Not worthy of a thread - 2018 FIFA World Cup edition

[Stifler]

We'll get the WC again soon, by default if nothing else.

Possibly. I hope we get to host something soon, even if it's just the Euro's. We really need another crack of the whip to get our stadiums into to shape. Only a few teams have been able to take advantage of new money to get ground upgrades or even new stadiums going. West Ham are only getting a new stadium thanks to the British tax payer and an empty stadium being left over from the Olympics. Spurs and Liverpool despite finishing in pretty good positions on the league are struggling to get their new stadiums built. Everton haven't been able find somewhere to build their stadium. Bristol City have seen delay after delay in getting permission for their new stadium.

 

It would be nice to see a few more clubs upgrade or gain new facilities. I long for the days when most clubs can have 40k-50k crowds again, at the moment that figure is exclusive for only a few clubs. Of course in an ideal world I would love to see us take advantage of hosting a tournament by increasing capacity to 60k with an Gallowgate stand to match the Leazers.

 

In my opinion the only way ground renovations, new builds are going to go ahead is if their is a need like hosting a tournament.

[LRD]

If England were to host a WC, which are the 10-12 stadia likely to be part of the bid?

 

Wembley

Emirates

Olympics/West Ham stadium

CoMS / Old Trafford (do they allow 2 venues in the same city?)

SJP

Anfield

Villa Park

 

Would be pretty much London-centric going by current stadium capacities.

[Stifler]

If England were to host a WC, which are the 10-12 stadia likely to be part of the bid?

 

Wembley

Emirates

Olympics/West Ham stadium

CoMS / Old Trafford (do they allow 2 venues in the same city?)

SJP

Anfield

Villa Park

 

Would be pretty much London-centric going by current stadium capacities.

Elland road, stadium MK, and the SOL would also probably be leading candidates, though I would imagine they would probably not see anything beyond group stage action.

[Deuce]

Probably not a popular opinion, but I think a Great Britain, rather than England, tournament would be pretty great. Have venues in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cardiff, etc. Could also pull attention away from London, where you'd probably be looking at 4-5 venues if it was restricted to English cities.

[LRD]

That's an option but I think the PL and the English clubs would love to take the opportunity to boost up those stadium capacities and/or build spanking new ones. English stadia tend to be on the neglected side compared to those countries who have hosted the big tournaments. Most of the older ones need more than just a fresh coat of paint.

[LRD]

Anyway, this was England's failed bid for WC2018 and the proposed venues and stadia expansion.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England_2018_FIFA_World_Cup_bid#Venues

 

SJP with 60k+ capacity. 

[Stifler]

Anyway, this was England's failed bid for WC2018 and the proposed venues and stadia expansion.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England_2018_FIFA_World_Cup_bid#Venues

 

SJP with 60k+ capacity. 

Freddy Shepard announced plans in 2007 to expand SJP to about 60k, when Ashley first came in he said he wanted to go with idea as well. Obviously it was never seriously considered an option by Ashley, Shepard if he still owned the club (providing we hadn't have got relegated/went bust) would have had went ahead with the ideas in my opinion. As much as I disliked Shepard I know that if he thought there was money in expanding SJP then he would have done it.

[Pandamninator]

 

In theory, it'd go to America anyway given that they came 2nd in the vote.

 

That would be the best outcome (no idea how the hell they didn't get it in the first place, obviously didn't learn their lesson about greasing the right wheels after the 2016 Olympics fiasco).

 

Football was dead there when they got it in 1994 and they still set the attendance record.  Imagine how much better it will be in 2022 with the sport very much established over there.

 

Still pissed about this. Could literally walk out my front door and be surrounded by Olympic events but we fucked it up.

 

We had our fucking A-team up-to-bat for it too. Obama, Oprah, MJ, and Phelps.

 

We'll get the WC again soon, by default if nothing else.

 

Amateur mistake.

 

The IOC is the only organisation in the world more corrupt than FIFA, you could've sent Peewee Herman and Jerry Sandusky out and succeeded as long as you armed with them briefcases stuffed with currency.

[Cronky]

I can't see England hosting a World Cup for the forseeable future.

 

It's pretty clear from the absurdity of Qatar being given the World Cup that the selection process is flawed and we're not hitting the right notes.

 

I think there's also a perception that seeing we have the most popular and lucrative league in the Premiership, we shouldn't also get the World Cup.

[henke]

After Russia was awarded 2018 the England bid team were told they failed because an England World Cup would leave no legacy. And everyone went well if that's the criteria could you not have told us five years ago? I think that demonstrates exactly how corrupt FIFA are, and stupid too if that's the best excuse they could come up with.

[henke]

Also most FIFA delegates were said to favour Italy or Spain for the next European hosted World Cup. Basically because nobody likes England. They might as well have said get Sam allerdyce and Harry rednapps dog on the bid team.

