FIFA dirty secrets

[Dave]

There can be no genuine sporting, commercial or basic commonsense reason why the bid didn't go there.

I would say that the USA also had a perfectly good shout for similar reasons. It should obviously have gone to either of them.

[Clampy]

It reminds me of when Birmingham were encouraged to bid for the National Stadium. They smiled and nodded at our lobbying, but never had any intention of giving it to us.

[aldridgeboy]

Well if FIFA think they had a hard time with Panorama imagine what every instigative journalist will do with them now. It wouldn't surprise me if the News of the World already have something on them in tomorrows edition.  " Blatter in midnight call to escort " etc

[KevinGage]

There can be no genuine sporting, commercial or basic commonsense reason why the bid didn't go there.

I would say that the USA also had a perfectly good shout for similar reasons. It should obviously have gone to either of them.

The USA or Japan could have produced better or bids equally as strong as the Aussies but then you have the scenario that two nations who have already held the thing in only fairly recent history were given it again.

That would have been hard to justify.

Though not as hard as justifying giving it to Qatar, obv.

[TonyD]

There is plenty of time for the Qatar thing to fall apart.   The press need to play thier part and not just our press.

[Lowendbehold]

Blatter is so anti-English that, apparently, he credits the Chinese for inventing the game.

So that's it.  "Bring Football Home" will yet be a winning bid slogan.  Put your money on Beijing hosting the 2026 Final.  You heard it here first.

Thats because the Chinese are going to get 2026.  Just a bit of rewriting of history.  He supposedly got it from Wiki.

Seriously what the f**k are we going to do about FIFA?  Withdrawing isn't an option.  But attacking their sponsors might be.  Do Coke, McDonalds, Castrol, Budweiser etc really want to be associated with a corrupt organisation?  Their brand names are to valauble for that.  Our media should start asking the question.  Maybe pressure from the soponsors will cause them to change?

[Lowendbehold]

There is plenty of time for the Qatar thing to fall apart.   The press need to play thier part and not just our press.

Apparently Beckenbaur who voted for Qatar has just suggested it is held in January, to coincide with European winter breaks.  Clearly well thought through.

[PeterWithe]

The acting chairman of the FA has withdrawn his application for the permanent job as he doesn't trust the FIFA board whom he would need to laise with.

[Villa'Zawg]

There is plenty of time for the Qatar thing to fall apart.   The press need to play thier part and not just our press.

Apparently Beckenbaur who voted for Qatar has just suggested it is held in January, to coincide with European winter breaks.  Clearly well thought through.

It is exactly the same with almost every aspect of the Qatari bid. "We don't have any idea how it is going to work, how it will be tested or whether it will work."

There is only one important and reliable statement in their bid document "The necessary government support has been secured."

[Dante Lavelli]

Blatter is so anti-English that, apparently, he credits the Chinese for inventing the game.

So that's it.  "Bring Football Home" will yet be a winning bid slogan.  Put your money on Beijing hosting the 2026 Final.  You heard it here first.

Isn't that true though?  Whilst we may have formalised the current rules and established leagues etc (big up!) I'm sure I read that the earliest evidence of people kicking around sheep's bladders is in China.

Correct me if I am wrong but I always thought that was the case.

[CJ]

Hopefully the England friendly against Thailand in June will now be cancelled.  Apparently they promised us their vote on the back of that taking place.  We didn't get their vote so they don't get their friendly.

I'm getting all yah,boo,sucks now

[TopDeck113]

Blatter is so anti-English that, apparently, he credits the Chinese for inventing the game.

So that's it.  "Bring Football Home" will yet be a winning bid slogan.  Put your money on Beijing hosting the 2026 Final.  You heard it here first.

Isn't that true though?  Whilst we may have formalised the current rules and established leagues etc (big up!) I'm sure I read that the earliest evidence of people kicking around sheep's bladders is in China.

Correct me if I am wrong but I always thought that was the case.

I'm sure that somewhere a cro-magnon man kicked a small rock to his mate, but it's hardly "inventing" football as we know it.

The world might hate the fact, but in setting up the FA and agreeing the Laws of the game, the English gave the world the football as it is played today.  For me that is inventing the game.

[KevinGage]

Blatter is so anti-English that, apparently, he credits the Chinese for inventing the game.

So that's it.  "Bring Football Home" will yet be a winning bid slogan.  Put your money on Beijing hosting the 2026 Final.  You heard it here first.

Isn't that true though?  Whilst we may have formalised the current rules and established leagues etc (big up!) I'm sure I read that the earliest evidence of people kicking around sheep's bladders is in China.

Correct me if I am wrong but I always thought that was the case.

I don't see how anyone could give a definitive, definite answer vis a vis the exact origins of the game.

I'm sure civilizations or all sorts were kicking spherical objects (pigs bladders, heads, god knows what else) since the year dot for recreation.

What is known is football as the world knows it today originated in England, and English (and Scottish) workers took it to places as far apart as Spain, Russia and Argentina.

[olaftab]

Just heard on the BEEB that Franz Beckenbauer (?sp) is on the FIFA executive committee and he has suggested that, because of the heat, the 2022 tournament could be held in January or February when the average temperature is a more comfortable 25C!!  Can just see all the prem managers agreeing to lose all their international players in the middle of the domestic season!

This lot really do beggar belief.

That is good  news as this would mean a mid season break Clark, Albrighton and Fonz would still be fresh  to play for England and than eager to get back to retain the PL title for the Villa!

[olaftab]

Hopefully the England friendly against Thailand in June will now be cancelled.  Apparently they promised us their vote on the back of that taking place.  We didn't get their vote so they don't get their friendly.

I'm getting all yah,boo,sucks now

Heard on 5Live this morning that it has been. Yes I say if you  are not voting f*ck you