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summary of headlines

Reuters: Swiss federal office of justice says criminal proceedings opened in connection with allocation of 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Update - Swiss Federal Office of Justice says it has seized documents at #Fifa's headquarters after arresting a number of officials

Swiss prosecutors confirm that electronic data and documents have been seized in a raid on Fifa HQ.

Swiss close co-operation with US authorities after years as safe-haven for FIFA & IOC is interesting.

Note to media representatives:

In connection with irregularities surrounding football tournaments, two separate proceedings must be distinguished:

The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) is conducting a Swiss criminal investigation regarding the allocation of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. For inquiries regarding this Swiss criminal investigation, please contact the OAG.

In separate proceedings, and independently of the Swiss criminal investigation of the OAG, the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York is conducting a criminal investigation into the allocation of media, marketing and sponsoring rights for football  tournaments carried out in the United States and Latin America. The Federal Office of Justice (FOJ) supports this criminal investigation as part of international legal assistance. Today, on Wednesday 27 May 2015, football officials and suspected bribers have been arrested in Zurich and placed in detention pending extradition as part of this investigation, and by order of the FOJ.
The requests for extradition and legal assistance shall be decided upon by the FOJ, and not by the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland

https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start/documentation/media-releases.msg-id-57391.html

What you defo won't believe is that FIFA claimed to have initiated these proceedings.

We wouldn't believe it if they managed to find Sepp Blatter guilty of some wrong doing.

Doesn't TFT have a bet on Blatter getting re elected?
I dunno if this current issue is going to cause a problem in that regard?

it does. it was due to be a winner on friday

currently they are saying the vote then goes ahead as is (which is daft)

i would quite like to lose the bet!

Current odds to be elected FIFA president at William Hill UK:

Sepp Blatter 1/16

Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein 7/1

How much do we have on? Should we be laying it off on Betfair? Surely everything is up in the air. Anything can happen.

£20

the vote is on friday. it goes ahead, doesn't it?

They said the vote is going ahead, as planned.

Most bookies don't seem to think it's going to alter the outcome.

"FIFA is scheduled to hold an election this Friday, in which long time association President Sepp Blatter is all but guaranteed to win his fifth term in office. FIFA released a statement that Blatter has not be arrested, and is not involved in anyway in the alleged wrongdoings and that the election will proceed as scheduled."

mind you that press conference from Loretta Lynch was fantastic

finally, fifa is in big trouble

£20, well fair enough, leave it. If it was anything sizeable I would lay it off.
Yes, of course Blatter is still short odds on and yes, the vote is still going ahead. But that might all be very different tomorrow.

How on earth can you run an organisation and claim not to be responsible in any way for the conduct of that organisation?? If the election goes ahead and Blatter is re-elected it will be crazy random madness. Actually this is FIFA so undoubtedly this will happen.

BREAKING: UEFA calls for postponement of FIFA presidential election & may boycott congress.

What a great story this is. Or it would be, were it not so sad.

Meanwhile, the World Cup presumably goes ahead in Qatar?

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CGAeXh9W0AABgk1.jpg)

Swiss nationals working for FIFA are told they are not allowed to leave the country.

Swiss nationals working for FIFA? "Errr...anyone with the initials JB...and anyone in the most senior position at a governing body of football..."

Is this a good time to press on the bet for Blatter to be re-elected? Def wouldn't be trading that £20 yet.

It's not sad at all.

Been waiting for this day for years . Praise be to the FBI .

FIFA have probably denied me the chance to watch England in a World Cup on home soil.

No doubt in the coming months Blatter will "retire" on health grounds.

I hope one of those indicted  by the FBI accepts a plea bargain and indicts Blatter.

The bastard wants nailing.

I hope he gets nailed, but not until after he has been elected, and bwin have weighed us in :D

Don't fuck with the Feds!

I always knew that your heart was in the right place.

would hate to see the odds of getting a ticket to a game involving a home nation.

(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/10151263_10153962247354358_3397331593632894404_n.jpg?oh=629330c58b070457bcc1eb2921cbe34d&oe=55FFBDFC)

I hate this kind of misleading that is all too common on twitter and facebook.

There are 8 vice presidents in total, of which 3(?) have been arrested.   Why include Conmebol, but not UEFA which is much bigger?  etc  The true picture will still look damning, and a fair few of the others have been linked to corruption in the past, so why mislead the public? 

Bunch of absolute bollocks.

My Nandos bill is big this month, Ralph ;D

Listening to Blatter's speech I was just agog. He reminds me of that dude who was Saddam Hussein's henchman during the Iraq War. You know the fella who kept appearing on the telly saying Iraq was winning, even when the allies were breaking down the door and pinning him to the ground. Absolute rhubarb!!

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CGSNzsVW8AAOvVQ.jpg)

What I find even more astounding is the arrogance of Europe

Until Europe realises football is now a world game not a game that just involves the champions league nothing will change.

