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Updated 16.21pm
FIFA HAS CONFIRMED that their presidential elections will go ahead as planned despite the opening of two separate criminal investigations this morning.
Seven Fifa officials were arrested at a hotel in Zurich, where members of the football governing body are gathering for their Congress.
The US Attorney General’s case centres on alleged corruption in commercial deals for football tournaments in the United States and Latin America.
Separately, Swiss federal prosecutors opened an investigation into the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Qatar and Russia.
Sepp Blatter, who is expected to be elected to a fifth presidential term on Friday, is not one of those involved in the investigation, Fifa said in a hastily-arranged press conference this morning.
The prosecutors’ office says the proceedings are against “persons unknown on suspicion of criminal mismanagement and of money laundering” in connection with the votes won by Russia and Qatar. Up to 10 people will be questioned.
Prosecutors say they have seized “electronic data and documents” at Fifa’s headquarters as part of the probe.
US investigation
In a statement this morning following the hotel raid, the Swiss Federal Office of Justice said US authorities suspect the officials of having received bribes totaling millions of dollars.
It says the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York is investigating these individuals on suspicion of the acceptance of bribes between the early 1990s and now.
The case involves bribes “totaling more than $100 million” linked to commercial deals dating back to the 1990s for football tournaments in the United States and Latin America, the statement said.
The New York Times reports that the Swiss officers arrived at the Zurich hotel in plain clothes, went to the front desk to get keys, and proceeded upstairs to the rooms of the arrested executives.
Press conference
Speaking to reporters this morning, Director of Communications and PR at Fifa Walter de Gregorio declined to confirm the names or any further information regarding the officials involved.
“The timing may not be obviously the best but definitely Fifa welcomes this process and cooperates fully with the Attorney General of Switzerland and the Federal Office of Justice,” de Gregario said.
“In this case Fifa is the damaged party. This leads to the fact that there were no searches in the offices of Fifa.
“The people of the Federal Attorney are here, we cooperate with them, we provide all the information requested by them. This is for our own interest.”
This Friday’s planned elections would go ahead, he said. And there were no plans to re-vote on the locations of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
“What do you expect from us — that we start to speculate and say that with Russia and Qatar we will have to re-do the voting.
Russia and Qatar will be played. This is what is fact today and I don’t go into speculation what will happen tomorrow.
FAI reaction
“If it it wasn’t so serious it sounds like something out of a mafia movie,” FAI boss John Delaney, speaking to RTÉ radio, said this morning.
Nothing would surprise me at Fifa now, that’s the sad thing now.
While Uefa, the European governing body, is a “tremendous organisation” to work with, Delaney said – there has long been speculation of bribery and corruption within Fifa.
“There’s always controversy around Fifa and its decisions and its governance.
And the one person that’s always been at the head of that has been Sepp Blatter. And he has to take some responsibility at this stage.
Delaney, who said yesterday that the FAI wouldn’t be voting for him in the upcoming presidential election – reiterated that he thought Blatter should step down.
The governance of Fifa needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency, Delaney said.
In my opinion he will win the election if takes place on Friday, but we won’t be voting for him. I don’t think we should.
However, he added that he believed the overnight events would “crystallise views” within Uefa – and that people would “take the view it’s time for a change”.
Fifa’s spokesman, meanwhile, said Blatter was “quite relaxed” this morning.
“…because he knows and he knew before that he is not involved. All the rest, he can accept what will happen.”
On a difficult day for Fifa, it was alleged by the US Attorney General that officials accepted bribes to help secure the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
It is also alleged that bribery was involved in Fifa’s 2011 presidential election and the 2016 Copa America tournament.
With reporting from Associated Press, Daragh Brophy, Niall Kelly and Paul Fennessy..
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About time too….
A pity that this wasn’t done sooner. Because the bids for 2018 and 2022 were done in tandem, they will probably both go ahead in current locations as Russia have built most of their stadia already.
Thankfully there would still be time to move it to the UK Germany France USA even
Let’s hope so anyway
Or I be mad enough to suggest a euro World Cup. Croke park millennium Stadium Cardiff Wembley stade du France etc etc. imagine
Stupid corrupt sport. I have no time for it, but it’s nice to see some kind of justice for fans.
