By SBI SOCCER
Sepp Blatter is none too happy with current investigations.
The FIFA president says that the ongoing investigations from the Swiss attorney general are ‘outrageous’ while insisting that there is no evidence of any wrongdoing. Blatter is currently being looked at for allegedly manipulating FIFA contracts while also being questioned on criminal mismanagement.
“The situation is not pleasant,” Blatter said. “I am being condemned without there being any evidence for wrongdoing on my part. That is really outrageous. This is just an investigation, not an indictment. I’m dealing with it and I’m co-operating with the authorities.
“I’m feeling good. I’ll survive it. FIFA is still functioning well and the selected president remains in office. I will fight until February 26 (the FIFA presidential election date), for myself, for FIFA. I am convinced that evil will come to light and good will prevail.”
Here are some more news and notes to kick off your Wednesday morning:
KLOPP NEARS LIVERPOOL DEAL
Liverpool appear to be inching ever closer to signing the manager they covet.
Jurgen Klopp is reportedly expected to fly to Liverpool on Thursday with the aims of finalizing a deal between the two sides. Liverpool is expected to unveil Klopp as soon as this weekend.
The former Borussia Dortmund is expected to a sign a three-year deal to manage the club. Klopp will have a full week to prepare for his debut as the club’s manager, as Liverpool returns to action on October 17 against Tottenham.
FIFA CANDIDATE CHUNG VOWS TO SUE BLATTER
FIFA presidential candidate Chung Mung-joon is ready to take the fight to Sepp Blatter.
The former FIFA Vice President says that Blatter was paid a secret salary that was not agreed to by FIFA’s executive committee. As a result, the South Korean says he will sue Blatter as FIFA “has become a corrupt organization serving the interests of a few.”
“Like the dungeon in the FIFA HQ, FIFA has become a very secretive place,” Chung said. “In an age when can find out the salary of a company president or a PM any time, we still don’t know president Blatter’s salary. For Blatter to get paid without authorization of the executive committee is embezzlement. I plan to sue Mr Blatter on his embezzlement in court.”
“Mr. Blatter, in short, is a hypocrite and a liar. Whenever I speak to football leaders, most of them agree that Mr. Blatter is corrupt. FIFA is in total meltdown and his dynasty is coming to an end, yet still few dare to speak up against him.”
ANCELOTTI EXPECTS RONALDO TO STAY WITH REAL UNTIL END OF CAREER
Cristiano Ronaldo has been linked with plenty of big-money moves in recent years, but his former Real Madrid manager doesn’t expect any of them to come to fruition.
Carlo Ancelotti, who managed the Portuguese star from 2013-15, says that he believes that Ronaldo will end his career with Real Madrid. Ronaldo is under contract with the club until 2018.
“He etched his name into the record books at Real Madrid the other day when he equaled Raul’s goalscoring record,” Ancelotti said. “I cannot imagine him leaving Real Madrid.
“I think he will stay at Madrid until the end of his career. Everybody at the club loves him.”
QUICK KICKS
Basel have rejected a $28 million offer from Wolfsburg for forward Breel Embolo. (REPORT)
Barcelona is set to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport over the registration denial of Arda Turan. (REPORT)
Wayne Rooney is a doubt for England upcoming Euro 2016 qualifiers against Estonia and Lithuania. (REPORT)
Everton midfielder Tom Cleverly and his family were threatened by burglars in a home invasion. (REPORT)
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What do you think of the latest Blatter news? How will Klopp fare at Liverpool? What do you expect from Ronaldo in the coming years?
Share your thoughts below.
Sepp Blatter “provisionally suspended” for 90 days.
https://twitter.com/search?q=%22Sepp%20Blatter%22&src=tren&data_id=tweet%3A651808388024791040
Should be a nice little holiday for him. I wonder where he’ll go?
“Qatar is supposed to be lovely this time of year.” And maybe a side trip to Moscow.
Rachel Nichols just tweeted this:
“Report: Sepp Blatter provisionally suspended by FIFA’s ethics committee. (also news: FIFA has an ethics committee)”
Right up there with the UN Human Rights Commission
There’s a dungeon in the basement of FIFA headquarters???
I wouldn’t bet on Ronaldo staying in Real Madrid for his whole career. He has expressed his desire to try acting (and has taken acting classes) He has also been cast is the new Martin Scorsese film “The Manipulator” He has also expressed an interest in playing in the MLS. He loves LA and Las Vegas.
Now add to these facts that recently, Scorsese finished a movie for Peter Gruber’s Mandalay Entertainment Group. Peter Gruber also part-owns the MLS franchise LAFC. The ownership Group of LAFC includes several investors who have deep Hollywood connections. Add to this fact that the LAFC has privately stated that Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney are possible targets to anchor the new team.
It’s in 2016 that the first overture by Real Madrid will take place to re-sign Ronaldo, failing that. Ronaldo will be put-up for sale to any club that wants to pay the 100-200M US that a transfer fee that would be asked by RM. If Ronaldo refuses all offers, he will be a free agent in 2018 and can be signed without any transfer money. If that happens, expect the LAFC to offer Ronaldo at least a 10 percent hike to his current salary, and even then, he won’t be the highest paid star in LA. Remember, part of the ownership group that also includes baseball and basketball executives who are, quite frankly, used to paying out these salaries. The first hint that this may happen is when Ronaldo initially refuses to re-sign immediately. if he does not, I can see the above scenario unfolding.
I’m also curious to the fact that if Mr. Chung is indeed censured for vote trading, which under FIFA rules is voting fraud, isn’t that the basis that FIFA expressed would trigger a re-vote on the 2018/2022 World Cup awards. Initially FIFA turned down a request by the English FA for a re-vote, saying there was no evidence of vote fraud. If they accuse and censure Mr. Chung for voting fraud, then they surely have the evidence they need for a re-vote.
your last paragraph on Mr. Chung makes way too much sense for FIFA. Dont worry, there will be a clause about needing an exco approval or something silly that would prevent it.
Wall of text.
What neither he nor you would be considering is he is already 30 and showing signs of reduced impact, and by 2018 would be 33. You’d be paying for a name and less else.
But we have overpaid for ageing talent before, Beckham and Kaka roughly the same ages, and LAFC seems to be a group which will have money to spend. Personally I think a waste of money and since it would be after Russia 2018 it would be a likely down ebb of interest after international retirement. Bigger deal if you get someone before the Cup who kicks the ball downfield a little in terms of league reputation.
What people don’t realize is that during the February special election, only one country needs to stand up and declare that the election be cancelled, and then FIFA votes (in secret) whether to cancel the election. If it is cancelled, the current president stays. (Full disclosure: thanks to Bill Archer for pointing this out).
So all Blatter needs is one FA, Montserrat will do, to ask for a vote to cancel the election, and then a simple majority of Blatter cronies to vote to cancel it, and he stays.
Yup, odds aren’t that strange for Blatter to stay.
won’t happen. Blatter is toxic, most importantly to sponsors. When the money starts going away those execs will distance themselves from Blatter and he’d be forced out.
I hear you on the theory but that one FA is going to be inviting a criminal investigation on itself if it does vote to cancel. The only way I’m doing that is if I’m paid money and that puts Blatter in a Catch 22 with the way things are rolling for him these days (the only way to perpetuate a cover up of the bribery is to remain in charge; the only way to remain in charge is to bribe).
Sepp Blatter: I’m shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on here.
Qatari official: Your winnings, sir.
Sepp Blatter: Oh, thank you.
Wow. Swiss league has players worth $28mm? Guess that the effect of champs league exposure.
Basel is a really good team. Not surprising they have players worth that much, or more.