It bears remembering that it was not the dubious awarding of the World Cup to Qatar that started all this but, rather, the transgressions, and arrogance, of one extremely greedy AMERICAN, whose failure to declare the obscene amounts of money he was sucking out of the game and pay taxes on it triggered this whole affair. So let's all say a big thank you to that great friend of Putin, Mandela and various other world leaders, he of the hilariously self-aggrandizing Travels With Chuck blog, the Trump Tower apartment for his cats and the now-famous mobility scooter: Chuck Blazer. Seldom has a come-down been so richly deserved.
1
Blatter is a master of denial, which, to follow the rule that those who declare their innocence the loudest are the most likely to be guilty, means he's very guilty indeed.
Eclectic Pragmatist — http://eclectic-pragmatist.tumblr.com/
Eclectic Pragmatist — https://medium.com/eclectic-pragmatism
Eclectic Pragmatist — http://eclectic-pragmatist.tumblr.com/
Eclectic Pragmatist — https://medium.com/eclectic-pragmatism
1
If an investigation of FIFA irregularities is not already underway, one should begin soon.
Why let top FIFA suspects stay around able to destroy any evidence, which they would know just where to find.
Why let top FIFA suspects stay around able to destroy any evidence, which they would know just where to find.
1
One of the best comments I heard yesterday was that FIFA is really just an events company. Why can't we just be done with them and find a new one? Failing that: I nominate the Don for the leadership-- "Making football great again" has a nice ring to it.
1
some important persons of word football like Franz Beckenbauer support an outsider, Mosima Gabriel "Tokyo" Sexwale (born 5 March 1953)is a South African businessman, politician, anti-apartheid activist, and former political prisoner. he was in prison with nelson Mandela
Beckenbauer was on the ExCo that voted for Ru$$ia 2018 and Qatar 2022. Mch as I loved him as a player, he has no credibility. He's also under investigation in Germany for evading taxes by use of a secret Swiss bank account, which got his club and country teammate Uli Hoeness jailed.
4
Is it fair to say that FIFA is rotten to very near its core? A lot of its leadership seems to think so.
Wouldn't it be nice to get caught in a massive corruption scandal, bring shame to your organization on a global level, and then only get a 90 day suspension?
Most of us would be shown the door in about 3 minutes if we pulled some crap like this at our companies.
Most of us would be shown the door in about 3 minutes if we pulled some crap like this at our companies.
1
It is proved by documents that Platini has received 2 million from FIFA. The Federal Prosecutor' classifies the coinciding statement that it was paid for former for work as untrustworthy. Such a conclusion is acceptable, since the done work could not be substantiated and the claim was time-barred. This establishes a simple suspicion of a criminal act, it is possible that Platini blackmailed Blatter (perhaps with the affair with the former girlfriend of Rolando) or Blatter bribed Platini (for not to for president.) More we do not know.
The Federal Prosecutor is investigating the seriously, is unlike in France were Platini is regarded as a sanctuary, see, and has already been acquitted by officails, we see the case impartially.
Under Swiss law, the suspension to that point oft he procedure is illegal. It violates the presumption of innocence. The court verdict must be awaited
If Blatter was blackmailed, he has not committed crime. If Blatter bribed Platini, that is under Swiss not punishable. Only the bribery of public officials is a criminal offense here. In addition, there is a justification, if he wanted to keep further damage from FIFA because he felt a presidency Platini would ruin the Fifa. The whole affair charged criminally only Platini.
The Federal Prosecutor is investigating the seriously, is unlike in France were Platini is regarded as a sanctuary, see, and has already been acquitted by officails, we see the case impartially.
Under Swiss law, the suspension to that point oft he procedure is illegal. It violates the presumption of innocence. The court verdict must be awaited
If Blatter was blackmailed, he has not committed crime. If Blatter bribed Platini, that is under Swiss not punishable. Only the bribery of public officials is a criminal offense here. In addition, there is a justification, if he wanted to keep further damage from FIFA because he felt a presidency Platini would ruin the Fifa. The whole affair charged criminally only Platini.
thank you for your insights on Swiss law. If Blatter paid off Platini for blackmail with money that was not his, but FIFA's isn't that a crime under Swiss law?
1
"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely,” (Lord Acton, 1887).
1
Talking about a waste of time and effort, this investigation takes the cake....
Some label this as corruption, where other's may see this as business as usual...
How the world of professional sports operates and how it impacts the average person's life is really meaningless, especially when it comes to payoffs for broadcast rights....
Why the US Attorney's Office is wasting tax payers money investigating FIFA should be investigated...
Some label this as corruption, where other's may see this as business as usual...
How the world of professional sports operates and how it impacts the average person's life is really meaningless, especially when it comes to payoffs for broadcast rights....