The Swiss talking of money laundering, with their running history, it’s like investigating down at their own laundrette . . No doubt Blatter will be the head poncho in the golden handshake brigade protecting the asset and the minions as usual taking the fall.
Looks like Delaney knew something yesterday and only spoke out then.
Delaneys a muppet.. There’s more chance of me getting six and the bonus tonight than there is of that man knowing what’s going on in the world of football..
Soccer has exploded in popularity in USA since USA 94. Australia applied for the 2018 world cup and is a country with growing interest in soccer. They have the stadia and infrastructure well capable of hosting a world cup, but no, they wouldn’t bribe anyone(like England)
Jake – it is not the sport itself that is corrupt, but the people running the upper tier of it. I am no big football fan, but it is a great sport, which brings health benefits, employment and joy to millions , and sadly millions of dollars in corrupt payments to others.
can’t believe it’s not blatter
I disagree, I think soccer is a shite sport and utterly corrupt. It is too easy for the ref to decide who wins a match. Soccer fans are desensitised to it, but those of us watching from the outside find it unacceptable.
By your logic the referee can “decide” who wins a match in a lot of field sports. How are Rugby or GAA any different?
TV assisted refereeing
“How are Rugby or GAA any different?” Couldn’t comment on GAA, but Rugby is definitely different.
1: Higher scoring game, so a single penalty rarely is a decider
2: It is not a given that a penalty will result in a score. It could require the kicker to kick from any point between the two sidelines and varying distances from the goalposts.
3: A penalty is a partial score. 5 points for a try (7 if converted), 3 points for a penalty. It just doesn’t have the same impact. In Rugby League a penalty is only worth 2 points, that’s even better.
In rugby, far more often than soccer, the better team on the day wins. in soccer, far more often than Rugby, the team who wins is the one who falls over in front of their goal.
4: Video Refs!
David’s point (as you well know, and avoided) was in reply to yours, about the referee.
Soccer in the only sport played in every country on earth – all 200 plus. By men, women and children.
Now growing fast in the US where, at first, it was slow to grow. Soccer mom is now part of the language.
About one in 4 of the world’s population watched the Rio World Cup. Are we all mad, Jake?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argumentum_ad_populum
“In argumentation theory, an argumentum ad populum (Latin for “appeal to the people”) is a fallacious argument that concludes that a proposition is true because many or most people believe it: “If many believe so, it is so.”"
Jake – I only deal in facts.
Here’s another:-
40% of all rugby players are in the UK.
You certainly don’t deal in logic and reason.
When supported by facts, Jake.
You tend to make up your own logic.
You can have your fallacious arguments and irrelevant facts.
None of it changes the fact that in rugby, far more often than soccer, the better team on the day wins.
None of it changes the fact that in soccer, far more often than Rugby, the team who wins is the one who falls over in front of their goal.
Still waiting for you to produce a single fact or argument that addresses anything I have said.
Your penultimate point is for the playground.
Messi – the best soccer player at the moment – is 5.7. How many teams have chaps like him in the scrum?
The rules of soccer are simple and there are few stopages. I play both games – and, in rugby, most of the players often have to ask the ref what the penalty was for! And, he now – in the first class game – has to broadcast his decision and even the guilty party – to the crowd!!!
But – each to their own – I’ll be at the Champions League final in Berlin, which will be watched by 1.5 billion people, in every country on earth.
Yes, soccer is simpler. A simple game for simple people.
I won’t be one of those 1.5 billion people, but feel free to follow the heard like a zombie. :-)
I heard all 7 of them took a dive and pretended to be injured..
You sought an argument – and are sadly unable to refute it.
Final fact. Twice as many – in our small country – play soccer, than rugby.
Rugby is a fantastic sport but it’s only played in a few Western and mainly English speaking countries. France, Italy, Argentina and a few others the exception. It’s not corrupted and yes usually the better team wins on the day.
Soccer, another fantastic sport is played in every single country on earth by most of the wolds population.
Therein lies the problem. It is far easier to exploit. It doesn’t mean that because of this it’s not a god sport.
“Final fact. Twice as many – in our small country – play soccer, than rugby.”
Appeal to popularity fallacy again. The stupid is strong with this one.
Sad that JR doesn’t like facts.
The preference is for ‘shite’ and ‘stupid’ – he describes soccer as both, and me as the latter.
