Blatter To Resign

[BigTone]

Net was obviously closing in on him.

Now he's gone I expect the whole thing to cave in like a house of cards.

There will be a few worried men tonight.

 

My thoughts exactly

[Super]

Best result now is to Strip Russia and Qatar of the world cup and give it to us and Australia.

[Aussie]

Whilst it'd nice to see the World Cup in Australia, we got one vote.

It'd do nothing that the developing world see as the usual suspect countries seeing themselves as superior.

England has held the World Cup already, why should they get it in front other smaller countries who have never held it?

Look at it from others views.

[Super]

Whilst it'd nice to see the World Cup in Australia, we got one vote.

It'd do nothing that the developing world see as the usual suspect countries seeing themselves as superior.

England has held the World Cup already, why should they get it in front other smaller countries who have never held it?

Look at it from others views.

But they both have everything in place is the point I was trying to make. A smaller country would prob still require a lot of work on new stadiums etc.

[RedJim]

Whilst it'd nice to see the World Cup in Australia, we got one vote.

It'd do nothing that the developing world see as the usual suspect countries seeing themselves as superior.

England has held the World Cup already, why should they get it in front other smaller countries who have never held it?

Look at it from others views.

Agree, but it may be, for 2018, that they would need to find a host who's stadia and facilities are already built and ready to host a World Cup. There will only be a few countries in that position - you'd expect England to be one of them. Germany also, having hosted only a few years ago.

[Strictly Obi]

Whilst it'd nice to see the World Cup in Australia, we got one vote.

It'd do nothing that the developing world see as the usual suspect countries seeing themselves as superior.

England has held the World Cup already, why should they get it in front other smaller countries who have never held it?

Look at it from others views.

Countries holding the world cup need to have good stadiums, training facilities, hotels, good roads and safe transportation, they need to be ethical, not run by dictatorships, and really love the game and have a history of loving the game. I get the feeling some countries are after the investment by fifa for financial reasons alone. Look at the slave labour being used I'm Qatar....are you happy with this situation and the resultant deaths. This is what will happen if you give a large tournament to countries that aren't ready for it yet!

[Monkeh]

FIFA should only strip Russia and Qatar of the world cups of there is clear proof of corruption linking people to the bidding process

If there isn't then stripping them will be seen as sour grapes

Let's the law do their work before talk of stripping country's of the right to host the tournament

[Manon]

Yes I know how things are done. I had to occasionally "look the other way in Indonesia", it's just fact of life.

Just occasionally? The C word doesn't even exist over there. Police openly flaunt it.

The sony playstation and pro evolution soccer did much more for football in indonesia than fifa ever did.

[Super]

FIFA should only strip Russia and Qatar of the world cups of there is clear proof of corruption linking people to the bidding process

If there isn't then stripping them will be seen as sour grapes

Let's the law do their work before talk of stripping country's of the right to host the tournament

I think the fact they actually got the world cup tells you that answer.

[Monkeh]

I think the fact they actually got the world cup tells you that answer.

Not really

South Africa and Brazil world cups were meant to be a disaster but I fact held very good tournies

Like I said you can't just strip them without proof no matter what it looks like on the outside,

[LondonBristolian]

FIFA should only strip Russia and Qatar of the world cups of there is clear proof of corruption linking people to the bidding process

If there isn't then stripping them will be seen as sour grapes

Let's the law do their work before talk of stripping country's of the right to host the tournament

 

Thing is, I'm amazed there aren't grounds to strip the World Cup from Qatar simply based on the fact they promised a summer tournament and have not been able to deliver that.  Surely that alone is a breach of the original bid conditions?

 

Personally I've decided I'm not going to watch the Qatar world cup in any case - the death toll is simply too high for anyone to feel at all good about it.

[glynriley]

Whilst it'd nice to see the World Cup in Australia, we got one vote.

It'd do nothing that the developing world see as the usual suspect countries seeing themselves as superior.

England has held the World Cup already, why should they get it in front other smaller countries who have never held it?

Look at it from others views.

 

Italy, Brazil, France, Germany even Mexico have held it more than once.

 

As for smaller countries holding it, John from HL hit the nail on the head.

 

For me FIFA shouldn't choose the host anyway, that should be left to the federation where the tournament is to be held. They'll know which countries can handle it and benefit.

