cyderspaceman Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 (edited) A few months back the talk amongst US soccer journalists was that FIFA leadership had informally promised the 2026 WC to the US. FIFA extended both the English and Spanish language US tv rights for one extra WC through 2026 without opening up for bids. The English language US tv rights are the most lucrative in the world and the Spanish language are something like 2nd or 3rd. The speculation was that FIFA is making good since FOX paid $425 million to take the rights away from ESPN/ABC. Then both tournaments are put on the other side of the world due to corruption. And then the Qatar WC is moved from the middle of summer (the deadest spot in the US sports calendar) to right in the middle of the NFL and college football seasons (by far the two most popular sports in the US). Fox is already going to be showing two NFL games each Sunday and probably 10 college football games across their platforms on Saturday. I did wonder why the US were getting involved. Obviously it's not for any altruistic 'sporting intgrity' reasons. It's a money thing but since we all know it's all about money anyway, go get them. Better 'fair' money than 'crooked'. (not that I really believe there is 'fairness' where cash is concerned) eta Maybe the Yanks see a chance to take over the whole shebang. Edited May 27, 2015 by cyderspaceman 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLip69 Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 US involvement stemmed from their investigation of Chuck Blazer, who rolled over and squealed like a pig. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandomGuy. Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 I don't know. The arrests were announced at the Federal Justice Dept. headquarters. And the brand new Attorney General, Loretta Lynch, appointed by Obama just happened to be the lead investigator on this case. Obama has to be personally backing the case if he appointed her right as this high profile case was about the break. Post 9/11 anti-terrorism laws were the basis of the investigation. It seems like the full weight of the US federal government is about to come down on world football. There aren't many folks who can successfully fight the full weight of the Feds if everyone up to the President and Attorney General are personally trying to take you down. You've pretty much gotta be high up in a nuclear armed state or hide out in some desert. Why do you think Blatter decided to become best pals with Qatar and Russia? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smurph Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Fox Soccer on Twitter suggesting Jack Warner has surrendered to police in Trinidad and Tobago 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AberdeenBud Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 US involvement stemmed from their investigation of Chuck Blazer, who rolled over and squealed like a pig. Mr Ten Percent as he's known to his friends. http://www.buzzfeed.com/kenbensinger/the-rise-and-fall-of-chuck-blazer-the-man-who-built-and-bilk 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HibeeJibee Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Fox Soccer on Twitter suggesting Jack Warner has surrendered to police in Trinidad and Tobago Was he on the run? I've visions of a cross between Donald Sutherland's Eye of the Needle and that BBC series Death in Paradise... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshbairn Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 (edited) Fox Soccer on Twitter suggesting Jack Warner has surrendered to police in Trinidad and Tobago That would amaze me if true. I'm sure he's got a dossier on everyone in Port of Spain that he's bribed or accepted a handout from, so under full protection. Edited May 27, 2015 by welshbairn 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HibeeJibee Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 [Pedant alert]. Port of Spain, surely. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshbairn Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Was he on the run? I've visions of a cross between Donald Sutherland's Eye of the Needle and that BBC series Death in Paradise... Funnily enough he was in court yesterday in Trinidad defending himself on a libel charge for accusing someone else of corruption. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Malkmus Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Apparently Bill Clinton has been pushing the investigation as he was so pissed off that he wasted two years on the USA's failed 2022 bid. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miguel Sanchez Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 I wonder why it's the United States that have finally decided to actually do something about FIFA's nonsense? I imagine they will have an eye on hosting a World Cup in the next two decades, so it could prove costly for them to get on the wrong side of Blatter and Co.Not if they shift Blatter and Co. #CockwombleForPresidentHe'd be too incompetent to orchestrate this culture of bribery, at least. A lot of folk seem to be underestimating Blatters ability to survive. He'll come out of this stronger.Probably. I'll believe change happens when I see it. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AberdeenBud Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Apparently Bill Clinton has been pushing the investigation as he was so pissed off that he wasted two years on the USA's failed 2022 bid. Not sure that's entirely true, the Qatari's seemingly eased his pain with a series of charitable donations to his foundation. http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/05/27/corrupt-fifa-has-clinton-foundation-ties-world-cup-host-qatar-gave-millions.html 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshbairn Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Jack Warner's on bail of $2.5 million in 10 brown envelopes. http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2015-05-27/25-million-bail-former-national-security-minister-corruption-charges 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yank Mike Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 All those arrested should be sentenced to help build the Qatar stadiums. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyerTon Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyerTon Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 This is just the beginning of the end for Blatter and his allies. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doulikefish Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 It's not very often you can say this but hats of to the Americans Yip its one invasion we can all get behind Anyway Andrew Jennings (the reporter that did the undercover stuff) says there a bigger story waiting to be broken 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eednud Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 Australian not only fell for Blatter saying they should get it but also the Trinidadian version if the Nigerian email. http://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/greens-call-for-world-cup-inquiry/story-e6frfku9-1227372442754 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7-2 Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 I hope the Yanks are good at locating hired computers nobody else can lay their hands on. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jagfox Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 It's (endemic) in the game. #FIFA16 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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