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World Soccer XXVI: Fun for MLS Fans and Eurosnobs Alike

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Re: World Soccer XXVI: Fun for MLS Fans and Eurosnobs Alike

JF_Gophers said:
With Sepp blackmailing all his competition and maybe winning another term nothing will change.
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Unless there is a snowball effect that implicates Blatter you're potentially correct. Part of the problem with the elections is the shear number of votes and despite all the negatives, many of these federations get something out of Sepp being in charge. Fixing corruption only helps so many federations if the hand outs stop.
 
Shirtless Guy said:
I think the key to all of this that many of you are missing is that Switzerland is helping...and that is huge
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That's the big thing to come out of this. The Swiss, who historically are wary to be involved in stuff like this, have gotten involved.

This is the beginning of something huge.
 
Re: World Soccer XXVI: Fun for MLS Fans and Eurosnobs Alike

On that note, UEFA chimes in...

These events show, once again, that corruption is deeply rooted in FIFA’s culture.

There is a need for the whole of FIFA to be “rebooted” and for a real reform to be carried out.

The upcoming FIFA Congress risks to turn into a farce and therefore the European associations will have to consider carefully if they should even attend this Congress and caution a system, which, if it is not stopped, will ultimately kill football.
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Re: World Soccer XXVI: Fun for MLS Fans and Eurosnobs Alike

I've seen statements from the US and Europe... Wonder why we haven't heard from South America as of yet...
 
Re: World Soccer XXVI: Fun for MLS Fans and Eurosnobs Alike

Best line of the day....

@BBCBreaking: Fifa president Sepp Blatter says he cannot be held responsible for corruption scandal, says trust must be won back http://bbc.in/1clgtJ6
 
Re: World Soccer XXVI: Fun for MLS Fans and Eurosnobs Alike

Bob Gray said:
Given how much of the world embraces corruption as a legit way of doing business, part of me thinks this will backfire
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My impression is Blatter's power base is the third world members, which is also where rule of law is weakest and corruption strongest. I can imagine a situation where he uses his patronage empire to create a permanent majority of third world members against the Anglo and European members. FIFA is screwed though if Europe and the US withdraw -- that's where FIFA's revenue stream comes from. Coke, Sony and Adidas are going to follow wherever Germany, the US, the UK and Spain play.
 
Re: World Soccer XXVI: Fun for MLS Fans and Eurosnobs Alike

Kepler said:
My impression is Blatter's power base is the third world members, which is also where rule of law is weakest and corruption strongest. I can imagine a situation where he uses his patronage empire to create a permanent majority of third world members against the Anglo and European members. FIFA is screwed though if Europe and the US withdraw -- that's where FIFA's revenue stream comes from. Coke, Sony and Adidas are going to follow wherever Germany, the US, the UK and Spain play.
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Question: Does Mexico go if we go and also are any of the COMNEBOL big boys like Brazil and Argentine going to do anything?
 
Kepler said:
My impression is Blatter's power base is the third world members, which is also where rule of law is weakest and corruption strongest. I can imagine a situation where he uses his patronage empire to create a permanent majority of third world members against the Anglo and European members. FIFA is screwed though if Europe and the US withdraw -- that's where FIFA's revenue stream comes from. Coke, Sony and Adidas are going to follow wherever Germany, the US, the UK and Spain play.
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Absolutely - the 3rd world, especially CAF, love Blatter. He's their favorite kind of autocrat - when he's bought, he stays bought.
 
Re: World Soccer XXVI: Fun for MLS Fans and Eurosnobs Alike

Kepler said:
My impression is Blatter's power base is the third world members, which is also where rule of law is weakest and corruption strongest. I can imagine a situation where he uses his patronage empire to create a permanent majority of third world members against the Anglo and European members. FIFA is screwed though if Europe and the US withdraw -- that's where FIFA's revenue stream comes from. Coke, Sony and Adidas are going to follow wherever Germany, the US, the UK and Spain play.
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Agreed. Blatter seems the have Africa in his pocket and at least a good chunk of Asia. Tough to unseat him given those numbers. And I read that even in Europe there are and handful of countries that continue to back Blatter, including Russia (unsurprisingly) and Spain (more surprising). The sponsors' comments have been pretty muted at this point. I saw an article about how folks say the sponsors, even now, are pretty leery to burn bridges with FIFA. That could change if there is enough shareholder and public pressure, but I don't see that kind of pressure yet. In the end, I don't think UEFA has the gumption to pull out, though I hope I'm wrong.

