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It's been talked about for a while but according to the BBC Blatter has confirmed that FIFA are being investigated by the FBI. He claims it's the others, not him and he will still go to the U.S. hopefully they will lock him up when he is there:

Fifa chief Sepp Blatter has confirmed the United States' Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating alleged football corruption.

The probe reportedly involves ex-Fifa executive committee members, American Chuck Blazer and Trinidadian Jack Warner.

But Blatter says the investigation is "nothing against [him]" and he plans to visit the US in June 2016.

That visit will coincide with next year's Copa America tournament.

"I know, and this everybody knows, that in the US there is an investigation against former people [that] have been in my government," Blatter said.

The 79-year-old Swiss last visited the US in May 2011 for a meeting of North American confederation Concacaf, and it had been suggested - including in an ESPN documentary this week - that he had deliberately stayed away since then due to the probe.

However, Blatter, who is currently running for a fifth term as president of football's world governing body, said: "I will be there if elected. Even if not elected, they will invite me I am sure."

Earlier on Friday, Blatter sent a letter to all 209 Fifa member associations identifying several areas where "there is still work to be done", including promoting women's football, combating discrimination and racism, and cracking down on match fixing.

A Fifa spokesman said it was unconnected to Blatter's bid for re-election.

Election rules state that candidates must not mix campaign activities with duties connected to their official positions.

Fifa's member associations will appoint their next president when they meet in Zurich on 29 May.

Hopefully they will just stick the handcuffs straight on when he arrives.

Ahh! So one bunch of corrupt tossers are going after another bunch of corrupt tossers....

zuricity wrote:Ahh! So one bunch of corrupt tossers are going after another bunch of corrupt tossers....

You can't kid a kidder

The thing is, whilst he's undoubtedly corrupt to any right thinking person, I think it will be very hard to prove it.

The biggest issue though, which technically isn't corruption (even though it clearly is buying votes with FIFA money) is enshrined in the rules of FIFA (which he wrote) which he has moulded so as to control the purse strings for smaller nations, meaning the incumbent president can't fail to be re elected.

Until that situation is changed, the only way blatter will be leaving office is in a box.

Since ESPN lost the world cup broadcasting rights for the next few world cups, they've been on a great tear against FIFA. I can't recommend this special highly enough. Blatter is taken to town and they present some pretty damning evidence against him. Here is part 1 and the rest should autoplay:

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=12880429

Seriously, give it a watch.

bigblue wrote:Since ESPN lost the world cup broadcasting rights for the next few world cups, they've been on a great tear against FIFA. I can't recommend this special highly enough. Blatter is taken to town and they present some pretty damning evidence against him. Here is part 1 and the rest should autoplay:

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=12880429

Seriously, give it a watch.

Very interesting. I had read as much. Wouldn't mind finding the rest of the ESPN programs, but it didn't autoplay.
I'm still wondering will the Qatar world cup ever happen.

iwasthere2012 wrote:

bigblue wrote:Since ESPN lost the world cup broadcasting rights for the next few world cups, they've been on a great tear against FIFA. I can't recommend this special highly enough. Blatter is taken to town and they present some pretty damning evidence against him. Here is part 1 and the rest should autoplay:

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=12880429

Seriously, give it a watch.

Very interesting. I had read as much. Wouldn't mind finding the rest of the ESPN programs, but it didn't autoplay.
I'm still wondering will the Qatar world cup ever happen.

It will definitely happen.

The lawsuit from Qatar if it didn't would sink FIFA. Based on the awarding of the world cup, besides the stadium construction, several $bn has been committed and spent towards infrastructure improvements such as a metro/underground which links all the stadia, massive road system upgrades and construction of massive skyscrapers to meet the hotel room requirements (which of course would bring the large hotel companies into the lawsuit against FIFA also). These things were all very much contingent upon the world cup.

What many haven't mentioned, is that the cooling technology mentioned in the Qatar bid, is feasible and has been trialled in smaller venue since the world cup was awarded. A summer world cup WOULD have been feasible and was planned by Qatar. Most walkways to the venues were underground and airconditioned, the entire city centre will be networked with underground walkways, so most people will not even notice the heat unless they choose to sit round their hotel pool or go to the beach, yet still FIFA pulled it because of insurance concerns. The diamond league athletics was held here last night including the 3000m race in 40 degree heat with no problems at all and several world leading performances.

