FIFA Officials Arrested
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<p>WARNER further stated that a representative of one of the CFU member associations had contacted CONCACAF offices in New York to advise Co-Conspirator #1 of the payments. WARNER was angry that the representative had done this. WARNER stated, “There are some people here who think they are more pious than thou. If you’re pious, open a church, friends. Our business is our business.â€</p>
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Haha. Some entertaining extracts in the Indictment Report.</p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://images.businessweek.com/bloomberg/pdfs/FIFAindictment.pdf'>http://images.businessweek.com/bloomberg/pdfs/FIFAindictment.pdf</a> if anyone has too much time on their hands. </p>
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<p>Can't wait for Blatter & Co to be nailed under RICO.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="492897" data-time="1432729848">
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<p>Polanski.</p>
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<p>While I agree that Polanski is a piece of shit, rapist scumbag, France and Switzerland are two different countries.
Plus, the problem there is that Polanski is a French national and most countries don't extradite their own nationals.</p>
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<p>Anyway, Blatter's been informed he can't leave Switzerland and Russia have thrown around some bullshit accusations. I guess they see their World Cup falling through their fingers, let's hope it does.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unco" data-cid="492931" data-time="1432754516">
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<p>While I agree that Polanski is a piece of shit, rapist scumbag, France and Switzerland are two different countries. Plus, the problem there is that Polanski is a French national and most countries don't extradite their own nationals.</p>
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<p>Anyway, Blatter's been informed he can't leave Switzerland and Russia have thrown around some bullshit accusations. I guess they see their World Cup falling through their fingers, let's hope it does.</p>
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<p>Polanski was arrested in Switzerland.</p> -
<p>Looks like Nike have been snared:</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://qz.com/413556/nike-is-cooperating-with-investigators-in-a-30m-case-of-alleged-bribery-to-sponsor-brazils-national-team/'>Nike is cooperating with investigators in a $30m case of alleged bribery to sponsor Brazil’s national team</a></p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="492932" data-time="1432754937">
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<p>Polanski was arrested in Switzerland.</p>
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<p>Oh, I forgot about that. Yeah, it was fucked. I'm guessing there was a lot of political pressure on them within the EU to release him.</p> -
<p><img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BpyA7aBCEAEorKw.jpg" alt="BpyA7aBCEAEorKw.jpg"></p>
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Bonita Mersiades (former OZ football exec) was interviewed last night about the arrests. She gave some interesting insights into Australia's bid and the FBI investigation. <br><br><a class="bbc_url" href="http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2015/s4243794.htm">http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2015/s4243794.htm</a>
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<p><img src="http://maddawggmanifesto.info/pics/britepics/shocked.JPG" alt="shocked.JPG"></p>
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<p><img src="http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--DGezXz4m--/1271105087685246020.png" alt="1271105087685246020.png"></p>
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<p><img src="http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--PdT5RWFt--/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_636/1271157631436277136.jpg" alt="1271157631436277136.jpg"></p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://screamer.deadspin.com/chart-the-qatar-world-cup-death-toll-is-stunning-1707286095'>http://screamer.deadspin.com/chart-the-qatar-world-cup-death-toll-is-stunning-1707286095</a></p> -
So the next WC is scheduled to be in Russia, where being gay is illegal, and then the WC after that in Qatar, where being a woman is illegal. Be great if they take it away from both countries as a result of this.
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<p>I'm not a fan of Russia getting it, but by far the worse award is Qatar. Aside from mountains of money to pay bribes, there isn't a thing going for it. Their labour situation is feudal. Masses of immigrant workers work in appallingly unsafe and unsanitary conditions in the richest country in the world per capita. There's no good excuse for treating workers badly, but when a country is a rich as those buggers are it makes me sick. </p>
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<p>I hope they finish all the stadiums and as soon as they are done then FIFA takes it off them. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="antipodean" data-cid="492953" data-time="1432768906"><p><img src="http://maddawggmanifesto.info/pics/britepics/shocked.JPG" alt="shocked.JPG"></p></blockquote>
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It is actually shocking that someone has actually gone after these guys. After decades of alleged corruption, kickbacks and bribes, eventually a country (U.S.) where football is not the mainstream brings it all to a head. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="493035" data-time="1432818582">
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<p>More to the point I wonder <strong>what lobby group</strong> in the US set the State Dept onto FIFA.</p>
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<p>My guess is the Internal Revenue Service (IRS, the U.S. taxman), same organization that took down Al Capone and other mobsters.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="493034" data-time="1432818219"><p>
It is actually shocking that someone has actually gone after these guys. After decades of alleged corruption, kickbacks and bribes, eventually a country (U.S.) where football is not the mainstream brings it all to a head.</p></blockquote>
I wonder whether the US is less scared of FIFA than a soccer country? -
<p>That photo of the lobby of the hotel before the arrests is quite funny. They send in a handful of plainclothes cops who appear to be asking nicely at the front desk before going to knock on doors. Nice Swiss folk.</p>
<p>Of course, if any of the FIFA officials were fat germans and it was the NZ police involved there would have been helicopters, armed tactical units and dogs......</p> -
<p>Blatter is unbelievable. His reign stretches over a time of terrible corruption and ridiculous decisions, and he says he welcomes the probe - and to re-elect him president. Now that is steel balled cold, right there. You can only imagine who he will sacrifice (and keep sacrificing) to get what he wants.</p>
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<p>How can they possibly hold elections with this dangling like an anvil?</p>
