Don't know how many of you are following this, but arguably the single most important sporting organization on the planet is directly in the crosshairs of the United States Department of Justice, and it appears that the DOJ might actually succeed in bringing them down.
Wall Street Journal -- New York Times -- ESPN -- CNN - BBC
Honestly, I'm not really sure where to begin with this. It is widely, widely known that FIFA has been a corrupt organization for a while, but apparently the one lead that led to this whole thing was when Chuck Blazer, former FIFA, CONCACAF, and US Soccer bigwig flipped and turned into a FBI informant in recent years.. He apparently went so far as to wear a wiretap to the 2012 London Olympics when there with FIFA Officials, and hand delivered a paper trail to the FBI piecing everything together.
So why is the FBI so involved? Well, there's this statement released by Swiss authorities on the matter:
By order of the Federal Office of Justice (FOJ), six soccer officials were arrested in Zurich today (Wednesday) and detained pending extradition. The US authorities suspect them of having received bribes totalingin the USD millions.
The six soccer functionaries were arrested today in Zurich by the Zurich Cantonal Police . The FOJ's arrest warrants were issued further to a request by the US authorities. The US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York is investigating these individuals on suspicion of the acceptance of bribes and kick-backs between the early 1990s and the present day. The bribery suspects – representatives of sports media and sports promotion firms – are alleged to have been involved in schemes to make payments to the soccer functionaries – delegates of FIFA (Fdration Internationale de Football Association) and other functionaries of FIFA sub-organizations –totaling more than USD 100 million. In return, it is believed that they received media, marketing, and sponsorship rights in connection with soccer tournaments in Latin America. According to the US request, these crimes were agreed and prepared in the US, and payments were carried out via US banks.
Mind you, all of this is happening right as the annual FIFA meetings are being held in Switzerland, hence why they were arrested there, and are awaiting extradition to the United States to face charges. Speaking of which, here are those people:
The indictment names 14 people on charges including racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy. In addition to senior soccer officials, the indictment is also expected to name sports-marketing executives from the United States and South America who are accused of paying more than $150 million in bribes and kickbacks in exchange for media deals associated with major soccer tournaments, according to one government official briefed on the matter.
Those people include nine FIFA officials:
- Jeffrey Webb (Cayman Islands) - President of CONCACAF, member of FIFA Executive Committee
- Eugenio Figueredo (Uruguay) - President of CONMEBOL, member of FIFA Executive Committee
- Jack Warner (Trinida and Tobago) - President of CONCACAF from 1990 to 2011, former FIFA vice-president
- Eduardo Li (Costa Rica) - President of the Costa Rican Football Federation, CONCACAF representative to FIFA
- Julio Rocha (Nicaragua) - President of the Nicaraguan Football Federation, FIFA development officer
- Costas Takkas (Cayman Islands) - Former general secretary of the Cayman Islands Football Association
- Rafael Esquivel (Venezuela) - President of the Venezuelan Football Federation since 1988, member of the FIFA disciplinary committee
- Jos Maria Marin (Brazil) - President of the Brazilian Football Confederation from 2012 to 2015, president of the 2014 FIFA World Cup committee
- Nicols Leoz (Paraguay) - President of CONMEBOL from 1986 to 2013
And five sports marketing execs:
- Alejandro Burzaco (Argentina) - CEO of Torneos y Competencias, which owns various sports television channels and broadcasted Argentine domestic football matches from 1992 to 2009, and the 2006 World Cup
- Aaron Davidson (United States) - President of Traffic Sports USA, which organizes and handles marketing for a variety of CONCACAF soccer events, like World Cup Qualifying and the Gold Cup. Chairman of the Board of the North American Soccer League, the soccer tier below MLS
- Hugo Jinkis (Argentina) - President of Full Play, which owns some sort of rights (I am unclear which ones) to hundreds of South American soccer matches
- Mariano Jinkis (Argentina) - CEO of Full Play, which owns some sort of rights (I am unclear which ones) to hundreds of South American soccer matches
- Jos Margulies (Unknown) - Margulies is somehow involved with Traffic Sport
One name notably absent from this list. Sepp Blatter, the President of FIFA. Conveniently, there's an upcoming election in the coming days where Blatter is expected to win election for his 5th term. The reason for this is that he's running essentially unopposed. I say essentially, because there was opposition, but, as former Presidential hopeful, Luis Figo told the AP recently, "he refuses to go along with an election process that is designed ''for the delivery of absolute power to one man'' - indicating Blatter, the current FIFA president.". Now, FIFA still plans to go forward with the election in the coming days, but now they're going to have to do it with ongoing pressure from Non Governmental Organizations, such as Transparency International releasing statements such as the following calling for his immediate resignation:
Cobus de Swardt, Managing Director of Transparency International said:
"The warning signs for FIFA have been there for a long time. FIFA has refused to abide by many basic standards of good governance that would reduce the risk of corruption.
