FIFA Officials Arrested On Corruption Charges

[Really_Not_All_That_Bright]

I’m a little surprised that this is a US prosecution. I don’t see any indication that any of these crimes occurred in the US.

@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?

If their bid was successful because of fraud, that’s kind of their problem.

[ISiddiqui]

@cmkeller

So if they get convicted, does the 2022 World Cup get moved away from Qatar?

Doubtful. I don’t think that Russia or Qatar World Cups will be affected. There may be massive pressure on a re-vote for 2022, but I think that FIFA will want to keep that place, even if Blatter gets convicted and we have a non-corrupt head (a pipe dream, but maybe a closer reality).

Also the world of soccer has never loved the United States more than it does now ;).

[Whack-a-Mole]

@Really_Not_All_That_Bright

I’m a little surprised that this is a US prosecution. I don’t see any indication that any of these crimes occurred in the US.

Here’s some detail:

Law enforcement officials said much of the inquiry involves Concacaf, one of the six regional confederations that compose FIFA. Concacaf — which stands for Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football — includes major countries like the United States and Mexico, and also tiny ones like Barbados and Montserrat.

<snip>

“The indictment alleges corruption that is rampant, systemic, and deep-rooted both abroad and here in the United States,” Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch said.

<snip>

United States law gives the Justice Department wide authority to bring cases against foreign nationals living abroad, an authority that prosecutors have used repeatedly in international terrorism cases. Those cases can hinge on the slightest connection to the United States, like the use of an American bank or Internet service provider.

SOURCE: After Indicting 14 Soccer Officials, U.S. Vows to End Graft in FIFA - The New York Times

[ISiddiqui]

@Really_Not_All_That_Bright

I’m a little surprised that this is a US prosecution. I don’t see any indication that any of these crimes occurred in the US

The fun part of wire fraud… at some point it crosses over electronic systems in the US.

[amanset]

Watching this press conference in the US I feel like hugging the nearest American for their country being the one to finally do something about FIFA.

[Lamar_Mundane]

You go, Loretta Lynch, and the Sweden Authorities. Somebody found some balls…

Swiss, sorry.

[mascaroni]

@Diceman

…those yachts are expensive.

As are small Picassos

[ElvisL1ves]

FIFA claims it’s the damaged party.

“For sure the damaged body is all of us … and football fans for sure,” De Gregorio said at a hastily arranged media conference. "The president is not involved. Of course he is the head of FIFA but he is not involved.

“He is the president, he is the president and in two days there are elections. If the 209 member associations, they re-elect him, then he is the president for the next four years.”

That last bit does seem less likely now than it did yesterday.

What do all the big football countries even need with FIFA anyway? Can’t they just go ahead with their own tournament if they want?

[Baron_Greenback]

@Really_Not_All_That_Bright

I’m a little surprised that this is a US prosecution. I don’t see any indication that any of these crimes occurred in the US.

From the DOJ/FBI press conference: “Lynch says $110m in bribes related to next year’s Copa América Centenario in the United States alone.” (via Guardian live blog)

[friedo]

@Really_Not_All_That_Bright

I’m a little surprised that this is a US prosecution. I don’t see any indication that any of these crimes occurred in the US.

From CNN:

“According to U.S. request, these crimes were agreed and prepared in the U.S., and payments were carried out via U.S. banks,” the Swiss Office of Justice said.

The Swiss have their own parallel investigation going, as well.

[Really_Not_All_That_Bright]

@Baron_Greenback

From the DOJ/FBI press conference: “Lynch says $110m in bribes related to next year’s Copa América Centenario in the United States alone.” (via Guardian live blog)

Thanks.

[mascaroni]

@Frylock

I know zero things about soccer or any of this, but it seems striking that the guy in charge of the organization wasn’t arrested along with everybody else.

Any chance he actually helped orchestrate this, to get rid of enemies or to get ahead of the inevitable or something?

I doubt if he orchestrated it, but he’d certainly distanced himself from CONCACAF. He’s a wily old operator, think of Blatter and Platini as Burns and Smithers…

[amanset]

@ElvisL1ves

What do all the big football countries even need with FIFA anyway? Can’t they just go ahead with their own tournament if they want?

That’s idea gets thrown around now and again and all I can really think to say is that control permeates through every level of football.

Take England as an example, the (English) Football Association is the governing association and the main competition in England, the FA Cup, involves every single level of football in England, from Sunday leagues up to the Premier League. But the FA is a member of UEFA and UEFA is a member of FIFA.

So if England were to go with their separate competition pretty much the entire FA would have to leave UEFA or elements would be banned, which would affect things like the Champions League. Or UEFA as a whole would have to leave - and that isn’t just the “big” countries.

Basically it isn’t that simple.

[Northern_Piper]

@AK84

Wonder if Blatter will do the decent thing and [del] jump off a cliff [/del] resign.

Mountain goats don’t jump off cliffs.

[AK84]

@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?

The Russia WC will only go for political reasons, not for corruption allegations or even proof of the same. Ditto Qatar, whose owners (yes owners, not rulers) have put in a ton of money into the game, they sponsor Barcelona for instance. Also I doubt that you will find anything illegal in the dealings, bid committees can and do hire top lawyers, accountants and managers to ensure that everything remains technically legal.

@amanset

Watching this press conference in the US I feel like hugging the nearest American for their country being the one to finally do something about FIFA.

Well, they still have to do their penance for Salt Lake City.

[AK84]

The US Justice Departments press release.

[Smapti]

@Lamar_Mundane

You go, Loretta Lynch, and the Sweden Authorities. Somebody found some balls…

Swiss, sorry.

Loretta Lynch was responsible for this?

The sound you just heard was everyone at Fox News going into panic mode trying to figure out how to paint the Democrats as bad for attacking soccer.

[Captain_Lance_Murdoch]

If Blatter or one of his loyalists can hold onto power after this, it will pretty much kill any chance of the US hosting the WC in 2026. I would imagine any American bid would be dismissed out of hand.

[Diceman]

@Smapti

Loretta Lynch was responsible for this?

The sound you just heard was everyone at Fox News going into panic mode trying to figure out how to paint the Democrats as bad for attacking soccer.

:rolleyes:
Given that she probably hasn’t finished unpacking her office yet, I think you’ll need to look far & wide to find anyone who thinks Lynch did anything except make an announcement.

[Whack-a-Mole]

@Diceman

Given that she probably hasn’t finished unpacking her office yet, I think you’ll need to look far & wide to find anyone who thinks Lynch did anything except make an announcement.

True so FOX can’t really blame her but that doesn’t really slow them down trying to tie it to others.

Report: How Corrupt FIFA Is Tied to Clinton Foundation

Both Bill Clinton and his family’s charity have been tied to soccer’s governing body, as well as Qatar’s disastrous World Cup bid.

SOURCE: http://nation.foxnews.com/2015/05/27/report-how-corrupt-fifa-tied-clinton-foundation