\o.
About time indeed, who can forget the baldy pr1ck humiliating us after those fools in the FAI asked for an extra place in the World Cup on 2010.
If they got the WC by bribing then surely it’s their problem. Next WC must now b cancelled. This is that serious. And the fact that presidential election will go ahead Friday beggars belief. Does this organisation (FIFA) even know what corruption is.
Mores the pity Blatter is not one of the six. Hopefully thats next on the list..
How is Blatter escaping?
You take down an organisation from the bottom up. Didn’t Goodfella’s teach you anything?
I’ve never seen it Beano. Or any of the godfathers.
I’d say Blatter knew this was coming and worked out a deal to give up his cronies while he gets off.
Or else they’re trying to get the executiives to flip so they can get Blatter
“Swiss investigators say they have opened criminal proceedings in connection with the allocation of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
They relate to charges of criminal mismanagement and money laundering, the Swiss Federal Office of Justice said.
Prosecutors had seized documents at Fifa’s headquarters, the FOJ added.”
Let the games commence!
Swiss investigation is based on files handed over by FIFA in December so maybe all for show.
I hope not Mike
Wow. I never realised how seriously John Delaney is taken by US and Swiss authorities.
He probably should have spoken out sooner……
Brilliant… If you haven’t read the piece about Delaney criticising Blatter please do. It is hilarious.
Delaney trying to settle old scores after Blatter publicly made fun of the FAI for the embarrassing plea to have Ireland added as a 33rd team for South Africa post the Thierry Henry handball.
Out of interest, how did Delaney come to the opinion that he wasn’t voting for him? Did Blatter’s team visit him and he wasn’t satisfied with the, er, presentation? Or does the FAI allow its CEO to decide these things on their behalf? Curious as I know that all Fifa presidential hopefuls have to put their car to all FAs.
Blatter didn’t make a fool of Ireland the FAI did. 33rd team my arse. Gob*****s.
step ladder is the most corrupt man on the planet
A triumphant example of auto-correct there :-)
Climbed his way to the top, one rung at a time.
He’s definitely in the top six for sure !
….one bung at a time!
Stairway to corruption. Best auto correct fail I’ve seen, Richard Cynical!
ha yeah my phone has a life of its own
FIFA is rotten to the core. An investigation ran by a bunch of 4 year olds would find enough evidence to indict a lot of them. Unfortunately up to now everyone has been afraid to go near them. Hopefully this is the beginning of the end but somehow I doubt it.
Drunk four years olds could uncover corruption in that ridiculous organisation.
But where are these four year olds getting the drink?
That’s the true scandal.
John Delaney, obviously.
A summer competition in one of the hottest countries on earth where people are expected to complete at the highest level for 1.5 to 2 hours….. What more do you need to know.
they moved it to winter due to the logistical problems of repaying all the bankhanders
*backhanders
Bejaysus, Delaney was right. Give that man a pay rise!
Blatter wants to stay in charge of FIFA until he dies. He knows well that as soon as he’s gone all the corrupt stories will come out.
It’s an absolute disgrace that this organisation are running the world of football.
This organisation stinks of corruption from the top down. A complete cleanout of all officials is need to give it any creditably going forward. Hopefully this is the start
it took an american investigation to get lance Armstrong, and now its the Americana again, going after FIFA, and about time too.
America doesn’t tread softly on international borders. It’s a bit of a double edge sword.
You gotta hand it to the yanks, they don’t care how big you are, if you break the law they are coming after you.
The DoJ (conviction rate: 99%) is one of the few organisations in the western world which makes FIFA look fair and transparent. It’s like Alien v. Predator. Pity they can’t both lose.
I’m still waiting for them to arrest bush.
Fifa, Fifa – I smell the blood of several football men. And not before time.
Talk of 15 + arrests now. More the merrier
Great stuff. It’s probably unlikely to happen but let’s hope Qatar and Russia are given a lesson they’ll never forget and have the World Cup taken away from them.
Briny Boy, Russia – in spite of what people thing of it – is a footballing nation and should have been in line to host a major tournament by now anyway. Qatar has no footballing history or pedigree whatsoever.
This isn’t about football pedigree. Just because you feel it’s your turn doesn’t mean you deserve to host the World Cup.