I haven't read much coming out of South America, other than the Brazilian President, who is quite unpopular, supporting the investigation and Diego Maradonna making supportive comments.
 
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MountieBoyOz said:
Question: Does Mexico go if we go and also are any of the COMNEBOL big boys like Brazil and Argentine going to do anything?
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Mexico will go where the US goes. There's a reason they play all their friendlies in the US, $$$.

US Soccer will not be voting for Blatter.

Apparently Gulati has Canada convinced as well.

Tomorrow's vote is looking like it'll set the future for international soccer. Pretty much going to show who's tired of the BS and who gives zero *s. If it's a clear a split between the major powers (Germany, Italy, England, France) the mid-major Euros (like Sweden, the Dutch, Belgium) and the US, Mexico, Japan, Australia, and Korea versus Africa, the rest of Asia, and the Americas, then this could be the beginning of a war...
 
Re: World Soccer XXVI: Fun for MLS Fans and Eurosnobs Alike

In CONCACAF...

They dismissed Webb and Li, named Alfredo Hawit of Honduras President, and formed a committee to "evaluate and sustain business operations." The committee members? The Presidents of the FMF (Mexico), the CSA (Canada), and the USSF. Basically the US and Mexico have said "Mom and Dad are tired of this *, we're in charge along with Uncle Gordie. Deal with it."
 
Re: World Soccer XXVI: Fun for MLS Fans and Eurosnobs Alike

Blatter will win tomorrow, but it's going to be close. Evidently Africa still wants to follow a European, and he's been nice enough to the poor countries in Asia, and I'm sure he'll get a few votes from CONCACAF, Oceania and obviously Russia.

The thing is, he said he wasn't going to run for a fifth term before. Obviously something changed. He's 80 with more money than anyone needs. Whatever he's hiding, it's big, and bigger than just some bribes and he's trying to die in office.

Honestly, what's to stop UEFA, CONMEBOL and CONCACAF from breaking from FIFA? I feel like this is an NCAA-type dilemma. UEFA and CONMEBOL, plus the US and Mexico are like the Power 5 of FIFA. If the first world leaves, how much money is there to gain for the other federations?
 
Re: World Soccer XXVI: Fun for MLS Fans and Eurosnobs Alike

Spartanforlife4 said:
Honestly, what's to stop UEFA, CONMEBOL and CONCACAF from breaking from FIFA? I feel like this is an NCAA-type dilemma. UEFA and CONMEBOL, plus the US and Mexico are like the Power 5 of FIFA. If the first world leaves, how much money is there to gain for the other federations?
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The federations themselves may be locked in, but the national teams could probably disband, reform, and bootstrap a whole new system.
 
Spartanforlife4 said:
Blatter will win tomorrow, but it's going to be close. Evidently Africa still wants to follow a European, and he's been nice enough to the poor countries in Asia, and I'm sure he'll get a few votes from CONCACAF, Oceania and obviously Russia.

The thing is, he said he wasn't going to run for a fifth term before. Obviously something changed. He's 80 with more money than anyone needs. Whatever he's hiding, it's big, and bigger than just some bribes and he's trying to die in office.

Honestly, what's to stop UEFA, CONMEBOL and CONCACAF from breaking from FIFA? I feel like this is an NCAA-type dilemma. UEFA and CONMEBOL, plus the US and Mexico are like the Power 5 of FIFA. If the first world leaves, how much money is there to gain for the other federations?
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That's why I said this could be the beginning of a war (for lack of a better term) if there's a clear split in the vote.

The way things are going, the ball is going to drop at some point and the big boys aren't going to want to play anymore, heck it's already happened in CONCACAF. The only question is what will make it happen? I think the arrests and this election may be the tipping point.

If any break up is to happen, this is the time to do it. World Cup Qualifying hasn't started so there's very little incentive to stay.
 
Kepler said:
The federations themselves may be locked in, but the national teams could probably disband, reform, and bootstrap a whole new system.
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If there's enough members willing to go, UEFA could withdraw whole hog and boot those who want to stay. The Euros and the Champions League have enough value and prestige they could easily pull it off.
 
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