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Swiss open criminal proceedings in 2018, '22 World Cup votes

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Bye-bye Sepp.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The CONCACAF HQ was based in NYC, and thus subject to local laws there. e.g. if bribery is going on there, money laundering, embezzlement, tax dodging, etc.

OK if all this happens in NYC it was logical, but not in Switzerland.

Don't forget, the Swiss has their own investigations in Switzerland.

FIFA is international – not only western organization. International organization should be independent from any country. Or it should simply can't be independent.

International organizations still have to follow local laws.

Y'know what also are internationals organizations? Human Rights International and Amnesty International.

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lostrune The CONCACAF HQ was based in NYC, and thus subject to local laws there. e.g. if bribery is going on there, money laundering, embezzlement, tax dodging, etc.

OK if all this happens in NYC it was logical, but not in Switzerland.

The IOC is an international organization too, but remember the Salt Lake Olympics bribery scandal? The US Dept. of Justice brought charges against some of the Salt Lake

People in Russia remember these " games " very well especially figure skating.

Triumvere US Justice system has a long arm; any money that so much as gets wired through a US intermediary can potentially trigger jurisdiction. We can debate the merits of this, but in this particular case I don't think you'll find too many people standing up

It's other country and it's international organization where USA lost bid for Championship. Conflict of interests.

SuperLibMAY Obviously those of us outside of Russia have had the issue explained to us, but Putin can withhold that and Russians won't know anything about it since he controls the media.

FIFA is international – not only western organization. International organization should be independent from any country. Or it should simply can't be independent.

Jeff Huffman It only looks strange to you because you know that the only way Russia got the Sochi Olympics and the 2018 WC is through bribery.

Yes I understand – only US officials are honest because they are… Americans !!!

It only looks strange to you because you don't understand that because the bribery and money laundering was going on the U.S. where CONCACAF is headquartered that the U.S. Department of Justice has jurisdiction.

Any action on US territory looks more reliable.

Why are you carrying water for an organization that no one in football at the club and league level likes or trusts? Why are you carrying water for an organization so blatantly corrupt (it's hard to imagine anyone that stupid

Because I trust this organization much more than US government. Because US senators declared that Mundial 2018 should be taken from Russia long before this "scandal".

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OlegekMAY. 28, 2015 - 03:21PM JST sangetsu03 If FIFA hides their laundered money in American accounts then they are subject to American law. 1 The basic condition IF. Somebody needs to prove it. Somebody independent - who are not receive orders from US government 2 For me it's VERY strange if you are part of international organisation based in Switzerland (country of banks, neutral country) why you should use USA banks to lounder money and took all political risks ? It looks VERY strange

It only looks strange to you because you know that the only way Russia got the Sochi Olympics and the 2018 WC is through bribery.

It only looks strange to you because you don't understand that because the bribery and money laundering was going on the U.S. where CONCACAF is headquartered that the U.S. Department of Justice has jurisdiction.

It only looks strange to you because you apparently haven't read that the Brazilian parent company of a football marketing firm in Florida has already pleaded guilty and it's only a matter of time before they make arrests in Florida.

The company of which Mr. Davidson is president, Traffic Sports USA Inc., pleaded guilty this month in connection with the scheme. Mr. Davidson is chairman of the board of governors of the North American Soccer League, a second-tier professional league. The NASL said Wednesday that it has suspended him along with all business activities between the league and Traffic Sports, which owns the Carolina RailHawks, an NASL team. Mr. Davidson couldn’t be reached to comment.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/six-soccer-officials-arrested-in-fifa-corruption-investigation-1432710956

Why are you carrying water for an organization that no one in football at the club and league level likes or trusts? Why are you carrying water for an organization so blatantly corrupt (it's hard to imagine anyone that stupid) that it would award the WC to a country where daytime temperatures are rarely below 38-degrees at the time of year when the cup is typically held?

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Olegek: Hi - may be FIFA is bad but it's not under US jurisdiction.

Putin just came out in support of FIFA which means most Russians will most likely follow. In his comments he asked how the US could have jurisdiction. Obviously those of us outside of Russia have had the issue explained to us, but Putin can withhold that and Russians won't know anything about it since he controls the media.

From there, the Russians will most likely go to their favorite card, which is the conspiracy theory.

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Hi - may be FIFA is bad but it's not under US jurisdiction.

US Justice system has a long arm; any money that so much as gets wired through a US intermediary can potentially trigger jurisdiction. We can debate the merits of this, but in this particular case I don't think you'll find too many people standing up for FIFA.

