spent on commission fees worldwide.

        There will be no cap on any other services they charge clients for. Representation agreements will be allowed to run for a maximum of two years, and it will be a breach of the regulations for an agent to approach a player under such an agreement before it enters its final two months.

        Asked why the only cap was on commission, Fifa director of soccer regulatory James Kitching said: “It’s a matter of perception.

        “If I’m telling somebody, ‘I’ll take ten per cent’ somebody might think that’s a small number and that’s fine.

        “But if it’s ten per cent of UK£20 million, that changes the perception. We need to change the perception and the activity in the market.

        “Many of the practices which we describe as excessive and abusive derive from the types of commission payments that we’re describing right now. What we’re trying to do is bring in basic service standards.

        “I’m not saying large numbers automatically lead to abusive practices, but an agent who acts on your behalf has a fiduciary duty to act in your best interests. Sometimes big numbers may cause an agent to not act in the best interests of the client.”

        Fifa believes its regulations will stand up to EU antitrust law, amid expected challenges over restraint of trade from agents.

        Kitching said while existing representation agreements would be able to run their natural course beyond the date when the new regulations come in, he said there would be no transition period over conflicts of interest.

        “There’s enough time between when the regulations have passed the Council for anything which is in violation of the regulations to be corrected in our view,” he said.

        The rules will also bar family members from acting for a player in transfer deals unless the family member is a licensed agent.

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: Flex on November 22, 2020, 03:26:39 PM
        Urling: T&T, C'bean nations need proper CFU representation
        By Walter Alibey (T&T Guardian).


        FIFA must increase funding for CFU

        Clinton Urling, former chairman of the 2014 FIFA Normalisation Committee appointed in Guyana.

        Former chairman Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Normalisation Committee, Clinton Urling, is calling for proper representation from the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) if countries like T&T and other regional nations are to combat the issues of finance they are all susceptible too.

        Urling who bashed the T&T Football Association's (TTFA) executive for its role in challenging the FIFA for appointing a Normalisation Committee to manage the sport in the country in March, said the time has come for CFU administrators to not just appear at CONCACAF and FIFA meetings and say nothing, but to highlight the financial difficulties regional Member Associations face on a daily basis, and still attempt to compete at international tournaments.

        "The reality is, and this is the problem with Caribbean football, not just Trinidad or Guyana, the ability to generate significant funding, is far deficient compared to the ability to pay or to run programmes effectively. To run a football programme for a country and engage in all these requirements, because every country has requirements, you have to engage in compulsory international tournaments and so on, and the cost of pulling those off, out-weighs the ability of the association to raise funds to do that," Urling said.

        He noted further: "Even with the subventions coming from FIFA it is still not enough, and that's the problem I have with Caribbean football, we have a lot of these guys, they end up going to CONCACAF and they sit on these boards and they are happy they got positions and they get to travel, but nobody is out there lobbying and talking these things that I am telling you now.

        "These federations, they just can't survive, in fact, all of them are in debt, not just Trinidad but almost all of them. And if they are not in debt the programmes have to suffer because you really can't afford to pull them off the way you should, to compete globally and internationally. And until the Caribbean gets effective representation at CONCACAF and at FIFA, that will always be an issue.

        "Even if this Normalisation Committee pays the whole debt off, fixes the constitution, change everything there would still be a problem. Trinidad has one of the better football programmes, if not the best in the Caribbean. The players are international players and so forth, and for Trinidad to pull off all the different teams from the various age groups and levels, and then you have grassroots and beach football and all these different things, that subvention can't do anything.

        "And now it's exacerbated with COVID-19 for all the territories, so I really hope that Caribbean football gets people who are serious about leading and not just showing up at these things, but advocating to say look we need change and more subventions should be coming to federations across the region."

        Urling explained that the GFF is still in huge debt from its participation at the 2018 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

        FIFA provides annual subventions of US$1.2 million to its member associations and according to a newspaper report recently, at the TTFA, more than 50 per cent of it is used to pay salaries etc.

        Only last week, the TTFA was accepted back into the fold of FIFA after serving a nearly two-month suspension for violation of the FIFA Statutes that prevented the country from participation at FIFA-sanctioned regional and international events.

        Its decision to lift the suspension on November 19 came with a huge sigh of relief, after desperate efforts from the membership of the local football and the Court of Appeal to honour the requests of FIFA.

        It means also that FIFA-appointed normalisation committee which has a mandate to: run the TTFA's daily affairs; to establish a debt repayment plan that is implementable by the TTFA; to review and amend the TTFA Statutes (and other regulations where necessary) and to ensure their compliance with the FIFA Statutes and requirements before duly submitting them for approval to the TTFA Congress, and to organise and to conduct elections of a new TTFA Executive Committee for a four-year mandate, is now well in trained.