[PHILINFRANCE]

Not a bad response from Qatar

 

QATAR RESPONSE
Could Sepp Blatter's resignation have repercussions for the 2022 World Cup, scheduled to take place in Qatar? FA Chairman Greg Dyke has suggested that it is possible the decision to award the tournament to Qatar may be re-examined.

But the president of the Qatar Football Association, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Bin Ahmed Al-Thani, said in a statement: "Mr Dyke's instinct to immediately focus on stripping Qatar of the World Cup speaks volumes on his views concerning what will be the first FIFA World Cup to take place in the Middle East.

"Having already co-operated fully with Mr Garcia's investigation - and been subsequently cleared of any wrong-doing - we welcome the office of the Swiss attorney general conducting its own work into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

"We would urge Mr Dyke to let the legal process take its course and concentrate on delivering his promise to build an England team capable of winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar."

[Red-Robbo]

Whilst it'd nice to see the World Cup in Australia, we got one vote.

It'd do nothing that the developing world see as the usual suspect countries seeing themselves as superior.

England has held the World Cup already, why should they get it in front other smaller countries who have never held it?

Look at it from others views.

Qatar is hardly the developing world.

Football is a developing sport in Australia. It makes a lot of sense to hold a Cup there, in a continent where there has never been one.

I'm all for building up the game in "the developing world" but few countries there are going to be able to afford the cost of hosting a World Cup.

Blatter's reign has been about bribery, kick-backs and patronism entirely.

[HLR]

What is the likelihood of both Russia and Qatar being stripped of 2018/2022 world cups no Blatter's reign has gone up in smoke? Surely the Russia bid wasn't won solely on it being the best option for football and we all know that definitely wasn't the case for Qatar....

[Guest]

Countries holding the world cup need to have good stadiums, training facilities, hotels, good roads and safe transportation, they need to be ethical, not run by dictatorships, and really love the game and have a history of loving the game. I get the feeling some countries are after the investment by fifa for financial reasons alone. Look at the slave labour being used I'm Qatar....are you happy with this situation and the resultant deaths. This is what will happen if you give a large tournament to countries that aren't ready for it yet!

 

An excellent post and indisputably why the World Cup can only be delivered to a country which is developed for it. Even it going to Brazil was problematic - significant H&S failings, a stadium which was severely behind deadline, mass socio-economic upheaval which resulted in large scale protests against the staging of the World Cup... and what was the legacy...?

 

And this is Brazil.

[WhistleHappy]

What is the likelihood of both Russia and Qatar being stripped of 2018/2022 world cups no Blatter's reign has gone up in smoke? Surely the Russia bid wasn't won solely on it being the best option for football and we all know that definitely wasn't the case for Qatar....

Morally that's exactly what should happen, BUT money is still King in this World, imagine the bottomless pit of filthy lucre that would be used in litigation against anyone attempting to put these dirty WC hosting deals right... Legal case/hearing after legal case/hearing, shit loads of cash down the drain, time ticking on and running out fast to make alternative arrangements etc...

Should happen, can't see it happening though ....

Fifa already have a lot of in house spring cleaning to do without trying to find time and funds to fight Qutari legal battles.

Hope springs eternal though I guess, if you believe in miracles, - I think we're stuck with current WC arrangements as far as the actual tournament's are concerned, hard to swallow though.

[Guest]

What is the likelihood of both Russia and Qatar being stripped of 2018/2022 world cups no Blatter's reign has gone up in smoke? Surely the Russia bid wasn't won solely on it being the best option for football and we all know that definitely wasn't the case for Qatar....

 

Personally, I would say 'nil' and 'nil' but its anyone's guess.

 

My thoughts are that FIFA tied its hands all those years ago and whilst it may be theoretically possible to strip the World Cups, in practice I think it a virtual impossibility.

[Ashtonboy]

There has to be a ranking system based on active participation in the sport, either playing or attending or paying to watch on TV. Are you seriously suggesting that a country like the Caymen Islands (plural for the sake of "one team in Keynsham" the singular is Cayman Island) should have the same voting rights as either Germany, Spain, England or Italy etc.

He who pays the piper calls the tune.

Lets go back to the 19th century British voting system whereby only the rich and powerful have the vote and the poor bastards at the bottom know their place. If they are allowed too be a member then they get an equal vote, that's democracy. Forming a separate, 2nd division Federation, of the bottom 100 rated countries is a separate discussion and I believe should be on the agenda.

As it stands, each member should have a full vote.

