# FIFA Officials Arrested On Corruption Charges **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [May 27, 2015, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-officials-arrested-on-corruption-charges/720946 "2015-05-27T06:23:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-officials-arrested-on-corruption-charges/720946/61 "2015-05-28T07:22:18Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > So if they get convicted, does the 2022 World Cup get moved away from Qatar? While I understand that soccer fans have been against the Qatar selection from the beginning, the country has put tons of money (and, from what I hear, lives) into building World Cup venues, do those just get wasted? You don’t need a conviction. You need a FIFA head with balls who will release the unedited report on the Russia and Qatar scandal, move both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, and suspend South Africa as well as Morocco and any other country involved in bribery from international play for the appropriate time. Fuck Russia and Qatar if their stadiums are half built. Maybe Qatar can use theirs for indoor skiing, while Russia can have moto-cross and Monster trucks in theirs. Not my problem, fuck both these scumbag countries. A hard lesson for all countries to learn from. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-officials-arrested-on-corruption-charges/720946/62 "2015-05-28T07:56:18Z")
Americans certainly have shed enough tears on corruption in bidding to fill a Salt Lake. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-officials-arrested-on-corruption-charges/720946/63 "2015-05-28T10:59:06Z")
Salt Lake City may have had it’s own level of corruption, but it was at least a good venue with great snow and infrastructure and access. Not a damn thing close to Qatar. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-officials-arrested-on-corruption-charges/720946/64 "2015-05-28T11:16:19Z")
Qatar has excellent infrastructure and access. There are many arguments against them hosting the WC. Those are not amongst them. And Salt Lake City was openly corrupt from start to finish. As was Nagano. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-officials-arrested-on-corruption-charges/720946/65 "2015-05-28T12:09:55Z")
Finally this scandal grabbed a local corrupt politician, Jack Warner. Sadly I don’t think other local politicians are associated to international sports that could be investigated for fraud. But at least it is something! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-officials-arrested-on-corruption-charges/720946/66 "2015-05-28T12:31:36Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Qatar has excellent infrastructure and access. There are many arguments against them hosting the WC. Those are not amongst them. Don’t they have to build all their stadiums? What’s all the slave labor building if their infrastructure is so great? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-officials-arrested-on-corruption-charges/720946/67 "2015-05-28T12:59:25Z")
[Visa threatens to drop sponsorship of World Cup as a result of corruption; other sponsors makes similar noises](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/fifa/11635395/Fifa-sponsor-Visa-piles-pressure-on-Sepp-Blatter-after-corruption-scandal.html) ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-officials-arrested-on-corruption-charges/720946/68 "2015-05-28T13:04:36Z")
Just a little reminder to Blatter who’s \*really \*in charge. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-officials-arrested-on-corruption-charges/720946/69 "2015-05-28T13:04:43Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Don’t they have to build all their stadiums? What’s all the slave labor building if their infrastructure is so great? Yeah. Didn’t Salt Lake City have to send home thousands of coffins back to Nepal? ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-officials-arrested-on-corruption-charges/720946/70 "2015-05-28T13:10:47Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Don’t they have to build all their stadiums? What’s all the slave labor building if their infrastructure is so great? Yes, Qatar is building nine new stadiums, as well as hotels, restaurants, roads, utilities, and plenty of other infrastructure to support the event. They even have to build [infrastructure to house the workers building the infrastructure](http://www.ticotimes.net/2015/05/06/qatar-is-building-seven-cities-just-to-house-its-world-cup-migrant-workers). ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-officials-arrested-on-corruption-charges/720946/71 "2015-05-28T13:16:30Z")
But are they really going to find a way to deal with the small matter of the temperature being hot enough to bake a chicken, even at night? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-officials-arrested-on-corruption-charges/720946/72 "2015-05-28T13:40:27Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > [Visa threatens to drop sponsorship of World Cup as a result of corruption; other sponsors makes similar noises](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/fifa/11635395/Fifa-sponsor-Visa-piles-pressure-on-Sepp-Blatter-after-corruption-scandal.html) > [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Just a little reminder to Blatter who’s \*really \*in charge. Sony and Johnson & Johnson pulled out early this year and nothing seems to have happened. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-officials-arrested-on-corruption-charges/720946/73 "2015-05-28T14:38:27Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > They even have to build [infrastructure to house the workers building the infrastructure](http://www.ticotimes.net/2015/05/06/qatar-is-building-seven-cities-just-to-house-its-world-cup-migrant-workers). Are those bars on the windows? ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-officials-arrested-on-corruption-charges/720946/74 "2015-05-28T15:13:51Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > Yes, Qatar is building nine new stadiums, as well as hotels, restaurants, roads, utilities, and plenty of other infrastructure to support the event. They even have to build [infrastructure to house the workers building the infrastructure](http://www.ticotimes.net/2015/05/06/qatar-is-building-seven-cities-just-to-house-its-world-cup-migrant-workers). I know Rolf Harris is now disgraced, but… \*Oh, the migrant workers of the firms who build the infrastructure of the housing for the migrant workers building the infrastructure for the hosting of the 2022 World Cup which might not be happen, were just passing by… \* ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-officials-arrested-on-corruption-charges/720946/75 "2015-05-28T15:29:57Z")
> [@russian\_heel](#): > > You don’t need a conviction. You need a FIFA head with balls who will release the unedited report on the Russia and Qatar scandal, move both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, and suspend South Africa as well as Morocco and any other country involved in bribery from international play for the appropriate time. Yeah, I wouldn’t want to have to be the one to tell the Russians that the tournament they won is being rescinded, despite all the “gifts” that were undoubtedly given. I’m betting many such gifts originated from men you don’t screw over. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-officials-arrested-on-corruption-charges/720946/76 "2015-05-28T16:09:33Z")
Nothing is going to happen to Russia for a few reasons: 1) Russia is a UEFA country. UEFA may make lots of noise about Qatar, but they aren’t going screw over one of their own, 2) The Russia WC is scheduled for 3 years from now and any conviction/proof of bribery likely won’t happen until next year or 2 years from now; they aren’t going to switch it from Russia that quick if they were interested in switching venues. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-officials-arrested-on-corruption-charges/720946/77 "2015-05-28T17:27:16Z")
And there’s no major question about Russia’s playing facilities or visitor accommodations or climate/playability or general ability to make it happen successfully, either. Unlike Qatar. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-officials-arrested-on-corruption-charges/720946/78 "2015-05-28T17:29:45Z")
Serious question, since I know little about FIFA or the bidding process for the World Cup and other tournaments. Is FIFA guilty of anything substantially more corrupt and sinister than, say, the NFL (which regularly promises the Super Bowl to cities that cough up tax money to build new stadiums for local franchises)? ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-officials-arrested-on-corruption-charges/720946/79 "2015-05-28T17:42:10Z")
FIFA is probably closer to the IOC in corruption. AFAIK, NFL officials don’t get massive individual payoffs to vote for Superbowl sites. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-officials-arrested-on-corruption-charges/720946/80 "2015-05-28T17:42:54Z")
This is about individuals taking cash bribes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-officials-arrested-on-corruption-charges/720946.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-officials-arrested-on-corruption-charges/720946.md?page=5)