"These scandals have taken place under Sepp Blatter's watch of FIFA, which spans almost two decades. For the sake of the fans, and good governance of football, it is time for him to step down. The elections for president are not credible if they are tainted with these allegations by the highest prosecuting authorities.
"Blatter must stand down and new elections called to mark a new era of FIFA leadership. At the same time there must be full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest and the pay of the executive committee members. Their hands need to be clean and seen to be clean."
For the record, FIFA has remained steadfast that everything is normal and they will proceed with the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in Russia and Qatar as planned. Yes, the same Qatar that is using slave labor to build the infrastructure for said events, and is arresting any reporters who dare try to investigate anything that's going on.
And dare I finish without posting this scathing review from John Oliver from March:
UPDATE: Ding dong the witch is dead.
Roughly 36 hours after John Oliver publicly put the pressure on FIFA sponsors to tighten the screws on the organization and force a change with the following video, that exact scenario has apparently happened.
So yeah, I guess this means we'll be seeing Mr Oliver coming out on Sunday dressed in the gaudiest of Adidas apparel head to toe chowing down on as much Dollar Menu McDonalds crap as he can washing it all down with the sweet sweet victory taste of a Bud Light Lime. Should be fun to watch.
Comments
When I woke up to this headline all I could think of was this:
How did the DOJ have jurisdiction to have a bunch of FIFA officials in Switzerland arrested? Who cares!? America!
From what i understand in the ESPN articles is that there are actually two separate investigations, one from the US DOJ and one from the Swiss. It isn't a joint investigation, but they are working together sharing evidence and whatnot. So, the Swiss are investigating for themselves, and then they will be extradited to the US for the DOJ investigation.
Wait, I thought Switzerland was neutral (and why didn't they use Swiss Banks?)
oh, and did France already surrender?
They actually did use Swiss Banks.
Swiss banks are no longer exempt for US investigation. The Swiss have opened up for transparency a while ago, due to a number of reasons. If you need to go somewhere to park money it's gotta be an island like the Seychelles.
or... uh... so I've been told.
Used to work for Credit Suisse handling their corporate transactions... Let's just say there's a lot of money hiding down there in the Cayman Islands.... A lot.
Good. I love the World Cup. If there's a team I'm as passionate about as the Hokies, it's the USMNT. I don't however want to support slave labor and people being forced out of their homes to build stadiums that will barely be used once the WC leaves. These dudes have been openly corrupt for decades and everybody who follows soccer knows it. Good on the DOJ.
I believe this is how the raid went down..
Pretty big deal, and yet nobody is surprised.
Awesome. Thanks for posting for awereness!
I checked Reddit this morning, and the first 5 posts on my front page were all FIFA. Not a soccer fan, but this is pretty crazy.
Ha, did it get up to 5? I saw it at three and though, "man, this must really be a big deal."
This gives me one more reason to hate watching soccer. I'll probably get torched for this comment, but whatever. I'm also not naive enough to think that for example NBA execs (which just happens to be my favorite professional sport to watch) are top-notch model citizens who follow the rules by letter of the law. At the end of the day, we could dig up dirt on literally everybody that holds a high position somewhere. But without shoving that aside, this situation is very alarming. The stuff Oliver was talking about in regards to over 4,000 Middle Eastern workers die, simply for showing up to work one day in blazing heat and unsafe work conditions, is really eye-opening.
No reason to feel like you'll get torched for the comment, but I think your distaste is misdirected. When you watch a sport, you are watching the athletes. What you are upset about, and what many others have had issues with for years, is the governing body. Do you dislike watching college football because the NCAA is also an ass backwards organization that can't seem to follow precedent set or anything that makes sense? I assume not since you're here, but my point is that you can dislike FIFA, but I would have to assume the reason you dislike watching soccer does not originate with the fact that their governing body is a mess but rather for the sport as I whole. Am I correct?