Russia is one of the most corrupt states in the world so it’s entirely right that suspicion surrounds the awarding of the World Cup to them. And I’m actually feeling more confident now than I was earlier that a re-run of the vote will have to take place.
Russia is indeed a corrupt oligarchy, but how else to congressmen and senators get elected without the funding from lobbies to pass them. The States was recently redefined to an Oligarchy themselves. Just because we receive the western media and propaganda doesn’t make the States angels and the Russians devils, and they hosted the tournament in ’94.
Knowing Blatter they’ve probably arrested all of his opposition. Now he can waltz into the next term unopposed!
In other news Sepp is running for another term as FIFA president!! honestly I don’t know what the fuss is either Sepp – you de maan..
I Can’t Believe It’s Not Blatter
quality
Unfortunately these sort allegations are endemic in association football. We don’t have to leave these shores to hear of them. It’s rotten to the core.
Now, while FIFA is on the ground, the FA should reach in to their jacket pocket and take their rules back. The ones they loaned FIFA over a few scoops about 100 years ago.
The FA don’t own football. But they invented the modern game and created the rules. FIFA just rode off the back of it and since became a cesspit for bribery, corruption and self-congratulatory Intergalactic Solar President Sepp ‘Mick Hucknall’ Blatter.
Nothing will come of this though. 2018 and 2022 will still go ahead in Russia and Qatar.
Wow how could it take this long to happen
Hey hey, the football family are having a fall out. Lock them away, especially Blatter.
WTF are you’se all doing up so early……just got up for a Piss and seen all this malarkey.
Good night.
Sepp Blatter has announced the next World Cup will now in fact take place in Guantanamo bay
Delaney’s timing may have spot on.Time to take centre stage!
Delaney put the call in! Good man.
Lets hope the Qatar World Cup gets cancelled now they have been found out
I know Fifa is rotten to the core but how would the US have the power to prosecute them? Were the bribes paid by US interests? Are any of the officials US citizens.
liam i was wondering that too, some of the alleged crimes must have taken place in the US
US have an agreement for extradition with the Swiss in cases of fraud and corruption if carried out using US businesses ie. Websites, banks, sponsors etc.
Liam, read the bbc news, it explains that the US issue relates to bribery involved in US/latin American tournaments and that the money was laundered via US banks.
Thanks Stephen- that explains the connection.
Payments were also made in US Dollars, by treasury regulations means the US can investigate.
Sepp it’s the police – go quick.. the wardrobe.
Thierry Henry for next president. Theirs a sound honest sportsman in whom’s hands we can trust world football.
✊
Ah the inevitable Thierry Henry jibe although his hand ball had eff all to do with FIFA.
Sorry. Forgot Henry was a cricket player.
If only Paul McShane had not been such a donkey and cleared the ball.
Hopefully these lads get put in a position where they’ve to give up blatter in order to reduce their sentence! They’d do it no question and who’d know more about blatter’s wrong doing than his six henchmen?
I find it extremely hard to believe that that fool Blatter was not involved or knew about this in some way. The sooner the better he is taken out of FIFA. Idiot
FIFA stinks of corruption to its highest levels. But sepp blatter knows nothing about it. Garbage. Full clear out needed for sure.
Makes no difference unless you get big chief ( BLATTER ) ok
FIFA – first in first arraigned- time for Sepp to go!!!!!!
FIFA are saying the election of president is still going ahead on Friday, in what way can that be right, they are saying it’s because blatter is not under investigation, it’s plain to see Qatars bid was madness to accept
Maybe this was orchestrated so he’d be the clear winner on Friday. Why nows.
Exactly how corrupt do you have to be to be arrested for money laundering in Switzerland? That’s the country’s raison d’etre.
Rotten to the core , it’s only a matter of time before they catch up with you Blatter
Duff’s comment after Paris”maybe if addidas sponsered us the result may have been different”just came to me…how many games have been fixed never mind locations!!
That game wasn’t fixed. Prior to the handball, Anelka was taken down by Given in our box. The referee had a perfectly opportune moment to award a suspect penalty, but (rightly) adjudged Given to have taken the ball.
There was no screwjob in Paris.
Prior to the handball, Given brought down Anelka in our box. The referee had a gilt edged opportunity to award a penalty, but he adjuged (correctly) that Given had won the ball. It was just poor officiating that cost us.
