FIFA: Hotbed of Corrupt Criminals

[ManfredSchaefer]

So, we all have stood there and laughed as the recent heavily censored redacted report on the 2018 and 2022 World Cup Finals bids has been released by FIFA's ethics committee. We all know about the accusations against all the related bids, the behaviour of many of the ExCo members, the continuing populist Putin-esque approach to power that Sepp Blatter has. Question is...

 

Is FIFA doomed?

Can anything be done to clean up their mess?

Implications for Australia and the FFA over FIFA's ****-ups?

 

Feel free to go into a tumultuous rant....and consider even a bone headed union ex-player and 'sokkah' troll Peter FitzSimons actually understands the farce that is making all of us cringe when we look at how our sport is governed globally:

 

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/the-fitz-files/fifa-has-seen-the-enemy-and-it-is-us-20141114-11mm8u.html

[pys]

They just need to be caught in the act with irrefutable evidence, but they compete with no organization so no one has yet mastered the type and size of stake out operation needed. Maybe lowy could fund a rebel federation with some help from his 'family'.surely there is mony to be made in a legit run fifa.

[Zelinsky]

Blatter's grip on FIFA will only losen when we dies. That guy is a cunning snake and as powerful as McCarthy in US politics in the 1950ies. In the meantime it is going to be business as usual.

[Legionista]

It's not just Blatter though.

 

It's an ingrained culture within football administration worldwide.

 

All the way from park footballl right to the top.

[Davo]

The only way the 2018/2022 bid debate will be put to bed is if the full report gets released (unlikely) or leaked (hopefully).

[ManfredSchaefer]

It's not just Blatter though.

 

It's an ingrained culture within football administration worldwide.

 

All the way from park footballl right to the top.

 

Good point; we all know from past experiences in this country and well as overseas how grass roots administration can be prone to the worst aspects of cronyism, nepotism, backhanders and 'I'll scratch you back if you scratch mine"...

 

Remember the 'work' of Tony Labbozzetta over the years...the likes of him and good old Sir Arthur George would recognize many of the talents that Sepp and his colleagues have as their own.

[Pablo]

* FIFA needs complete governance overhaul for the way its Ex Co operates and WC host bidding processes

 

* Garcia findings report must be released publicly in full

 

* Blatter must be forced to step down and/or not be allowed to run again for President

 

* An independent body must be established that is accountable to all stakeholders to guide governance reform process

 

* Someone eminent with proven skills, experience and credibility that's not tainted (like Franz Beckenbauer) must be appointed to help steer this reform process, with powers like Lowy did for Australia back in 2004-2005

 

* FFA and Lowy must accept that for the 2022 hosting decision, we can't turn back the clock - we made mistakes, we were somewhat naive and so we need to learn from these process, move on and evolve

 

* Realpolitik means that 2018 and 2022 hosting rights will stand, and we need to ensure that issues of human rights are progressed in those nations by pressuring and working with the respective governements and their LOCs etc - to take hosting rights off Qatar would be seen in the Arab and Muslim world as an insult, and something FIFA would not recover from as well as seriously damage relations across the football world

Edited November 15, 2014 by Pablo

[Zelinsky]

It's not just Blatter though.

 

It's an ingrained culture within football administration worldwide.

 

All the way from park footballl right to the top.

Nothing will change until Blatter is around. He is the Stalin of football.

[ManfredSchaefer]

 

It's not just Blatter though.

 

It's an ingrained culture within football administration worldwide.

 

All the way from park footballl right to the top.

Nothing will change until Blatter is around. He is the Stalin of football.

 

 

But even if you remove Blatter tomorrow so many of the people who either aided or abetted his time in power, as well as those from Havelange's day (who created so much of the environment that made Septic Bladder possible) are still there.

 

Hope to have a chat about this when we gather at the Bavarian this evening

[ManfredSchaefer]

* FIFA needs complete governance overhaul for the way its Ex Co operates and WC host bidding processes

 

* Garcia findings report must be released publicly in full

 

* Blatter must be forced to step down and/or not be allowed to run again for President

 

* An independent body must be established that is accountable to all stakeholders to guide governance reform process

 

* Someone eminent with proven skills, experience and credibility that's not tainted (like Franz Beckenbauer) must be appointed to help steer this reform process, with powers like Lowy did for Australia back in 2004-2005

 

* FFA and Lowy must accept that for the 2022 hosting decision, we can't turn back the clock - we made mistakes, we were somewhat naive and so we need to learn from these process, move on and evolve

 

