Racket

[Jordyboy9]

hes won what a farce

[Prudie]

Should this be in tennis??

[-Talbot-]

yay... Well done Andy!

[chrissa1]

No comprendo!

[Noe-schitt]

I suppose it just goes to show just how corrupt the whole organisation is

[jno]

I'm sure England will still turn up at World Cups (assuming they qualify), just as they went to the Berlin Olympics and gave the Sieg Heil salute to Hitler. And the fans will all think it's just wonderful.

[-Talbot-]

jno, do you sometimes think ...Actually I won't bother posting that?

[Pete65]

Did Andy win?

[Canary42]

That's not a farce - that's the way FIFA works, and has done for years (ever since Blatter took charge in fact). It won't change just because a few got arrested.

[Gromit]

Why is the media spending so much time on this story?

It is an election for a Sporting organisation. Surely there are more important things for us to be told about.

[ludwig]

jno's right. This is all England's fault. I blame Thatcher, but also anyone else who's English. They're all racists you know.

[Ken4155]

As FIFA President, Blatter was instrumental in securing millions of pounds of developement for some of footballs smaller nations, particularly in Africa, and that's where his bedrock of support lies. There was never any question of him not winning another 4 years at the helm. Sometimes democracy plain sucks!

[jno]

it's not England's fault at all. I just wonder what England could do about it, and what they will. It seems a bit rich thumping keyboards in outrage if you're still planning to buy a ticket to Qatar or Moscow to watch games. Was going to the Berlin Olympics a good idea or not? What should Britain have done then? What should they do now?

[-Talbot-]

Did you mean the football match at the olympic stadium and not at the olympics?
Still no need imo, jno... the players were just political pawns.

[Old_Geezer]

It was expected. Many parts of the world aren't so fussed about corruption, see it as the way the system works. Are more interested in the achievements those with power manage to get through. If Europe is shocked by the result there's nothing stopping them pulling out of FIFA and their World Cup. But I wouldn't hold my breath meantime.

[Canary42]

A good point OG. In a way, UEFA not pulling out is in itself a sign of similar sleaze (i.e. putting financial gain before morality).

[anotheoldgit]

His main body of support came from Africa and Asia, now there's a surprise, where corruption is concerned, who better?

[jno]

I know the players were pawns, talbot. I'm asking about the authorities, and the fans. If ABers are so upset about Fifa, what would they like their government to do about it? What would they be prepared to do themselves?

Cameron and the FA may have expressed outrage about the corruption this week, but where were they four years ago when the Sunday Times published details of the corruption? Ignoring it - because they were campaigning for England to stage the World Cup. Corruption's a terrible thing except when you're trying to get in bed with it

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/fifa/11637187/FA-went-along-with-Fifas-odious-practices-when-it-suited-them-during-2018-World-Cup-bid.html

[-Talbot-]

Are you saying the FA tried to bribe FIFA?

[jno]

no, just looked the other way.

Would you care to answer my question? Would you like the government, the FA, or fans to do anything about Fifa corruption? Or is just getting into a righteous tizz on a computer enough?

[-Talbot-]

I've already stated on AB that I would be happy for England to boycott the Qatar World Cup.
You haven't answered my question so I will provided it.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_salute
In football, the England football team bowed to pressure from the British foreign office and performed the salute during a friendly match on 14 May 1938