Why the US Attorney's Office is wasting tax payers money investigating FIFA should be investigated...
@ MDCooks8 — Those contentions are utterly unpersuasive. Professional sports are •big• businesses, involving transactions worth •lots• of money. Fraudulent conduct of such businesses is absolutely the government’s concern, and the government’s investigation and prosecution of large-scale fraud in commerce, whether local or international, is neither a waste of time, effort, nor taxpayers’ money.
— Brian
— Brian
3
The next step: repeat the World Cup selection process, which had previously been bought by the Qataris and Russians.
4
All lovers of the sport should tomorrow go to McDonalds and order a Big Mac and a large Coke and pay for it with their Visa card!
1
Rotten to the core. Right down to the referees.
I am deeply sad for the sport so many of us love so much. While I am happy to see a bright light finally focused on certain people who have behaved in an extremely arrogant and selfish way, including some who have clearly engaged in corruption and criminal acts, in the end I am only concerned about the future of the sport and about the good people who give so much to it. I think there will be a very difficult period of transition while the last of the "old guard" struggles to keep some control, as Blatter has been doing right up until today. It will be hard to find people within FIFA who are not tainted in some way, even if only by their silence and inaction in the face of such obvious malfeasance and corruption. The future of FIFA will have to be constructed by a new generation of leaders, people like Prince Ali of Jordan, Wolfgang Niersbach of Germany and possibly even Sunil Gulati of the USA. And it will be necessary to reconsider a system of governance which allowed all this to develop-a "democratic" but opague system that practically invites corruption, where the majority of small countries, each with a vote, are willing to trade their support for favors and money, allowing whoever is in control to stay in control forever.
3
OK.
Organized crime.
Organized crime.
1
Too little, too late--but better late than never and about time Platini was added to the rogue's gallery.
The rest of the world--and many Americans--complain about America acting as the world's policeman, but FIFA never would have been cleaned up without action by the US Department of Justice. Every other country, even the most publicly moralistic--Germany; England; Sweden--knew FIFA was corrupt but were afraid to touch it.
The rest of the world--and many Americans--complain about America acting as the world's policeman, but FIFA never would have been cleaned up without action by the US Department of Justice. Every other country, even the most publicly moralistic--Germany; England; Sweden--knew FIFA was corrupt but were afraid to touch it.
3
Football is the best sport you can have in life.
The next FIFA president should be an European. I love the european philosophia in sport, in world competition.
The next FIFA president should be an European. I love the european philosophia in sport, in world competition.
1
So, what.
FIFA needs to redone the awarding the next two tainted World Cups (Russia and Qatar), before they can have credibility. It is not enough to suspend people; they need to be fired and be tried criminal activity.
All FIFA did today was a hand slap; nothing more.
FIFA needs to redone the awarding the next two tainted World Cups (Russia and Qatar), before they can have credibility. It is not enough to suspend people; they need to be fired and be tried criminal activity.
All FIFA did today was a hand slap; nothing more.
1
platini is another blatter lackey who sold his vote for Qatar in order to land his son a cushy job. anybody who thinks his election as blatter's replacement would lead to anything other than a continuation of graft and corruption at FIFA is woefully naive. his explanation of receiving over a million bucks from FIFA for work he did nine years earlier is an absolute master class in fabrication.
2
It is the same refrain, whether from a street criminal or a FIFA executive: Most deny culpability and long for the justice they are entitled but have been denied.
IMO, possibly the only means for credibly preserving FIFA as an organization is via some sort of Swiss legal/judicial receivership, if one exists. Where the government or judicial system basically seizes the entire corrupt entity, and a judge or trustee is appointed with a mandate to clean house, preserve incriminating evidence for trials of former employees, reorganize the business, etc.
IMO, possibly the only means for credibly preserving FIFA as an organization is via some sort of Swiss legal/judicial receivership, if one exists. Where the government or judicial system basically seizes the entire corrupt entity, and a judge or trustee is appointed with a mandate to clean house, preserve incriminating evidence for trials of former employees, reorganize the business, etc.
1
Interesting that no matter how far down the FIFA roster they go, every representative seems to have some number of skeletons in the closet. Endemic corruption of the organization should be the real target of the "independent ethics committee".
3
Why isn't there a single woman's name in the discussion of who will lead FIFA out of this mess? After more than 20 years of Women's World Cup tournaments, there are scores of knowledgeable, passionate women leaders in the soccer community!!
7
Michelle Akers fof FIFA President.
4
Which women would you recommend to be President of FIFA? And do you think all the men who do the voting-pretty much the same ones who chose Blatter-will now choose a woman to replace him, no matter how qualified she might be?