[Guest]

Lets go back to the 19th century British voting system whereby only the rich and powerful have the vote and the poor bastards at the bottom know their place. If they are allowed too be a member then they get an equal vote, that's democracy. Forming a separate, 2nd division Federation, of the bottom 100 rated countries is a separate discussion and I believe should be on the agenda.

As it stands, each member should have a full vote.

 

I believe you're perspective is completely off.

 

It has little to do with rich v poor and neither is it about maintaining status quo.

 

Let me ask you this question: do you believe the electoral system in the UK is fair given the amount of power the SNP now yield despite their relative tiny share of the vote? This is exactly what happens in FIFA but on a phenomenal scale and it is not democratic - it is an ugly bastard of democracy at best.

 

A true-er democracy would reflect the participation in sport - proportional representation if you will.

[Roger Red Hat]

I believe you're perspective is completely off.

 

It has little to do with rich v poor and neither is it about maintaining status quo.

 

Let me ask you this question: do you believe the electoral system in the UK is fair given the amount of power the SNP now yield despite their relative tiny share of the vote? This is exactly what happens in FIFA but on a phenomenal scale and it is not democratic - it is an ugly bastard of democracy at best.

 

A true-er democracy would reflect the participation in sport - proportional representation if you will.

.....or the power of the Tory party, elected on only 24% of the vote.

[Alex_BCFC]

.....or the power of the Tory party, elected on only 24% of the vote.

37%?

[Ashtonboy]

I believe you're perspective is completely off.

 

It has little to do with rich v poor and neither is it about maintaining status quo.

 

Let me ask you this question: do you believe the electoral system in the UK is fair given the amount of power the SNP now yield despite their relative tiny share of the vote? This is exactly what happens in FIFA but on a phenomenal scale and it is not democratic - it is an ugly bastard of democracy at best.

 

A true-er democracy would reflect the participation in sport - proportional representation if you will.

I stand by what I said. As always, people want to change the system when they don't get the result they want. By the way, the SNP hold exactly zero power in the British parliament due to the Tories working majority. As a socialist, I accept this, and must await common sense from the voters in 5 years time!

[Guest]

I stand by what I said. As always, people want to change the system when they don't get the result they want. By the way, the SNP hold exactly zero power in the British parliament due to the Tories working majority. As a socialist, I accept this, and must await common sense from the voters in 5 years time!

Then we must agree to disagree as I could never accord to yours.

The way FIFA is set up is akin to Bristol getting one voice, London getting one voice and Royal Wootton Bassett getting one voice.

How would you feel during an election if your vote was diluted amongst say 20 thousand people but in the next constituency along votes were diluted amongst 20 people. How on earth could that possibly be democratic by any measure? You seem to suggest proportional representation is some evil - you are the only socialist I have ever encountered with that view point!

That is why I feel there is nothing democratic about the way FIFA is constituted.

And zero power for the SNP? Pah the Tories have a working majority only so long as it controls the backbench. It barely does that on three-line whip policies!!!

[Red-Robbo]

37%?

I think Mr Hat meant with the votes of 24% of the eligible population.

[Ashtonboy]

Then we must agree to disagree as I could never accord to yours.

The way FIFA is set up is akin to Bristol getting one voice, London getting one voice and Royal Wootton Bassett getting one voice.

How would you feel during an election if your vote was diluted amongst say 20 thousand people but in the next constituency along votes were diluted amongst 20 people. How on earth could that possibly be democratic by any measure? You seem to suggest proportional representation is some evil - you are the only socialist I have ever encountered with that view point!

That is why I feel there is nothing democratic about the way FIFA is constituted.

And zero power for the SNP? Pah the Tories have a working majority only so long as it controls the backbench. It barely does that on three-line whip policies!!!

We will probably always disagree! That's democracy. By the way, I never went any way near describing PR as evil. I happen to think its got a lot going for it. Perhaps we are all becoming Liberals for Gods sake! The point I make is that we have a system currently and it cannot be changed due to the result not suiting.

FIFA has a system, voted for by its members, and was fine until Blatter bastardised it for his own agenda. Getting the whole of the football world to agree on a new system is not going to happen, if the power of the existing voting blocks is not diluted first. How they are going to do this, I have no idea!

[Lack of Action Man]

Not a bad response from Qatar

QATAR RESPONSE

Could Sepp Blatter's resignation have repercussions for the 2022 World Cup, scheduled to take place in Qatar? FA Chairman Greg Dyke has suggested that it is possible the decision to award the tournament to Qatar may be re-examined.