[triggs]

Also most FIFA delegates were said to favour Italy or Spain for the next European hosted World Cup. Basically because nobody likes England. They might as well have said get Sam allerdyce and Harry rednapps dog on the bid team.

Or maybe its because neither Italy or Spain have hosted a Euros as recently as England have

[Guest VanBarduck]

My first reaction was "Que?", but it does make sense. I don't think it's a coincidence that Platini has made this happen when it's France who benefit , but there you go.

 

 

[Nobody]

If England were to host a WC, which are the 10-12 stadia likely to be part of the bid?

 

Wembley

Emirates

Olympics/West Ham stadium

CoMS / Old Trafford (do they allow 2 venues in the same city?)

SJP

Anfield

Villa Park

 

Would be pretty much London-centric going by current stadium capacities.

If not, you've got some troubles with your previous three candidates

[NG32]

If England were to host a WC, which are the 10-12 stadia likely to be part of the bid?

 

Wembley

Emirates

Olympics/West Ham stadium

CoMS / Old Trafford (do they allow 2 venues in the same city?)

SJP

Anfield

Villa Park

 

Would be pretty much London-centric going by current stadium capacities.

If not, you've got some troubles with your previous three candidates

 

:lol:

[TheGuv]

If England were to host a WC, which are the 10-12 stadia likely to be part of the bid?

 

Wembley

Emirates

Olympics/West Ham stadium

CoMS / Old Trafford (do they allow 2 venues in the same city?)

SJP

Anfield

Villa Park

 

Would be pretty much London-centric going by current stadium capacities.

If not, you've got some troubles with your previous three candidates

 

Well Qatar have got about 4 in one city

[LRD]

If England were to host a WC, which are the 10-12 stadia likely to be part of the bid?

 

Wembley

Emirates

Olympics/West Ham stadium

CoMS / Old Trafford (do they allow 2 venues in the same city?)

SJP

Anfield

Villa Park

 

Would be pretty much London-centric going by current stadium capacities.

If not, you've got some troubles with your previous three candidates

 

Well Qatar have got about 4 in one city

 

4 in one city and 3 in another.

 

The limitation to a possible two stadia in one city is a rough guideline it seems.

[LRD]

If not, you've got some troubles with your previous three candidates

 

It was a genuine question, you nobody.

[Deuce]

A senior Fifa official and his family were paid almost $2 million (£1.2m) from a Qatari firm linked to the country’s successful bid for the 2022 World Cup, The Telegraph can disclose.

 

Jack Warner, the former vice-president of Fifa, appears to have been personally paid $1.2 million (£720,000) from a company controlled by a former Qatari football official shortly after the decision to award the country the tournament.

 

Payments totaling almost $750,000 (£450,000) were made to Mr Warner’s sons, documents show. A further $400,000 (£240,000) was paid to one of his employees.

 

It is understood that the FBI is now investigating Trinidad-based Mr Warner and his alleged links to the Qatari bid, and that the former Fifa official’s eldest son, who lives in Miami, has been helping the inquiry as a co-operating witness.

 

The awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar was one of the most controversial decisions in sporting history. The intense summer heat in the desert nation has raised the prospect of the tournament being moved to the winter for the first time.

 

Although Qatar has repeatedly denied wrongdoing during the bidding process, it has long been suspected that the decision was flawed, and several members of the Fifa committee have faced corruption allegations.

 

It can be disclosed that a company owned by Mohamed Bin Hammam, the Fifa executive member for Qatar, appeared to pay $1.2 million (£720,000) to Mr Warner in 2011.

 

A note from one of Mr Warner’s companies, Jamad, to Mr Bin Hammam’s firm, Kemco, requested $1.2 million in payment for work carried out between 2005 and 2010.

 

The document is dated December 15, 2010, two weeks after Qatar won the right to host the tournament, and states that the money is “payable to Jack Warner”.

 

Mr Warner’s two sons and an employee were paid a further $1 million (£600,000) by the same Qatari company.

 

One document states that payments are to “offset legal and other expenses”, but a separate letter claims that more than $1 million cover “professional services provided over the period 2005-2010”.

 

At least one bank in the Cayman Islands initially refused to process the payment amid fears over the legality of the money transfer. The money was eventually processed via a bank in New York – a transaction that is understood to have come to the attention of the FBI. A well-placed source said: “These payments need to be properly investigated. The World Cup is the most important event in football and we need to be confident that decisions have been made for the right reasons. There are lots of questions that still need to be answered.”

 

Mr Warner was one of the most experienced members of the executive committee until he stood down in 2011 and served as vice-president of the organisation for 14 years. He was one of the 22 people who decided to award Russia the 2018 World Cup and Qatar the 2022 tournament. It is understood that the FBI is investigating payments to Mr Warner and that one of his family members has been acting as a “co-operating witness”.

