Former FIFA President: "Stay Away from the World Cup"

[PeterRS]

Sepp Batter was once a salesman of ladies undergarments. "Knickers" they were known when he was appointed President of FIFA in 1998. The World Cup is a massive money spinner for FIFA. Blatter was to become as corrupt as they come and led an organisation that was just as corrupt considering the number of executives around the world who were indicted for corruption. The marketing organisation for FIFA with its huge sponsorship revenues was handed to his incompetent nephew. It quickly went bankrupt. Not surprising, though, that Blatter was re-elected to the President's position no less than four times! Money spread around voting members talks. Surprisingly, perhaps, he was ejected from his post in 2015 and then had to serve not one but two six-year bans from any activity with the sport.

He also loved his position where he could mingle and be courted by the world's elite, including President Putin and Sheik Tahim Bin Hamanal Talmi of Qatar.  So he unilaterally changed the FIFA bidding procedures to favour his cronies. Where in the past only one location for a future World Cup following the next one had been announced, he decided to announce two at once. 2018 would be held in - wait for it - Russia, and 2022 - wait for it - in Qatar. Russia was much less of a surprise since it was already a football mad nation. Qatar though was sheer madness! It was not a footballing nation. It had one stadium when the World Cup needs eight. The World Cup is held at the height of summer when temperatures in Qatar for players and spectators alike would be impossibly high when trying to play 90 minutes of football - or 120 minutes in the event of a drawn match. The possibility of the death of a player rose like a spectre no one in the footballing world could ignore.

90%+ of the footballing world screamed corruption. But FIFA pays no attention to the rest of the world. It is its own profitable little kingdom. In the event, both Russia and Qatar were successful events, even though the dates for Qatar had to be moved to winter months forcing football associations around the world - the very constituents FIFA should be looking after - to change their entire schedules.

Now, though, Blatter cannot keep his hands - and his mouth off the organisation he no doubt believes he should still be running. At the age of 89, he has warned soccer fans around the world to boycott the World Cup in the USA this summer. As Blatter's lawyer has just said -

“For fans, just one piece of advice: avoid the United States! You’ll get a better view on television anyway. Upon arrival, fans should expect that if they don’t behave properly with the authorities, they will be immediately sent home. If they’re lucky …”

Splitting the 2026 World Cup between Canada, the USA and Mexico was already a lousy idea for fans. Those football fanatics who just have to be there will have to spend a fortune, not only to get to North America, not only for the outrageous price of match tickets, but also for the clearly (to be) increased cost of shuttling by air between countries. It really is time that some organisation tackled the problem of FIFA and its propensity for corruption on a massive scale.

[Suckrates]

FIFA lost all credibility for me when they created and gave a FAKE award of Peace to Trump to appease his tantrum over not receiving a Nobel....

WTF ?

The organization and officials are just a bunch of weak ass kissers like many others...

DISGUSTING. 

[jimmie50]

44 minutes ago, Suckrates said:

The organization and officials are just a bunch of weak ass kissers like many others...

They just join a long list of people and organizations with no backbone...starting with the US House and Senate.  

[jimmie50]

11 hours ago, PeterRS said:

“For fans, just one piece of advice: avoid the United States! You’ll get a better view on television anyway. Upon arrival, fans should expect that if they don’t behave properly with the authorities, they will be immediately sent home. If they’re lucky …”

I have never been much of a sports enthusiast and certainly never followed any type of football, but have read news articles about the corruption in FIFA.  I do recall issues with the timing of the competition in Qatar due to extreme heat, but only vaguely.  While you are probably correct in that the disgraced and banned former FIFA president cannot keep his finger out of the cookie jar, so to speak, and should probably refrain from making any comment whatsoever...I can't help but wonder given the current situation in the US regarding immigration, how much of a deterrent that will be to possible attendees.  Based upon what is happening currently in Minnesota, I have never felt more unsafe in my own country.  Regardless of how much of an avid football fan I might be...given the current political climate here I would be very hesitant and even fearful to consider coming to the US.  It is downright disheartening.  

[vinapu]

48 minutes ago, jimmie50 said:

 Based upon what is happening currently in Minnesota, I have never felt more unsafe in my own country.  

That's the issue only you Americans can tackle. 

[Suckrates]

1 hour ago, vinapu said:

That's the issue only you Americans can tackle. 

Unfortunately, there are TOO MANY Americans that are happy and pleased with Trump and his actions, and everything he does is for THEIR approval...BUT they are down to about 30% of Americans now, so if Trump runs AGAIN, he will no doubt have to STEAL the election because 30% wont cut a WIN for him.   

The people STILL supporting him have to have some mental illness, or are the most extreme RACISTS in America.   Back in the day, THEY HID.....

Now they are out and proud in full force....and angry that their "incompetent and uneducated asses" are being surpassed by a qualified and esteemed coalition of 
"People of Color"......

They arent PATRIOTS, just angry LOSERS of Life's lottery......