Very valid point, and you are mostly correct. What I said about soccer was somewhat tongue-in-cheek. I was saying I could use this as a decent cop-out excuse whenever any of my soccer-watching friends try to convince me that it is by far the best sport to watch on the planet, and that I'm a fool for not loving it as well. Of course none of this is to be taken seriously as they're (mostly) joking, and I realize we could argue opinions all day. But what you said in regards to the NCAA is what I was trying to get across with my NBA comment. Basically every successful business has at least one sleezebag at the top of the food chain and we pick and choose what we like, regardless of one spoiled egg. Unfortunately for FIFA and other soccer lovers out there, there were apparently 14 bad eggs in this bunch.
Fair enough. I guess my opinion is that the governing body of any sport does not taint my viewpoint of the sport itself. If there is entertainment value and a skill to be admired, I don't care who runs the sport, I'll watch it. Certainly there are sports I don't enjoy watching because I don't find it entertaining, but that has nothing to do with the people who run it. In the end, the people that suffer are not the fans in this situation. It is mostly the member countries and teams who have to deal with the result of their indiscretions. The sport will still be 90 minutes of continuous movement with 22 guys on the pitch. So if your soccer-watching friends try to tell you that it is the best sport to watch on the planet (I personally love watching it), then telling them that FIFA is corrupt won't matter to them because they already know it and will just tell you about how great Messi, Neuer, Ronaldo, Neymar and the many other great athletes still play the same game with or without them.
I would mostly agree with this, the exception being last year's Clippers team. Not to start up controversy or dig up the past which is luckily in the past, but I would have had a hard time supporting a team owned and run by Donald Sterling if I were a fan of the team. I'm definitely not here to say 'oh, now anyone who enjoys watching FIFA supports their cause' or anything like that, but personally it would be hard for me to spend hours watching a sport that has ruined so many innocent people. Similar to this would be the Mayweather/Pacquiao fight. I didn't watch it for multiple reasons, but one being I didn't want any of my money funding the campaign of a total creep, and frankly thug like Floyd Mayweather. Again, just my personal stance on the subject but I realize this could open up a can of worms. It's definitely an interesting discussion nonetheless.
Leg for sticking by your guns when it comes to moral values. I just am able to find a little more distance between FIFA and the teams than there is between the owner and his players. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out in the end for FIFA.
I cheer for the team and hate the owners.
I cannot fault those who dedicate their lives to the game through rigorous training, coaching, evaluating, gameplanning, running their asses off on the pitch or court, etc. I don't fault the guys who lived and breathed the game since they were kids and are caught up in the shitstorm. I blame Donald Sterling, Sepp Blatter, Roger Goodell, etc. I find it poor taste to turn your back on guys who were just legitimately caught up in a shitty situation that was completely out of their control. Cheer for your team, support them all, and support anything that moves in the direction of bringing the corruption to an end.
The difference between the NBA, NFL, MLB, etc. and FIFA, is that our sports leagues do their back room deals in actual back rooms, and usually after dark, whereas these FIFA dudes are wearing large signs in broad daylight that say "WE'RE COMMITTING CRIMES AND WE DON'T CARE WHO KNOWS!"
Bout damn time. If anyone has an hour to kill watch the 30 for 30 on sepp blatter
Might be an E60 I can't remember
Were you talking about this E:60 segment?
That's the one! Its actually pretty good. Watched it one afternoon during that post finals/pre graduation lull
Oh sweet, I heard about that on Mike and Mike this morning and was going to look for it later. Thanks for the link!!
Jürgen Klinsmann 4 president of FIFA! Pele! Platini! Figo! Beckham! Come reform the organization! The world needs you! By your powers combined, you are Captains Planet Futbol!
In all seriousness, I think some of those guys could revamp the sport, as they're pretty much the living royalty of the game. These arrests have been a long time coming, and this is no surprise at all.
But if Klinsmann take over FIFA, we can't keep him as manager. So let's hold off until the contract with Pep Guardiola is finalized.
