You probably woke up to this little gem reported in most of your papers this morning:
It's funny how the two of them are talking about stamping out corruption together, I hear Blatter's off to the Libyan capital Tripoli next to discuss how to run a democratic election with Colonel Qaddafi...
Update:
Latest Photos-
Personal Thoughts: Can I just say Fifa are entertaining, embracing and talking to a wanted war criminal by the ICC who's on charges of serious corruption and crimes against humanity. I also notice everywhere he went he carries around the Fifa flag-banner like us as football fans/journalists/coaches/players as in the 'football family' are represented in this man and by his logic every football lover in the world embraces Mugabe...Blatter just keeps setting that bar lower doesn't he.
Current bribery prices from recent stories:
50k gets you an Fifa Exco vote.
20k gets you an Olympic stadium.
500 pounds gets you a Zimbabwean football player to throw a game.
A knighthood gets you Paraguayan support.
The Falklands back gets you an Argentinian vote.
Loaning a TV camera crew to Thailand gets you a vote.
Not doing any real investigative journalism into corruption MAY have got you a World Cup.
A Niger referee will match fix providing you supply him with a house and a gullible story that he wont get caught.
I could go on Mr Blatter but your telling me Football at governance level isn't in crisis?
Give me a break.
Another, again entirely personal feeling, thing I notice about Sepp Blatter is how much he's looking like Greenback from Dangermouse the more I see him take a look for yourself...
Sepp Blatter Meets Bob
FIFA’s Sepp Blatter met Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe for talks Monday after the head of world soccer arrived for a two-day visit to a country where the game is mired in a match-fixing controversy.
Blatter, who arrived earlier in Harare on a private jet, accompanied Mugabe to a women’s international match against regional neighbor Malawi. The FIFA president will also inspect training facilities that urgently need funding amid Zimbabwe’s troubled economy.
An advance party of four FIFA officials, including two match-fixing investigators, arrived Sunday.
Last year, Zimbabwe captain Method Mwanjali and four team mates admitted taking money to lose matches on a 2009 tour to Thailand and Malaysia. Zimbabwe lost 3-0 to Thailand and 6-0 to Syria and the players said they were paid between $500 and $1,500.
Zimbabwe Sports Minister David Coltart said Monday he hoped the FIFA team, which includes its head of security Chris Eaton, will recommend punishment for those found guilty.
“Hopefully FIFA will stick by the (Zimbabwe) government’s determination to deal with corruption,” Coltart told The Associated Press. “We expect them to endorse that there has been criminality and prosecution must follow.”
Mugabe told the state broadcaster on the steps of his official State House offices he was “honoured” by Blatter’s visit.
“It is a great visit from the most powerful man in football. We hope a bit of his power remains with us,” said the 87-year-old Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980.
Blatter then met with children training on a soccer field outside Harare.
Coach Matthew Makuwerere said the sport lacked training facilities, adding that it had long stifled young people’s dreams of becoming professional players.
“We hope player development we have been wishing for will now be realized,” he said.
Eaton is scheduled to meet with Coltart, police commanders and the state Sports and Recreation Commission – all of whom have assisted administrators in probing the match-fixing in 2009, known in local soccer circles as “Asiagate.”
Zimbabwe FA chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze said Eaton will study corruption reports that have been compiled by his organization. He also said the national body will be guided by FIFA on prosecution and any life bans on players and a member of the coaching team who accepted money.
Punishments for the Zimbabwe players could be part of a new wave of crackdowns on match-fixing in world soccer. Similar investigations are also under way in Finland, Italy, Greece and, at a lower level, in Malaysia and South Africa.
Source: Zimbabwe De Press (ZDP)
FIFA’s Sepp Blatter met Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe for talks Monday after the head of world soccer arrived for a two-day visit to a country where the game is mired in a match-fixing controversy.
Blatter, who arrived earlier in Harare on a private jet, accompanied Mugabe to a women’s international match against regional neighbor Malawi. The FIFA president will also inspect training facilities that urgently need funding amid Zimbabwe’s troubled economy.
An advance party of four FIFA officials, including two match-fixing investigators, arrived Sunday.
Last year, Zimbabwe captain Method Mwanjali and four team mates admitted taking money to lose matches on a 2009 tour to Thailand and Malaysia. Zimbabwe lost 3-0 to Thailand and 6-0 to Syria and the players said they were paid between $500 and $1,500.
Zimbabwe Sports Minister David Coltart said Monday he hoped the FIFA team, which includes its head of security Chris Eaton, will recommend punishment for those found guilty.
“Hopefully FIFA will stick by the (Zimbabwe) government’s determination to deal with corruption,” Coltart told The Associated Press. “We expect them to endorse that there has been criminality and prosecution must follow.”
Mugabe told the state broadcaster on the steps of his official State House offices he was “honoured” by Blatter’s visit.
“It is a great visit from the most powerful man in football. We hope a bit of his power remains with us,” said the 87-year-old Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980.
Blatter then met with children training on a soccer field outside Harare.
Coach Matthew Makuwerere said the sport lacked training facilities, adding that it had long stifled young people’s dreams of becoming professional players.
“We hope player development we have been wishing for will now be realized,” he said.
Eaton is scheduled to meet with Coltart, police commanders and the state Sports and Recreation Commission – all of whom have assisted administrators in probing the match-fixing in 2009, known in local soccer circles as “Asiagate.”
Zimbabwe FA chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze said Eaton will study corruption reports that have been compiled by his organization. He also said the national body will be guided by FIFA on prosecution and any life bans on players and a member of the coaching team who accepted money.
Punishments for the Zimbabwe players could be part of a new wave of crackdowns on match-fixing in world soccer. Similar investigations are also under way in Finland, Italy, Greece and, at a lower level, in Malaysia and South Africa.
Source: Zimbabwe De Press (ZDP)
It's funny how the two of them are talking about stamping out corruption together, I hear Blatter's off to the Libyan capital Tripoli next to discuss how to run a democratic election with Colonel Qaddafi...
Update:
Latest Photos-
Personal Thoughts: Can I just say Fifa are entertaining, embracing and talking to a wanted war criminal by the ICC who's on charges of serious corruption and crimes against humanity. I also notice everywhere he went he carries around the Fifa flag-banner like us as football fans/journalists/coaches/players as in the 'football family' are represented in this man and by his logic every football lover in the world embraces Mugabe...Blatter just keeps setting that bar lower doesn't he.
Current bribery prices from recent stories:
50k gets you an Fifa Exco vote.
20k gets you an Olympic stadium.
500 pounds gets you a Zimbabwean football player to throw a game.
A knighthood gets you Paraguayan support.
The Falklands back gets you an Argentinian vote.
Loaning a TV camera crew to Thailand gets you a vote.
Not doing any real investigative journalism into corruption MAY have got you a World Cup.
A Niger referee will match fix providing you supply him with a house and a gullible story that he wont get caught.
I could go on Mr Blatter but your telling me Football at governance level isn't in crisis?
Give me a break.
Another, again entirely personal feeling, thing I notice about Sepp Blatter is how much he's looking like Greenback from Dangermouse the more I see him take a look for yourself...
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