US DoJ brings charges against FIFA

N&P: Discuss governments, nations, politics and recent related news here.

Moderators: Alyrium Denryle, Edi, K. A. Pital

Simon_Jester
Emperor's Hand
Posts: 30165
Joined: 2009-05-23 07:29pm

Re: US DoJ brings charges against FIFA

Post by Simon_Jester »

Gandalf wrote:
"Nobody is above or beyond the law," FBI Director Comey said. "We will not stop until we send messages that this is not the way things should be and that they must be different".
Maybe this line should have a caveat about people who have a lot of social/political capital?
I'm just glad to hear them talking like this at all; it shows someone in there is at least a partial vertebrate. I want this attitude to become universal, not to prohibit them from asserting it while still being locked into corporatism.

Say what you will about hypocrisy, it is at least "the homage vice pays to virtue," and I don't want the Department of Justice dropping that homage, I want them delivering more of it.
This space dedicated to Vasily Arkhipov
User avatar
Lost Soal
Sith Devotee
Posts: 2618
Joined: 2002-10-22 06:25am
Location: Back in Newcastle.

Re: US DoJ brings charges against FIFA

Post by Lost Soal »

Simon_Jester wrote:
Gandalf wrote:
"Nobody is above or beyond the law," FBI Director Comey said. "We will not stop until we send messages that this is not the way things should be and that they must be different".
Maybe this line should have a caveat about people who have a lot of social/political capital?
I'm just glad to hear them talking like this at all; it shows someone in there is at least a partial vertebrate. I want this attitude to become universal, not to prohibit them from asserting it while still being locked into corporatism.

Say what you will about hypocrisy, it is at least "the homage vice pays to virtue," and I don't want the Department of Justice dropping that homage, I want them delivering more of it.
The only reason their doing this is precisely because the sport is so small in the US that they don't believe they'll be pissing off anyone of actual importance to them.
"May God stand between you and harm in all the empty places where you must walk." - Ancient Egyptian Blessing

Ivanova is always right.
I will listen to Ivanova.
I will not ignore Ivanova's recommendations. Ivanova is God.
AND, if this ever happens again, Ivanova will personally rip your lungs out! - Babylon 5 Mantra

There is no "I" in TEAM. There is a ME however.
Simon_Jester
Emperor's Hand
Posts: 30165
Joined: 2009-05-23 07:29pm

Re: US DoJ brings charges against FIFA

Post by Simon_Jester »

Yes.

My point is, I at least want the Department of Justice to keep thinking "no one is above the law." I do not want that phrase erased from the official vocabulary of the state, because that is another step on the road to us losing all hope of it ever actually being true.
This space dedicated to Vasily Arkhipov
User avatar
Lord Pounder
Pretty Hate Machine
Posts: 9695
Joined: 2002-11-19 04:40pm
Location: Belfast, unfortunately
Contact:

Re: US DoJ brings charges against FIFA

Post by Lord Pounder »

Very interesting timing of the arrests. As a fan of football I have to say Blatter has to go. Either he's up to his neck in corruption or he is the most incompetent motherfucker to have ever lived. In totally unrelated news FIFA welcome its latest sponsors The Brown Envelope Company.

The Quatari World Cup is a disaster waiting to happen and a winter World Cup will mess up near enough every professional league in the northern hemisphere. At least Russia has a tradition of football and actually have the infrastructure in place to host a tournament of that scale.

If UEFA are smart they'll boycott FIFA until Blatter is gone. I won't hold my breath. At this stage the only way Blatter leaves is in a pine box.
RIP Yosemite Bear
Gone, Never Forgotten
User avatar
Purple
Sith Acolyte
Posts: 5233
Joined: 2010-04-20 08:31am
Location: In a purple cube orbiting this planet. Hijacking satellites for an internet connection.

Re: US DoJ brings charges against FIFA

Post by Purple »

Lord Pounder wrote:If UEFA are smart they'll boycott FIFA until Blatter is gone. I won't hold my breath. At this stage the only way Blatter leaves is in a pine box.
Would that not mean European teams not taking part in the world cup? I do not think any sane fan of the sport would want to miss out on those games just for the sake of spiting FIFA.
It has become clear to me in the previous days that any attempts at reconciliation and explanation with the community here has failed. I have tried my best. I really have. I pored my heart out trying. But it was all for nothing.