If anything the screwjob was rearranging the seeding so Portugal and France couldn’t draw each other!
Surely Blatter will stand down now . Who we kidding.
FIFA have zero credibility. First they get a back hander from Israel to stave off Palestines attempt to have them rightly removed from playing then this scandal.
There’s an upcoming vote, needs 75%.
See article in Haaretz from May 13th
“Israel steps up diplomatic action as fears grow over FIFA suspension”
Funny timing for the arrests?
Wonder who arranged it?
I completely welcome it. Was surprised that how the US can charge them though. May have been fraud that took place when/before USA’94.
Let’s hope this takes down Step Ladder to.
Fair deuce to the Us. It seems to me even though soccer is mainly a European dominated sport like with cycling only the Us has the balls to sort it out.
Shows just how corrupt European politicians are….
K
Cue Cilla Black, “Surprise, surprise”!
FIFA, UEFA, FAI, etc Football is corrupt at so many levels. Fans need to get organised and take control. Because these mafias care about money not football.
Delaney told the Feds where they were all hiding
B latter is next
Handy way for Blatter to clear out any competition. Clears the way for him for another term. Again….
And yet he will still win, this man has ruined the reputation of world football and is corrupt through and through but still has all the small country’s in his grasp.
Wow how could host take this long to happen?
They think it’s all over. It is now.
Delaney for FIFA President!!!
Progress
Awarding the World Cup to Qatar is all the evidence of corruption or insanity any court would need.
Blatter’s only opponent for the FIFA “elections” is some Jordanian prince. Luis Figo (a respected star of the game) was in the running for it but pulled out saying this:
“For my part, I will abide by the ideas I leave written and have circulated, I am firm in my desire to take an active part in the regeneration of Fifa and I will be available for it whenever it is proven to me that we are not living under a dictatorship. I do not fear the ballot box, but I will not go along with nor will I give my consent to a process which will end on May 29 and from which soccer will not emerge the winner. My decision is made, I will not stand in what is being called an election for the Fifa presidency.”
UEFA have to boycott fifa tournaments if Blatter is ‘re-elected’….enjoy your world cup without the champions and most of the best sides Sepp
Corruption in football? Who would have thought!!!
Dawn raids in Swiss hotels, million dollar bribes, and a bald head of an international organisation. Throw in a white cat and this could be a Bond novel. Utter madness.
The US Justice Dept. does not bring charges like these without having absolute concrete evidence, they very rarely lose cases. I have a feeling this is the beginning of the end for the current FIFA cronies. I just hope something can be done to at least null and void the awarding of the WC to Quatar and hopefully Russia also. The US could organize the WC in a few months if needed. All the infrastructure is in place, world class stadiums, plenty of hotels etc etc. I will be interesting to see how this all shakes out. About bloody time, FIFA have been reckless and arrogant in their obvious corruption.
Let’s hope Sepptic tanks during the election.
Sh!t Splatter
Every dog on the street knew this was going on. Even channel 4 did an under cover investigation a few years back. Jack Warner was one of the main suspects. The Irish media need to look at the FAI’s voting record ! Amazing there statement pre-empted today’s breaking news.
The saddest thing in all this is the amount of governments’ money going into prosecuting these crooks. This is what makes the headlines rather than far worse international crimes… And they didn’t even arrest the main guy!
Heard the cops were tipped off by some guy named Pep Latter.
Rumors circulating that Ireland are in pole position to host the 2022 world Cup.. The final shall be played in the bray wanders stadium in Wicklow ! For the hundreds of thousands of people going. bray bowl is to be open 24/7 for people looking to have some fun
Batter is like something you’d find at the bottom of a septic tank
I bet John Delaney won’t be going to Switzerland for holidays after all this
Just goes to show, you never cross the Clinton’s.
FIFA upset the real Mafia and paid heavily.
As it should be!
A new president needs to be elected but the man has too much power! Corruption and sexist in terms of the women’s side of the sport. He stated in 2008 that the women would get more fans of they ‘wore tighter shorts’.
Cant comment until we clean up our own FAI
Robbing the fans!
Well done Interpol and the FBI. Get them while they are all together. Indeed the Garda could have cuffed a few at various ard feiseanna down the years Then again we don’t do that in this little country.
Thank bill Clinton
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