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The CONCACAF HQ was based in NYC, and thus subject to local laws there. e.g. if bribery is going on there, money laundering, embezzlement, tax dodging, etc. (It's an open secret that there are lots of corruption going on in FIFA, even members know. It's just that FIFA is too big to prosecute kinda like the International Olympic Committee; just can't believe anyone is defending them. FIFA is not going to prosecute itself; somebody or somebodies else have to do it.)

The IOC is an international organization too, but remember the Salt Lake Olympics bribery scandal? The US Dept. of Justice brought charges against some of the Salt Lake organizers (even when it's their own US Olympics). Just because an organization is international does not mean they don't have offices based somewhere. At least the IOC, another corrupt institution, tried to do reforms after the scandal. This is FIFA's Salt Lake - time will tell if FIFA will follow IOC's example and at least try to do some reforms and more transparency.

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sangetsu03 If FIFA hides their laundered money in American accounts then they are subject to American law.

1 The basic condition IF. Somebody needs to prove it. Somebody independent - who are not receive orders from US government

2 For me it's VERY strange if you are part of international organisation based in Switzerland (country of banks, neutral country) why you should use USA banks to lounder money and took all political risks ?

It looks VERY strange

The case involves bribes “totaling more than $100 million” linked to commercial deals dating back to the 1990s

So all this time honest american bankers laundered money ?? And only now....

The only reason the FBI has prosecuted the case is that they cannot be corrupted like law enforcement in other countries, otherwise someone else would have done it long ago.

You can belive it but FBI it's American Secret Service not worldwide.

itsonlyrocknroll Hi Olegek, The US attorney general Loretta Lynch, gave a detailed summary o Fifa's is a toxic and corrupt organization that in its present form has to be dismantled and subject to juridical process.

Hi - may be FIFA is bad but it's not under US jurisdiction.

I understand pretty well that USA want to have control over FIFA.

Jeff Huffman Yes, FIFA is an international organization that operates in the U.S. and broke U.S. and international law.

1 FIFA operates in almost whole world. What special in US laws ?

2 Switzerland BEFORE was a neutral country - because of this many international organisations have a head-offices here If today Switzerland ruled by US laws - it's not a suitable place for international organisation anymore.

The Swiss Federal Office of Justice said in its statement that U.S. authorities suspect

Sir yes sir !! No more neutral Switzerland - some sort of new Puerto Rico...

It was the stage for intense lobbying for votes ahead of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosting decisions in December 2010.

As we all understand if for 2018 Britain was chosen and for 2022 USA - it was no scandal and no arrests...

These suspected officials simply made a wrong choice.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

On behalf of the US, you are welcome football fans.

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OlegekMAY. 28, 2015 - 03:19AM JST As far as I know FIFA is an international organisation. Not Swiss and not American. Americans need to mind their own business.

Yes, FIFA is an international organization that operates in the U.S. and broke U.S. and international law.

If they don't like soccer - nobody cares.

Fastest growing sport in the States with nearly 25 million playing from youth leagues through adult rec leagues.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/soccer-numbers-look-game-u-s-n365601

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Hi Olegek, The US attorney general Loretta Lynch, gave a detailed summary of jurisdiction in the case against the 14 defendants quote “corruption that is rampant, systemic, and deep-rooted both abroad and here in the United States” that has engulfed the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), and South American Football Confederation, (CONMEBOL), there is no deigning the evidence.

Fifa's is a toxic and corrupt organization that in its present form has to be dismantled and subject to juridical process. An Interim body made up of independent administrators need to be found to take over the responsibilities and authority of all aspects of the International game. UEFA could play a role. A process to re-running the 2018 and 2022 World Cup votes will have to take place if the evidence of systemic corruption took place in securing both these bids. Ah_so point that to hold a World Cup in Russia 2018could have stood alone on its many merits is indeed the saddest fact of all.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Well done USA.

I think Russia would probably have got the World Cup whatever - it was about time for such as large football playing nation. But Qatar? Well, everyone knew it was down to bribery. I still think the odds are 50:50 as to whether the finals will be held there. They could still be moved at very short notice to a large number of countries. And the white elephant stadiums in Qatar will be a monument to their foolishness and corruption.

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If it involves money laundering and racketeering, and the charges are brought by the Dept of Justice, then the case is already won. These guys have no chance.

The big issue will be RICO. That's where they can go after Blatter since he is the head guy.

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As far as I know FIFA is an international organisation. Not Swiss and not American. Americans need to mind their own business. If they don't like soccer - nobody cares.

If FIFA hides their laundered money in American accounts then they are subject to American law. The only reason the FBI has prosecuted the case is that they cannot be corrupted like law enforcement in other countries, otherwise someone else would have done it long ago.

