Swiss police arrests Fifa officials in Zurich

[pharvey]

Breaking news from the BBC: -

"Swiss police have arrested a number of executives from football world governing body Fifa over US corruption charges, officials have told the BBC.

Police conducted the operation at a hotel in Zurich early on Wednesday.

The charges are said to include money laundering, racketeering and wire fraud over the last 20 years."

I wonder if Mr Blatter is included......?

[arcadianagain]

I would bet that Slippery, non-stick Sepp will still be standing at the end of all this.On Sky news an eye-witness claimed that one of those taken away is a Thai official.

[caller]

Blatters not been arrested, but close aides have.

Good to see someone having the balls to take this bunch of crooks on. Great timing as well. Get them all in one place, nick them and then only have to worry about extraditing from one Country and not the corrupt one's where many come from.

I guess the vote to re-elect Blatter will have to be cancelled?

[pharvey]

Blatters not been arrested..........

Slippery little bugger isn't he?

I guess the vote to re-elect Blatter will have to be cancelled?

That seems to be the general consensus on the news this morning....

[EDIT] More from the BBC: - http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/32895057

[arcadianagain]

[quote="pharveySlippery little bugger isn't he?


Well he is a lawyer after all.]

[redzonerocker]

First question would be, why has it taken so long?

With the vice president and several other high profile members arrested, it's surely just a matter of time before Blatter is implicated.

Let's hope the lot of them are given the boot and locked up, then we might be able to get some proper football personnel in charge.

[arcadianagain]

First question would be, why has it taken so long?

With the vice president and several other high profile members arrested, it's surely just a matter of time before Blatter is implicated.

Let's hope the lot of them are given the boot and locked up, then we might be able to get some proper football personnel in charge.

I`ve seen all the American cop shows, the first one to rat out Blatter gets a reduced sentence

[StevePIraq]

First one that turns states evidence and drop someone else in will get a free season ticket for all matches in Doha in the summer

[PeteC]

It somewhat amazes me that the FBI is taking the lead in all of this. My understanding is that broadcasting rights and fees is a big part of it and apparently the US stations/companies pay FIFA the most. Regardless, as aggressive as the EU is with other issues such as Microsoft, Google, Apple etc., you would think they would have been on to all of this ages ago. Perhaps someone is being paid off. Pete

[pharvey]

Perhaps someone is being paid off. Pete

Wouldn't come as too much of a shock Pete.........


A lot of talk with regards to the award of the 2018 World Cup to Russia - well, they're hardly corrupt after all ......

The UK of course being one to shout the loudest as obviously we've been hard done by .. ...

In all seriousness though, regardless of accusations or proof of corruption, it would be too late to change/switch venues now surely?

[PeteC]

More odd to me in that the UK newspapers have been screaming about FIFA corruption for years.....and no one seems to have listened. Qatar raises my eyebrows more than Russia does....but they may both stink.

[Big Boy]

In all seriousness though, regardless of accusations or proof of corruption, it would be too late to change/switch venues now surely?

Surely recent World Cup/European Cup venues would already have the infrastructure still in place, and could be readied very quickly. I'm sure there would be a few other places also (e.g. Olympic sites?).

If Russia are proved to have won the tournament illegally, to play the competition there sure compounds the crime. Maybe crime does pay

[pharvey]

Surely recent World Cup/European Cup venues would already have the infrastructure still in place, and could be readied very quickly. I'm sure there would be a few other places also (e.g. Olympic sites?).

Fair comment, but you would assume the investigation is going to take some time to complete and then any forthcoming litigation is going to drag on... and on..... and on. I simply can't see any change in venue of the 2018 cup, regardless of the findings. Now, Qatar on the other hand.......

[PeteC]

Some of the possible expedited litigation/conclusions may depend upon how badly some want to stick Putin's face in the s@#t over Ukraine.

[pharvey]

Some of the possible expedited litigation/conclusions may depend upon how badly some want to stick Putin's face in the s@#t over Ukraine.

That, I'm sure will have a big part to play....