12/21/24
June 02, 2015
FIFA President Sepp Blatter Announces His Resignation: Just days after he was voted to another term as FIFA president, Sepp Blatter has announced his resignation. The Guardian is live-blogging the news, which he revealed during a press conference Tuesday. TalkSport radio in the U.K. is currently covering it as well. The announcement comes after media reports that Blatter's top lieutenant, Jerome Valcke, made $10 million in transactions central to the bribery scandal involving World Cup site selection.
Seriously, it feels like that. My neighbors should beware.
In reality I wonder how long before that next election happens and what machinations he can get up to before it. Will he cast himself as The Reformer and keep funneling money?
posted by yerfatma at 01:12 PM on June 02, 2015
It's great that Blatter is gone, but as long as FIFA gives equal rights to every country no matter how small it is, it always will be rife with corruption and led by people who spread the cheese around.
The 16 smallest FIFA member countries have under 100,000 people. The 16 largest have 4.72 billion.
posted by rcade at 01:13 PM on June 02, 2015
That's a shame. I watched really carefully, but the door did not hit his arse on the way out.
— Iain Macintosh (@iainmacintosh) June 2, 2015 posted by yerfatma at 01:24 PM on June 02, 2015
I'm surprised no one has posted a headline like
"FIFA Clears Up Blatter Infection"
posted by grum@work at 02:16 PM on June 02, 2015
Hold the celebrations. Keep the hilarity down to a minimum. He ain't gone yet. In his own words, he will "organize an extraordinary convention" to elect his successor. Based on past events, some delegates to this convention are about to receive some "extraordinary" financial rewards. Vote buying at this event will make Chicago politics look like a neighborhood yard sale. In the interest of improving my retirement fund, can anyone tell me how to get myself named to the convention as the representative of some obscure nation?
posted by Howard_T at 02:52 PM on June 02, 2015
I was surprised last week that he could stay in power and now I'm surprised that he's resigning. There's been so many allegations I just assumed he was untouchable if he had made it this long.
posted by tron7 at 02:54 PM on June 02, 2015
Seems like he'll be in office several more months until a new person is elected. If allegations and revelations keep pouring forth in the meantime, his remaining in office will only become more painful and embarrassing.
He probably knew it was going to come to this, but proceeded to get himself re-elected anyway instead of calling for an emergency election to elect a successor while delegates were convened (if that were possible under FIFA bylaws).
Perhaps someone reminded Blatter that when Pope Benedict stepped down, he transitioned comfortably into well appointed quarters on the grounds of a small sovereign state.
If FIFA officers keep getting indicted and hauled away, they're going to get to a point where they might not have a quorum when a vote is called.
Parts of this have been like a CliffsNotes version of Nixon's Watergate.
posted by beaverboard at 03:23 PM on June 02, 2015
Meanwhile, there's a Women's World Cup set to start in 4 days. I wonder how much he will be present at that event...
posted by bender at 04:09 PM on June 02, 2015
This reminds of how OJ Simpson was going to spend his life looking for Nicole's killers.
posted by sbacharach at 06:55 PM on June 04, 2015
So which is the richest FIFA nation with no extradition treaty to US/UK/Switzerland?
I have to assume that Blatter has plane tickets to, and a bank account in, that country.