FIFA Corruption Thread

[RichC]

Incredible stuff.

... I can't believe FIFA had an ethics committee neither.

Rats and sinking ship comes to mind.

[dww]

Acting president Issa Hayatou was censured by the IOC for taking kickbacks

[Venton]

It's turtles all the way down [emoji16]

[Muddled]

Sepp Blatter has appealed.

... I don't have the words.

[EwarWoo]

Well, it is the first time anyone's said he's appealing, maybe he did it for the novelty.

[Beastie]

As he has a bit of spare time, we should get him down to the club. A combination of Klopp and Blatter is a combination to die for.

[Vermilion]

Crazy to think that when Blatter walked into Fifa all those decades ago, it had just 12 people working there.

Wonder how much money he's taken out of it since that moment.

[McDermotX]

Beckenbauer in the frame now as he was on the committee that chose Russia and Qatar.

[Fivex]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34657900

Sepp Blatter: Russia 2018 World Cup 'agreed before vote'

Suspended Fifa president Sepp Blatter has suggested there was an agreement in place for Russia to host the 2018 World Cup - before the vote took place. The 79-year-old told Russian news agency Tass of a "discussion" in 2010 around future World Cups.

He also said a late swing in the voting towards Qatar undid a similar agreement to give the 2022 World Cup to the USA. The Swiss is serving a 90-day ban alongside Uefa chief Michel Platini. Both men deny any wrongdoing.

Asked about whether it was a mistake to award the 2018 and 2022 tournaments simultaneously, Blatter replied: "It was agreed that we go to Russia because it's never been in Russia, eastern Europe, and for 2022 we go back to America. "And so we will have the World Cup in the two biggest political powers."

[Bender]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34657900

Unbelievable ...

[Yozza]

Sepp Blatter: Fifa president in hospital after 'small breakdown'

Suspended Fifa president Sepp Blatter is in hospital after suffering what has been called a "small breakdown".

Blatter, 79, who has led world football's governing body for 18 years, was provisionally suspended for 90 days last month amid a corruption scandal.

It is understood he suffered what has been called "a nervous shock" but is expected to make a full recovery.

Blatter is set to remain in hospital until next Tuesday after being admitted initially for a check-up last week.

Five days ago, Blatter's lawyer Richard Cullen said the Swiss had undergone stress-related health checks in hospital, but added: "He is fine and expects to be home shortly."

The criminal case centres on whether Blatter misused Fifa money by making a 2m euros (£1.35m) payment to Frenchman Platini for consultation work. They both deny any wrongdoing.

[kev776]

How long before he is excused court proceedings because of ill health.

[Roboklopp]

Hopefully never but I'd thought that too.

[Shaggy]

Some big news being reported by the AFP news agency.

Fifa's ethics watchdog wants Michel Platini to be banned for life over a suspect payment, says the European football chief's own lawyer.

[Boogs]

More arrests in Zurich. This is looking terminal for Fifa now.