No pep please..I think he's vastly over rated. Good manager no doubt, but only with good teams. The US national team would be AWFUL with him at the helm
Though he's only helmed top-tier teams in his short career, he's done so in a way that has been quite impressive. You don't give any support to your second claim, but I'm curious as to your reasoning. Why do you think we'd be awful with Pep? (bearing in mind we're talking about after 2018 at the earliest, though I hope Klinsmann stays on till at least 2022)
We don't have the midfielder that can slow down play at all. Not even close. The system he runs demands a very technical side, players that the US just do not have. If you watch Americans play their touches and passes aren't nearly good enough to play that style. Hence why we usually head to counter attacking. It has gotten better but until our quality improves I really think our current side will be as good as it will get. Also it demands a forward that can create which maybe Clint Dempsey can do but jozy or Johansson most certainly can't. Also the defenders aren't technical enough. Maybe Fabian Johnson and Timmy chandler but the center backs just won't cut it
Furthermore Bayern has taken an absolute nose dive in quality since he took over. Yeah they're winning the bundesliga but their competition is non existent. The players in his system just seem to get complacement. That being said I cannot question Barcelona's brilliance in his system but I really think he's a little over rated. Bayern have not impressed me since he took over
good points, these. I'm pretty sure I could've managed that Barca team to La Liga glory and this years Bayern team is absolutely loaded. True, they've had injuries this year to superstar players and that somewhat coincided with their dip in form, but they got thrashed by Barca and lost three straight at one point (two of those were not to Barca). I used to be a huge Pep fan but now I'm not so sure, he's lost a lot of his shine, that's for sure.
I'll grant you your points are well thought, and would be valid if we were talking about Pep taking over this roster. But given that many of the current players, which you don't think would fit his style, likely wouldn't be on a roster by the time Pep took over, I think your argument falls flat. This is especially true when considering the major strides in quality of American soccer in the last 20 years. Assuming that we continue to build our development system, and it continues to produce better and better players (which I see no reason to doubt), then I think many of the faults you point out wouldn't manifest themselves. I think the bigger question mark with Pep, and a legitimate one, is whether or not he could succeed with a national team that can't just go out and buy themselves a roster. Between now and Klinsmann leaving, I'd feel better if we saw him take the reins of a national team and do well with it. The downsides there are that he'd have to tank at Bayern and get fired in order to be available (which as a Bayern fan, I don't wanna see), and then he could be so successful with that national team that he's out of our reach. I really like his upside, and he's expressed interest in the USMNT, so I'm excited to see how it all plays out.
While we do have talented youth players coming up through the ranks (zelalem and I do like green and a few others) but we still don't have the absolute depth that programs like Germany and Spain have. I think he'd be successful in Spain no doubt but here he just doesn't have the vast level of talent. I mean even our "superstar stud players" don't stack up to countries like Belgium. Julian green can't crack the bayern youth system or Hamburg's first team, yet at his age both hazard brothers witsel and debryune were starting and getting significant playing time at their respective clubs. (Some were on loan yes I realize that) any who while I do think both green and zelalem will be great players two technical players won't cut it in PEPs system. Beyond that its pretty hard to justify whose going to be terrific, I mean its hard enough to predict how good a 16 year old will be (zelalem) let alone a 12-15 year old and its not like our u18 teams are lighting up the world like France and Spain's used to. I mean how long do you think it would be before pep took over? As far as US prospects go, zelalem and green are just about as young as it gets. Yedlin too I guess but he's not much of a pep player, more a counter attacking mourinho style player.
While I do think the US is improving drastically I think it'll be a bit before we catch the big boys. Jumping from 100 to 20 while significant isn't nearly as difficult as jumping from 20 to say 5. Most of the programs in the top 10 have very solidified age old soccer programs that have a proven system that works well. Also a lot of those countries don't have the same number of their youth pouring out into other sports. We have the NBA NFL MLB and to an extent NHL to compete with and kids sometimes play multiple sports growing up rather than strictly focusing on soccer like say the dutch. While I don't think lebron could play soccer now (and I do hate using this argruement as people usually misinterpret what im trying to say) I think if he had grown up his entire career playing soccer at the worst he could be one hell of a keeper.
I'll tell you the difference. In Europe, the whole setup is to find national team players; it's exactly the opposite here-you get a trophy for participating. Plus, the best athletes there want to be professional footballers but that's not the case here. It's gaining popularity, but I don't think it'll ever be at the level of the global powers.
Look at Germany-they were humiliated in Euro 2000 and arguably reached their lowest point in their history...6 years later they're producing talent all over the place. Could we do that? Doubtful...but you never know. It helps that in most of those countries the game is the only sport. Here it's different as there are 4 major sports, hard to compete unless the culture changes.