The BBC world football podcast was excellent this week. The south African correspondent was superb he basically said obviously blatter should go but why are people in England surprised when very small nations he visits and reports from now have national stadiums and in some cases national football centres., love the bloke.

In 1974 when Europe lost power they had nothing and the pitiful bottle job platini and to a lesser extent Figo long realised they can't promise the same funding and support, nor did they want to.

Of course they Could have more under a European power Base but that is a big risk to take for them..

The key to this is why Blatter gives a lot of time to supporting the smaller federations.
If it's because he cares about the game of football, and it's development, then the stance of UEFA is very arrogant, and self-serving. (i.e. they want more of the money/staging of the World Cup, to go to them).

The line that the media feeds us, is that Blatter loves his position of power, and his support of smaller nations ensures that he keeps it. In return, some of the heads of the smaller nations, know that they are more likely, under Blatter, to be able to allow situations to benefit them financially.
It's not arrogant of UEFA, if they are trying to stop the administration of their game becoming completely rotten.

Firstly i find it slightly strange UEFA can take the higher moral ground on the corruption issue but that is an aside.

Uefa cared so much about this election they ended up with ONE representative from Asia who did not even come close to winning the majority of his own region let alone anywhere else.

Uefa cared so much about cleaning up corruption they have not suggested any alternatives as to how the game should be developed in the smaller nations. This leaves anybody who was even wavering about switching allegiances think probably quite rightly that what are you going to offer us?

If you think about it the Europe voting part of Fifa is still very nearly 50%.

All UEFA/europe/ the big powers need to do and have needed to do for years is persuade another 50% of the remaining voters to switch with a better alternative to Blatter.

Before 1974 football was not a world game it is now, whether Europe likes it or not.

It is about time they realised this if they want to regain the power they seem to think is a given.

Yep Europe are so arrogant and should celebrate smaller nations getting the World Cup. I mean Qatar have a huge football tradition, the weather conditions are perfect for playing the game, drinking and homosexuality are embraced and only 1,200 people have died building the stadiums so far. What's the problem??

Stop bleating, they've paid more than their fair share of bribes to get it so what's the problem?  ;D

Leave you to it lads

Jakally actually making sensible points i don't agree with him but at least they are relevant to the conversation.

I understand what you're saying Horsie that Blatter has delivered to a lot of these smaller nations. So it's perfectly understandable that they are voting him in again.

The fact of the matter is that the world game has expanded rapidly during Blatters reign. And the money has done likewise. Mostly where it was already wealthy, in Europe, where the Champions League has become massive, but also all over the world. Blatters reign coincided with this wealth creation. Blatter distributed this wealth and a lot of the poorer countrioes have benefited.
However Blatter did not create this wealth.
Football is going through financial boom times. It's growing and growing and will continue to grow for some time yet. The figures you hear from US sports like basketball, NFL, NHL should all be dwarfed by football in time.

The hypocrisy I see is the English FA trying to take a leading role in over throwing Blatter. I know the FA doesn't control the Premier League but when those Richard Scudamore emails were leaked, was he removed?
In fact it was reported that Greg Dyke sent Scudamore private messages of support before publically attacking him for political reasons. David Cameron said he'd have been sacked if he was a member of his cabinet.
Why wasn't he? The same reason Blatter is still there. The Premier League is awash with money under his stewardship.
But you don't need Richard Scudamore. The Premier League would be awash with money if you had Harry Redknapp in charge (although more might go missing!).

Greg Dyke might have defended a misogynist but he's not financially corrupt? The same Greg Dyke that got the £16,000 watch and said nothing about it until the issue was raised?
Jim Boyce the British FIFA vice president also got a watch but also "had no idea what it was worth" but he gave it back when everyone found out. Platini got a watch and he didn't give his back!
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/sep/18/greg-dyke-world-cup-watch-gift-fifa
This whole culture of getting "presents" as head of the FA, Dyke got 6 watches in a year! Once it all got reported, he decided it should all end. Maybe Greg should have ended it before it got reported if he wants to be taken seriously when talking about corruption.

Platini will be running unopposed for UEFA president this year. Unopposed. He was also unopposed for his 2nd term in 2011. Very democratic.
The same Platini that has admitted voting for the Qatar World Cup bid.

And as for the US arrests? Who lost out in the final round of voting to Qatar for the 2022 games? Who would benefit if that bidding process was looked at and overturned? The USA.
So again, you can see why the rest of the world would be suspicious.

Blatter is bad but I can see why the rest of the world sees Europe as no better. It's all crooks calling crooks crooks.

In support of the FA Chairman, Greg Dyke's suggestion in protest against Sepp Blatter's re-election, I see England's players are, one by one, ruling themselves out of the next world cup.

Shame it's England's rugby players.

