FIFA election up in the air

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FIFA election up in the air After two powerful figures in football were accused of forking over close to £20,000 to officials for bribes, FIFA officials have received calls to cancel the presidential election next week. Mohamed Bin Hammam one of the candidates for FIFA president and Jack Warner, Vice –President have been charged, in the most serious crisis of corruption to hit the governing body, with bribery.

The MP, Damian Collins, who named two other members of FIFA in Parliament as having received alleged bribes for the World Cup 2022 Qatar bid, has requested that FIFA abandon elections.

Saying that if Bin Hammam is suspended then Sepp Blatter would be a shoo-in to win the presidency so there should be a new election with new candidates coming forward to run for the election. There also needs to be a proper investigation and because of the time constraints for the election this cannot happen so the election should be cancelled.

Both Warner and Bin Hammam will face the ethics committee for FIFA on Sunday and face potentially long bans from football. Both have denied any part in any wrongdoing. The election between Blatter and Bin Hamman is scheduled for Wednesday and Bin Hamman has declared that the charges are an attempt by Blatter to increase his chances.

FA backlash for not voting for FIFA boss

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FA backlash for not voting for FIFA boss The FA has been criticised for their decision to abstain from voting for the new FIFA president, according to one of the candidates. Mohammed Bin Hammam says that if the FA stick to their decision, they will be forfeiting their right to affect any changes from within, and ultimately have little or no say in future consultations. The FA announced last week that they would be abstaining from the vote on the 1st of June.

The battle for FIFA supremacy is between Bin Hammam, the Chief of the Asian confederation and Sepp Blatter, the 13 year incumbent. Former Chairman David Triesman has told a parliamentary enquiry that England’s recent bid to hold the World Cup had been blighted by corruption. Bin Hammam posted on his website that he was disappointed and surprised by the decision by the FA to abstain.

He wrote that the footballing family was both diverse and vast, probably more than anyone could truly comprehend, but that was one of the greatest strengths of the sport. He said it was disappointing that someone had chosen not to engage with the others, and that the decision of one of FIFA’s national nations has taken the decision not to attempt to affect any changes.

Watch the big match or sleep with a supermodel that is the question

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Watch the big match or sleep with a supermodel that is the question Every footballing fan across Europe dreams of seeing their team in the final of the Champions League, the top prize in European football. Now the question has been asked, how far would you actually go and what would you give up if it would guarantee your place taking their place in the Wembley showpiece.

One Poll recently ran a poll for Heineken that sheds some light on the extreme lengths that football fans would go it, and it goes along way to proving that football is ‘the other woman’ in the lives of many men. Half of the fans questioned said they would happily forfeit a date with a supermodel to see their team in the final. Not only supermodels miss out though; friends and family would also take second place to lifting the trouble.

Friend’s weddings, stag parties, meeting their girlfriend’s parents for the first time and the birth of a child were also events that footie fans would be happily prepared to miss for the moment of glory at Wembley. It may sound extreme, but it seems that footie fans take their sport very seriously indeed. Although if you had to give up the chance of a date with any of these lovely ladies it might be best not to let on about it. Many would tell you to keep your head down and wear some dark sunglasses. No one wants to be known as that football fan who gave up the chance of a date with a supermodel. Over 5000 fans across the globe were surveyed, and Hans Erik Tuijyt admitted even he was surprised at how important the sport they call the ‘beautiful game’ is to the ardent fans.

MP throws spanner in Ryan Giggs High court situation

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MP throws spanner in Ryan Giggs High court situation The injunction banning the press from naming the footballer involved in the latest sex scandal has turned into a complete farce. The player has been outed in Parliament by the MP John Hemmings as being the Man Utd star Ryan Giggs.  He used the protection of Parliament to identify Giggs and this must raise some serious questions about future injunctions and are they actually worth the paper they are written on.

The Internet has brought about extraordinary changes in the way that people communicate and both the Media and the Law need to appreciate this. The courts have tried to suppress information that has been circulating freely on the Internet and the need is there for a complete review of the current protection that an injunction brings. Ryan Giggs seems to have been badly ill-advised as to how to deal with the backlash.

He had an adulterous affair with Imogen Thomas, and while to his credit he has not exploited his family like some other players caught with their pants down, it was a bad move to parade his family around after the game on Sunday. His poor wife and children were pushed into the limelight when Giggs must have known the proverbial was about to hit the fan. This could be classed as a mighty costly own goal by Giggs.

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Givet transfer probed by FA

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A bung of £50,000 was being probed by FA chiefs after Phil Black, an unlicensed middleman, had a role in the transfer and also received secret, illegal payments for the deal. Givet, a defender, joined Premier League Blackburn from Marseille in a deal worth £3 million in 2009. The deal had followed a successful loan spell.

The player said that Black, known for his fashion stores and for being a tailor, had insisted that he make a permanent move to Ewood Park from France and even had been a chauffeur for the player.

Givet then was shocked when Black requested payment for his role in the deal and eventually paid the £50,000 to Black in three payments including some in cash. The FA is examining tapes and evidence to see if there are any wrong doings.

Givet has said that Black was the first to be in touch with him about staying at Blackburn and Black even was at the Liverpool airport for a meeting with Givet’s agent Frederic Dobarje when they deal was agreed to.

Givet also said that was the first time he had met him and he Black never came to the club or any meetings with them. He thought Black was employed by Blackburn, but then after signing Givet said Black started to demand money from him.

Since he was paid the money Black has subsequently returned £15,000 but Givet has hired a solicitor and is trying to get the rest back. Black has denied he broke any rules and denied acting illegally as an agent since he is not licensed. Third parties being paid are strictly prohibited unless they are a licensed agent.