Whilst clearly bribes were paid by Qatar to host the world cup, my personal view is that for bribery to work, there has to be a market for the bribes in order for them to have any impact on an outcome. Those who created the market for the bribes are the guilty parties, and simply can't countenance the real story coming out.

iwasthere2012 wrote:

bigblue wrote:Since ESPN lost the world cup broadcasting rights for the next few world cups, they've been on a great tear against FIFA. I can't recommend this special highly enough. Blatter is taken to town and they present some pretty damning evidence against him. Here is part 1 and the rest should autoplay:

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=12880429

Seriously, give it a watch.

Very interesting. I had read as much. Wouldn't mind finding the rest of the ESPN programs, but it didn't autoplay.
I'm still wondering will the Qatar world cup ever happen.

Here are the other parts if the autoplay doesn't work:

part2: http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:12880456
part3: http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:12880462
part4: http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:12880471
part5: http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:12880475

Ta. I'll have a look.

Im_Spartacus wrote:

iwasthere2012 wrote:

bigblue wrote:Since ESPN lost the world cup broadcasting rights for the next few world cups, they've been on a great tear against FIFA. I can't recommend this special highly enough. Blatter is taken to town and they present some pretty damning evidence against him. Here is part 1 and the rest should autoplay:

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=12880429

Seriously, give it a watch.

Very interesting. I had read as much. Wouldn't mind finding the rest of the ESPN programs, but it didn't autoplay.
I'm still wondering will the Qatar world cup ever happen.

It will definitely happen.

The lawsuit from Qatar if it didn't would sink FIFA. Based on the awarding of the world cup, besides the stadium construction, several $bn has been committed and spent towards infrastructure improvements such as a metro/underground which links all the stadia, massive road system upgrades and construction of massive skyscrapers to meet the hotel room requirements (which of course would bring the large hotel companies into the lawsuit against FIFA also). These things were all very much contingent upon the world cup.

What many haven't mentioned, is that the cooling technology mentioned in the Qatar bid, is feasible and has been trialled in smaller venue since the world cup was awarded. A summer world cup WOULD have been feasible and was planned by Qatar. Most walkways to the venues were underground and airconditioned, the entire city centre will be networked with underground walkways, so most people will not even notice the heat unless they choose to sit round their hotel pool or go to the beach, yet still FIFA pulled it because of insurance concerns. The diamond league athletics was held here last night including the 3000m race in 40 degree heat with no problems at all and several world leading performances.

Whilst clearly bribes were paid by Qatar to host the world cup, my personal view is that for bribery to work, there has to be a market for the bribes in order for them to have any impact on an outcome. Those who created the market for the bribes are the guilty parties, and simply can't countenance the real story coming out.

It could still happen that European teams boycott it though, couldn't it.

iwasthere2012 wrote:

Im_Spartacus wrote:

iwasthere2012 wrote:

bigblue wrote:Since ESPN lost the world cup broadcasting rights for the next few world cups, they've been on a great tear against FIFA. I can't recommend this special highly enough. Blatter is taken to town and they present some pretty damning evidence against him. Here is part 1 and the rest should autoplay:

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=12880429

Seriously, give it a watch.

Very interesting. I had read as much. Wouldn't mind finding the rest of the ESPN programs, but it didn't autoplay.
I'm still wondering will the Qatar world cup ever happen.

It will definitely happen.

The lawsuit from Qatar if it didn't would sink FIFA. Based on the awarding of the world cup, besides the stadium construction, several $bn has been committed and spent towards infrastructure improvements such as a metro/underground which links all the stadia, massive road system upgrades and construction of massive skyscrapers to meet the hotel room requirements (which of course would bring the large hotel companies into the lawsuit against FIFA also). These things were all very much contingent upon the world cup.

What many haven't mentioned, is that the cooling technology mentioned in the Qatar bid, is feasible and has been trialled in smaller venue since the world cup was awarded. A summer world cup WOULD have been feasible and was planned by Qatar. Most walkways to the venues were underground and airconditioned, the entire city centre will be networked with underground walkways, so most people will not even notice the heat unless they choose to sit round their hotel pool or go to the beach, yet still FIFA pulled it because of insurance concerns. The diamond league athletics was held here last night including the 3000m race in 40 degree heat with no problems at all and several world leading performances.

Whilst clearly bribes were paid by Qatar to host the world cup, my personal view is that for bribery to work, there has to be a market for the bribes in order for them to have any impact on an outcome. Those who created the market for the bribes are the guilty parties, and simply can't countenance the real story coming out.

It could still happen that European teams boycott it though, couldn't it.

It could happen, but it will be a matter of compensation that will cause the leagues to raise the prospect of a boycott.

FIFA can't afford either of the potential to lose half of the top world nations into a breakaway, or for Qatar to sue them. It will be far cheaper outcome to pay off the leagues/clubs.

