I wonder when we will get the names of the 14 individuals that are being held.
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.
Looking at that list, a lot of this is directly related to the Andrew Jennings allegations regarding ISL, Warner's (alleged) misappropriation of FIFA funds and media & ticketing rights filtered through shell companies owned by various leeches and hangers-on
Blatter will escape - as he always has done - but at least Jennings looks like finally being rewarded for all the work he's done uncovering and exposing the filth and corruption partly in South American but mainly in Caribbean football.
Looking at that list, a lot of this is directly related to the Andrew Jennings allegations regarding ISL, Warner's (alleged) misappropriation of FIFA funds and media & ticketing rights filtered through shell companies owned by various leeches and hangers-on
Blatter will escape - as he always has done - but at least Jennings looks like finally being rewarded for all the work he's done uncovering and exposing the filth and corruption partly in South American but mainly in Caribbean football.
He's just been on PM. Rivetting, appalling, laugh out loud stuff.
Seems that the FBI used him extensively.
He praised Panorama for backing him, but laid into the rest of the media, including BBC Sport for ignoring his work and instead parroting FIFA press releases. He's got a good point although its a bit unfair on Gary Lineker.
Looking at that list, a lot of this is directly related to the Andrew Jennings allegations regarding ISL, Warner's (alleged) misappropriation of FIFA funds and media & ticketing rights filtered through shell companies owned by various leeches and hangers-on
Blatter will escape - as he always has done - but at least Jennings looks like finally being rewarded for all the work he's done uncovering and exposing the filth and corruption partly in South American but mainly in Caribbean football.
He's just been on PM. Rivetting, appalling, laugh out loud stuff.
Seems that the FBI used him extensively.
He praised Panorama for backing him, but laid into the rest of the media, including BBC Sport for ignoring his work and instead parroting FIFA press releases. He's got a good point although its a bit unfair on Gary Lineker.
Looking at that list, a lot of this is directly related to the Andrew Jennings allegations regarding ISL, Warner's (alleged) misappropriation of FIFA funds and media & ticketing rights filtered through shell companies owned by various leeches and hangers-on
Blatter will escape - as he always has done - but at least Jennings looks like finally being rewarded for all the work he's done uncovering and exposing the filth and corruption partly in South American but mainly in Caribbean football.
Looking at that list, a lot of this is directly related to the Andrew Jennings allegations regarding ISL, Warner's (alleged) misappropriation of FIFA funds and media & ticketing rights filtered through shell companies owned by various leeches and hangers-on
Blatter will escape - as he always has done - but at least Jennings looks like finally being rewarded for all the work he's done uncovering and exposing the filth and corruption partly in South American but mainly in Caribbean football.
He's just been on PM. Rivetting, appalling, laugh out loud stuff.
Seems that the FBI used him extensively.
He praised Panorama for backing him, but laid into the rest of the media, including BBC Sport for ignoring his work and instead parroting FIFA press releases. He's got a good point although its a bit unfair on Gary Lineker.
BBC stuck between a rock and a hard place on that. The Panorama piece was a pretty brave one - even though it ended up being really, really watered down - because they knew they were on a hiding to nothing. It was obvious that Blatter would just use it as a way of punishing the English bid (convincing all the countries ranked 100-200 in the world that it was the British just being racist and exhibiting sour grapes). Where they've gone wrong is in not doing anything to ram home the point about corruption since the Russia/Qatar fiasco - I honestly think that awarding the world cup to Qatar is hands-down the stupidest, most inconceivably ridiculous decision ever taken in world sport. The fact that Andrew Jennings was never sued by Blatter/Warner etc despite putting his allegations in print and shouting about them for years should have made at least someone take note. The BBC should have had the bollocks to back him after it became obvious he wasn't going to be sued.
If this lot are tried and convicted in the USA under RICO laws, they stand to do around twenty years inside a federal penitentiary with no parole .. ouch !!
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.
He isnt going to get away with it, he has gotten away with it, will never be bought to book, will get elected and will last this one last term amd then leave and then.the new president will be the one who finds the mess and hides it for the benefit of fifa as a body
I honestly don't think so. The Yanks said "this is just the beginning"
On top of that it may only just be dawning on the Yanks that this probably the most popular foreign policy move they made since they liberated Plzen in 1945.They've raised global expectations very high.
I honestly don't think so. The Yanks said "this is just the beginning"
On top of that it may only just be dawning on the Yanks that this probably the most popular foreign policy move they made since they liberated Plzen in 1945.They've raised global expectations very high.
Russians aren't too happy though...:-)
Let's hope so PA but he's proved to be a slippery bastard so far. Depends what Warner and Blazer have on him ...that may be the telling point as they will talk.
We, all of us on this message board know the answer and knew the answer in 2010. Boycott FIFA. If the Apparently squeaky associations of England, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Holland. I could go on, all fucked off and refused to recognise FIFA authority this would have happened sooner.
This can still happen but the English FA is still well grubby. And also lacks the balls to stand up and make such a move. We are head and shoulders the most fit and proper country to hold such a tournament and are also well overdue the honour of doing so.
I watched the press conference live this morning. It was interesting that when Walter De Gregorio (the new Comical Ali?) threw it open to questions, person after person with something to ask was from the British media. Di Gregorio, looking for a change in tack, said ok lets have a Swiss journalist now. Next up - a guy from the Washington Post. It really does seem that it's the Brits and the Yanks that have an interest in this and the rest aren't so bothered. I hope this prompts a few other countries to start asking awkward questions.
The whole announcement is pivotal. Not because of the outcome of the investigation, jail time etc. But because it finally gives UEFA a chance to stand up against Blatter. I don't know enough about the power games at play but let's face it, most of the top countries, players and TV deals are in Europe.
Blatter can choose to fight to the death but he risks taking FIFA down with him and you'd like to think somebody might stop him... If they can!
Comments
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.
Blatter will escape - as he always has done - but at least Jennings looks like finally being rewarded for all the work he's done uncovering and exposing the filth and corruption partly in South American but mainly in Caribbean football.
Seems that the FBI used him extensively.
He praised Panorama for backing him, but laid into the rest of the media, including BBC Sport for ignoring his work and instead parroting FIFA press releases. He's got a good point although its a bit unfair on Gary Lineker.
They need to lock that c**t up and throw away the key !!
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.
On top of that it may only just be dawning on the Yanks that this probably the most popular foreign policy move they made since they liberated Plzen in 1945.They've raised global expectations very high.
Russians aren't too happy though...:-)
This can still happen but the English FA is still well grubby. And also lacks the balls to stand up and make such a move. We are head and shoulders the most fit and proper country to hold such a tournament and are also well overdue the honour of doing so.
And a slow, lingering death at that.
I don't know enough about the power games at play but let's face it, most of the top countries, players and TV deals are in Europe.
Blatter can choose to fight to the death but he risks taking FIFA down with him and you'd like to think somebody might stop him... If they can!