Uefa plots to break away from Fifa and host a rival tournament |

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/fifa/11642610/Uefa-plots-to-break-away-from-Fifa-and-host-a-rival-tournament.html

looks like he is going

press conference now....

he gone!

Blatter speaking now. says will call new election and step down after that.

Good job he didn't do that last week!

Tim Vickery sums it up best


"This is Europe's big test a disaster pre 1974 when they had
the political power. Now they have the economic power,can they look out? "

I would doubt it

hopefully they can do something about the russia and qatar world cups

the award of both stinks.

we'll see

Odds on Qatar hosting 2022 WC currently 5/6 to take place and 5/6 to be cancelled.

Wonder if he'll have to give the money back...

Got to be cancelled. Got to be.

No comment as yet from former candidate, David Ginola.

Who is that with Rich?

Odds to be next FIFA President via William Hill:

Michel Platini 6/5

Prince Ali bin al-Hussein 7/4

Luis Figo 6/1

Senes Erzik 12/1

Ted Howard 12/1

Issa Hayatou 14/1

Greg Dyke 50/1

no idea, have to go back through 1,200 tweets all telling me Blatter has resigned

My guess is Qatar will not go ahead.

But might be a long wait to get paid out on an even money shot

Looks a bit big but a long wait as bookie says

Platini the fav

Voted for Qatar to get world cup TICK

Qatar then finance the buy out of psg TICK

His son then gets hired as a board member in a sports
marketing company in Qatar    TICK


nothing to see here

paddy's on form of course...

Paddy Power  ‏@paddypower

Alan Curbishley installed as 7th favourite for the FIFA Presidency

:D

And here's their actual market:

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CGg62aGUgAETwb9.jpg)

It's being reported that Blatter will be subject to US investigation.

Who would have thought of all the people, the Yanks may have saved football?

Just lol Blatter. Even when he's quit he is still in power. Just lol. It's funny how when the big nations from UEFA started contemplating pulling out and holding their own world cup FIFA capitulated immediately. The truth is whilst Blatter hid behind this façade of spreading the love towards small nations nobody actually gives a fig about football in far flung bongo lands. Nobody wants to watch it, nobody cares about it. So now the powerful nations, the paying public and the sponsors have voiced their opinion FIFA's noble façade has disappeared down the toilet in one quick flush. All very noble and real.

England have the world as far as football goes, from stadiums, to supporters, to infrastructure...and we haven't hosted a world cup in 50 years!! Instead they award it to countries who throw bananas at black players and to lol Qatar. Such shit business decisions, such shit football decisions my eyes bleed. Europe might be arrogant but if you hold all the aces you have every right to be.

The best thing about Blatter going is I wont be reminded of Penguin from the Batman TV series every time I see him on the telly.

http://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/389z98/as_the_best_fifa_15_player_on_my_block_id_like_to/

http://www.oddschecker.com/football/football-specials/fifa/qatar-to-be-stripped-of-2022-world-cup

Fate of Qatar2022 in the balance without protection of SeppBlatter. Sources say bid bosses told not to travel to US

http://www.buzzfeed.com/heidiblake/blatters-resignation-threatens-qatars-2022-world-cup?utm_term=.eeA4aWwKNv#.jrJvd70dq

I think the vote for next UEFA leader should take place on American soil, with the stipulation you can only vote in person - would be interesting to see how many would turn up.

apologies for the caps

C and P from Reuters

FBI SOCCER PROBE INCLUDES SCRUTINY OF AWARDING FIFA WORLD CUP TO RUSSIA 2018 AND QATAR 2022 - LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL- REUTERS

Blatter late than never.

Chuck Blazer admits accepting bribes for 1998 and 2010 world cups.

Bye Sepp


(https://pbs.twimg.com/tweet_video/CGhb2ApUIAAKwqB.mp4)

never heard of this guy before this was just before last years world cup and seems to me to be totally on the ball

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlJEt2KU33I

Wow. Just wow

http://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/fifa-paid-fai-after-thierry-henry-handball-claims-john-delaney/ar-BBkH0h5?ocid=mailsignoutmd

That was brilliant. John Oliver is a regular on The Now Show on R4, and has a very shrewdly analytical style. Podcasts are available.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CG2gBVEWQAAJXoH.jpg)

FIFA website providing text updates of the games in the women's world cup. Shame they're using male pronouns.

For completeness, I should add FIFA was alerted to the issue and addressed it at half time.

Really having a hard time of it, FIFA!

Ireland paid compensation, Morocco should have hosted in 2010, what next?

Jamie vardy is an international footballer with a first touch of a blind seal?

Oh.....