        The TTFA has been saddled with a debt of between $50-$80 million, which is expected to be cleared by FIFA. Urling though said he is unsure of whether that debt will be cleared by FIFA or what decision will be put towards it, as he described it as a huge debt.

        In a Guardian Media Sports report, some two weeks ago a source revealed that FIFA was expected to cover the debt in full via a loan to the TTFA and deduct it from the yearly subvention.

        Urling believes the FIFA should implement review committees for each territorial administration to overlook the programmes and keep the executives in check.

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on November 24, 2020, 05:44:31 AM
        Adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee sanctions Ahmad Ahmad
        FIFA Media Release


        The adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee has found Ahmad Ahmad, the President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and a FIFA Vice-President, guilty of having breached art. 15 (Duty of loyalty), art. 20 (Offering and accepting gifts or other benefits) and art. 25 (Abuse of position) of the 2020 edition of the FIFA Code of Ethics, as well as art. 28 (Misappropriation of funds) of the 2018 edition.

        The investigation into Mr Ahmad’s conduct in his position as CAF President during the period from 2017 to 2019 concerned various CAF-related governance issues, including the organisation and financing of an Umrah pilgrimage to Mecca, his involvement in CAF’s dealings with the sports equipment company Tactical Steel and other activities.

        In its decision, following an extensive hearing, the adjudicatory chamber ruled that, based on information gathered by the investigatory chamber, Mr Ahmad had breached his duty of loyalty, offered gifts and other benefits, mismanaged funds and abused his position as the CAF President, pursuant to the FIFA Code of Ethics.

        Consequently, the adjudicatory chamber found that Mr Ahmad had breached arts 15, 20 and 25 of the current edition of the FIFA Code of Ethics, as well as art. 28 of the 2018 edition, and sanctioned him with a ban from all football-related activity (administrative, sports or any other) at both national and international level for five years. In addition, a fine in the amount of CHF 200,000 has been imposed on Mr Ahmad.

        The terms of the decision were notified to Mr Ahmad today, the date on which the ban comes into force. In accordance with art. 78 par. 2 of the FIFA Code of Ethics, the full, motivated decision will be notified to Mr Ahmad in the next 60 days, after which it will be published on legal.fifa.com.

        Title: FIFA extends exemptions for players to skip national call-up
        Post by: Trini _2026 on February 07, 2021, 08:48:01 AM
        FIFA extends exemptions for players to skip national call-up
        https://ca.news.yahoo.com/fifa-extends-exemptions-players-skip-170745341.html

        FIFA extended an easing of its rules on Friday that frees clubs during the coronavirus pandemic from obligations to release all players to national teams.

        The decision came with 135 national teams set to play World Cup qualifying games in March, and 48 more playing African Cup of Nations qualifiers.

        The scheduled games involve more than 3,000 players -- many with clubs in Europe -- set to fly around the world to join national teams.

        Players who face mandatory quarantine of at least five days on any part of their intended journey, or government-imposed border restrictions that do not exempt professional sports, can be excused call-ups by their national team.

        The exemptions were introduced late last year as international soccer resumed amid a backlog of World Cup qualifiers in Asia and South America. Only one game was played in Asia in the whole of 2020.

        FIFA president Gianni Infantino said this week at a World Health Organization briefing in Geneva that no health risks would be taken trying to fulfil all the fixtures.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on March 15, 2021, 10:04:09 PM
        Véron Mosengo-Omba appointed CAF General Secretary
        FIFA News


        FIFA confirms that Véron Mosengo-Omba will leave his role as Chief Officer of the FIFA member associations (MAs) division with immediate effect to take on the position of CAF General Secretary.

        Mr Mosengo-Omba initially joined FIFA in 2016 as Regional Member Associations Director with responsibility for Africa and the Caribbean, and subsequently spent the past two years supporting all FIFA 211 MAs to implement the FIFA Forward development programme, as well as managing relationships with all FIFA MAs and continental confederations in his role as Chief Officer of the division.

        A native of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mr Mosengo-Omba was particularly involved in supporting the 54 African MAs in their FIFA Forward projects, in the development of youth and women’s football throughout the continent, and in the recent implementation of the FIFA Covid-19 Relief Plan.

        FIFA President Gianni Infantino and FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura issued a joint statement expressing their gratitude for the work that Mr Mosengo-Omba has overseen at FIFA.

