FIFA arrest and raids

[RandBlade]

Qatar commissioning really ought to be re-run, I don't know why it had to be run at the same time as the 2018 WC was rather than 4 years later. It'd be great if Russia 2018 was replaced but I don't see that happening.

To go back to the thread of five years ago its great to see the FIFA-cynics back then totally vindicated now. As was discussed at the time, I'd have been OK with England losing in an honest competition but a clearly corrupt one (where Blatter was criticising the English press for reporting allegations) was wrong. We were never sore losers, it was as Steely said the manner of the defeat rather than the fact of it that was an issue.

I stand by my comments then that I'd rather have a free press that reports upon corruption while we honestly win contests like the one to host the 2012 Olympics than have a corrupt press and only host corruptly awarded events like the World Cup.

[Steely Glint]

So, at this point I'm starting to wonder about match fixing.

I think we all assumed that FIFA was corrupt. But we thought it was corrupt in the way the IOC was corrupt, like, a few bribes changed hands from time to time in exchange for votes for hosting the world cup and maybe for TV rights or building contracts. That sort of thing.

We didn't think it was a full scale frigging criminal empire. That's new.

It's starting to look like there was no form of non-violent crime high level FIFA officials considered themselves above. Given that, would they really have restrained themselves from indulging in a bit of match fixing? Maybe bribing a referee? Maybe some players? Maybe they would have, but I think until we know the full extent of their criminal dealings past world cups and other international tournaments they were involved in have to be given the side-eye.

[Flixy]

Would explain some decisions by some referees at the world cup

[RandBlade]

So far not seen any evidence towards match fixing. I think the World Cup has been working despite FIFA rather than because of it, which is why it's taken so long for this to get dealt with.

[littlelolligagged]

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/05/sp...er=rss&emc=rss

This sounds like match-fixing to me, RB.

[RandBlade]

That looks more like cock-up than conspiracy that looks worse in this context. Referees make mistakes all the time, we lost in 2010 due in large part to a horrendous refereeing mistake.

Some of that can be addressed by technology, FIFA has been incredibly slow on the up-take of things like Goal Line Technology. To name but a few sports Cricket, Tennis, Rugby etc all nowadays allow players to a limited extent to challenge referee/umpire decisions using technology, but Football has been incredibly slow in adopting technology.

[Loki]

It's also true that not having those technologies provides more discretion to referees, referees that could be bribed.

[earthJoker]

Now does seem like a good time to retire to a country without an extradition treaty.

Blatter? No need to go anywhere, he is Swiss citizen.

[Khendraja'aro]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/m...-sepp-blatter/

[Flixy]

Blatter? No need to go anywhere, he is Swiss citizen.

Aren't the Swiss authorities investigating him as well?

[Steely Glint]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/m...-sepp-blatter/

Wow

[RandBlade]

It's also true that not having those technologies provides more discretion to referees, referees that could be bribed.

If there was evidence of match-fixing I think we'd have heard rumours of it by now. There is far, far more attention played to on-the-field action with multiple cameras and reporters everywhere than the murky off the field FIFA dealings.

That's not to say on field match-fixing or spot-fixing is impossible, there's been scandals and prosecutions over it for example in cricket (again the British media played a key role in bringing it to attention). But on the field and off the field corruption are not the same thing.

[earthJoker]

Aren't the Swiss authorities investigating him as well?

No, or should I say, not yet?

[GGT]

Sports/Athletics competitions have had "corrupted" pursuits from their beginnings/inceptions. Is anyone really surprised that the international soccer 'community' is full of graft and greed? Really?

[Loki]

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/33041467

[RandBlade]

I seriously hope Qatar is re-ran its an absurd location to host a World Cup.

[Steely Glint]

How much world-cup related construction has gone on in Qatar so far?

[Loki]

I.E. How many workers have they killed so far?

[Steely Glint]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05wz90d

[Loki]

http://www.espnfc.us/fifa-world-cup/...up-vote-report

[Flixy]

http://www.espnfc.us/fifa-world-cup/...up-vote-report

To be honest my first reaction to that allegation was

Bhamjee admits that some members might have lied about their votes

[Loki]

Given the vote, it would require a lot of members to lie about their vote. It's also not clear what incentive they had to lie.

[Flixy]

A lot? Only 3. And tbh if you voted something because you were bribed that's certainly a reason to lie about what you voted. I.e. you were expected to vote for Morocco and would have normally but were bribed - admitting you voted for SA would raise questions about why you did that. Heh, some might even be bribed by both

[Khendraja'aro]

3 out of 22 is quite a lot.

[Loki]

A lot? Only 3. And tbh if you voted something because you were bribed that's certainly a reason to lie about what you voted. I.e. you were expected to vote for Morocco and would have normally but were bribed - admitting you voted for SA would raise questions about why you did that. Heh, some might even be bribed by both

They were admitting it to a colleague in private, not to the government of Morocco.

And this would require 3 people to all lie in the same direction. That's quite a lot.

Also: http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-33050289

[Flixy]

3 out of 22 is quite a lot.

Also a lot to falsify considering they can talk to eachother and therefore will inevitably find out.

[Dreadnaught]

I am forever indebted to this scandal for highlighting the similarities between FIFA and the UN.

[Timbuk2]

Well that deserves a with a dollop of on the side, topped with a fresh dressing

[GGT]

"Professional Sports" just means athletics for money. I'm confused when people act surprised about the money/profit angle, and the graft or greed it attracts.

Recent news reports a Major League Baseball team cyber-hacked its (losing) opponent to get its data-analytics. Who needs TV soap operas for entertainment, when "Professional Sports" is the new Reality TV?

[earthJoker]

Who acts surprised?