For us to be ranked in the Top 10 in the world rankings for a few years with all that considered is pretty remarkable, so it can be done. Can we take the next step of consistently making the quarters of World Cups? We also need to compete in the Copa America every time it's held, even try to host the event-that would attract more players as well as increase the competition level for our guys-the Gold Cup just isn't going to cut it...we're in the weakest confederation (unless you count corruption...then it's like the SEC). It's a steep mountain to get to an elite level, no doubt. The fact that European countries and most Latin countries respect our national team says a lot-that wasn't the case twenty years ago.
Sound familiar? A bit like our Hokies, don't you think?
It does and were certainly trending the right way, that being said I don't think pep is good for us now or any time soon, we would need a complete overhaul on or ideology and playing style and that doesn't happen over night. Regardless im not trying to take anything away from US soccer and am not one of those pessimist fans. We had a good group pass through in the last 10 years and I think the next crop could be even better. Were trending the right way but were not there yet.
I believe the key to player development has to be the domestic league. The MLS has been of a poor standard (and I should know, I was a DC United season ticket holder for years), if we can ever get that league going with good, young homegrown players, I think that's the key to the USMNT becoming even stronger. Very few countries can produce young talent that's ready for a big European league so nurturing that talent begins at home. Most of our up and coming youngsters have flamed out in bigger leagues, maybe they jumped to Europe too early...but again, that goes with increased competition. The stronger MLS is, the more ready our young stars will be for better opponents and their maturity from this approach can only help the national team.
Just look at the state of Florida or Texas to use a college football example-those kids are more ready at the Div 1 level than those in Virginia, just due to the greater number of athletes and hence the better competition they face every week. The talent at the top might be similar, but it's the depth that's the key. We need to develop that depth for the USMNT-being legitimately three deep at every position is a luxury very few national teams have.
Completely 110% agree but how are they going to get better playing themselves/the mxleague iunno the solution
There are simply too many more choices for a top athlete in the US besides soccer. They can make millions in football, baseball or basketball competing in a smaller talent pool than in soccer. Sure, the top soccer players in the world make the same or more money but our young athletes see the lifestyles of football et.al. Players but not Ronaldo's. In addition, they and their friends grow up with US pro sports players as their idols. As a result, they want to play in the NFL/ NBA / MLB not the Champion's League. It's not lack of talent but where they perceive where to gain money and glory.
There is a village here in China that eats eggs that have been boiled 7 days in virgin boy piss. They say it's a delicacy that comes with untold health benefits. The whole village almost unilaterally believes it so. Yet, everyone else, including every other person in China thinks its phucking crazy.
Point is, you believe in what you know growing up. We all grew up with football, basketball and baseball pro-teams on our televisions. Our fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters watching them before us and introducing them to us. We learned to love it through them and our friends. And that's the same for soccer in most the rest of the world. You love what you grow up with. That's why mom's home cooking always tastes best, even if it's boiled piss eggs.
Great analogy or greatest analogy? I am going with the latter.
I wonder if any of those piss-egg eaters end up on the Chinese National Team. Couldn't make them any worse.
can't upvote enough
I definitely agree that soccer here is overlooked, and doesn't get our best athletes. But the talent level has increased over time, and should continue to do so, especially given recent success. I think we're talking about 10 years or so before there's a vacancy for Pep to apply for here, because Klinsmann is only 50 and has been quite successful. 10 years may be all it takes to get us to that next level, especially when considering that 20 years ago, US Soccer was entirely irrelevant. We've got the money and the athletes, we're growing and improving our developmental system all the time, and interest in the sport continues to grow exponentially. That combination of factors leads me to be extremely optimistic about the future state of US Soccer, to the point that the USMNT could definitely be ready for Pep in a decade.
Soccer is such a fickle sport though in 10 years pep might be totally irrelevant look at some of the biggest managers 10 years ago, aside from ancellotti not many of em are still big names in fact some are struggling for relevancy in middle name clubs. I'm as optimistic as the next guy but like kopphokie said I really think we need to change the mindset of the average American about soccer. Make Barclay's on every TV in the country and easily accessible give the average kid the chance watch professionals do their thing and maybe you'll see more turnover but I don't see the change over to a world power just yet, I see us maintaining the status quo. Now I could be wrong and I'd be more than happy to eat my words I just don't think were ready yet at least until our players can compete in Europe regularly and we have a star or two that are feared globally
It will take longer here in the States and I've listed the significant barriers to reaching an elite level, but I believe it can be done...it's just going to be harder than for a tradition-rich nation like England to be a world power once more (and if you believe they are now, that's the whole problem in the first place). Like others have said, we have the athletes and we have the facilities, there's no reason it can't be done, it's just going to take a lot more time.