But the president of the Qatar Football Association, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Bin Ahmed Al-Thani, said in a statement: "Mr Dyke's instinct to immediately focus on stripping Qatar of the World Cup speaks volumes on his views concerning what will be the first FIFA World Cup to take place in the Middle East.

"Having already co-operated fully with Mr Garcia's investigation - and been subsequently cleared of any wrong-doing - we welcome the office of the Swiss attorney general conducting its own work into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

"We would urge Mr Dyke to let the legal process take its course and concentrate on delivering his promise to build an England team capable of winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar."

Wow, grown men drawn into a slanging match. How pitiful.

[havanatopia]

An excellent post and indisputably why the World Cup can only be delivered to a country which is developed for it. Even it going to Brazil was problematic - significant H&S failings, a stadium which was severely behind deadline, mass socio-economic upheaval which resulted in large scale protests against the staging of the World Cup... and what was the legacy...?

 

And this is Brazil.

As my last remarks below suggest... not entirely accurate by John.. if i interpret what he said correctly.

 

I stand by what I said. As always, people want to change the system when they don't get the result they want. By the way, the SNP hold exactly zero power in the British parliament due to the Tories working majority. As a socialist, I accept this, and must await common sense from the voters in 5 years time!

The SNP, you may find, have rather more power in the Commons that you suggest. Not all of the time will they be able to wield it but at some point or points in the next parliament they will. imo. 

 

Naturally people want to change a system if it is unfair and proven to be so and yes that would usually mean the argument will be put forward by those not in power whereas conversely, and equally predictably, those in power will wish to maintain the status quo. That is common sense.

 

Then we must agree to disagree as I could never accord to yours.

The way FIFA is set up is akin to Bristol getting one voice, London getting one voice and Royal Wootton Bassett getting one voice.

How would you feel during an election if your vote was diluted amongst say 20 thousand people but in the next constituency along votes were diluted amongst 20 people. How on earth could that possibly be democratic by any measure? You seem to suggest proportional representation is some evil - you are the only socialist I have ever encountered with that view point!

That is why I feel there is nothing democratic about the way FIFA is constituted.

And zero power for the SNP? Pah the Tories have a working majority only so long as it controls the backbench. It barely does that on three-line whip policies!!!

Exactly. The average 'spend' by FIFA in each of the 209 members is US$2 million per annum. This is for over 90% of all members on average every year.. meaning Montserrat, not even a country, receives the same as China. Is it any wonder that Blatter has won every election and would have continued to win every election until he dies; the poorer nations love him. They are going to get a rude awakening soon but rightly so. Whether it should be one vote to one member is another argument entirely but frankly, imho, no member that is not a country should get a vote on their own and territories under a certain population should get only a block vote albeit still disproportionate to their population.. that is still fair and in their favour; right now it is totally skewed against the bigger nations.

 

Countries holding the world cup need to have good stadiums, training facilities, hotels, good roads and safe transportation, they need to be ethical, not run by dictatorships, and really love the game and have a history of loving the game. I get the feeling some countries are after the investment by fifa for financial reasons alone. Look at the slave labour being used I'm Qatar....are you happy with this situation and the resultant deaths. This is what will happen if you give a large tournament to countries that aren't ready for it yet!

I think you are mistaken; FIFA does none of the investment but all of the trough collecting; The Brasillian state invested some US$4 billion facilitating FIFA to come in and control all of the revenues, all of the merchandise, pay no taxes and leave with billions in cash and Brasil with a bunch of white elephants.

 

Why do countries even want the World Cup? the publicity apparently and the tourist influx but stuff local Joe who has no school for his little boy to go to or hospital for his wife to have a long awaited operation.

[Up The City!]

Not really

South Africa and Brazil world cups were meant to be a disaster but I fact held very good tournies

Like I said you can't just strip them without proof no matter what it looks like on the outside,

But in both countries there is now stadiums that are rarely used.

[Guest]

right now it is totally skewed against the bigger nations.

 

 

Exactly. And any imbalance of power, whether it in favour of the bigger or poorer nations means the system is not fit for purpose. I readily accept that htere is not going to be one system which suits all but that is no excuse not to strive for as close to equality as possible and if to do so it means the 'bigger' rebelling against the 'powerful' so be it.