Blatter makes his move

I know lots of us (fans) dislike Blatter, but you cant say he is stupid.


When I saw the headline, my first thought was "Thats a clever move"

Will he stand down in 2015, given he will be nigh on 80 I can see him finally leaving, and with that statement that he will step down I can see him winning the vote again (unfortunately)

As much as I would like to complain about how football is run, it seems that the machinations of those at FIFA are on par with those of politicians in this country.

All this deals behind closed doors, you scratch my back etc etc, really is quite seedy.

There people are meant to be representing and dealing with the worldwide game that is football, not feathering their own nests out of vanity or downright egotism!

How do these people have any mandate to run the game? So much money involved, presumably advantages such as charitable status in places and yet seemingly no accountability. That reminds me of the European Parliament as well!

It is shameful in this democratic day and age that such clubs can exist really.

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That seems a little extreme @#3

Europeans will back their own, Africa will back Blatter for giving them the WC, Brazil will back Blatter, Bin Hammam will not get the vote of Concacaf and Asia pacific. Bin Hammam will lose woefully

I can't can't particularly excited about either Blatter or Bin Hammam to be honest. Surely there are other viable candidates for the position of FIFA president than just these two? Does no-one else appear to want to put themselves forward for the role? What criteria does one need to meet to be considered for nomination?

Last year while I was studying sports journalism, we had Andrew Jennings come and give us a talk about journalistic aspects etc.
Although this man gains differing opinions from people it was interesting to hear advice such as "if the crowd of journos go one way with the norm story, the opposite way is the real story."
I think it would be interesting to see why Bin Hamman really is running and what his goals are in making FIFA more transparent does that mean tickets selling etc... I’m sure there will be an Andrew Jennings Panorama special on it anyway.
One question put to him was who would he like to see run in the next FIFA elections. He said himself Bin Hamman. But he also said that they are all crooked as hell, and when that comes from the man who knows FIFA better then probably Blatter does means a lot.
Just my personal opinion, meaning that whoever gets in, they are still going to embezzle, manipulate and destroy the once beautiful game.

@ Jesus the Teddy Bear

People die, it's a fact of life, at 75 he's had a good innings.

Are you telling me you'd miss him?

It was the "Hopefully" sure I cant stand the bloke, but I wouldn't dream of saying Hopefully he will die.


Maybe I misread it.

Sepp Blatter is the greatest sports administrater in history and it is inevitable he will ruffle a few feathers along the way. 4 more years.

I don’t know why I even read this blog as I have little to no interest in what Blatter, Platini or FIFA and UEFA for that matter, have to say.

The FA is feeble and England international plays have shown little commitment since Euro 96.

International football is a joke. It’s all about the Premier League.

"Many of the big European nations here today sense that a vote for Bin Hammam could be another for taking football away from its traditional home and to emerging countries like Qatar"

Well there is a huge part of the problem. Football is the worlds game. Us in western Europe think its ours. It isnt. So many of its great practicioners that made us gape in awe were from some far flung places.

And what exactly is meant by "taking football away"? Barcelona arent likely to flog the Nou camp and go and play in Doha are they? Its all about polictial power by big European leagues, the same leagues that gave us 16yo african boys stranded in foreign countries and without passports.

Forgive me, but I pray the MLS gets a huge TV deal. They will steal all the worlds best players and administer the bloody game properly. Maybe then we at its traditional home will sort our own afairs out.

#12 weezer316

How big will the MLS deal need to be to have the money to steal all the worlds best players?

I gather there is alot of merit in how the draft system works in NFL but wouldn't salary caps in the MLS mean that there would always be competition from the European leagues?

The Y, just thought I'd let you know one of my favourite sporting quotes was I think Nasser Hussain commenting on Bradman's death at the age of 92 as him having had a good innings - without realising the pun.

Four more years, what a joke! It's about time this kind of role was limited to a maximum of 2 terms (8 years) as I am sure there are plenty of candidates and at 75 he is well past his prime. You could also apply the same 2 term rule to the head of both UEFA and The FA! What does this say about the way the game is run at the top level?

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Blatter has kept football in the dark ages. The way it is run and the way it is refereed has been held back to further his own aims and ambitions. There is no transparency in football administration or refereeing decisions. It is all about covering up errors. It would be an absolute disgrace if he were re-elected for another 4 years.

@3.
Cant believe that slipped the Mods, they must share our point of view.
Im all for this Hammam fellow, especially if it stops Platini too.