The thing with soccer is it's tribal, somewhat like college football. I'm a Liverpool fan. Full stop. It doesn't matter where in the world I live, even if it's Barcelona, i'll ALWAYS be a Liverpool fan no matter what until the day I die. It's hard to convince a lifelong Redskins fan (maybe that's a bad example as it's so hard to be that nowadays) to really get into soccer. The reverse is also true-look at what a disaster NFL Europe turned out to be. When I was growing up in England in the early 80s, the NFL was just starting to be shown on TV and it was treated as more of a curiosity than anything else...plus they only showed the Super Bowl which was on at midnight or something like that. It'll take hardcore support for the sport to catch on and there are a lot of other sports teams here to follow, so that culture change is going to be very slow.
That said, what the USMNT did in Brazil was amazing. They nearly won the group of death and took one of the most talented young teams in the tournament all the way in the round of sixteen. Nobody gave them a prayer of advancing past the group stage, yet they did it with style. Not to mention bars were absolutely packed when they played so the average sports fan is now much more aware of the sport, and that has to be a good thing for the national team. Hang in there, glory is coming...just be patient.
I took a look at this whole conversation, which I found compelling, but I'll just add some thoughts here (not directly in response to your comment, Kop).
Countries like Spain, Germany, England, and the Netherlands have very, very thorough developmental systems for their national teams, and many club teams in both countries pull from these systems to their clubs, many of which play a 'national style' of play, organized all the way down to the youth leagues.
You don't get a lot of innovative coaching this way (there aren't a lot of Gus Malzahns in those systems, because the youth systems are pretty much instructed to develop players in the national style as opposed to trying to change the style of play to win their particular age group), but you do get a very well oiled national team that has been trained to play their country's specific style (assuming their style doesn't suck, looking at you, England).
Here in the states, every coach at all levels are essentially free to develop their own systems and develop individual players as they see fit, meaning that when those players get to the national team, they have to adjust to new positions, new styles, and new on-field responsibilities. This makes it difficult for a national team coach to succeed (Arena and Bradley).
We have tried to assemble the best players (think Dream Team) instead of the best overall program (German National Team). This doesn't work as well in soccer as it does in other American sports, because other teams DO organize for the best national team outcomes, and our stars are neither as good as those across the pond nor are they as well organized.
In my opinion, Klinsmann's biggest contribution to our national team has been the reorganization of our national team farm system, bringing it under a single, organized umbrella instead of just trying to pick off the best domestic players and trying to assemble them into a functioning team (suck it, Donovan). I don't think we'll need him at the helm of the national team because I think, given a coordinated youth development program, we could find another coach who could take the on-field coaching reigns from him and be effective in that role.
This comment is dead spot on, and I cannot leg it enough.
Our biggest problem has always been that our players are having to relearn the game basically at every level they play. Rec league, developmental leagues, high school teams, U-20 programs, college, MLS, and then USMNT. Every coach has their own way of doing it, and every player has to learn that system before moving on. And once they advance, the process starts over. What Klinsmann is doing right now is trying to turn that system on its head, and start a program where kids at all levels of the game learn the style of the USMNT, so that by the time they're old enough, the best players aren't only the best players, but also the ones who best know and understand the game at the USMNT level. 20 years down the line, if US Soccer has allowed this kind of system to develop and take hold, we'll be a legitimate world power in soccer. And really, in a country of a few hundred million, we have enough athletic talent to spread to all our sports, which is something that a lot of countries can't say.
I mean, look at what got the USWNT to where it is now, with the 2 stars on their chest. Did we have the best athletes? Yeah, probably. But what really got the team to being the best in the world is that Anson Dorrence essentially set up a feeder program to the National Team at UNC that brought in the best players in the country, taught them the exact style they'd play at the US National Team level (because he was the coach there, too). By the time the 1999 World Cup rolled around, you basically had a team of women who had been playing the same style of soccer together on various teams for the previous 15 years or so, and we were a well oiled machine. We need that for the USMNT, and Klinsmann appears to be the guy to do it.