That means that if the leagues are serious, we will probably see some grandstanding by the leagues in the next year or two, with them in full knowledge that FIFA will have to compensate them, or FIFA are dead in the water as a governing body.

I very much doubt we've seen the last twists and turns in the saga, but there will be a World Cup in Qatar, FIFA simply can't afford for there not to be now.

Im_Spartacus wrote:

iwasthere2012 wrote:

Im_Spartacus wrote:

iwasthere2012 wrote:

bigblue wrote:Since ESPN lost the world cup broadcasting rights for the next few world cups, they've been on a great tear against FIFA. I can't recommend this special highly enough. Blatter is taken to town and they present some pretty damning evidence against him. Here is part 1 and the rest should autoplay:

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=12880429

Seriously, give it a watch.

Very interesting. I had read as much. Wouldn't mind finding the rest of the ESPN programs, but it didn't autoplay.
I'm still wondering will the Qatar world cup ever happen.

It will definitely happen.

The lawsuit from Qatar if it didn't would sink FIFA. Based on the awarding of the world cup, besides the stadium construction, several $bn has been committed and spent towards infrastructure improvements such as a metro/underground which links all the stadia, massive road system upgrades and construction of massive skyscrapers to meet the hotel room requirements (which of course would bring the large hotel companies into the lawsuit against FIFA also). These things were all very much contingent upon the world cup.

What many haven't mentioned, is that the cooling technology mentioned in the Qatar bid, is feasible and has been trialled in smaller venue since the world cup was awarded. A summer world cup WOULD have been feasible and was planned by Qatar. Most walkways to the venues were underground and airconditioned, the entire city centre will be networked with underground walkways, so most people will not even notice the heat unless they choose to sit round their hotel pool or go to the beach, yet still FIFA pulled it because of insurance concerns. The diamond league athletics was held here last night including the 3000m race in 40 degree heat with no problems at all and several world leading performances.

Whilst clearly bribes were paid by Qatar to host the world cup, my personal view is that for bribery to work, there has to be a market for the bribes in order for them to have any impact on an outcome. Those who created the market for the bribes are the guilty parties, and simply can't countenance the real story coming out.

It could still happen that European teams boycott it though, couldn't it.

It could happen, but it will be a matter of compensation that will cause the leagues to raise the prospect of a boycott.

FIFA can't afford either of the potential to lose half of the top world nations into a breakaway, or for Qatar to sue them. It will be far cheaper outcome to pay off the leagues/clubs.

That means that if the leagues are serious, we will probably see some grandstanding by the leagues in the next year or two, with them in full knowledge that FIFA will have to compensate them, or FIFA are dead in the water as a governing body.

I very much doubt we've seen the last twists and turns in the saga, but there will be a World Cup in Qatar, FIFA simply can't afford for there not to be now.

They almost got sued over the Qatar World Cup by Fox who won the bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup. Them moving the World Cup to the winter come into conflict with their NFL contract. So to avoid a possibly lawsuit it Fox was given the 2026 World Cup at reduced price. Depending on the report as much as third or half off what they paid for 2022.

So before 2026 has even got kick started they have already awarded the rights in the US..

Great ! await more lawsuits from other media companies

zuricity wrote:So before 2026 has even got kick started they have already awarded the rights in the US..

Great ! await more lawsuits from other media companies

Yep, not only was it given at a reduced price, it was in a bidding competition where no other bidders were invited.

It seems to have slipped under the radar this in mainstream news, but this is the sort of deal I reckon we will see more regularly. Blatter and his cronies will be dead long before all that shit starts to unravel, they are saddling future FIFA leaders with liabilities or inability to sell rights which will cripple FIFA long into the future

Authorities have successfully chased a variety of people , for a variety of wrongdoings ( Stuart Hall , for example), once Blatter goes, it will all come out.If only because no one will want to be the stooge that falls for the crap he (Blatter) has carried out.

Edit:

Let's hope something really comes out in the wash now.

Even last night Sky Sports news ( German) was reporting about Blatter's opponent and rumours of brown envelopes, although the British media didn't.

Now the BBC are reporting about a raid on a hotel in Zürich this morning and taking people into custody.

Arrests in Zürich

From the Beeb:

"Swiss police have arrested a number of executives from football world governing body Fifa over US corruption charges, officials have told the BBC.

Police conducted the operation at a hotel in Zurich early on Wednesday.

The charges are said to include money laundering, racketeering and wire fraud over the last 20 years.

Fifa members are gathering in Zurich for their annual meeting on Friday, where incumbent President Sepp Blatter is seeking a fifth term."