You win. There, I have said it.

Now there is only one thing left to do. Let us see if I can sum up the strength needed to end things once and for all.
Grumman
Jedi Council Member
Posts: 2488
Joined: 2011-12-10 09:13am

Re: US DoJ brings charges against FIFA

Post by Grumman »

Purple wrote:
Lord Pounder wrote:If UEFA are smart they'll boycott FIFA until Blatter is gone. I won't hold my breath. At this stage the only way Blatter leaves is in a pine box.
Would that not mean European teams not taking part in the world cup? I do not think any sane fan of the sport would want to miss out on those games just for the sake of spiting FIFA.
I wasn't paying attention to last year's World Cup, but the one before that was worth boycotting for its own sake. Somebody should have force-fed Blatter a vuvuzela when he tried to claim that incessant, monotone droning is an important part of South African soccer culture.
User avatar
Irbis
Jedi Council Member
Posts: 2262
Joined: 2011-07-15 05:31pm

Re: US DoJ brings charges against FIFA

Post by Irbis »

Lord Pounder wrote:Very interesting timing of the arrests. As a fan of football I have to say Blatter has to go. Either he's up to his neck in corruption or he is the most incompetent motherfucker to have ever lived. In totally unrelated news FIFA welcome its latest sponsors The Brown Envelope Company.

If UEFA are smart they'll boycott FIFA until Blatter is gone. I won't hold my breath. At this stage the only way Blatter leaves is in a pine box.
The problem is - almost every single sport federation is corrupt. No exceptions, where you look you will find bosses who sat on that seat last 20-30 years due to kickbacks and grants. Take FIFA for example - Europe generates vast majority of football income and interest, yet has small minority of votes thanks to the fact a country that never had a match in last 50 years weighs almost as much as say Germany or UK. Kick a grant for 'football development' there and you have a sure-fire vote next election.

Then there is Switzerland, country that acts like tax haven for dozens of these 'sports' organizations because their law is not only incredibly lax, it gives them prestigious location in the centre of Europe. Had FIFA been forced to move HQ to Bahamas or Tobago to avoid taxes, there would be a huge hit on the image of the sport, but Swiss locations you can flaunt as you please. And here, the only way of forcing a reform would be Switzerland deciding it had enough corruption scandals and grabbing a broom themselves.
User avatar
Lonestar
Keeper of the Schwartz
Posts: 13321
Joined: 2003-02-13 03:21pm
Location: The Bay Area

Re: US DoJ brings charges against FIFA

Post by Lonestar »

Thanas wrote:
Man, your tu quoque gets funnier every day. Especially because I already freely acknowledged the failure by all Europeans in this matter. So, you managed to make yourself like an insecure shortdick right now.

Dude, not a thread guys by where you can't stand but to make a snide comment. If you don't want bullshit whataboutism complaints, then don't bring up shit that isn't really relevant at hand.

First, you need to get them extradited, then convicted or interested in a plea. EDIT: At least one of them doesn't seem to do much quaking in his boots right now.

"Oh man one of the guys arrested is being publicly brave it must mean the odds of extradition are slim to none. THANKS AMERICA"
"The rifle itself has no moral stature, since it has no will of its own. Naturally, it may be used by evil men for evil purposes, but there are more good men than evil, and while the latter cannot be persuaded to the path of righteousness by propaganda, they can certainly be corrected by good men with rifles."
User avatar
Lonestar
Keeper of the Schwartz
Posts: 13321
Joined: 2003-02-13 03:21pm
Location: The Bay Area

Re: US DoJ brings charges against FIFA

Post by Lonestar »

Gandalf wrote: Maybe this line should have a caveat about people who have a lot of social/political capital?

