General Soccer Thread

[thrill]

Could be nothing. Could be the biggest thing to ever happen in modern sports. Probably closer to nothing.

[Jocephus]

Darren Rovell @darrenrovell

Attorney General Loretta Lynch alleges there was $110 million in bribes to get the Copa America to the U.S. in 2016 alone

[pioneer98]

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/28/sport ... -them.html

United States law enforcement officials declared in forceful terms on Wednesday that their broad investigation of FIFA had only begun and pledged to rid the international soccer organization of systemic corruption.

The Justice Department, F.B.I. and I.R.S. described soccer’s governing body in terms normally reserved for Mafia families and drug cartels, saying that top officials treated FIFA business decisions as chits to be traded for personal wealth. One soccer official took in more than $10 million in bribes, Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch said.

The schemes involving the fraud included the selection of South Africa as the host of the 2010 World Cup; the 2011 FIFA presidential elections; and several sports-marketing deals.

"These individuals and organizations engaged in bribery to decide who would televise games, where the games would be held, and who would run the organization overseeing organized soccer worldwide,” said Ms. Lynch, who supervised the investigation from its earliest stages.

[pioneer98]

https://twitter.com/jeffphowe/status/603689839461060608

@jeffphowe
Ted Wells' Deflategate report: 243 pages.

FIFA's indictment: 164 pages.

[RickyCKennedy]

This indictment can mess the tournament from Qatar? There are people that say the hole process with WC in Qatar was based on bribes.

[slide_into_first]

This has nothing to do with justice. It is how the government gets a share of the money.

[thrill]

Yeah. They're not mad about the bribery and corruption. They're mad about the US not getting it's tax cut.

[Hoot45]

St. Louis FC beat Minnesota of NASL in penalty kicks despite playing with 10 men in the US Open Cup and heads out to play at Sporting KC in a few weeks. USL has done a number on the other divisions in the USOC so far. It was a pretty special night in St. Louis. Fans stormed the field after the victory (never seen that at a soccer match before).

I know in light of the FIFA drama a little USL victory in the USOC seems irrelevant, but it was a special moment for St. Louis. And, U.S. soccer at the lower levels in general are showing well. Now the question is just how badly will SKC smash STLFC in the next round.

[MrSaigon]

St. Louis FC beat Minnesota of NASL in penalty kicks despite playing with 10 men in the US Open Cup and heads out to play at Sporting KC in a few weeks. USL has done a number on the other divisions in the USOC so far. It was a pretty special night in St. Louis. Fans stormed the field after the victory (never seen that at a soccer match before).

I know in light of the FIFA drama a little USL victory in the USOC seems irrelevant, but it was a special moment for St. Louis. And, U.S. soccer at the lower levels in general are showing well. Now the question is just how badly will SKC smash STLFC in the next round.

Here's some hope at my expense: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cal_FC. Fifth division!

[Hoot45]

St. Louis FC beat Minnesota of NASL in penalty kicks despite playing with 10 men in the US Open Cup and heads out to play at Sporting KC in a few weeks. USL has done a number on the other divisions in the USOC so far. It was a pretty special night in St. Louis. Fans stormed the field after the victory (never seen that at a soccer match before).

I know in light of the FIFA drama a little USL victory in the USOC seems irrelevant, but it was a special moment for St. Louis. And, U.S. soccer at the lower levels in general are showing well. Now the question is just how badly will SKC smash STLFC in the next round.

Here's some hope at my expense: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cal_FC. Fifth division!

I like the USOC history there though!