        “On behalf of all of FIFA, we would like to thank Véron Mosengo-Omba for his excellent work and wish him the very best of luck in his next challenge as CAF General Secretary," it read. "FIFA also looks forward to working with him on future projects in helping to project African football to the summit of world football.”
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on March 16, 2021, 05:25:56 AM
        Quite the reward.
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on August 19, 2021, 05:28:49 AM
        Guilty plea possible from El Salvador ex-soccer chief in FIFA corruption probe
        By Jonathan Stempel, Reuters


        The former president of El Salvador's soccer federation may enter a guilty plea next Monday over his alleged role in a sprawling corruption probe surrounding FIFA and other soccer governing bodies, court records show.

        A change-of-plea hearing has been scheduled in the U.S. District Court in Brooklyn for Reynaldo Vasquez, the former president of the Federacion Salvadorena de Futbol (FESFUT), or the Salvadoran Football Federation.

        Vasquez, who led FESFUT in 2009 and 2010, had in January pleaded not guilty to charges including racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering.

        U.S. prosecutors have said Vasquez accepted bribes from a company called Media World, in exchange for helping arrange media rights to qualifier matches for the 2014 World Cup.

        He was also accused of involvement in a bribery scheme to arrange friendly matches involving the men's national soccer teams of El Salvador, Costa Rica and Guatemala.

        A lawyer for Vasquez did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Vasquez's plea was not discussed at a Tuesday conference concerning several defendants before U.S. District Judge Pamela Chen in Brooklyn.

        Vasquez was arrested in December 2015 after first being charged. He was extradited in January from El Salvador, where he had been serving an eight-year sentence for fraud. read more

        FIFA banned Vasquez for life and fined him 500,000 Swiss francs in October 2019 after an internal ethics committee found him guilty of bribery.

        Since the U.S. Department of Justice unveiled the corruption probe in 2015, more than 40 defendants have been criminally charged, and at least 30 have pleaded guilty.

        Two defendants, former Brazilian soccer chief Jose Maria Marin and former CONMEBOL head Juan Angel Napout of Paraguay, were convicted at trial in 2017.

        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: asylumseeker on July 24, 2022, 09:20:13 AM
        At 6:01 am tomorrow (T&T time), there could be another Normalization Committee instituted within the CONCACAF region. The Gov't of El Salvador "played smart" and took a leaf out of FIFA's playbook in imposing a "Normalizing Committee" on the Salvadoran federation. Unsurprisingly, FIFA --- not favorable to governments batting on its wicket --- issued an ultimatum.

        So, come Monday anything El Salvador football could be out in the cold. 

        Take a peak at the pro league schedule in El Salvador and you'll find that the matches are postponed.

        Apparently it doesn't sit well for an Attorney General to issue an order to raid a federation's offices.  :devil:
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: ABTrini on July 24, 2022, 09:52:15 AM
        One really has to wonder how is it that one entity could monopolize the governance of this sport? Operating like the IMF,  if you pump up assets in countries, you most likely have to protect those assets and look for returns.

        There is such a dependency on some countries for FIFA funds  and if you are astute enough, and be loyal enough, there appears to be opportunities for  monetary gains-  I am sure that if one was to do the research you could unearth those Local footballing  entities with leaders who have profited from football- be it with real estate assets  or otherwise; at the expense of football development and or progress.

        TNT ' golden period'  is over -2006. Every one who was supposed to gin from that well orchestrated planning- seeding of teams  playoffs  go  their just rewards but at the end of it all- our football governance  has entered  a dark period; our national teams have faltered and we are led by a Normalization committee who has not unveiled any substantial plans  of how to get us back to a competent stage of governance.

        No one seems to be asking questions- how long is this supposed transitioning suppose to occur? What will a transition look like? What have been accomplished to this date to right the ship? who has held this caretake committee  accountable for operations? Is there a role for government to play is  demanding accountability?

        Why and how did FIFA get the powers to  operate like an imperialistic entity and hold  countries at ransom? Are the  football assets in each country owned or controlled by FIFA?  are governments in some way puppets to FIFA?

        Like professional leagues in UK, Europe and North America, what if countries wanted to  have independent  world tournaments  not sanctioned by FIFA? I think after these years, it it time to  revamp and  counties rid themselves hostage of  a monopolizing world body  that acts like a super power in this sport!!!
        Title: Re: FIFA News Thread.
        Post by: kounty on July 25, 2022, 06:49:25 AM
        One really has to wonder how is it that one entity could monopolize the governance of this sport? Operating like the IMF,  if you pump up assets in countries, you most likely have to protect those assets and look for returns.
        ...

        Like professional leagues in UK, Europe and North America, what if countries wanted to  have independent  world tournaments  not sanctioned by FIFA? I think after these years, it it time to  revamp and  counties rid themselves hostage of  a monopolizing world body  that acts like a super power in this sport!!!
        :thumbsup:
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