Down goes Blatter

[The Buzz]

Sepp Blatter is quitting at FIFA. Buzzy wonders what has changed in the last few days. Platini is 6-5 favorite to be the next FIFA President according to William Hill.

Commence celebrating.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/32982449

[gyaloggalopp]

Yeah, but he will only quit at the end of the year and he is planning to reconstruct the whole organization from the background. joke... I just hope the FBI guys will convince some arrested leader to testify against Blatter. And the nation that cares nothing about football would save it.

[MMM]

The guys in Qatar are probably not so happy...

[gyaloggalopp]

Why? They will have their WC no matter what, they could care less about some bribed officials getting into trouble. They have their oil, their slaves, their WC.

[MMM]

I assume the chances are 0 that it will be transferred. I don't care about the Qatar per say, but having the world cup in November is ridiculous.

[xecutable]

He stole enough, time for the next guy. I agree, I don't even know how the Champions League schedules will change because of an event like that in November, the domestic leagues as well...

[Renee]

I heard on the radio this morning there are rumours they will strip it and give it to us or the USA.

Would be bloody awesome to have one here, although I reckon being so far away from Europe they will over look us if that's the case.

[gyaloggalopp]

US couldn't lobby it now the FBI forces one? Classics USA, gives us some democracy, nice one! This would be making everything even worse. However, don't bother with the distance, Europe enjoyed the games held in Japan and South-Korea and Brazil, too.

[wonderpunter]

US couldn't lobby it now the FBI forces one? Classics USA, gives us some democracy, nice one! This would be making everything even worse. However, don't bother with the distance, Europe enjoyed the games held in Japan and South-Korea and Brazil, too.

USA already has infrastructure in place.. and even if they didn't they would just convert some bowl stadiums.Qatar should not have the rights if a bribe has been proven.. with all these arrests we will soon know,

[MMM]

I don't think there is a chance they will take it. First, I assume that Russian Cup wasn't clean as well. Taking it from Russia - it's another cold war. Taking it from Qatar - it's a huge humiliation to all the nations in this area.

Politically, changing any one of those 2 would create major world effects, far above the game itself.

[gyaloggalopp]

USA already has infrastructure in place..

As does 3-4 European countries where football is the numero uno sport. Last WC was in America, this should rotate like the olimpics.

I completely agree with MMM, this is more than football, this is politics. Chosing Qatar was a huge (and corrupt) mistake but taking it from them would be a disaster even with the conditions seen now. In 2012, Ukraine and Poland were struggling with building the infrastructure, but UEFA didn't take it from them, because it would have caused much more damage to the sport, the organisation and the countries.

[AE-Stephen]

There are several countries that would be ready in a year. Only a handful that would be ready tomorrow. The longer this drags on the more chance both will be unchanged.

If both countries are stripped then there should be another vote, you cannot take something away based on a bad vote then just give it to another country.

Either way a winter World Cup is outlandish, if Quatar cannot keep their promise of air conditioned stadiums they should be stripped of it on that reason alone. The rest of the world should not suffer.

[MMM]

In 2012, Ukraine and Poland were struggling with building the infrastructure, but UEFA didn't take it from them, because it would have caused much more damage to the sport, the organisation and the countries.

Exactly. And although in terms of soccer- it was a great tournament, you could buy tickets to the final, just 24 hours before the game - below the official price...

[wonderpunter]

UEFA didn't take it from them, because it would have caused much more damage to the sport, the organisation and the countries.

I think with recent events everything already is damaged, Also people want to see justice.. if Russia and Qatar did buy their way in then they are also part of the problem, rewarding them with a WC and turning a blind eye will kick up a lot of outrage + there is too much money at stake.

[gyaloggalopp]

Why blaming Qatar and Russia for FIFA being corrupt? Yes, they bribed. So punish the brided officers and even the bribing politicians. No problem. But having a new place is FIFA's jurisdiction and we need new leaders there who will decide about this question. But now it seems we won't have it until December.

[Miles_FTA]

Ye such a Pitty that its come to this but its about time...Sepp and His cronies get the boot ..

[-Shay-]

I would not be surprised to see the venues for the next two World Cups change. However, if this does happen they should not be moved out of the confederations they are already scheduled to be in (ie - do not move it to the Americas).

[MMM]

The problem is that even if they do clean all this mess up - I can't see how they manage to make the World Cup host decision 100% transparent. Maybe they will stop paying $xx,xxx,xxx, but then it will become "you vote for me - i vote for you" type of arrangement.

Btw, it seems that the previous ones weren't much different....

[vinism]

John Oliver's hilarious take on the arrests:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr6ar3xJL_Q (It wouldn't let me embed)

[MMM]

It's just getting better: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...ndal-live.html