Both of these individuals wont bring any change to the game. All they're interested is in filling their pockets up.

How ridiculous is it, in the last FIFA meeting in Cardiff, the only issues resolved in that meeting was that was that snoods are now banned. Are these jokers really that wrapped in themselves that they cant see what's wrong with the game so they concentrate and put all their efforts into banning snoods.

David

When you get the chance, why don't you actually take these people to task? Ask why there is not full transparency as opposed to the 'more transparency' promised by Bin Hammam?

It is not their business is it? They are custodians of the game.

How much are they earning? What are the expenses? Where does all the money go? Is there any reason why this sort of information is not in the public domain?

And now the desperation begins. Not only is Blatter so desperate to remain in power he is now intent on it by playing Platini off of Bin Hammam. Disgusting.
One of the main problems here is Blatter's ideas of what is wrong with the game. Your other article says he wants to take on the "corruption in the game" as it's "corrupted by little devils". Ironic.
I have never seen anyone make more mistakes about anything and remain in power. The decision to decide two World Cups at the same time turned out to be a mistake. The refusal to use modern technology is laughable and completely designed to create debate and keep us watching in the hope that justice will be done. The price of Champions League Final tickets is a disgrace and he has even admitted that himself. His idea that the move makes it more accessible for familes is a ridiculous one at £150 a ticket.
If he wants to sort the game out why not introduce salery caps, professional referees, goal line technology, sin bins for yellow cards or anything else really that would finally take the game out of the dark ages.
He is nothing more than a leader of a big boys club and one who is desperate to remain there. Pitiful.

"You can't say he is a stupid man."

Is that a joke? Blatter has said more stupid things then it should be legally allowed too, he's putting his foot in his mouth on an almost weekly basis.

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I would want anyone who offers full transparency and accountability along the lines of the IOC.

Either Bin Hammam or Platini would do instead of Blatter, who has held the job long enough in what should be a two-term limited role. But really football needs someone at this level who is more open to the introduction of new technologies into the game.

Not convinced Bin Hammam will be able to out Blatter this time round, so I suspect we might end up with Platini, which would be fine in my opinion.

@mpk87 (comment 6) Actually, US journalist Grant Wahl has stated he is also running for FIFA President, promising the use of video technology and more women in charge, among other things. I think he is by far the best candidate, but first he needs at least one FA proposing him as a candidate, and I don't think it will happen.

blatter is a clown , need to get rid of him for good.
he is a liability and biased towards certain nations.
good riddance i say.

This is the guy who looked into all our eyes and point blank said the Panorama programme would have no bearing on the WC bid, and then, if reports are to be believed, reminded delegates of the evils of the press just as they were about to cast their votes. The man who talks about Fair Play and taking football to new frontiers, but who confesses he used to dive, has swept racism under the carpet, did everything in his power to ensure the qualification of football's elite over the minnows for SA 2010, and pathed the way for his country to co-host Euro 2008, to be followed by his protege, Platini, championing France to host its 3rd 'recent' major tournament in Euro 2016. This is a good, old-fashioned stitch up. Whatever he says needs to be taken with a huge cellar of salt. I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him, which, with all the banquets he's attended on the back of football supporters' hard earned money, is not as far as I would like. A disgusting individual, who the sooner he goes, the better. But then hold on....is whoever's going to replace him going to be any different? What we need is a Martin Brunson.

As well as the clever interplay with rivals, it also smacks of "just put up with the devil you know for another 4 years and then I promise to go".

That might actually backfire as the voters realise:
a) We are being asked to make do for 4 years before we can start afresh; and
b) Why not get rid of him now, if he hasn't got merits of his own that he can put forward?

Smart move by Blatter to say he's retiring in 4 years time. He's basically asking for anoher term on his own terms & there are people around who will back this. Platini will probably back Blatter as I believe Platini himself wants a job for life. First run Uefa for 15 years or so & then go for the Fifa job. Sounds like Blatter will get his way as it's jobs for the boys time again.

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Anyone noticing the irony that a candidate of Qatar offers to purge backstage dealings? Surely, some people must remember there was a certain country which recently won a World Cup vote under less-than-transparent circumstances.

It is utterly without consequence who wins this vote. World football can reform only from down up, FIFA is too rich to really want to do anything about it. Considering what a bag of demons Blatter is, I`d wager he wins and four years from now, pushes through a yet unknown candidate from Africa - to uphold his "legacy" and spite the rest of the world.

