f*** FIFA

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

top man on the field in his day & following that up now

 

KHR , the chairman of the European Club Association (ECA), has called for a club-led "revolution" against the "corrupt people" who govern football and called for his members to have a say in Fifa's decision-making process.

 

The 55-year-old chief executive officer of Bayern Munich said he despaired at what he described as the "daily corruption process at Fifa" and asked the footballing authorities "to recognise that it's time for democracy, transparency and the right balance in the football family".

 

"I don't accept any longer that we [should be] guided by people who are not serious and clean," he said. "Now is the moment to intervene. Because knowing something is wrong is an obligation to change."

 

The ECA replaced G14 as the representative body for the leading European clubs and numbers among its members Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool. Rummenigge said there was a groundswell of public support for his stance in the wake of recent scandals, the life-ban for Mohamed bin Hammam and "questions about the Qatari World Cup".

 

"It's not just the top clubs, it's all the clubs," he said, adding that the feeling of discontent was felt strongest in Germany, Switzerland and England, where he has recently met the sports minister, Hugh Robertson, and club officials.

 

Fifa itself was unable to change, he said. "Sepp Blatter is saying [that he's cleaning up shop] but the fact that no one believes him tells you everything you need to know. I'm not optimistic because they believe the system is working perfectly as it is. It's a money machine, World Cup after World Cup. And for them, that's more important than serious and clean governance."

 

There was also, in his opinion, little chance that the national associations would exert pressure for reforms. "I don't believe [that they will get involved]. The current system is tailor-made for the associations and voted for by the associations. They won't go against [Fifa]." Having a representative of the clubs on Fifa's executive committee was not enough, he said. "I would go further. All stakeholders – clubs, associations, players, referees, and women's football – have a right to be involved in the decision-making process."

 

Rummenigge also professed himself unhappy with the amount of international games clogging up the fixture calendar. "When I won the European Championship [in 1980], there were eight teams in the finals. That figure will treble by 2016. In the World Cup, it used to be 16 teams, now it's 32. The clubs pay the players but are not part of the decision-making process.We are not treated respectfully."

 

Rummenigge hinted at a possible breakaway from international associations if the ECA's grievances over fixture congestion are not addressed. "I will give them a chance but I'm ready for a revolution if that's the only way to come to a solution," he said.

[Maldini]

Well said, FIFA don't have anyone's interests in mind apart from their own. What was it they spend on "admin" last year? €700m?

[jimmylibel]

Well said, FIFA don't have anyone's interests in mind apart from their own. What was it they spend on "admin" last year? €700m?

 

Processing dirty money isn't cheap you know.

[Leo No.8]

Very well said, hopefully he will get some support in trying to change things.

[Rimbeux]

Make a move man, keep it up.

[Sion]

I still don't understand how the chairman of a football association that recently and controversially got awarded the WC, gets suspended for corruption, and yet there isn't being an investigation.

[Leo No.8]

I still don't understand how the chairman of a football association that recently and controversially got awarded the WC, gets suspended for corruption, and yet there isn't being an investigation.

 

Here is the explanation.

 

[Epic Swindle]

Top European clubs threaten to break away from Fifa and Uefa

 

• ECA teams unhappy about finances and international fixtures

• Clubs may bypass governing bodies and run their own affairs

 

European clubs will break away from Fifa and Uefa and create their own super league unless the world governing body urgently addresses their growing concerns over international fixtures and finances. It would be the most radical development in the history of football since the first World Cup in 1930, ripping up the established world order of the game and seizing power from Sepp Blatter, Fifa's president.

 

The Guardian can reveal the background to Karl-Heinz Rummenigge's comments on Tuesday about a "revolution" for football: a European super league that would see the clubs seize control of their own affairs from the regulators. The European game is currently ordered through a memorandum of understanding between clubs and Uefa that was signed three and a half years ago. It runs until 2014, and when it expires the top European clubs will no longer be legally bound to play in Uefa's Champions League or, crucially, to release their players for international friendlies or tournaments, including the World Cup.

 

In a reflection of their belief that Fifa lacks legitimacy – especially in the wake of the damaging bribery allegations currently surrounding the organisation – the clubs will not shrink from breaking away if they do not receive sufficient guarantees.

