FIFA To Investigate If Germany Used Bribes To Secure 2006 World Cup

[uawchild]

Source: AP/Huffington Post

ZURICH -- FIFA says allegations that Germany used bribes to secure the 2006 World Cup are "serious" and will be reviewed as part of its ongoing investigation into corruption in soccer.

German newsweekly Der Spiegel reported Friday that the bidding committee set up a slush fund of 10.3 million Swiss francs (about $6 million at that time) that was contributed in a private capacity by former Adidas chief Robert Louis-Dreyfus.

The money was used to secure four votes from FIFA's 24-member executive committee before Germany won the bid vote in 2000, the report said.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/fifa-germany-world-cup-bribes_56213447e4b08589ef472cfd

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OMG, bribery you say? In international football? Egads. And a western European, straight shooting, NATO member, and solid neo-liberal country like Germany too? Oh, my. /sarcasm

I thought only despicable and suspiciously, well, non-European Qatar and the generally pariah-ish, militarily resurgent Russia stooped so low to bribe FIFA Officials to be selected as World Cup venues. Go figure. /sarcasm

Will there be calls to never give another world cup hosting to Germany now? Somehow, I don't think so.

Seriously, it would be nice if every single news event was not political fodder for the corporate/neo-liberal media but I don't think we have heard the last of calls like "Lets take the world cup away from Qatar and Russia they are corrupting the sport" when the actual agenda is anti-Muslim and anti-Russian spin.

[24601]

1. Recalling Nixon, one of the key questions for the FIFA (and Volkswagen) inquiries should be, what

did somebody know and when they did know it?

I had thought that the Chancellor's reaction to revelations about US intelligence was anger - but maybe it was really anxiety. What intelligence was collected up that could either exonerate German officials or point to their knowledge or even participation?

For the record, If I ran Germany and had ignored or even enabled corruption in sports or in one of my country's largest manufacturers. I wouldn't want anyone to find about my culpability.

That said, Angela, VW and FIFA are presumed innocent - right up to the point where they are aren't.

[mpcamb]

2. I'm thinking' "Of course they did!" Just like everyone else who's hosted for the last 2 decades.

That's how you get the host position.
I think it's been taken for granted that FIFA runs on bribes.

[uawchild]

3. Winner winner, chicken dinner!

I believe you nailed this.

[hobbit709]

4. Big money always involves special deals.

The Olympics aren't any better.