Fifa delay 2026 World Cup bidding process given current turmoil

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33078284

Fifa communications head Walter De Gregorio resigns after police joke http://gu.com/p/49yft/stw

Oliver v Warner

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KamkEOFbMR0

Could he stand for election again? lol

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33126284

FIFA's United Passion is confirmed as the lowest-grossing film in US history, making only $918! More from guardian > http://bit.ly/1BlWIgE

Thread title is getting more and more apt.

Sepp Blatter says he has not resigned as Fifa president.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33284185

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."

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.

"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'.

Iconic Reuters pic of Blatter after comedian stunt

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

Swiss attorney announces criminal proceedings opened against Sepp Blatter

Swiss authorities questioned FIFA President Sepp Blatter, searched his office and seized data after today's executive cttee meeting

Swiss authorities: Michel PLATIINI quizzed as witness over 2m swiss franc payment from Blatter in 1999-2002.

Interesting that Platini is allegedly  paid £1.35 million in 2011, 3 months before a FIFA presidential election, for work done 9 years earlier. Nothing suspicous there.

Yeah it did make me look at the next President betting.
http://www.oddschecker.com/football/football-specials/fifa/to-be-elected-president

Betfair made Prince Ali favourite.
Platini is as bent as Blatter imo, maybe worse.

Anyone who names them self after a pop star has to be crooked for that reason we should discount prince


Anyone that can play a game in wwii and still look as good as he does gets my vote sly Stallone for Fifa


Ps being named after to character is cool just not pop stars

PPS I haven't had a sleep of more than 2 hours in about 10 days I might have lost the plot

Sepp Blatter has said he will remain as president of Fifa: http://bbc.in/1JyuEn8 

Michel Platini's letter to UEFA members defending FIFA payment but STILL doesn't explain 9-year gap receiving cash

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CQAHNC5WUAEuScR.jpg)

Do we have Bwin? They are still 3/1 Prince Ali.

http://www.oddschecker.com/football/football-specials/fifa/to-be-elected-president

It just gets better....

Platini explains the delay in payment of his "fee" on the grounds FIFA were a bit strapped for cash at the time:

http://news.sky.com/story/1561199/michel-platini-fifa-could-not-pay-me-on-time

FA utter hypocrites. Still backing Platini.
No problem backing a crook, so long as he's 'our crook'.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/34407905

Coca-Cola and McDonalds demanding Blatter should resign immediately:

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/oct/02/coca-cola-mcdonalds-fifa-president-sepp-blatter-stand-down

Blatter's response:

His United States-based lawyer Richard Cullen said in a statement: “While Coca-Cola is a valued sponsor of Fifa, Mr Blatter respectfully disagrees with its position and believes firmly that his leaving office now would not be in the best interest of Fifa nor would it advance the process of reform and, therefore, he will not resign.”

Blatter defiantly clings to power, defying demands from top FIFA sponsors he leaves immediately

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/a27fb861ae4d4c628d4d87cab45fc16a/blatter-lawyer-says-fifa-president-wont-resign-immediately

Provisionally suspended?

http://m.bbc.com/sport/football/34468663

FIFA ethics committee BANS Sepp Blatter & Michel Platini for 90 days

They have an ETHICS COMMITTEE?

Just started, or been around a while?

What exactly do they do?

(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/a8/29/62/a829625f02482e302129ea194ab08e37.jpg)

Let's see if the English FA now withdraws their support for Platini.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjbPi00k_ME

Dyke misplayed that badly

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

From Platini's statement:

"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.

Strange choice of words or a veiled threat that he will be singing like a  canary?

made me chuckle

"Issa Hayatou. Like Stuart Hall stepping in to present Jim'll Fix It."

Only if you believe that Dyke wants the best for football, which he doesn't.
He is happy for corruption to continue, so long as it benefits England.

Just finished the excellent updated version of the "Dirty Game - uncovering the scandal of FIFA" by Andrew Jennings.

I already knew this but the extent of the corruption is truly staggering.

Blatter's frank admission that 2018 and 2022 World Cups were pre-ordained for Russia and USA.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CSZ8FWOWoAQ7bNm.jpg)

What do we think as to the likelihood of the other bidding countries getting refunded their costs?

Fifa has announced the names of the seven candidates to replace Sepp Blatter as its president.


Prince Ali
 Gianni Infantino
 Musa Bility
 Sheikh Salman
Jérôme Champagne
Tokyo Sexwale
Michel Platini.


Some cracking names there.

Fifa vice-president Platini could be facing a life ban from football http://bbc.in/1XnZeaT 

From the Telegraph:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/fifa/12013897/Michel-Platini-should-be-banned-from-football-for-life-says-Fifa-ethics-committee.html

I particularly like this bit:

 Platini’s lawyer, Thibaud d’Ales, revealed his client was told about the life-ban demand, which he branded a “scandal” and “excessive”.

“This ban is subject to the proof of corruption, but the punishment is clearly excessive,” D’Ales said.


So a life ban for corruption is not excessive then? Ok....