Suspended? Ninety days? These people are all corrupt and should be shown the door, permanently!
5
Some people just can't see the writing on the wall and think, that they indestructible and irreplaceable. If Blatter & Co are allowed to hang on to their places at FIFA and UEFA, they will ruin both organizations.
Funny thing is that Michel Platini was against awarding the games to Qatar, but for some reason changed his mind...
Funny thing is that Michel Platini was against awarding the games to Qatar, but for some reason changed his mind...
4
We all knew Blatter was corrupt but Platini painted himself as Mr. Virgin White Football for the Masses" man and yet he accepted a huge bribe to stand down against Blatter for the FIFA presidential election. I hope he is convicted. The funniest thing is FIFA actually has a ethics committee! hahaha! They are about as ethical as a bunch of marauding Vikings.
This lot could teach the mob a thing or two about racketeering and money laundering.
This lot could teach the mob a thing or two about racketeering and money laundering.
4
we all know that Blatter is corrupt? who told you that, have you ever heard of the presumption of innocence
1
Bernhart: hahahahahaha
3
I say we should nominate Donald Trump as FIFA President.
1
Trump want to be the next president of the US, not FIFA.
"FIFA will now be run by an interim president, Issa Hayatou, who is the Cameroonian leader of African soccer’s governing body and the most senior FIFA vice president. Mr. Hayatou, however, was reprimanded in 2011 by the International Olympic Committee’s ethics commission after he admitted to receiving payments from a marketing company, which was, in the commission’s view, a conflict of interest."
...you can't make this stuff up.
...you can't make this stuff up.
4
No matter who will be the next FIFA president, the FIFA Wolrd Cup is the biggest sporting event in the world.
Football is too big to fail.
Football is too big to fail.
Blatter and his inner circle have been able to control FIFA due to the fact that every member country is represented in the general congress and each has equal voting rights. That is crazy. The small countries can easily be controlled with money and the promise of it. Not all soccer countries are equal. The United Nations model should be copied. Countries with strong soccer traditions, including world championships and strong club teams should control the sport worldwide. These countries also have better established systems of legislation and justice administration. European and South American countries should have a permanent presence in the central administration. And, a formal, independent legal system, similar to the World Court, with permanent powers of oversight, must be established to prevent corruption. This legal oversight is absolutely necessary. In the meantime, who's going to handle the complexities of the 2016 World Cup, other than the host nation?
2
@ Lara — The “2016 World Cup”? Are you talking about the next senior-level men’s World Cup? That is scheduled for •2018•, in Russia.
It’s true that the U-20 Women’s World Cup (hosted by Papua New Guinea), the U-17 Women’s World Cup (hosted by Jordan), and the Futsal World Cup (hosted by Colombia), will all be held in 2016. But I suspect you were not trying to make a point about the complexities of handling those tournaments.
— Brian
It’s true that the U-20 Women’s World Cup (hosted by Papua New Guinea), the U-17 Women’s World Cup (hosted by Jordan), and the Futsal World Cup (hosted by Colombia), will all be held in 2016. But I suspect you were not trying to make a point about the complexities of handling those tournaments.
— Brian
1
Blatter must be so relieved this is over.
FIFA's ethics, like the UN's, are of Third World quality, rife with corruption, nepotism and bribery.
5
I'd suggest Roger Goddell be appointed temporary executor of FIFA.
If the goal is to impose some institutional credibility.
If the goal is to impose some institutional credibility.
1
Sorry, there is no universal measurement for how much a soccer ball has to be inflated. He would have nothing to do.
3
No no no.
Sorry my friend but we dont need a time-outed game. And we want to keep the real football ruling the world.
Sorry my friend but we dont need a time-outed game. And we want to keep the real football ruling the world.
Didn't he already announce his retirement in June?
Should be for 90 YEARS.
1
that is not the end of Blatter he has just extended holidays. But this day i hopefully the end of Mr. Platini and Mr. Kim.
FIFA's rotten to the core. It's time to revoke FIFA's legal standing and create an entirely new organization, formed on the principles of transparency and accountability, to take FIFA's place.
31
Some of the day-to day workers are probably fine, but I'd agree that the majority of the executives and their personal staff are probably corrupt.
1
How far down the chain of command do you have to go before you find someone without a tarnished record? This is serious but you have to admit is also hilarious!
7
"A fourth executive, the former FIFA vice president Chung Mong-joon, was barred from the sport for six years and fined 100,000 Swiss francs, or about $103,000, on Thursday. Mr. Chung, a South Korean billionaire whose family heads the Hyundai conglomerate, had, like Mr. Platini, been a candidate to replace Mr. Blatter. But he has been found guilty of infringing FIFA’s ethics code in connection with the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, FIFA said."
