FIFA investigating Jack Warner and Mohamed Bin Hammam

[Kenneth]

And they're talking about getting Kissinger in. Like he's a force for good.

Based on his past record I imagine he'll fail to sort out FIFA while bombing nearby sporting bodies like the UCI and FIS and IOC back to the Stone Age.

it's a ridiculous idea.

[IN_RAFA_WE_TRUST]

Nigeria beat Argentina? Weakened team?

Football legend Diego Maradona has accused world governing body FIFA of being corrupt and run by greedy officials who have made millions from the sport.

The 1986 World Cup winner delivered the broadside at his first press conference as coach of Dubai-based club Al Wasl on Saturday, as he reflected on the recent FIFA presidential elections in which incumbent Sepp Blatter ran unopposed.

Blatter's main opponent, Mohamed Bin Hammam of Qatar, was suspended ahead of the vote along with fellow FIFA executive Jack Warner following accusations of bribery.

"There is a lot of corruption involving FIFA officials and they are all millionaires because of football," the former Argentina player and coach said.

"I wonder if Blatter has ever kicked a football in his life, and yet we have been under the control of such people who have refused to give up power in FIFA.

"Why don't they all just relinquish their positions, take the money they have made and leave the running of the sport in the more capable hands of former football players?"

Maradona, a controversial figure who was sent home from the 1994 World Cup for using drugs, said he had never liked the FIFA establishment.

"I don't support corrupt people and I will never be on their side. I have always been asked by them to support the FIFA family. But what family are they talking about? This sport belongs to us and they have never ever asked us to be part of the development process," the 50-year-old said.

"They have too much power and this has made them so arrogant and proud. This is not what a genuine football lover needs from such officials. After all football, is the biggest sport in the world.

"We will continue doing what we are doing so that these corrupt people go away. They are too old and since they have made so much money at the cost of football, they should simply take it all and go away. Please leave football alone."

Maradona, who turned up more than an hour late for the media briefing, added that FIFA had stifled his attempts to form a players' union.

"What did FIFA do? They worked against us to ensure the union never saw the light of day," he said.

Meanwhile, FIFA is investigating Argentina's 4-1 defeat by Nigeria on Wednesday as part of a wider investigation into match-fixing, according to a report in Britain's Daily Telegraph on Saturday.

The paper said there was evidence of irregular patterns as referee Ibrahim Chaibou of Niger allowed three extra minutes of injury-time in addition to the five already awarded before Argentina scored from a penalty.

"FIFA can confirm that this match between Nigeria and Argentina was one that we had an active interest in, and forms part of a wider ongoing investigation," it said in a statement to the Telegraph.

The Nigerian Football Federation released a statement denying the accusation on Saturday.

"We are concerned at attempts by unscrupulous elements to play down the feat that our national team performed by beating Argentina," general secretary Musa Amadu said.

"This match was shown on many television stations, including ESPN, and in front of a crowd of 50,000, and we are certain that Nigeria's Super Eagles deservedly won that match, playing to the rules, and clearly outplaying our opponents."

[Kenneth]

[Leyton388]

Is right Diego.

[Fivex]

Sepp Blatter will not start 2022 Qatar World Cup probe

Re-elected Fifa president Sepp Blatter will not initiate an investigation into Qatar's successful bid to host the 2022 World Cup.

But the Swiss added he would not block Fifa's ethics or solutions committees should either body want an inquiry.

Qatar's victory is under scrutiny after an email from a Fifa official emerged claiming the event had been "bought".

"I don't know why we should go in [on Qatar] - then we shall go to all [World Cup hosts]," Blatter told CNN.

The controversy around the Qatar bid team's victory was fuelled when suspended Fifa vice-president Jack Warner made public an email from general secretary Jerome Valcke.

Continue reading the main story
I don't know why we should open something because somebody has said something towards Qatar
Sepp Blatter
Valcke subsequently claimed he had used the word "bought" casually in reference to the financial clout of Qatar's bid and was not suggesting any impropriety.

The Sunday Times newspaper had previously claimed that Fifa executive committee members Issa Hayatou and Jacques Anouma were paid $1.5m [£916,000] to vote for the Gulf state.

Blatter, who secured his fourth term as Fifa president unopposed after being cleared by the body's ethics committee of any knowledge of any alleged bribery, is unconvinced by the evidence against Qatar.

"I don't know why we should open something because somebody has said something towards Qatar," he added.

"If this committee of solutions or the ethics committee have the impression that they should do something then let them take the decisions."

Opera great Placido Domingo, along with former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and Dutch football legend Johan Cruyff, feature on the new solutions committee that is part of Blatter's response to allegations of corruption.

"These gentlemen are more or less advisers," explained Blatter.

"What they should be also is the kind of council of wisdom - which my executive committee would not like because they think they are the council of wisdom."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13674764.stm

[Baracus]

Way to far into the future. But if I was a betting man they won't host it.

[BillobShaisley]

Kissinger is kind of understandable but Placido Domingo FFS ?

[RichC]

Jack Warner has now resigned, be interesting to see if he goes quietly or causes a **** storm!!

[Tee]

Jack Warner has now resigned, be interesting to see if he goes quietly or causes a **** storm!!

I am sure the *pay off will make his exit very comfortable.....


*Alleged

[RichC]

I am sure the *pay off will make his exit very comfortable.....


*Alleged

apparently all investigations have been dropped and he's presumed innocent!

Clearly guilty as sin and it's a trade off - you resign and we'll drop the investigation into you.

As per usual the main winner and still the biggest crook is Sepp Blatter!

[McDermotX]

apparently all investigations have been dropped and he's presumed innocent!

Clearly guilty as sin and it's a trade off - you resign and we'll drop the investigation into you.

As per usual the main winner and still the biggest crook is Sepp Blatter!

I'll wait for Placido Domingo's experienced evaluation rather than jumping to your hasty conclusion

[Kenneth]

apparently all investigations have been dropped and he's presumed innocent!

Clearly guilty as sin and it's a trade off - you resign and we'll drop the investigation into you.

As per usual the main winner and still the biggest crook is Sepp Blatter!

Several national FA reps admitted he'd given them cash in envolopes. He's guilty as sin and this is FIFAs way of tring to bury the scandal. Don't publish the true, sweep it under the carpet. Not even remotely good enough.

[RichC]

Several national FA reps admitted he'd given them cash in envolopes. He's guilty as sin and this is FIFAs way of tring to bury the scandal. Don't publish the true, sweep it under the carpet. Not even remotely good enough.

no surprise on the outcome though is there -

[Exiled_red]

no surprise on the outcome though is there -

No we could all see something like that happening

[lfcred]

It really is ridiculous how the world lets one of the biggest sporting governing bodies be run in such a distgusting, clearly corrupt manner!! It is laughable at how they act and how they claim innocence, almost insulting our intelligence! A massive change is needed!!