* Realpolitik means that 2018 and 2022 hosting rights will stand, and we need to ensure that issues of human rights are progressed in those nations by pressuring and working with the respective governements and their LOCs etc - to take hosting rights off Qatar would be seen in the Arab and Muslim world as an insult, and something FIFA would not recover from as well as seriously damage relations across the football world

 

I agree that it's too late for anyone to change the 2018/2022 decisions, but the question has to be asked...why are we worried about the potential insult done to the Arab/Muslim world if 2022 was taken away from Qatar, when there is an existing insult to Australia, USA and sundry other countries about how the bid process was carried out, and the ongoing damage to football's credibility that was created by the choice of a place that was technically inferior to all other bids? Seems to me if there were grounds that could be politically, economically and most importantly from FIFA's perspective legally justified to piss of Qatar I'd say do it. World football has been seriously damaged already by Blatter and his clown colleagues in corruption and cronyism.

[Neverbloom]

FIFA are perfect

[Prydzopolis]

FFA and Lowy must accept that for the 2022 hosting decision, we can't turn back the clock - we made mistakes, we were somewhat naive and so we need to learn from these process, move on and evolve

This is what you need to do if you want to win World Cup bids, it's common practice for countries to pay bribes whether it be in the form of deconstructed stadiums post 22 WC, flights, gifts, brown paper bags, funds devoted to development of lessor nations, paying for national congresses or hosting games then paying profits then some for playing the match, hosting friendlies in other countries, paying individuals/lobbiyists who come from there own ex-co member countries to lobby on behalf of the Qatar bid, inviting dignitaries to tournaments and funding everything. This is the works how FIFA works, don't blame Australia for playing the game, blame them for getting caught in the act.

 

In fact, had we paid for the development fund ourselves instead of giving part of the funds for Warner, we wouldn't be in the strife over the bid. Yes we used PH, who is a FIFA lobbies and has connections everywhere but we wouldn't have won votes any other way! Others gave them better offers and won support, simple as that. Don't blame Australia for playing the system, blame the system itself is a shambles snd needs an overhaul. Bids shoukd be awarded on who will hold the best world cup not who can give the most favours and bribes.

 

Had we been more like Russia who gave FIFA no evidence as opposed to us who had a whistleblower our bid wouldn't have been criticised! They were smart, emails weren't released and the computers destroyed so they end up innocent by default rather than actually proving there innocence. Whistleblowers in Russia are more likely to disappear rather than in Australia when we have the righst and protection to get out this sort of information out into the public so these dodgy actions are exposed rather than just been hidden in the shadows.

 

Was listening to ESPN press pass and gab marcotti said that Garcia wants to appeal against FIFA's findings/summary based on his report. In order for this to happen, Michael Garcia will have to appeal to the ethics committee which he is the head of and if it somehow moves on through there, the final decision is made by an adjunctory committee whose head released the incorrect summary of the report. The whole process reeks of incompetence and corruption even when they're trying to be open and transparent, they just get more corrupt and more grey areas emerge.

 

On the government money, I thought it was $20m but I've heard the $45m figure been thrown about in the last week. In all honesty, yes it was a travesty that such public money was used and wasted in such a fashion but we had a really good chance at winning that vote. We had a very good bid and ticked plenty of boxes and the potential economic boom/boost that would result on the back of all the investment needed for a world cup in this country would pay for multiple times over and over again.

[Pablo]

 

 

 

* Realpolitik means that 2018 and 2022 hosting rights will stand, and we need to ensure that issues of human rights are progressed in those nations by pressuring and working with the respective governements and their LOCs etc - to take hosting rights off Qatar would be seen in the Arab and Muslim world as an insult, and something FIFA would not recover from as well as seriously damage relations across the football world

 

I agree that it's too late for anyone to change the 2018/2022 decisions, but the question has to be asked...why are we worried about the potential insult done to the Arab/Muslim world if 2022 was taken away from Qatar, when there is an existing insult to Australia, USA and sundry other countries about how the bid process was carried out, and the ongoing damage to football's credibility that was created by the choice of a place that was technically inferior to all other bids? Seems to me if there were grounds that could be politically, economically and most importantly from FIFA's perspective legally justified to piss of Qatar I'd say do it. World football has been seriously damaged already by Blatter and his clown colleagues in corruption and cronyism.