He wants to be remembered as the biggest, meanest, richest boy in world football - it is very unlikely he would promote someone who could become more "influential", or "bigger", than him. Platini will be very, very disappointed.

#13

Somewhere in the region of $300m a season. With the correct backing from the networks, their wages would eventually dwarf all European clubs as they stand.

The NFL wage bill is enormous, for even the worst sides, and thats what is in essence a minor sport compared to football. imagine if the next Messi and Ronaldo were turning out for LA galaxy and DC united instead of Real and barca. Combined with the massive american economy European clubs would have to form a super league.....and its pretty clear the trouble that would cause.

Fifa has done all it can in the last 10 years or so to make a mess of the game, Blatter is awful, just awful.

How anybody could believe what he has done is good for football is beyond me.

Just look at the world cup ticket prices, disgrace.

The thought of this lothesome individual continuing to be in the footballing spotlight until 2015 is truly repugnant. That he will continue to have influence beyond that through his UEFA pooddle does not auger well for for the future of the beautiful game. FIFA has an enormous image problem - Blatter - his remaining in person or as the poodle's shadow will do nothing to remedy the fallen image.

Blatter has let football fall behind rugby union, rugby league, tennis, cricket, american football and baseball when it comes to using technology. That is a damning indictment for the man in charge of the most popular sport in the world, and that in itself should disqualify him from standing for another 4 years. It's not that football doesn't use technology it's that they didn't even start investigating it properly until very recently.

In addition we have a game full of divers and play actors and virtually nothing has been done to stop them. FIFA and UEFA call for respect in the game but have done nothing but disrespect referees by offering them no help at all in what is becoming a more and more difficult job.

David,

- Platini is 55 now, and I do not think there is much difference for him in getting the job in 2015 or 2019 as he will get it anyway.
- the changes bin Hammam promises are very much necessary. I don't mind the anti bureaucratism and transparency but goal-line technology is a must.
- all depends on Platini. if he supports bin Hammam he creates a ew president who will own him in resigning at 2019, so I do not think that getting the presidency out of the reach of Europe is such a big problem as you stated.


sooner or later Platini will be the FIFA president, however, as far as I suspect it might be very good IF HIS CV WOULD NOT BE INFECTED W THE ACCEPTANCE OF GOAL-LINE TECHNOLOGY. that's why Platini can support bin Hammam to do the 'dirty work'...

Give the job to Charlie Sheen :)

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Who cares.

It's a back-slappers' and money-grabbers' jamboree and, no matter what anyone says, it ain't going to change.

It needs disbanding - certainly it needs the top nations to pull out of it altogether.

My support is going to Mr Bin Hammam for FIFA President as I believe that we will see a change in the way decisions are made within FIFA; the only thing that I don't want to see change is the way the FIFA's rule book (Statutes) are agreed to as this should be down to the FIFA Congress; the Confederations should be made to bring theirs in to line with FIFA's like the FA's have to. I also do not agree with the rule about being recgonised by the UN to be a member when a later point contradicts this (this was only brought in to keep spain as a member) now that Gibraltar have applied to be a member and been refused this is also stopping Kosovo becoming a member and will probley stop the other dutch island in the carribeaan becoming a member.

Since when is 373 words an article? Why are these 'blogs' increasingly reading like the laziest of 606 posts?

Blatter's a disgrace to the game. I could do a better job. Hey, what are the criteria for putting yourself up as a candidate?

41,

Because football journalism on the BBC has gone the way of the dodo.

At 31 my comment was removed as breaking the house rules - which I accept. May I say then that as John Terry has stated he is not everybody's cup of tea, might I relate this same comment to Mr. Blatter?

Blatter should have left long time ago and Platini with him.

It's the perfect scenario. Platini's term at UEFA ends 2015, and he has already stated that he intends running for FIFA Presidency then.
The timing works out perfectly to allow Blatters lap-dog to take oer from him, while thwarting any attempt by the "upstart" to rive a wedge between them now.
In return Platini gets promises of support from the Blatter allies in 2015.
Blatter may not be a fantastic President (in terms of what fans perceive he does for the game) but he certainly is the consumate politician.