 

A board member of the European Club Association of which Bayern Munich's Rummenigge is president told the Guardian on Wednesday: "The fact that Bayern Munich, who have always been close to the institutions, are being so vocal and loud about the situation is a clear sign we're very close to breaking point. We have a memorandum of understanding with Uefa that expires in 2014. After that time we can no longer be forced to respect Fifa statutes or Uefa regulations. And we won't be obliged to compete in their competitions."

 

When asked what that would mean for clubs' finances if they were to withdraw from the Champions League, which generates tens of millions of pounds a year for his organisation's richest and most influential members, the ECA board member responded: "Don't be naive. Don't think there would be no alternative competition."

 

Although the ECA has a broad constituency, representing 197 European clubs, it is the interests of nine in particular that will drive this agenda. They are Real Madrid, Milan, Liverpool, Internazionale, Manchester United, Barcelona, Arsenal, Chelsea and Rummenigge's Bayern. When the Guardian contacted the four English clubs for their views on the matter, all declined to comment. However, a director at one of the clubs said: "[Financially] there is a lot of unfulfilled potential in football as it stands."

 

The English experience of the past 20 years, since a breakaway group of the leading clubs withdrew from the Football League to form the Premier League (albeit under the auspices of the Football Association), has been exceptionally lucrative for the game domestically and the hawks within the ECA are pushing for a replica at European level.

 

The news will not come as a surprise at Uefa where in some quarters there is a long-held view that the clubs will seek to go their own way. This has arisen from a number of points of conflict with the world football authorities. As revealed by the Guardian last month there is considerable disquiet about perceived moves to expand the international calendar, forcing clubs to release their expensively remunerated players to national associations without any payback. Fifa denies there have been any discussions about the subject but the ECA source claimed that the matter will be ratified at a Fifa executive-committee meeting in the autumn. As is consistent with relations between Fifa and the clubs, the decision will have been taken without any formal negotiations with the clubs about how the additional fixtures would be accommodated.

 

There is a further grievance, this time with Uefa about insurance. The ECA alleges Uefa has pulled back from its commitment to provide insurance for players who are called up for international duty. "Uefa said we would have our insurance after their presidential elections [in March]," the source said. "Now the elections have taken place and we're still waiting for talks." A spokesman for Uefa did not respond to the Guardian's call.

 

Yet despite the details of the enduring dispute between the clubs and Fifa and Uefa, there is an overriding financial motive. "When you have every club losing money every year and the only winners the players and Fifa," the source said, "how can that be allowed to go on?"

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jul/27/european-clubs-breakaway-fifa-uefa

[Damian_de]

As an organisation FIFA Is rotten to the core, but I can't help but feel that for the clubs they wouldn't be interested in pointing the finger at FIFA unless there was the idea of massively profiting themselves and concentrating (even more) power into a small group of teams can't be healthy for the game either.

 

If 14-20 sides were to break away from UEFA and/or FIFA and create a European Super League (and the possibility of B-teams meeting the National commitments) then all you would really see would be more money in the pockets of players and agents, more advertising before during and after matches, and more dumbed down lowest common denominator saturation match coverage. Woo-hoo

 

Tim Vickery has spoken about how for all its faults, FIFA has genuinely developed the game at a global level and seriously invested in regions of the world which Europe had never shown any interest in supporting. He has a point there.

 

So, fair play to KHR for calling out the dirt in FIFA, don't really trust his motives, though.

[Hassony]

 

Tim Vickery has spoken about how for all its faults, FIFA has genuinely developed the game at a global level and seriously invested in regions of the world which Europe had never shown any interest in supporting. He has a point there.

 

 

thats a good point

 

even Bin hammam has done really good work for the AFC, asian football has developed a lot since he took over

[Euphrates]

As an organisation FIFA Is rotten to the core, but I can't help but feel that for the clubs they wouldn't be interested in pointing the finger at FIFA unless there was the idea of massively profiting themselves and concentrating (even more) power into a small group of teams can't be healthy for the game either.