 

 

its realpolitik, that's why

 

also, there are big enough gulfs between the west and Muslim world without inflaming things even further - we can't underestimate the fall out that would be caused by taking 2022 off Qatar

 

the biggest and most important issue is prevent such compromised bidding processes from ever happening again

 

the priority should be reform and governance of FIFA ExCo and the way it operates

 

part of this is Blatter must go, although the problem is much more entrenched that just this President

 

we need to shift the culture and achieve accountability, transparency and good leadership for the stakeholders which includes right through to us at the grassroots levels

[Davo]

On your last paragraph Prydz, as much as I think Qatar are completely crooked their bid video was so much more professional and relevant than ours.

[AEK]

Money talks!

[GD07]

A hotbed of misunderstood criminal despots.

[Burztur]

I wanna see a FIFA v FA war!

[pys]

Is les still on th

 

FFA and Lowy must accept that for the 2022 hosting decision, we can't turn back the clock - we made mistakes, we were somewhat naive and so we need to learn from these process, move on and evolve

This is what you need to do if you want to win World Cup bids, it's common practice for countries to pay bribes whether it be in the form of deconstructed stadiums post 22 WC, flights, gifts, brown paper bags, funds devoted to development of lessor nations, paying for national congresses or hosting games then paying profits then some for playing the match, hosting friendlies in other countries, paying individuals/lobbiyists who come from there own ex-co member countries to lobby on behalf of the Qatar bid, inviting dignitaries to tournaments and funding everything. This is the works how FIFA works, don't blame Australia for playing the game, blame them for getting caught in the act.

In fact, had we paid for the development fund ourselves instead of giving part of the funds for Warner, we wouldn't be in the strife over the bid. Yes we used PH, who is a FIFA lobbies and has connections everywhere but we wouldn't have won votes any other way! Others gave them better offers and won support, simple as that. Don't blame Australia for playing the system, blame the system itself is a shambles snd needs an overhaul. Bids shoukd be awarded on who will hold the best world cup not who can give the most favours and bribes.

Had we been more like Russia who gave FIFA no evidence as opposed to us who had a whistleblower our bid wouldn't have been criticised! They were smart, emails weren't released and the computers destroyed so they end up innocent by default rather than actually proving there innocence. Whistleblowers in Russia are more likely to disappear rather than in Australia when we have the righst and protection to get out this sort of information out into the public so these dodgy actions are exposed rather than just been hidden in the shadows.

Was listening to ESPN press pass and gab marcotti said that Garcia wants to appeal against FIFA's findings/summary based on his report. In order for this to happen, Michael Garcia will have to appeal to the ethics committee which he is the head of and if it somehow moves on through there, the final decision is made by an adjunctory committee whose head released the incorrect summary of the report. The whole process reeks of incompetence and corruption even when they're trying to be open and transparent, they just get more corrupt and more grey areas emerge.

On the government money, I thought it was $20m but I've heard the $45m figure been thrown about in the last week. In all honesty, yes it was a travesty that such public money was used and wasted in such a fashion but we had a really good chance at winning that vote. We had a very good bid and ticked plenty of boxes and the potential economic boom/boost that would result on the back of all the investment needed for a world cup in this country would pay for multiple times over and over again.

 

 

is les still on the ethics commitee?

[GunnerWanderer]

Obama and his bullying buddies should release war on Blatter for rimes against humanity pure and simple.

[Pablo]

Is les still on th

 

FFA and Lowy must accept that for the 2022 hosting decision, we can't turn back the clock - we made mistakes, we were somewhat naive and so we need to learn from these process, move on and evolve

This is what you need to do if you want to win World Cup bids, it's common practice for countries to pay bribes whether it be in the form of deconstructed stadiums post 22 WC, flights, gifts, brown paper bags, funds devoted to development of lessor nations, paying for national congresses or hosting games then paying profits then some for playing the match, hosting friendlies in other countries, paying individuals/lobbiyists who come from there own ex-co member countries to lobby on behalf of the Qatar bid, inviting dignitaries to tournaments and funding everything. This is the works how FIFA works, don't blame Australia for playing the game, blame them for getting caught in the act.

In fact, had we paid for the development fund ourselves instead of giving part of the funds for Warner, we wouldn't be in the strife over the bid. Yes we used PH, who is a FIFA lobbies and has connections everywhere but we wouldn't have won votes any other way! Others gave them better offers and won support, simple as that. Don't blame Australia for playing the system, blame the system itself is a shambles snd needs an overhaul. Bids shoukd be awarded on who will hold the best world cup not who can give the most favours and bribes.

Had we been more like Russia who gave FIFA no evidence as opposed to us who had a whistleblower our bid wouldn't have been criticised! They were smart, emails weren't released and the computers destroyed so they end up innocent by default rather than actually proving there innocence. Whistleblowers in Russia are more likely to disappear rather than in Australia when we have the righst and protection to get out this sort of information out into the public so these dodgy actions are exposed rather than just been hidden in the shadows.

