The Beautiful Game thread, season 2014/15
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Re: The Beautiful Game thread, season 2014/15
Something new I heard today is that the Copa America Centennial that is supposed to be played next summer is in big time jeopardy. It seems like during this investigation, the tournament was only organized to get bribes, period.
Re: The Beautiful Game thread, season 2014/15
Well, let's just say that it has never been played in America. Ever.fsquid wrote:Something new I heard today is that the Copa America Centennial that is supposed to be played next summer is in big time jeopardy. It seems like during this investigation, the tournament was only organized to get bribes, period.
To nobody's surprise, Blatter's speech was a complete comedy today as he was re-elected.
Re: The Beautiful Game thread, season 2014/15
on a game note, I'm looking forward to seeing the US U-20 play in the world cup. Games on FS1. Rubin and the guy with the strange name at Arsenal I'm looking forward to.
Re: The Beautiful Game thread, season 2014/15
I don't follow Fifa like you guys do but this Blatter dude needs several nut punches for starters. I agree with 10s, Blatter's speech was comical. "Now I am the King of everybody." What a smug son of a b*tch.10spro wrote:Well, let's just say that it has never been played in America. Ever.fsquid wrote:Something new I heard today is that the Copa America Centennial that is supposed to be played next summer is in big time jeopardy. It seems like during this investigation, the tournament was only organized to get bribes, period.
To nobody's surprise, Blatter's speech was a complete comedy today as he was re-elected.
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Re: The Beautiful Game thread, season 2014/15
Then he needs them bitten off by a Laplander.Diablo25 wrote:I don't follow Fifa like you guys do but this Blatter dude needs several nut punches for starters. I agree with 10s, Blatter's speech was comical. "Now I am the King of everybody." What a smug son of a b*tch.10spro wrote:Well, let's just say that it has never been played in America. Ever.fsquid wrote:Something new I heard today is that the Copa America Centennial that is supposed to be played next summer is in big time jeopardy. It seems like during this investigation, the tournament was only organized to get bribes, period.
To nobody's surprise, Blatter's speech was a complete comedy today as he was re-elected.

Re: The Beautiful Game thread, season 2014/15
Supposedly he had some political speechwriter draft the speech he gave on Thursday and he nervously rehearsed it.
He said he couldn't monitor everyone. However, as president, he either was complicit in these bribes or he incompetently didn't stop them.
But it's not clear that other countries are as anti-Blatter as the US and UK.
The reason he won election is that he's been generous to these smaller African and Asian nations, as far as sharing revenues and even getting the WC into Africa and Asia.
There may be merit in the complaints the English and Americans are making. However, some of it seems to be sour grapes about London not getting the WC.
A boycott by most of the major European and South American nations would kill the WC. But it doesn't appear even the English are prepared to do that.
He said he couldn't monitor everyone. However, as president, he either was complicit in these bribes or he incompetently didn't stop them.
But it's not clear that other countries are as anti-Blatter as the US and UK.
The reason he won election is that he's been generous to these smaller African and Asian nations, as far as sharing revenues and even getting the WC into Africa and Asia.
There may be merit in the complaints the English and Americans are making. However, some of it seems to be sour grapes about London not getting the WC.
A boycott by most of the major European and South American nations would kill the WC. But it doesn't appear even the English are prepared to do that.
Re: The Beautiful Game thread, season 2014/15
I know most of you are EPL followers but how about this beauty from my boy in 'Copa del Rey'.
Re: The Beautiful Game thread, season 2014/15
And the amazing thing is that he does that week after week. That's a terrifying sight for a defender to see - that amazing control, athleticism and tactical intelligence. Words just cannot do him justice as a player.10spro wrote:I know most of you are EPL followers but how about this beauty from my boy in 'Copa del Rey'.
Watched the FA CUP yesterday - I'm coming back home from England today after a wonderful two weeks on holiday here. Arsenal were far, far better than Aston Villa unsurprisingly. Sanchez scored an absolute screamer of a goal from 30 yards out.
Doug
"Every major sport has come under the influence of organized crime. FIFA actually is organized crime" - Charles Pierce
Re: The Beautiful Game thread, season 2014/15
Truly there is no end to the antics of the crooks and clowns at FIFA.
http://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2015/5/3 ... e-from-the
http://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2015/5/3 ... e-from-the
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Re: The Beautiful Game thread, season 2014/15
Sepp is feeling the pressure, he's to step down just a week after being re-elected. It's s good day for FIFA.
Re: The Beautiful Game thread, season 2014/15
Hopefully this will open up the field of possible replacement candidates beyond just the bullpen of plutocrats who would otherwise be considered.
They need to institute some structural change to eliminate the 1-country 1-vote scheme that has been so thoroughly manipulated for decades, but they need to do so in a way that doesn't just turn the keys over to the large FA's. A bicameral structure of some sort maybe.
They need to institute some structural change to eliminate the 1-country 1-vote scheme that has been so thoroughly manipulated for decades, but they need to do so in a way that doesn't just turn the keys over to the large FA's. A bicameral structure of some sort maybe.
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Re: The Beautiful Game thread, season 2014/15
I guess that the real possibility of Argentina, France and other European boycotts added some pressure to the organization, not to mention the fact that someone literally put a gun on his head upon some clear bribery findings. At his age, it was 'leave now quietly' or risk being exposed and ultimately jailed for the rest of your life. Putin must be pissed, and so are the little Asian and African nations that represent that 1 county, 1 vote.
Re: The Beautiful Game thread, season 2014/15
The politics of FIFA make me nostalgic about the Middle East.
-Henry Kissinger
-Henry Kissinger
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Re: The Beautiful Game thread, season 2014/15
Naples39 wrote:The politics of FIFA make me nostalgic about the Middle East.
-Henry Kissinger
Sweet....


