OT: FIFA debacle

[Eagleton95.99]

I assume people have heard about Infantino's plan to sell half of FIFA to private equity. All his staff are resigning in protest. EUFA (the Europeans) said they will boycott the World Cup, Just about everyone is recoiling from the idea of selling off the World Cup for some extra cash.

Interestingly, this plan seems like exactly what the B1G is proposing to do in selling off some of the commercial rights to the conference. Not sure if that plan is still a viable thing.

 

[Bueller]

PI does nothing good longer run. They wreck everything they touch these days. When I first saw the article I knew what US people were involved. They cant go to the store for milk without making something off it.

 

[Caliknight]

The Euros don’t like it because their federations have money. Africa? S America? Asia? Yea they are going to love it.

 

[T2Kplus20]

PI does nothing good longer run.

Hard to argue with this. PI doesn't have a good track record with running businesses long-term.

 

[Zak57]

Bald grifter got caught with his hand in the jar. Was going to bribe the poorer countries. In what was a horrible idea that he had no right to go through with. Corruption lost on this which is a good thing. He even was so embarrassed he has to withdraw the plan.

 

[NickRU714]

Hard to argue with this. PI doesn't have a good track record with running businesses long-term.

I dont have much insight other than reading headlines.

Isn't FIFA already the worst run and most corrupt organization in the world?
They put on a good show (World Cup) but as an organization isn't already the worst?

 

[Anon1754923206]

Good thing fifa is ethically run and beyond reproach.

 

[NotInRHouse]

Hopefully this ends Infantino's reign of corrupt thuggery. The guy is an absolute clown. UEFA, CONACAF and Asian league instantly condemned it. He needs to be replaced and quick.

 

[MADHAT1]

Just an example of greed at the top, trying to turning a sport into play-toy for those with powerful connections
A google search on the head of FIFA found
Gianni Infantino faces legal and integrity challenges, highlighted by a revived French criminal complaint from Michel Platini, scrutiny over offshore leaks, and questions regarding political alignment.

 

[Caliknight]

FIFA needs to end. Just have America run a different organization that controls the sport. These foreigners don't know what they are doing.

 

[MADHAT1]

Looks like there's a move for a change at the top when the next FIFA election comes about

Possible successors for embattled FIFA President Infantino​

https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/possible-successors-embattled-fifa-president-infantino-2026-08-03/

 

[MADHAT1]

FIFA needs to end. Just have America run a different organization that controls the sport. These foreigners don't know what they are doing.

I suggest putting it under the NCAA banner .
They have done a bang-up job supervising College sports and I'm sure they won't miss a beat making sure the FIFA looks the same way.

 

[Caliknight]

I suggest putting it under the NCAA banner .
They have done a bang-up job supervising College sports and I'm sure they won't miss a beat making sure the FIFA looks the same way.

Compared to FIFA, yea they have. Administering a professional sports league in an amateur scholastic environment is much harder. FIFA is easy comparatively. Look what we’ve done with other pro sports.

The knee jerk reaction to hate everything America by some of a specific persuasion is nauseating.

When is the last NCAC president to be jailed for corruption?

 

[MADHAT1]

Compared to FIFA, yea they have. Administering a professional sports league in an amateur scholastic environment is much harder. FIFA is easy comparatively. Look what we’ve done with other pro sports.

The knee jerk reaction to hate everything America by some of a specific persuasion is nauseating.

When is the last NCAC president to be jailed for corruption?

"When is the last NCAC president to be jailed for corruption?"
Incompetence might be charged charged, but corruption not on the books.
But American FIFA officials were charged and convicted
American soccer executive Charles Blazer served as the General Secretary of CONCACAF and as a member of the FIFA Executive Committee. He pleaded guilty to racketeering, wire fraud, money laundering, and tax evasion,

Another Eugenio Hermes Figueredo ( duel citizen of the US & Uruguay ) had the FIFA Ethics Committee find to be guilty of taking bribes in 2004 and 2015

In that same case in 2015 a candidate for the FIFA Presidency ( which went to Infantino ) Michel Platini was charged but found not guilty of a criminal offense in 2015, but he was suspended from all football-related activities by FIFA's ethics committee that same year. Later, a Swiss court cleared him of criminal charge
He now has launched criminal and civil legal proceedings in France against Infantino in June of this year.
The action alleges malicious prosecution, influence peddling, and false accusations connected to the 2015 corruption scandal that blocked Platini's FIFA presidential bid.

So you're right: the FIFA is a mess and it makes the NCAA look good

More trouble for Infantino's hold on leadership ?
> Before the Club World Cup in 2025, held in the U.S., the FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced that FIFA would make a contribution of $1 million to each of the 11 cities across the country who were hosting matches during the club tournament. This was described as a “legacy contribution” and he said the funds would be used to build mini-pitches and support “social projects.”<

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/74...unlocked_article_code=1.21A.BW6E.4U8R3TsYZQtp