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Blatter's behaviour here reminds me of what we've seen over the last few months from embattled north African dictators, desperate to cling to their ill-gotten power at tremendous cost to all around them.
Upon the threat of being ousted, one can almost imagine Blatter "doing a Gaddafi" by refusing to leave without seeing how many of the buggers he can bring down with him.

Having read through the comments there are a couple that sum up my own and surely most football loving fans views (saves me writing my own comment, lol):-

34. At 18:51pm on 22nd Mar 2011, Draitch wrote: The thought of this lothesome individual continuing to be in the footballing spotlight until 2015 is truly repugnant. That he will continue to have influence beyond that through his UEFA pooddle does not auger well for for the future of the beautiful game. FIFA has an enormous image problem - Blatter - his remaining in person or as the poodle's shadow will do nothing to remedy the fallen image.

................................... Sums Blatter and Platini up perfectly

21. At 17:35pm on 22nd Mar 2011, PeteMcT wrote: Part quote: If he wants to sort the game out why not introduce salary caps, professional referees, goal line technology, sin bins for yellow cards or anything else really that would finally take the game out of the dark ages.
............................................................................ Exactly!!

Blatter has lorded over taking the game backwards and it is a disgrace that he is even trying to stay on thinking he knows better that all of us..... and where for goodness sake is there a serious challenger to head FIFA from one of the western European powerhouses of football....

Blatter is indeed a loathsome creature and to even think of another 4 years...yuk!

Hello BBC,

I don't understand your policy regarding moderation - see your own House Rules below:

What happens to my post when it is sent to the moderation queue?

Why do some posts take longer in the moderation queue than others?

On a post-moderated or pre-moderated message board or blog, all posts join the moderation queue and will be passed or failed as soon as they are seen by a moderator. The time taken to review a post may depend on the length of the queue but in most cases, should be within a few minutes.

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This is my first comment. It hasn't been read yet by anyone else. This is a reactive moderation blog. So, why is my comment in a moderation queue and why is it taking so long in moderation? Apparently, such comments have priority..??

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.

Blatter deliberately humiliated Beckham, Prince William and David Cameron last year and for that he should be congratulated.

Will Bin Hammam stifle the Bureacratization of Football by Platini and Blatter ?

Every football fan should judge Bin Hammam by his ability to get rid of the utterly useless, inefficient, costly, biased, official that adjudicates near to the goalposts for 90 minutes of each game that has no effect on the offside law whatsoever ?

Will Bin Hammam reverse the rascist passport criteria rulings of 6 plus 5 ?

Every football fan should judge Bin Hammam by his ability to get rid of the utterly useless, inefficient, costly, biased, official that adjudicates near to the goalposts for 90 minutes of each game that blocks the view of spectators that have travelled far and paid a lot of money for the weekly injustice that they will get served ?

Is Bin Hammam connected to the funding of Sepp Blatter's private air travel by private jet ?

Awarding Bin Hammam such a weak ineffectual posting is exceedingly effective influential western ideaological colonialism ?

Will some one please point out to Bin Hammam that Goal Line Technology will be required ONCE in every ONE THOUSAND games, approximately ? So therefore let's just INCORPORATE the incompetence of Platini's penalty area official and this major decision into a "video appeal" .

The F.A. have a ruling that any person over the age of 70 is not allowed on it's board but did they vote for Sepp Blatter when he was 71 years old ?

Football, Sumo and professional boxing all have one thing in common, they are not what they seem. We are given a portrayal which is far from the reality.
It seems the truth however obvious, is not allowed to be spoken and we continue to live a lie.
If this is what modern journalism has succumbed to, then we live in a feeble society that fails to uphold any standards other than that of being a very slight irritant to the practitioners of undiluted hypocrisy.
What's the point of asking for open discussion when identifiable issues are ignored and examples conveniently forgotten because it may displease the chosen few.
The great only appear great because we are on our knees.....

Sepp Blatter may be losing it due to old age.....He was recently asked who his favourite Qatar player was and he replied..............Jimi Hendrix.