Man, they convicted a guy who was the Chief Executive of a state with a GDP the size of Belgium.
"The rifle itself has no moral stature, since it has no will of its own. Naturally, it may be used by evil men for evil purposes, but there are more good men than evil, and while the latter cannot be persuaded to the path of righteousness by propaganda, they can certainly be corrected by good men with rifles."
User avatar
Rogue 9
Scrapping TIEs since 1997
Posts: 18679
Joined: 2003-11-12 01:10pm
Location: Classified
Contact:

Re: US DoJ brings charges against FIFA

Post by Rogue 9 »

Lonestar wrote:
Gandalf wrote: Maybe this line should have a caveat about people who have a lot of social/political capital?

Man, they convicted a guy who was the Chief Executive of a state with a GDP the size of Belgium.
Multiple times, presuming you mean Illinois. :P
It's Rogue, not Rouge!

HAB | KotL | VRWC/ELC/CDA | TRotR | The Anti-Confederate | Sluggite | Gamer | Blogger | Staff Reporter | Student | Musician
User avatar
Lonestar
Keeper of the Schwartz
Posts: 13321
Joined: 2003-02-13 03:21pm
Location: The Bay Area

Re: US DoJ brings charges against FIFA

Post by Lonestar »

Yup!
"The rifle itself has no moral stature, since it has no will of its own. Naturally, it may be used by evil men for evil purposes, but there are more good men than evil, and while the latter cannot be persuaded to the path of righteousness by propaganda, they can certainly be corrected by good men with rifles."
User avatar
Thanas
Magister
Magister
Posts: 30779
Joined: 2004-06-26 07:49pm

Re: US DoJ brings charges against FIFA

Post by Thanas »

Lonestar wrote:
Thanas wrote:Man, your tu quoque gets funnier every day. Especially because I already freely acknowledged the failure by all Europeans in this matter. So, you managed to make yourself like an insecure shortdick right now.
Dude, not a thread guys by where you can't stand but to make a snide comment. If you don't want bullshit whataboutism complaints, then don't bring up shit that isn't really relevant at hand.
First, you need to get them extradited, then convicted or interested in a plea. EDIT: At least one of them doesn't seem to do much quaking in his boots right now.
"Oh man one of the guys arrested is being publicly brave it must mean the odds of extradition are slim to none. THANKS AMERICA"
Dude, you got shit on Blatter right now, or you would have arrested him. If you can't bring down Blatter, getting a few flunkies is nothing. Don't expect me to congratulate the DoJ on that. :lol:
Whoever says "education does not matter" can try ignorance
------------
A decision must be made in the life of every nation at the very moment when the grasp of the enemy is at its throat. Then, it seems that the only way to survive is to use the means of the enemy, to rest survival upon what is expedient, to look the other way. Well, the answer to that is 'survival as what'? A country isn't a rock. It's not an extension of one's self. It's what it stands for. It's what it stands for when standing for something is the most difficult! - Chief Judge Haywood
------------
My LPs
User avatar
The Romulan Republic
Emperor's Hand
Posts: 21559
Joined: 2008-10-15 01:37am

Re: US DoJ brings charges against FIFA

Post by The Romulan Republic »

Yes Thanas, if you can't catch the boss there's no point to catching a bunch of major criminals.

Really, this is absurd.
Pelranius
Sith Marauder
Posts: 3539
Joined: 2006-10-24 11:35am
Location: Around and about the Beltway

Re: US DoJ brings charges against FIFA

Post by Pelranius »

Mr. Blatter just said he'll resign.

AFP ZURICH — FIFA President Sepp Blatter will resign from soccer's governing body amid a widening corruption scandal and has promised to call for fresh elections to choose a successor.

The 79-year-old Blatter was re-elected to a fifth term on Friday, two days after a corruption crisis erupted and seven soccer officials were arrested in Zurich ahead of the FIFA congress.

"This mandate does not seem to be supported by everybody in the world of football," Blatter said Tuesday at a hastily arranged news conference. "FIFA needs a profound restructuring."

Elections are expected to take place sometime between December and March.

