Quote:Russian President Vladimir Putin reacted Thursday with trademark indifference to the bribery scandal plaguing the world soccer federation FIFA, denying any wrongdoing by Russia and accusing the United States of trying to wreck his country's hosting of the 2018 World Cup.
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As world scrutinizes FIFA, Sepp Blatter condemns 'actions of a few'

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    As world scrutinizes FIFA, Sepp Blatter condemns 'actions of a few'

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FIFA officials arrested in corruption case
FIFA officials arrested in corruption case

In televised comments from the Kremlin, Putin called it "odd" that U.S. prosecutors had brought charges of corruption and bribery against 14 soccer officials for alleged crimes, including accepting $150 million in bribes, that occurred outside the United States and involved mostly foreign citizens.

A separate investigation launched by Swiss authorities is aimed at determining whether inappropriate influence was exercised in FIFA's decisions to award the next World Cup to Russia and the 2022 tournament to the Persian Gulf state of Qatar.

Russia "has nothing to do with it," Putin said of the scandal and allegations that Moscow secured the coveted hosting rights through some form of subterfuge.

Quote:[size=14pt]US senator to FIFA: Do not reward Russia with 2018 World Cup[/size]

Quote:A US senator has called on FIFA not to allow Russia to host the 2018 World Cup following the corruption scandal in the soccer's world governing body.

“I applaud today’s actions and am especially pleased that Swiss and US authorities are investigating FIFA’s granting of the World Cup to Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022," Senator Robert Menendez said.

"I have long been concerned about FIFA’s selection of Russia and today’s announcement only underscores the need for FIFA to elect a president who will not only uphold FIFA’s values, but will ensure FIFA does not reward countries that do not uphold these values as well," he was quoted as saying by The Hill.

On Wednesday, police in Switzerland complied with a US request arrested nine top FIFA officials to investigate decades of alleged bribe-taking and backroom deals.

The US Justice Department brought an indictment against nine FIFA officials and five corporate executives on charges including racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering.

According to the indictment, $150 million were paid in "bribes and kickbacks" to obtain media and marketing rights to international tournaments.

Quote:[size=18pt]The Zionist Role in FIFA Corruption Arrests[/size]

Quote:FIFA, world football’s governing body, is due to meet this Friday in Zurich to decide whether to back a Palestinian motion to suspend Israel for its systematic violations of Palestinian footballers’ rights in the occupied territories, including preventing practice sessions and games, arresting players, denying entry to other teams, and bombing grounds, as well as for endemic racism towards non-Jewish players in Israeli football itself. I have written about this in the past: here and here.

Although a 75% majority is needed for the Palestinian motion to carry, there has been a growing sense that the mood at FIFA is shifting the Palestinians’ way. Israel and the US are, of course, deeply worried. Such a move would have strong overtones of the sports boycott against South Africa and further reinforce the idea that the description of Israel as an apartheid state holds. It would also disrupt FIFA tournaments Israel is due to host in the coming months, causing great embarrassment to Israel and FIFA’s president, Sepp Blatter.

Meanwhile, almost everyone quietly acknowledges that FIFA is corrupt from head to toe, and has been for as long as the game has been another branch of the big-business entertainments industry. Just think how impossible it would have been for a body not profoundly infected with corrupt practices to have backed desert emirate Qatar’s bid to host the 2022 tournament – in the middle of its stifling summer.