FIFA

[pauld]

The US boycott of the Moscow Olympics was not unhelpful to a GB gold in the 100 metres, just think what a Euro boycott (us excluded) could do for our chances of winning the World Cup!

Very little. On current showings, we'd still struggle to get past S or N Korea

[DarloSTFC84]

The US boycott of the Moscow Olympics was not unhelpful to a GB gold in the 100 metres, just think what a Euro boycott (us excluded) could do for our chances of winning the World Cup!

I dunno, Liechtenstein could probably beat England..

[RedRag]

Home Nations it is then.  Surely it would be impossible for the Scots to win it and Gareth Bale could be refused permission to enter the UK to work if we have left the EU by then

[Reg Smeeton]

Very little. On current showings, we'd still struggle to get past S or N Korea

In the last 2 WC's we've failed to beat, US, Algeria, Costa Rica.

[Summerof69]

I thought about UEFA doing a breakaway WC, with the South American countries, who apparently also voted against Blatter, with the US and Australia.

Yes, the sponsors might pull out of FIFA and so might the TV people, or ask for compensation, but I believe Russia and Qatar will just give more money to FIFA to 'subsidise' the tournaments, meaning they go ahead there anyway.

Putin has proved 'money is no object' via the Winter Olympics and Formula 1 in Sochi, and Qatar has money to burn, or pay someone else to burn. There's even a book just been published called 'The Ugly Game : The Qatari Plot to buy the World Cup.

[pauld]

I thought about UEFA doing a breakaway WC, with the South American countries, who apparently also voted against Blatter, with the US and Australia.

Yes, the sponsors might pull out of FIFA and so might the TV people, or ask for compensation, but I believe Russia and Qatar will just give more money to FIFA to 'subsidise' the tournaments, meaning they go ahead there anyway.

Putin has proved 'money is no object' via the Winter Olympics and Formula 1 in Sochi, and Qatar has money to burn, or pay someone else to burn. There's even a book just been published called 'The Ugly Game : The Qatari Plot to buy the World Cup.

UEFA won't do a breakaway from the 2018 World Cup as Russia is a UEFA member and UEFA are deeply intwined with sponsorship from Gazprom, the corporate arm of the Russian Mafia (in the same way as Putin and the government are the legislative arm). It's not just FIFA that are bent and all the Europeans holding their noses at the nasty stench from FIFA would do well to look in their own midden pile.

[Batch]

UEFA won't do a breakaway from the 2018 World Cup as Russia is a UEFA member and UEFA are deeply intwined with sponsorship from Gazprom, the corporate arm of the Russian Mafia (in the same way as Putin and the government are the legislative arm). It's not just FIFA that are bent and all the Europeans holding their noses at the nasty stench from FIFA would do well to look in their own midden pile.

Surely we all think UEFA is a mini-FIFA on that particular scale. Platini's token "I asked him to resign" said it all.

[horlock07]

UEFA won't do a breakaway from the 2018 World Cup as Russia is a UEFA member and UEFA are deeply intwined with sponsorship from Gazprom, the corporate arm of the Russian Mafia (in the same way as Putin and the government are the legislative arm). It's not just FIFA that are bent and all the Europeans holding their noses at the nasty stench from FIFA would do well to look in their own midden pile.

Been nice knowing you Paul, watch out for blokes with sharp tipped umbrellas! 

[horlock07]

I imagine any decision to boycott will be held back until we are part way through the qualification process with the potential for boycott growing in relation to how badly we are doing!

But as least we know that our FA have not stooped to the depths of bribery... oh bugger http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/nov/04/england-2018-world-cup-bid-fa

I get a little uncomfortable that we are not as corrupt as others, might be better to say that we are just less good at it! 

[Summerof69]

UEFA won't do a breakaway from the 2018 World Cup as Russia is a UEFA member and UEFA are deeply intwined with sponsorship from Gazprom, the corporate arm of the Russian Mafia (in the same way as Putin and the government are the legislative arm). It's not just FIFA that are bent and all the Europeans holding their noses at the nasty stench from FIFA would do well to look in their own midden pile.

Fully agree. It's all come back to roost at Platini after backing Qatar, all because he wanted them to take over PSG, and make them a force in European football, and the fact that his son works high up in the organisation sums it up.

And the UEFA slight backdown on Financial Fair Play, is to allow PSG to spend more, as European clubs are worried about the financial muscle which English clubs will have due to the new TV deal.

[Batch]

oooh, a surprise Fifa press conference at 6pm (Europe time?). I expect Blatter to be dancg in a mankini shouting 'suck my balls'.

[Batch]

Blatter to resign !!!!!

[Flashheart]

Blatter to resign !!!!!

Really?

[tans]

Good. The corrupt old cunt.

[Gnasher]

Now lock him up til he pegs it.