The FBI is probably one of the only police services in the world who cannot be bought off by companies or politicians, they arrested the mayor of my city, the crooked country sheriff, the elections supervisor, and the directors of both the airport and seaport. Politics in America is not clean, but without the FBI it would be much dirtier.

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Thank you, USA and Switzerland, for taking out the trash. It was about time someone investigated in this kind of organized crime. Qatar and Russia would have never been chosen without cash changing hands and I sincerely hope both countries get stripped of the events.

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nandakandamandaT Good on the FBI and the Swiss authorities!

As far as I know FIFA is an international organisation. Not Swiss and not American.

Americans need to mind their own business.

If they don't like soccer - nobody cares.

-11 ( +0 / -11 )

FullM3taLMAY. 27, 2015 - 06:02PM JST Kudos to America for doing something about the blatant and rampant corruption at FIFA which no other authority seemed willing to tackle. Since these 6 will be extradited to the USA, I hope they throw the book at the lot of them and more of the rotten FIFA. Reform is needed.

Plenty of time to move 2018 to the states. We already have plenty of stadiums and the organizational chops to handle it on short notice. Surprisingly, there are still a dozen NFL teams playing on natural turf, throw in the LA Coliseum, the Rose bowl, and a couple more college stadium and we're covered for a decent geographic spread.

Hey, a boy can dream.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Whatever the outcome World Footy owes a huge debt of gratitude to the US department of justice and the FBI...

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Leave it to the US and Swiss to take on FIFA

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Events are moving quickly a total of 14 have been arrest 9 Fifa officials and 4 corporate executives have been indicted. seven for alleged racketeering, conspiracy and corruption. Blatter is doggedly refusing to step down, super-glued to the Presidency insisting the vote will go ahead on Friday.

There are opinions Uefa could take a interim role but UEFA President Michel Platini is not considered a safe pair of hands by many insiders. The US attorney general Loretta Lynch is scathing, “corruption that is rampant, systemic and deep-rooted both abroad and here in the United States, spans at least two generations of soccer officials who, as alleged, have abused their positions of trust to acquire millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks”..........Exorcism?......heads spinning like a owl sanctuary .

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I don't know about reform. I think FIFA needs fumigators or exorcists.

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The most corrupt organization in sports, ahead of even the IOC. You can bet these scumbags will circle the wagons and add the US to their s***list right alongside Great Britain.

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Sorry I got the Qatar and Russia years mixed up in my earlier post. They were reverse. My bad.

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Oh my God! This is such a shock!

Not. Pretty much everyone has just accepted this as one of the most unbelievably corrupt organisations in existence. Burn it down!!!!

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Warner’s successor as CONCACAF leader and FIFA vice president, Jeffery Webb of the Cayman Islands, was staying at the Baur au Lac this week. It was unclear if he was detained.

Latest update is that Jeffrey Webb (FIFA VP) was in the 6 who got arrested. Also, the Swiss authorities are questioning 10 people about the 2018 and 2022 votes. Proceedings have also been opened regarding the 2018 and 2022 bid process.

I will be so happy if Qatar gets stripped of 2018. Russia for 2022 was probably corrupt too so wouldn't mind seeing that go as well. But biggest prize would be putting that twat Blatter behind the bars.

Kudos to America for doing something about the blatant and rampant corruption at FIFA which no other authority seemed willing to tackle. Since these 6 will be extradited to the USA, I hope they throw the book at the lot of them and more of the rotten FIFA. Reform is needed.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Brilliant timing. Let's pray for the following outcomes:

Blatter thrown out onto the street where he belongs, for a brief interlude before incarceration.

The ludicrous choice of Qatar as 2022 venue to be scrapped, if as seems likely it was only chosen thanks to the brown paper bags full of cash.

Ditto Russia 2018. On top of the anti-gay nonsense of course Putin has made it a pariah nation over Ukraine so this will handily head off a boycott and rescue the tournament.

But, sadly none of these are likely.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Only 6?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

What will happen is entirely predictable. Blatter (age 79) will express regret, claim to be entirely innocent and get re-elected by the support of loads of tiny third world countries with - ahem - "flexible" FIFA members and which will never be seriously involved in football. Anyone else presiding over an organisation which is clearly a massive, rotten corruption racket would resign in shame. Not Sepp though, oh no.

Does anyone seriously believe that he is a fit person to run world football?

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Blatter still Teflon-coated. Many are waiting for the 'sblatt' when he finally falls...

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Good on the FBI and the Swiss authorities!

4 ( +4 / -0 )

I wonder which sports organization is more corrupt - FIFA or the IOC.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

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