 

The investigators are thought to be focusing on Mr Warner’s American and Grand Cayman accounts.

 

Michael Garcia, the joint chief investigator of Fifa’s ethics committee, is also investigating irregularities surrounding the bidding process. He is expected to deliver his report to the committee later this year.

 

The disclosures will add to concerns that some Fifa executive committee members were not impartial when they cast their votes in December 2010. England suffered a humiliating defeat when it secured only two votes to host the 2018 World Cup and was eliminated after the first round.

 

Even before the decision was made, there were persistent allegations of corruption. Six weeks before the vote in Zurich, a World Cup official was caught in an undercover investigation agreeing to sell his vote to one of England’s rivals. A second member of the same committee was recorded asking for £1.5 million for a sports academy. Both officials were suspended, meaning that 22 people voted instead of the usual 24.

 

A whistleblower also claimed that one of the bidders had bought the votes of three African executive committee members. The former Fifa employee later withdrew the allegations.

 

Following England’s defeat, a parliamentary committee held an inquiry into the failed bid. Lord Triesman, the bid’s former chairman, gave evidence stating that four Fifa executive committee members had asked for business deals and favours when negotiating their support. One of those he named was Mr Warner.

 

The Labour peer said that the then Fifa vice-president had asked for money to build an education centre in Trinidad, with the cash to be channelled through him, and £500,000 to buy World Cup television rights for Haiti.

 

In June 2011, Mr Warner resigned from all football posts after he was accused of facilitating bribes to members of the Caribbean football union on behalf of Mohamed Bin Hammam, who was standing against Sepp Blatter to be Fifa president. A report by the Fifa ethics committee found that there was “compelling” evidence that Mr Warner was “an accessory to corruption”.

 

Mr Warner was caught on tape apparently urging fellow Fifa officials to accept cash gifts from Mr Bin Hammam, the disgraced former presidential candidate.

 

The documents seen by The Telegraph raise further questions about Mr Warner’s activities. One email, which appears to have been sent by one of Mr Warner’s employees, shows that the staff member personally received $412,000 from the Qatari company and that Mr Warner’s son, Daryll, was paid $432,000. Daryan, his other son, was paid $316,000 via a company called We Buy Houses.

 

Regarding the payments to Daryan, the email states that he was “contracted … based on his understanding, contacts and history with the regional players who make up an integral part of the defence team … pursuant to Fifa bribery allegations. As stated in our letter of June 11, 2011, the value of US $316,000, and this is an initial deposit to offset legal and other expenses related to the matter.”

 

In July, a different email shows that “monies in the amount of $1.2 million” were wire transferred to J&D International, another of Mr Warner’s companies, by the same Qatari firm. It states that this is to “offset legal and other related expenses associated with regard to an ongoing matter”.

 

Mr Warner and his family declined to comment. A spokesman for Qatar’s 2022 World Cup organising committee said: “The 2022 bid committee strictly adhered to Fifa’s bidding regulations in compliance with their code of ethics.

 

“The supreme committee for delivery and legacy and the individuals involved in the 2022 bid committee are unaware of any allegations surrounding business dealings between private individuals.”

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/10704290/Qatar-World-Cup-2022-investigation-former-Fifa-vice-president-Jack-Warner-and-family-paid-millions.html

[mrmojorisin75]

outstanding work the telegraph, think all the papers should be at it looking to expose bribery and heap as much pressure on as possible

 

with a bit of luck they can manage to expose something about the russia bid and take the 2018 WC from those cunts and all

[themanupstairs]

Hope the Qataris fall flat on their face with this one. Their money has wreaked havoc all over the world in recent years, and I hope they get exposed big style.

[Stifler]

Wasn't Jack Warner the one blowing the whistle about the bribes ahead of the vote?

 

I don't think there isn't one FIFA official who isn't corrupt.

 

The way the votes were cast just confirmed really. Some nations were getting less votes in the 2nd, and 3rd rounds then they were in the first rounds.

[loki679]

 

I don't think there isn't one FIFA official who isn't corrupt.

 

 

I disagree, I think they're all corrupt.

[mrmojorisin75]

i love their timescale on making decisions personally, was reading this morning that the next decision point as to whether they tear apart the entire football calendar won't be taken until 2015

[Disco]

Swiss Ramble ‏@SwissRamble  17s

FIFA 2013 accounts: personnel costs up $11m (12%) from $91m to $102m, while football development only up $6m (3%) from $177m to $183m.

 

Swiss Ramble ‏@SwissRamble  47s

So FIFA once again spent considerably more on itself (operating expenses $216m + governance $60m = $276m) than football development $183m.