Re: The Beautiful Game thread, season 2014/15
FiveThirtyEight takes a run in this roundtable at some of the issues I mentioned. More questions than answers, but interesting.https://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/fiv ... ixes-fifa/
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"Ok I'm an elitist, but I have a healthy respect for people who don't measure up." --Aaron Sorkin
"Ok I'm an elitist, but I have a healthy respect for people who don't measure up." --Aaron Sorkin
Re: The Beautiful Game thread, season 2014/15
My dad got a new job.
Hope he does well but I'd be pleasantly surprised if he lasts the season in that madhouse.
Hope he does well but I'd be pleasantly surprised if he lasts the season in that madhouse.
Re: The Beautiful Game thread, season 2014/15
I love Rafa to pieces, but I would definitely keep my bags packed.Macca00 wrote:My dad got a new job.
Hope he does well but I'd be pleasantly surprised if he lasts the season in that madhouse.
XBL Gamertag: RobVarak
"Ok I'm an elitist, but I have a healthy respect for people who don't measure up." --Aaron Sorkin
"Ok I'm an elitist, but I have a healthy respect for people who don't measure up." --Aaron Sorkin
Re: The Beautiful Game thread, season 2014/15
This is Ronaldo's best chance to go to another club.RobVarak wrote:I love Rafa to pieces, but I would definitely keep my bags packed.Macca00 wrote:My dad got a new job.
Hope he does well but I'd be pleasantly surprised if he lasts the season in that madhouse.

Re: The Beautiful Game thread, season 2014/15
A good sign for reform would be taking the 2022 WC away from Qatar.
And maybe the UEFA nations should strongly consider boycotting Russia since there are sanctions against Russia right now.
And maybe the UEFA nations should strongly consider boycotting Russia since there are sanctions against Russia right now.
Re: The Beautiful Game thread, season 2014/15
Qatar would sue and most likely win and bankrupt FIFA if they tried that.
Re: The Beautiful Game thread, season 2014/15
Sue where? Who'd enforce these international contracts? And if they found a court, they might investigate all these allegations of wide scale bribery further, which wouldn't help the Qataris.
Someone on either the ESPN FC or the 5 Live podcast said the bar for revisiting the awarding of the WC would be pretty low.
Of course FIFA did have those bids investigated and an American prosecutor found problems but FIFA just waved his report away. This was just a few months before these arrests.
Someone on either the ESPN FC or the 5 Live podcast said the bar for revisiting the awarding of the WC would be pretty low.
Of course FIFA did have those bids investigated and an American prosecutor found problems but FIFA just waved his report away. This was just a few months before these arrests.
Re: The Beautiful Game thread, season 2014/15
would sue in Swiss court I believe. I've seen quite a few legal analysts on various shows state that.
Re: The Beautiful Game thread, season 2014/15
In case none of you have watched the U20 World Cup. This arsenal lad Zelalem is a talent. He might be the first creative midfielder in US history.
Re: The Beautiful Game thread, season 2014/15
I should think that Claudio Reyna, among others, begs to differ with that last characterization.fsquid wrote:In case none of you have watched the U20 World Cup. This arsenal lad Zelalem is a talent. He might be the first creative midfielder in US history.
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"Ok I'm an elitist, but I have a healthy respect for people who don't measure up." --Aaron Sorkin
"Ok I'm an elitist, but I have a healthy respect for people who don't measure up." --Aaron Sorkin
Re: The Beautiful Game thread, season 2014/15
He can beg all he wants. He was a very good defensive midfielder in the European game.RobVarak wrote:I should think that Claudio Reyna, among others, begs to differ with that last characterization.fsquid wrote:In case none of you have watched the U20 World Cup. This arsenal lad Zelalem is a talent. He might be the first creative midfielder in US history.