29-05-2015, 21:32
'Sepp Blatter has been re-elected president of Fifa, football's world governing body, in a vote overshadowed by arrests and corruption allegations.'
'FA chairman Greg Dyke has said that England could boycott the World Cup if other European nations decide to do so. “This is not over by any means. To quote the [US] Attorney General this is the beginning of the process not the end,” said Dyke after the vote. “The idea Blatter could reform Fifa is suspect. I’d be very surprised if Mr Blatter was still in this job in two years’ time.'
'Luis Figo, who along with the Dutch FA president Michael van Praag withdrew from the presidential race in an attempt to coalesce support behind Prince Ali, was scathing in his criticism of Blatter after the result and called on him to quit.
“If Mr Blatter were minimally concerned about football, he would have given up of the re-election. If he has a minimal of decency, he will resign in the next few days.”
David Gill, the former Manchester United chief executive who on Friday became a Fifa vice-president, confirmed on Friday night he would carry through his threat to resign immediately because Blatter won.'
'Outside, the pressure increased. Jack Warner, the controversial Trinidadian former Concacaf president who was once one of Blatter’s closest allies and among those charged on Wednesday, delivered a thinly veiled threat after being released on bail. To hoots and applause from supporters in Trinidad, Warner said: “If I have been thieving Fifa money for 30 years, who gave me the money? How come he is not charged?”
'Brazil’s Fifa executive committee member Marco Polo del Nero fled Zurich ahead of the meeting following the arrest of his predecessor José Maria Marin on Wednesday. Like Fifa vice-president Jeffrey Webb, of the Cayman Islands, and five others, Marin is being held in custody while appealing extradition to the US.
Blatter’s understated opponent, Prince Ali, had warned the delegates that “everything is at stake” in the wake of the dramatic events of this week, when Swiss police swooped on the Baur au Lac hotel to arrest seven senior Fifa officials. Seven more were charged in the US and four more, including former Concacaf general secretary Chuck Blazer, pleaded guilty. In all, they were charged with a total of 47 counts of money laundering, racketeering and tax evasion in what prosecutors called the “World Cup of fraud”. In contrast to his opponent, who tried to rally his “Fifa family” for one final time, Prince Ali warned that the world was watching and “Fifa does not exist in a bubble”.'
Gordon Bennett - I could keep cutting and pasting comments from various parties for hours - It has been a disgrace and is becoming more of one - You couldn't make this up. Football is disappearing up it's own 'arris
'FA chairman Greg Dyke has said that England could boycott the World Cup if other European nations decide to do so. “This is not over by any means. To quote the [US] Attorney General this is the beginning of the process not the end,” said Dyke after the vote. “The idea Blatter could reform Fifa is suspect. I’d be very surprised if Mr Blatter was still in this job in two years’ time.'
'Luis Figo, who along with the Dutch FA president Michael van Praag withdrew from the presidential race in an attempt to coalesce support behind Prince Ali, was scathing in his criticism of Blatter after the result and called on him to quit.
“If Mr Blatter were minimally concerned about football, he would have given up of the re-election. If he has a minimal of decency, he will resign in the next few days.”
David Gill, the former Manchester United chief executive who on Friday became a Fifa vice-president, confirmed on Friday night he would carry through his threat to resign immediately because Blatter won.'
'Outside, the pressure increased. Jack Warner, the controversial Trinidadian former Concacaf president who was once one of Blatter’s closest allies and among those charged on Wednesday, delivered a thinly veiled threat after being released on bail. To hoots and applause from supporters in Trinidad, Warner said: “If I have been thieving Fifa money for 30 years, who gave me the money? How come he is not charged?”
'Brazil’s Fifa executive committee member Marco Polo del Nero fled Zurich ahead of the meeting following the arrest of his predecessor José Maria Marin on Wednesday. Like Fifa vice-president Jeffrey Webb, of the Cayman Islands, and five others, Marin is being held in custody while appealing extradition to the US.
Blatter’s understated opponent, Prince Ali, had warned the delegates that “everything is at stake” in the wake of the dramatic events of this week, when Swiss police swooped on the Baur au Lac hotel to arrest seven senior Fifa officials. Seven more were charged in the US and four more, including former Concacaf general secretary Chuck Blazer, pleaded guilty. In all, they were charged with a total of 47 counts of money laundering, racketeering and tax evasion in what prosecutors called the “World Cup of fraud”. In contrast to his opponent, who tried to rally his “Fifa family” for one final time, Prince Ali warned that the world was watching and “Fifa does not exist in a bubble”.'
Gordon Bennett - I could keep cutting and pasting comments from various parties for hours - It has been a disgrace and is becoming more of one - You couldn't make this up. Football is disappearing up it's own 'arris
I can go a step higher than Aston Villa