A little while ago, Sepp Blatter, the President of FIFA , stopped at a ranch near Dallas, Texas (one of the proposed host cities for the 2022 World Cup) and talked with Curtis and Leroy, the owners of the ranch.
He told Curtis and Leroy, “I need to inspect your ranch to see if this area is suitable for hosting the World Cup.”
Curtis said, “Okay, but do not go in that field over there,” as he pointed out the location.
Blatter looked at Curtis and Leroy and thought, ” These Hillbilly Americans think they can tell me what to do?”
Then Blatter verbally exploded saying, ” Mister, I have the authority of FIFA with me.”
Reaching into his rear pants pocket, he removed his badge and proudly displayed it to Curtis and Leroy.
“See this badge? This badge means I am allowed to go wherever I wish….. On any land, in any country. No questions asked or answers given.
I am not accountable to anybody. Have I made myself clear? Do you understand? ”
Curtis and Leroy nodded politely, apologized, and went about their chores.
A short time later, Curtis heard loud screams and saw Sepp Blatter running for his life chased by their big Santa Gertrudis bull.
With every step the bull gained ground on Blatter, and it seemed likely that he'd get gored before he reached safety. Blatter was clearly terrified. (He actually emptied his bladder!)
Curtis threw down his tools, ran to the fence and yelled at the top of his lungs…..
“SHOW HIM YOUR BADGE, SHOW HIM YOUR BADGE!!!”

If the presidential ticket of Mohamed Bin Hammam is Transparency, less bureacracy and goal-line technology then we can expect continued stagnation, better professional spin and propoganda, goal line technology that will be utilised approximately once in every 45 years if you support England and if you support Man Utd or Liverpool then about once in every 4 years or 5, excited ?

Will Mohamed Bin Hammam introduce an EIGHT yard penalty for deliberate intentional offences comitted in the 6 yard penalty box such as the Luis Suarez handball on the goal-line against Ghana during the recent world cup finals which denied Africa such greatness happiness belief and respect ?

Will Mohamed Bin Hammam introduce effective deterrents that put a stop to the barbaric vulgar mercenary world cup final that was Spain v Holland or will we continue to have more desperate mercenary greed and savagery football at the next ?

Will goonergetit effectively control his stream-of-consciousness hijacking of this forum before the majority of it's readers dismiss his opinions as the tiresome witterings of a frightful bore?
I'm betting no.

2015 is not soon enough, for the love of football just go ...

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.

Blatter or is is Blurter is begining to sound like Mubarak. Blurter has surely outlived his usefulness by many, many years. He should leave without contesting another election otherwise he risks the indignity of being ousted. As Tommy Smyth (with a Y) of ESPN says "For every 10 decisions Mr. Blatter makes, he get 11 decisions wrong. I must say his decision to step down in 2015 is another wrong decision. @ 67 is correct, Blurter should have gone loooo......ng ago, 2015 is just not soon enough.

21. At 17:35pm on 22nd Mar 2011, PeteMcT wrote:
I have never seen anyone make more mistakes about anything and remain in power.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Silvio Berlusconi?

Could we please have anyone other than the Blatter / Warner team.

Please not Platini. There could not be a more biased self promoting attention seeking ***** in football. He is wrong for UEFA and too narrow minded to introducing technology.

Jesus the Teddy bear...
You are quite right, Blatter certainly isn`t stupid... nor was Napolean either for that matter...

We all know FIFA is bullet-proof and im more than happy to see anyone but Blatter in AGAIN. Surely there should be some rule regarding one person dominating FIFA for years and making all the decisions. FIFA is too political. If Bin Hammam is willing to bring change then im all for it. At least he has nothing agaist England unlike Blatter.

The World Cup should come back to Europe every few years and, if it goes to places like Qatar, at least it stops countries like Brazil getting it again.

I thought the shoddy deal to give Qatar a quick World Cup was to buy off Bin Hammam so he wouldn't contest this election.

For me it's more pertinent how the FA react to this than Platini. After the furore that followed England's embarrassing bid for 2018 there was much anger directed at Blatter and FIFA from these shores into the handling of the bidding process. Will the FA now back Bin Hammam to force change, or will they stick with Blatter in fear that if he does win, they could isolate themselves still further from the international footballing community?

Personally I think the FA should show some metall and vote for Bin Hammam. It may even encourage some of the other big guns in "old" Europe to follow, along with the Americans and Australians.

One word comes to mind when I hear the name 'Blatter'....Bullet !!
Which immediately leads to two more words springing to mind...'Waste of'
One could still see him looking up from his death bed with that permanent grin on his face...would love to meet him for his last 30 seconds !!

