Football (Soccer) Thread

[Valmy]

That name would make no sense. Soccer just means asSOCiation football.

The Federation of international Association Associations?

But there should be playoffs. And no ties.

[Admiral Yi]

The World Cup is a playoff.

[Grey Fox]

World Cup USA 2022 is pretty much confirmed.

[celedhring]

The World Cup is a playoff.

Not European domestic leagues though.

[FunkMonk]

So we saved soccer after all. USA! USA! USA!

I've never been prouder to be an American. 

[celedhring]

This shows how the US can be a force of Good in the world without resorting to military power. Go USA!

[Norgy]

Is the death penalty on the table? 

[Valmy]

Is the death penalty on the table? 

Only for treason, terrorism, espionage, murder, drug trafficking, or attempting to kill a federal court official. Surely FIFA has done all of that and more.

[celedhring]

Is there a chance FIFA or CONCACAF get RICOed? 

[Habbaku]

World Cup USA 2022 is pretty much confirmed.

Nah, 2015:

http://www.theonion.com/article/fifa-frantically-announces-2015-summer-world-cup-u-50525

[Pedrito]

World Cup USA 2022 is pretty much confirmed.

Nah, 2015:

http://www.theonion.com/article/fifa-frantically-announces-2015-summer-world-cup-u-50525

L.

[Duque de Bragança]

Putin's view on the subject: blame Yankee imperialism 

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/may/28/vladimir-putin-fifa-united-states-meddling

Vladimir Putin has accused the United States of meddling outside its jurisdiction by arresting officials from Fifa.

"This is yet another blatant attempt [by the United States] to extend its jurisdiction to other states," the Russian president said on Thursday.

Putin added that the arrests were a "clear attempt" to prevent the re-election of Fifa head Sepp Blatter and that the Swiss had Russia's backing.

"It looks very strange, the arrests are carried out on the request of the USA side," he said.

Live Fifa: Sepp Blatter under pressure amid arrests and World Cup inquiry - live
The latest news and updates on the crisis at Fifa, where Sepp Blatter is under increasing pressure to step down
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"They are accused of corruption – who is? International officials. I suppose that someone broke some rules, I don't know. But definitely, it's got nothing to do with the USA. Those officials are not US citizens. If something happened it was not in the US and it's nothing to do with them.

"It's another clear attempt by the USA to spread its jurisdiction to other states. And I have no doubt – it's a clear attempt not to allow Mr Blatter to be re-elected as president of Fifa, which is a great violation of the operating principles of international organisations. The US prosecutor, as our media report, has already said that those Fifa officials have committed a crime. As if the prosecutor didn't know about the principle of the presumption of innocence."

Citing former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, both of whom have evaded prosecution in the United States by hiding abroad, Putin questioned Washington's right to request the Fifa officials' extradition.

"Unfortunately, our American partners use such methods to achieve their selfish aims and illegally persecute people. I do not rule out that in the case of Fifa, it's exactly the same," Putin said.

Russia won the rights to stage the 2018 World Cup under Blatter's auspices. That 2010 decision, along with the award to Qatar of the 2022 tournament, is the subject of a Swiss criminal investigation running parallel to the US action.

[Syt]

http://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/news/y=2015/m=5/news=statement-by-fifa-president-blatter-2609360.html

Statement by FIFA President Blatter
(FIFA.com) 27 May 2015

This is a difficult time for football, the fans and for FIFA as an organisation. We understand the disappointment that many have expressed and I know that the events of today will impact the way in which many people view us.

As unfortunate as these events are, it should be clear that we welcome the actions and the investigations by the US and Swiss authorities and believe that it will help to reinforce measures that FIFA has already taken to root out any wrongdoing in football.

While there will be many who are frustrated with the pace of change, I would like to stress the actions that we have taken and will continue to take. In fact, today's action by the Swiss Office of the Attorney General was set in motion when we submitted a dossier to the Swiss authorities late last year.

Let me be clear: such misconduct has no place in football and we will ensure that those who engage in it are put out of the game. Following the events of today, the independent Ethics Committee – which is in the midst of its own proceedings regarding the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups - took swift action to provisionally ban those individuals named by the authorities from any football-related activities at the national and international level. These actions are on top of similar steps that FIFA has taken over the past year to exclude any members who violate our own Code of Ethics.

We will continue to work with the relevant authorities and we will work vigorously within FIFA in order to root out any misconduct, to regain your trust and ensure that football worldwide is free from wrongdoing.

[celedhring]

Champions! 

[FunkMonk]

I have it on good authority that Arsenal, Arsenal FC, are by far the greatest team, the world has ever seen.