Boom perfect! I can tell you first hand that we used a sweeper in high school....that hasn't been around at a professional level since like the 70s. Sure we won a lot of games but our players weren't more prepared for the pros. (None of em really had the chance but you get my point)
Americans want a winner, they really do so we throw out the organizational pattern of development in an attempt to win at all costs at every level
growing up playing soccer I had several different coaches and they all had different styles. It makes it difficult to excel now in adult rec leagues because everyone comes from a different background and everyone has a different idea of how to play the game. With no practice time (just show up on game day and play) teams struggle to be consistent. I play on a team now that is severely divided on how the game should be played. Some players are trying to work switches and move the ball laterally while others are just trying to boot it down field and chase. Our team does not pass well because nobody is on the same page. One player will pass the ball to one space where they expect a player to be making a run and said player will make a run to a different space. That's just one example.
THIEF-A.
If that's not already a thing, make it so.
Looks like CONCACAF's offices got raided with several high ranking members being arrested.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article224098...
finally....England 2018, USA 2022
oh and the International Olympic Committee...you're next. I mean...Sochi...SERIOUSLY???
So... what's the over/under on how long until FIFA has all of its meetings in non-US extradition treaty countries?
All this talk about soccer and this is how I feel......
How I feel about people who upload videos of a TV screen.
From America's most trusted news source
http://www.theonion.com/article/fifa-frantically-announces-2015-summer-world-cup-u-50525
OH MY GOD!
This is hilarious. Everyone! Everyone! Go read this!
the finest in news reporting, as usual!
Jack Warner, one of the defendants, put out a video where he used this Onion article as part of his defense. Something along the lines of "See! The US made this all up because they wanted the World Cup!". The video has since been taken down, but Deadspin nabbed a copy of it.
You can't make this stuff up.
Look up this weeks Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. He shows the clip on his show and has some great points about FIFA.
And now owes us all a video of him eating the entire dollar menu, while wearing those shoes that belong to Apollo's gay cousin, and washing it down with a Bud Light Lime. I'm kind of excited.
I wouldn't be surprised at all if he does that on his next show.
OT, but I think Last Week Tonight is one of the best shows on television right now.
Agreed. Jon Oliver is great.
Did you get to see it happen?
Yerp.
yeah as if there was any doubt that these clowns have their heads so far up their own arses, this unequivocally proves it. Also, Blatter coming out with statements to the effect of "England and the USA were butt-hurt over not getting their respective bids awarded so they initiated this investigation at this most inappropriate time", well, looks like the house of cards has finally collapsed on this swiss demon (thank you so much for that description, John Oliver-that's precisely what he is). Blatter resigning is the best news i've heard in a long time....only bad thing is he'll still be poisoning the sport until a new President is elected in December, and you can be sure he'll make a spectacle of it. I wish he'd just go away forever...like right now...to jail.
The fact that he'll still be in charge throughout this process and that his resignation isn't immediate and he's already blaming the US and England for his demise....
Yeah, we're about to get royally shafted by FIFA refs in the Women's World Cup this month.
Sepp Blatter can only dodge this for so long, even though he'll win re-election. Who's on deck?
Prince Ali!
I saw that this guy had been gaining momentum, but I've never heard of him.
I still think the living royalty of the game should be recruited to take over FIFA. Throw in Beckenbauer and Cruyff on top of my list upthread.
Annnnnd Sepp just won re-election.
Did you all see Brian Phillips' article about all this? It's worth the read: http://grantland.com/the-triangle/fifa-corruption-scandal/
I wish Sepp would have just embraced his villain status and announced that he was reorganizing FIFA into the First Galactic Soccer Empire
Ya know, he wasn't far from it.
Blatter has resigned
LOL. I guess us Americans won with our Onion stories. "We're going to call it soccer from now on, world!"
Miguel Herrera was one of the truly bright spots of the last World Cup. Love that guy.
I have to admit I basically did this exact celebration when I found out the news! leg for you, good sir.
You fool! This isn't even my final form!
As they say "Follow the money".
Blatter to resign. Although I'm sure this just means he will get a cushy gig for some national soccer federation (on top of the huge piles of cash he has made running FIFA, who does not disclose salaries and compensation).
I get the feeling this is due to the sponsors putting the hammer down. FIFA could survive the scandal in the sense that the people running it and the federations didn't care. But once Coke, Adidas, et all started chiming in, it was gonna be inevitable.