64. At 23:23pm on 22nd Mar 2011, goonergetit wrote:
Will Mohamed Bin Hammam introduce an EIGHT yard penalty for deliberate intentional offences comitted in the 6 yard penalty box such as the Luis Suarez handball on the goal-line against Ghana during the recent world cup finals which denied Africa such greatness happiness belief and respect ?
-------------------------------------------------------------------

I sincerely hope not. The only person to blame there is Asamoha Gyan who missed said penalty. Closer penalties would be ludicrous.

64,

Written like a true Utd fan.

Pathetic.

#79

You're a prat

The Sooner the Europe ditches FIFA & UEFA and forms something like the European Professional Association the better. European football does not need these parasites.
Players taken from clubs for pointless matches at crucial times of the season. They should remember it's clubs who pay the players wages & have to suffer if the player gets injured while on international duty. Who would be interested in the World Cup if the whole of Europe didn't turn up? Who pays the most in TV money

Scopejack, what an appropriate name, your views have no scope whatsoever and mean jack !

comment 48 by Scopejack; constructive ? innovative ? interesting ? funny ? Really excited about his next contribution, Can't wait ! Is his scope really jack ?

"Rebuild bridges" with FIFA whilst Sepp Blatter is in charge!

Is someone at the FA even more elderly and out-of-touch with reality than ever before? Is there some sort of qualification for the English FA that involves being the most supinely inept & politically dull!?

HELLO!

England were conned, robbed and deliberately side-lined at the last meeting to choose the next World Cup venue.

Sepp Blatter orchestrated the entire snub of England: Blatter hates England & English Football. He is on record as opposing virtually everything connected to English Football.
Defamation Laws prevent me from alluding to Blatter's personal role within World Football over the last 25 years: Suffice to say among the wider Footballing public this is a man who lost all credibility for his veracity a very, very, very long time ago!

The man is an absolute epitome of conniving authority not subject to scrutiny by Law, Media or even the Football 'world' he operates in.

If the English FA after all that has happened kiss & make-up with Sepp Blatter instead of sending him away with the well deserved raspberry of derision ringing in his ears then THE LAST VESTIGE OF ENGLAND'S FOOTBALL INTEGRITY WILL HAVE BEEN CRUSHED BEYOND RESURRECTION!

Saying he will resign in 2015 is a bad ploy to keep his seat for slightly longer and thats far far longer than he ever should have had it. He should have gone last election. For the good of football get rid of this clown now so we can start to repair the damage.

Fairplay to the guy, i don't read his absolutely farcical comments on a weekly basis but thats probably down to the fact i am falling out of love with football because of well..... put simply, the manchester clubs embody everything that is wrong with football.

Bin Hamman can't be any worse than Blatter can he?

The only surprise for me is that there are no other candidates. Surely someone else must want the job? I noticed that Michel "I hate the English" Platini was unchallenged for his role as well.

The sooner these two clowns get out of football the better.

As for saying that both Manchester clubs embody everything that is wrong with football....Man City do, but United? Maybe, but at least they have brought Giggs, Beckham, Scholes, the Nevilles, Welbeck, Gibson, Fletcher, Brown, O'Shea through the ranks. They've also turned the likes of Bruce, Irwin, Schmeichel, Rooney, Ronaldo etc into World Class players... Man City have just turned average players (Dzeko, Wright-Phillips, Boateng, De Jong, Jo, Bridge, Lescott etc) into incredibly rich average players

What bad news, a double whammy, Blatter in charge to 2015 and Platini still in charge of UEFA. They have both held back the development of the worlds most popular sport by preventing modern technology assisting referees and continually finding ways to curtail any success for England at both National and club level. There should be an international watchdog that ensures these types of characters are never again allowed to find their way to the top of the sporting profession without some thorough accountability.

This organisation is looking more and more like the politburo from the communist era. It´s an organisation that does not live up to the values of the democratic nations and falters when it comes to transparency.

Blatter is like one of them old men war generals, he simply cannot bring himself to let go of power. He is certainly not acting in the best interests of football that's for sure. With that said I'm not sure the alternative would be good for football this side of the world either and as for Platini, he wants football to be a non-contact sport. The powers that control the football machine seem to be the equivalent of politicians clinging onto power and massaging their own egos. Surely there are genuine football people who can do a better job than these clowns!

As with most here I agree that Blatter outlived his usefulness long ago. I had to laugh at comment #2 tho', first "the machinations of those at FIFA are on par with those of politicians in this country", then "shameful in this democratic day and age that such clubs can exist really". I think I see the problem ...

Also, goonergetit seems to think the "Post Comment" button means "next paragraph".