 

If 14-20 sides were to break away from UEFA and/or FIFA and create a European Super League (and the possibility of B-teams meeting the National commitments) then all you would really see would be more money in the pockets of players and agents, more advertising before during and after matches, and more dumbed down lowest common denominator saturation match coverage. Woo-hoo

 

Tim Vickery has spoken about how for all its faults, FIFA has genuinely developed the game at a global level and seriously invested in regions of the world which Europe had never shown any interest in supporting. He has a point there.

 

So, fair play to KHR for calling out the dirt in FIFA, don't really trust his motives, though.

 

let's trade one set of corrupt elites for another.

 

sounds like democracy in action

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

I don't see them actually breaking away - they'd have to ensure the players were onboard as that'd disqualify them from Int'l footy.

 

But they're deffo going to use it as leverage and they have valid points

[Rimbeux]

I don't see them actually breaking away - they'd have to ensure the players were onboard as that'd disqualify them from Int'l footy.

 

But they're deffo going to use it as leverage and they have valid points

 

 

Far from a club takeover, the suggestions he has for a representative FIFA from all facets of the game are bang on. Having simply a conference of FA heads, most of whom rely on FIFA money to carry on as they do, fails to represent anything but committee room self interest.

[surf]

this quote is interesting:

"When you have every club losing money every year and the only winners the players and Fifa," the source said, "how can that be allowed to go on?"

 

sounds like hints at some kind of salary cap. that would suit most of the teams very well

[John am Rhein]

Top European clubs threaten to break away from Fifa and Uefa

 

:pltbt:

[épieur]

I don't have much issue with UEFA as such. I doubt that what corruption exists exists at more than at the level of isolated incidents. Platini is always good for hot air comments and is often disagreeable, but he strikes me as honest and ideologically driven.

 

FIFA on the other hand strikes me as having a rampant culture of corruption.

[Rimbeux]

I don't have much issue with UEFA as such. I doubt that what corruption exists exists at more than at the level of isolated incidents. Platini is always good for hot air comments and is often disagreeable, but he strikes me as honest and ideologically driven.

 

FIFA on the other hand strikes me as having a rampant culture of corruption.

 

 

UEFA = EU

FIFA = illuminati

[John am Rhein]

I don't see them actually breaking away - they'd have to ensure the players were onboard as that'd disqualify them from Int'l footy.

 

But they're deffo going to use it as leverage and they have valid points

 

they should force players to choose between getting paid and international football

 

as you say though, they probably won't go as far as the 'nuclear' option. Severe reductions in the number of international fixtures are probably a realistic and achievable goal from this.

 

The complete abolition of international football can come later.

[Murphman]

I don't have much issue with UEFA as such. I doubt that what corruption exists exists at more than at the level of isolated incidents. Platini is always good for hot air comments and is often disagreeable, but he strikes me as honest and ideologically driven.

 

FIFA on the other hand strikes me as having a rampant culture of corruption.

 

UEFA should be replaced, so should FIFA, Platini can f*ck right off 'nall.

[John am Rhein]

UEFA should be replaced, so should FIFA, Platini can f*ck right off 'nall.

 

by who? A self appointed clique of home counties 'retired' police officers?

[Ombudsam]

this quote is interesting:

"When you have every club losing money every year and the only winners the players and Fifa," the source said, "how can that be allowed to go on?"

 

sounds like hints at some kind of salary cap. that would suit most of the teams very well

 

It's shocking that the players should benefit from all the new money in football. I mean what is it that they actually contribute to the sport?

[Nebraska Red]

It's shocking that the players should benefit from all the new money in football. I mean what is it that they actually contribute to the sport?

 

 

ahh, but if it wasn't for the owners of the teams, the players could never earn a penny.

 

there'll be no breakaway. whoever started it off would be hung out to dry by the rest of the federations as they are all cowards covering their asses and don't want to upset the apple cart.

[Ombudsam]

ahh, but if it wasn't for the owners of the teams, the players could never earn a penny.

 

and that's why we've all the Liverpool shirts with "ayre" on the back ready to go.

[Nebraska Red]

and that's why we've all the Liverpool shirts with "ayre" on the back ready to go.

 

 

you wait, there'll be some k****ead with a JW Henry shirt in the Main Stand next season.

 

Maybe it will start a trend.