I figured he was just bailing before EVERYTHING could be pinned on him. Covering up decades of his corruption is going to be a full time job.
Really glad he decided to Sepp down.
The Women's World Cup hasn't even started, yet, and I feel like the US has already emerged victorious. Hey Sepp...
Sepp is gone, this is going wild.
I'm hoping they redo elections with a new field. Prince Ali was supposed to be the next contender, but Luis Figo had been running before he dropped out with the claim:
When they figure out who should be the next FIFA president, I hope they reopen the elections to all the candidates who had previously decided to run and dropped out or conceded to Blatter. I said it upthread, but this position will one day be occupied by Klinsmann, but, for now, I'd like to see the whole field. Figo or Platini is my leader at the moment if he decides to reenter the fray.
Am I the only one who hears Sepp Blatter and thinks...
before today my reaction was this:
but now all is right in the world
So, Sepp has resigned. Is it fair to say that FIFA has finally gotten rid of that nasty Blatter infection?
Apparently the "Real" John Oliver is getting a lot of unwanted attention. He should definitely start commenting and see which news agencies pick it up.
Then Jack Warner will point to his quotes as evidence of a Last Week Tonight conspiracy.
Was Warner the same guy who in his first statement to the press blamed his arrest on a "Zionist conspiracy"?
Enjoy. Language slightly NSFW.
Cannot wait to watch the spot on Trinidad TV.
I was waiting for this. So glad he's a man of his word. That's:
I didn't even know this FIFA-funded movie existed until this morning:
United Passions
Welp, it apparently made a whopping $607 on opening weekend (shown in 10 theaters in the US)
I am sad/disappointed in everyone involved in this film.
John Oliver showed a clip where a single person bought a ticket to a showing.
he also zinged FIFA pretty good when he said "Trust FIFA to make a sports movie and the heroes are bureaucrats"....love it
Yep! That's where I learned of it. Then I learned how much it made this morning driving into work.
I mean... I'm not gonna say the soccer gods are smiling on the US right now, but since the DOJ took down Sep Blatter, the following results have happened:
USMNT - 4
Netherlands - 3
USWNT - 3
Australia - 1
USMNT - 2
Germany - 1
Also the U-20's men advanced to their World Cup's quarterfinals this week.
Sidenote: Anyone not excited by what Klinsmann is doing with that program is seeing something I'm clearly not. Times are changing for the US Men's Soccer program. I'm super excited. Michael Bradley is a boss, btw.
Michael Bradley, he's a mystery to me. He was great in South Africa, has been awesome between Cups, but bombed in the worst way in Brazil. I'm hoping he can fill that role but I think he's still got something to figure out.
He had a rough opening to Brazil but from then on simply suffered from zero chemistry and little support from the attackers.
He's easily our best player right now.
I haven't seen the recent games but I buy it. His South Africa World Cup cemented me as a big fan, and highly hopeful for the future of our midfield.
The nice thing is that we're finally developing some semblance of depth behind Altidore, so hopefully we don't have another Brazil situation. Lots to be excited for!
Did anyone else see the gold cup roster? There were some bold moves, really wish zelalem was included in the roster I love that guy and hope he gets as much playing time as possible to get him ready for Russia
Just gonna gush a little more if he can develop into a solid contributor that midfield pairing of him Bradley and say mix could be a pretty dangerous trio, coupled with yedlin or green up the flank and any one of a multitude of attacking talents and we have a team that I wouldn't want to play against fersure
Not a whole lot of surprises though. I guess it must just be a short turnaround time from the U-20 World Cup keeping Zelalem out, because he's been pretty impressive lately. Obviously he needs to bulk up but the technical ability is on another level for American soccer.
I was disappointed with no Danny Williams, but apparently he's recovering from some minor injury.
John Oliver is amazing.
This played prime time on Trinidad television. Brilliant
Great find. Now I hope someone taped a reaction video of people in Trindad watching this.
...and of course, Tobago.
Tobago never gets any love.
no...but there's this (over)reaction from Jack Warner:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bB7CBxfRUaw
seems to me he has awfully thin skin for someone with the power he once wielded...or maybe it makes sense with the insular world of FIFA that everyone was telling him how great he was all the time he's not used to being questioned...regardless...great dramatic music, Mr Warner...powerful
That was awesome.
You're move Jack Warner!