"I will continue to exercise my function (until the new election)," Blatter said.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/06 ... ation.html
Turns out that a five way cross over between It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, the Ali G Show, Fargo, Idiocracy and Veep is a lot less funny when you're actually living in it.
User avatar
Soontir C'boath
SG-14: Fuck the Medic!
Posts: 6853
Joined: 2002-07-06 12:15am
Location: Queens, NYC I DON'T FUCKING CARE IF MANHATTEN IS CONSIDERED NYC!! I'M IN IT ASSHOLE!!!
Contact:

Re: US DoJ brings charges against FIFA

Post by Soontir C'boath »

Damn, 79 years old. One would think at his age, he would just take the money and run maybe a decade ago, but I guess gaming the system had been fun. While encouraging, it would certainly be better if he was arrested as well.
I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen's Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to "order" than to justice; who constantly says: "I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action"; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man's freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a "more convenient season."
User avatar
Dartzap
Sith Acolyte
Posts: 5969
Joined: 2002-09-05 09:56am
Location: Britain, Britain, Britain: Land Of Rain
Contact:

Re: US DoJ brings charges against FIFA

Post by Dartzap »

Soontir C'boath wrote:Damn, 79 years old. One would think at his age, he would just take the money and run maybe a decade ago, but I guess gaming the system had been fun. While encouraging, it would certainly be better if he was arrested as well.
It's possible that's why he has resigned. If the Swiss/Yanks have made an appointment to arrest him, he may have resigned to save what little dignity he still had.
EBC: Northeners, Huh! What are they good for?! Absolutely nothing! :P

Cybertron, Justice league...MM, HAB SDN City Watch: Sergeant Detritus

Days Unstabbed, Unabused, Unassualted and Unwavedatwithabutchersknife: 0
User avatar
Soontir C'boath
SG-14: Fuck the Medic!
Posts: 6853
Joined: 2002-07-06 12:15am
Location: Queens, NYC I DON'T FUCKING CARE IF MANHATTEN IS CONSIDERED NYC!! I'M IN IT ASSHOLE!!!
Contact:

Re: US DoJ brings charges against FIFA

Post by Soontir C'boath »

Frankly, I have never understood how resigning prevents one from being civilly or criminally liable. It just seems to me as long as I get to do a shitload of bad shit and then resign before the FBI or whomever gets wind, I'm off scot free.
I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen's Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to "order" than to justice; who constantly says: "I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action"; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man's freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a "more convenient season."
User avatar
Thanas
Magister
Magister
Posts: 30779
Joined: 2004-06-26 07:49pm

Re: US DoJ brings charges against FIFA

Post by Thanas »

Pelranius wrote:Mr. Blatter just said he'll resign.

AFP ZURICH — FIFA President Sepp Blatter will resign from soccer's governing body amid a widening corruption scandal and has promised to call for fresh elections to choose a successor.

The 79-year-old Blatter was re-elected to a fifth term on Friday, two days after a corruption crisis erupted and seven soccer officials were arrested in Zurich ahead of the FIFA congress.

"This mandate does not seem to be supported by everybody in the world of football," Blatter said Tuesday at a hastily arranged news conference. "FIFA needs a profound restructuring."

Elections are expected to take place sometime between December and March.

"I will continue to exercise my function (until the new election)," Blatter said.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/06 ... ation.html
Holy Crap. They actualy did it. I'll concede everything.

THANK YOU DOJ. I'll be raising a glass to them this night.
Whoever says "education does not matter" can try ignorance
------------
A decision must be made in the life of every nation at the very moment when the grasp of the enemy is at its throat. Then, it seems that the only way to survive is to use the means of the enemy, to rest survival upon what is expedient, to look the other way. Well, the answer to that is 'survival as what'? A country isn't a rock. It's not an extension of one's self. It's what it stands for. It's what it stands for when standing for something is the most difficult! - Chief Judge Haywood
------------
My LPs
Pelranius
Sith Marauder
Posts: 3539
Joined: 2006-10-24 11:35am
Location: Around and about the Beltway

Re: US DoJ brings charges against FIFA

Post by Pelranius »

I wonder if Sepp is going to soon head for a country with no extradition treaty with the US?
Turns out that a five way cross over between It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, the Ali G Show, Fargo, Idiocracy and Veep is a lot less funny when you're actually living in it.
User avatar
Sea Skimmer
Yankee Capitalist Air Pirate
Posts: 37390
Joined: 2002-07-03 11:49pm
Location: Passchendaele City, HAB