Was listening to ESPN press pass and gab marcotti said that Garcia wants to appeal against FIFA's findings/summary based on his report. In order for this to happen, Michael Garcia will have to appeal to the ethics committee which he is the head of and if it somehow moves on through there, the final decision is made by an adjunctory committee whose head released the incorrect summary of the report. The whole process reeks of incompetence and corruption even when they're trying to be open and transparent, they just get more corrupt and more grey areas emerge.

On the government money, I thought it was $20m but I've heard the $45m figure been thrown about in the last week. In all honesty, yes it was a travesty that such public money was used and wasted in such a fashion but we had a really good chance at winning that vote. We had a very good bid and ticked plenty of boxes and the potential economic boom/boost that would result on the back of all the investment needed for a world cup in this country would pay for multiple times over and over again.

 

 

is les still on the ethics commitee?

 

 

Les is no longer on Ethics Committee

 

see his recent comments at

 

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/les-murray-dismisses-fifa-report-20141114-11mktf.html

[tuco]

what every country has realised after qatar won the bid for 2022;

you can promise everything but deliver 50% of it.

you can change the timing of the tournament.

you can play every game within a 100km radius.

 

i look forward to the bid book from (insert euro nation) 2026;

jet packs under each seat so fans can get a new perspective of the game from all angles of the pitch.

1000 brand new luxury 7 star hotels to house all football dignitaries and players.

10 brand new 150000 seater stadiums.

everyone to be transported to and from the stadiums via those star trek evaporation things

one game to be played on the moon (with that stadium being pulled down after it's use and donated to antartica since due to global warming we can finally play a game there).

[nisman94wfc]

There's talk in England (certainly amongst the fans and a few of the higher-ups, as well as in the media) for the English FA to pull out of FIFA along with a few others. It would certainly make a statement that wouldn't be ignored, but the higher-ups in FIFA would probably not give two shits about it. They know that whilst our FA is important as the association representing the birthplace of football, we're a small country and there are plenty of richer countries with larger populations that are slowly but surely making their way into the football world and that the FAs of these countries should be catered to (e.g. USA). 

 

Plus they also know that the PL wouldn't allow the English FA to pull out like that, such is the horrific power that the PL has.

[Davo]

Yeah FIFA could handle it if the FA pulled out but if UEFA pulled out it'd be another matter.

 

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2014/11/16/uefa-could-leave-fifa-over-world-cup-report

[Burztur]

It begins

[Edinburgh]

Maybe just maybe FIFA can be fixed!?!?!!?

[Burgerman]

Note to FFA next bid have recorded while offering bribes then use such recordings to blackmail FIFA as it's the onlyway to beat a ccorrupt official is with corruption itself and if all fails release info to the media.

 

A FIFA report on corruption was never going to reveal any thruths when they did there own inquiries I mean its like a drug dealer self policing themselve.

[theguyyouwishyouwere]

I for one welcome our fifa overlords

[Prydzopolis]

On your last paragraph Prydz, as much as I think Qatar are completely crooked their bid video was so much more professional and relevant than ours.

Davi, having a **** video doesn't impact the actual bid. Having the best video in the world doesn't take away that the Qatar bid was high risk and didn't deserve to win the vote. Also, you'd think that the millions that qataris had to spare that if they didn't have the best video I'd be pretty mad too, with all the money we wasted on bribes I'm not surprised we didn't have enough left for a decent video!

[Burgerman]

 

On your last paragraph Prydz, as much as I think Qatar are completely crooked their bid video was so much more professional and relevant than ours.

Davi, having a **** video doesn't impact the actual bid. Having the best video in the world doesn't take away that the Qatar bid was high risk and didn't deserve to win the vote. Also, you'd think that the millions that qataris had to spare that if they didn't have the best video I'd be pretty mad too, with all the money we wasted on bribes I'm not surprised we didn't have enough left for a decent video!

I still can't figure out which mascot video is shitter the World Cup bid video or the AFC wombat mascot video and im guessing they both used tax money to make probably by the same company at an inflated look after your mates rates.

[Davo]

Prydz, I was expanding on your point about the amount of wasted money that went into our bid. The winner was never going to be decided on the bid video alone but if I was in charge of it I would be talking about things like stadium and infrastructure plans, legacy plans, economic benefits etc (like Qatar did), not a cgi kangaroo and Paul Hogan.