Re: US DoJ brings charges against FIFA

Post by Sea Skimmer »

My bet is the sponsors forced him out; an awful lot of big western companies were mumbling about reviewing contracts and future deals and that wasn't just going to go away in a few weeks of acting like nothing was wrong. Putin phoning around the world to declare Blatter his buddy wasn't helping either on that.
"This cult of special forces is as sensible as to form a Royal Corps of Tree Climbers and say that no soldier who does not wear its green hat with a bunch of oak leaves stuck in it should be expected to climb a tree"
— Field Marshal William Slim 1956
User avatar
The Romulan Republic
Emperor's Hand
Posts: 21559
Joined: 2008-10-15 01:37am

Re: US DoJ brings charges against FIFA

Post by The Romulan Republic »

Woohoo!

I'm not a fan of soccer, but the allegations against FIFA have been sufficiently horrific to capture my interest. I'm delighted to see this man go down, and to see more proof that US Justice is worth something, at least some of the time.
User avatar
Sea Skimmer
Yankee Capitalist Air Pirate
Posts: 37390
Joined: 2002-07-03 11:49pm
Location: Passchendaele City, HAB

Re: US DoJ brings charges against FIFA

Post by Sea Skimmer »

RUMINT has reached the US media that Blatter is in fact under investigation himself.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-32986950

Fifa president Sepp Blatter is being investigated by US officials as part of their inquiry into corruption at the world football body, US media say.

The news came hours after Mr Blatter announced that he was stepping down from his role.

US prosecutors launched a criminal inquiry last week, with seven Fifa officials arrested in Switzerland, part of a group of 14 people indicted.

Two days after the arrests, Mr Blatter was re-elected president of Fifa.

However, he said on Tuesday that it appeared the mandate he had been given "does not seem to be supported by everyone in the world".

Mr Blatter said: "Fifa needs profound restructuring."
'Rampant corruption'

The BBC's Nick Bryant in New York says that several US officials told the New York Times that they are hoping to gain the co-operation of some of the Fifa figures now under indictment on charges of racketeering and money laundering to try to build a case against Mr Blatter.

In announcing the US prosecution last week into what she called the "rampant, systemic and deep-rooted" corruption in world football, US Attorney General Loretta Lynch did not address Mr Blatter's position directly.

But she did say that this was the beginning of the investigation, not the end.

She also called for a new start at Fifa.

Our correspondent says it is primarily the US investigation that has plunged the world football governing body into its most serious crisis.

Earlier the FBI, Internal Revenue Service and the US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, who is involved in the US prosecutions, all said they would not comment on the Blatter resignation.
"This cult of special forces is as sensible as to form a Royal Corps of Tree Climbers and say that no soldier who does not wear its green hat with a bunch of oak leaves stuck in it should be expected to climb a tree"
— Field Marshal William Slim 1956
Simon_Jester
Emperor's Hand
Posts: 30165
Joined: 2009-05-23 07:29pm

Re: US DoJ brings charges against FIFA

Post by Simon_Jester »

Hm. On some very trivial level, I feel like this is an argument in favor of cultural diversity and the nation-state, as opposed to uniformity and globalization. A sport that is Big Business and nearly untouchable in most countries is touchable in the one country that just happens to not care very much about that sport.
This space dedicated to Vasily Arkhipov
User avatar
The Romulan Republic
Emperor's Hand
Posts: 21559
Joined: 2008-10-15 01:37am

Re: US DoJ brings charges against FIFA

Post by The Romulan Republic »

I would argue that cultural diversity and globalization are not mutually exclusive, but that's rather off-topic.

Edits: In any case, I'm glad there was someone in the world willing to do this. Nobody should be above the law, and everything I've heard about FIFA leads me to conclude that Blatter is either loathsome or at least surrounded by loathsome people.
User avatar
salm
Rabid Monkey
Posts: 10296
Joined: 2002-09-09 08:25pm

Re: US DoJ brings charges against FIFA

Post by salm »

This is awsome. We should kickstarter a weekend with free hookers and blow for the DOJ.
Post Reply