So the FIFA Ethics Committee (insert spit take here) banned Mr. Moon, but seemingly found nothing wrong with the WINNING 2018 and 2022 bids? Do I understand that right? If I didn't love fooball as an ardent fan, this would be hilarious. As it stands, it's horrifying.
90 day suspensions for Bladder and Platini? You know what we call that? Vacation. How about they be cellmates on Devil's Island?
So the FIFA Ethics Committee (insert spit take here) banned Mr. Moon, but seemingly found nothing wrong with the WINNING 2018 and 2022 bids? Do I understand that right? If I didn't love fooball as an ardent fan, this would be hilarious. As it stands, it's horrifying.
90 day suspensions for Bladder and Platini? You know what we call that? Vacation. How about they be cellmates on Devil's Island?
10
why do you love a "sport" where most of the matches have been rigged to the benefit of gambling syndicates ?
1
A 90 day suspension is just about the right length of time for a nice cruise. What an appropriate "punishment".
So Michael Platini, the supposed white knight of FIFA who would ride in and reform the organization from top to bottom, took $2.1 million from Blatter for "services performed" from 1999-2002? What services could those be, I wonder. Surely something completely honest and legal, judging by the ethically immaculate track record of top soccer officials. Sadly he is as corrupt as the rest of them, and I don't think any real reform would result from his presidency.
But the problems with FIFA go far beyond who is the president; the byzantine and secretive structure of this organization and the enormous sums involved breed corruption like a dead cat breeds maggots. My suggestion would be to take all the firewood in Switzerland, add gasoline, and burn FIFA along with its creepy Dr. Strangelove headquarters to the ground. It's time for football to start over.
But the problems with FIFA go far beyond who is the president; the byzantine and secretive structure of this organization and the enormous sums involved breed corruption like a dead cat breeds maggots. My suggestion would be to take all the firewood in Switzerland, add gasoline, and burn FIFA along with its creepy Dr. Strangelove headquarters to the ground. It's time for football to start over.
13
Blatter late than never.
9
While this news makes me mimic Charles Foster Kane's reaction to his wife's opera performance right now, it concerns me as to who exactly in the FIFA building is actually fit to run the organization?
Issa Hayatou has been alleged to have received multiple bribes for TV rights and for the selection of Qatar.
Platini is alleged to have received bribes from FIFA.
Juan Angel Napout's reign for CONMEBOL has been rife with bribery issues, most notably the 2016 Copa America.
CONCACAF is in shambles right now.
AFC's Sheik Salman has had corruption and human rights charges lobbied against him, dating back to his days in Bahrain.
Oceania has been in Blatter's pocket so much that David Chung shouldn't even be thought of as a potential successor.
An outside reformer must be found.
Issa Hayatou has been alleged to have received multiple bribes for TV rights and for the selection of Qatar.
Platini is alleged to have received bribes from FIFA.
Juan Angel Napout's reign for CONMEBOL has been rife with bribery issues, most notably the 2016 Copa America.
CONCACAF is in shambles right now.
AFC's Sheik Salman has had corruption and human rights charges lobbied against him, dating back to his days in Bahrain.
Oceania has been in Blatter's pocket so much that David Chung shouldn't even be thought of as a potential successor.
An outside reformer must be found.
13
You pretty much have to bring in someone who already has more money than God, so they can't be corrupted as well. Career politicians and "ambitious" businesspeople just can't be trusted.
All thieves - FIFA is corrupt through and through. Simply there are no honest men in what is really a pig's trough . ..
15
FIFA has a Sepp Blatter infection, and the organization refuses to administer strong enough medicine to itself to clear it up. I predict years more corruption within the organization, most of it more low-level and local, in order to keep it out of the headlines. FIFA should be disbanded, and world soccer/football should start over. The only problem is most of the countries in FIFA, along with their local soccer officials, like the organization, and want their own slices of its slush money. If the members of an organization like its corruption because it serves them, cleaning up the group is impossible. Just ask international bankers if anything has really changed for them since the Great Recession of 2008.
14
Don't you mean Fifa? Like Libor and Nyhca? etc.? I'm joking of course. It's just silly to refuse to "spell" acronyms in all caps like the rest of the world. I guess you do it until, even to you, it would look silly, thus, Fifa.
The soccer governing organizations are a victim of their own success, in the end. Large amounts of money, combined with entities from individuals to nations begging for favors, and lax oversight seems to have led to the inevitable corruption. So, what to do, and, who will do it?
1
The sponsors of the irredeemably corrupt FIFA should withdraw their money completely until the organization cleans itself up, top to bottom. Soccer fans and players have had enough.
4
The problem with this is that there are already reports that should sponsors withdraw others are eager to step up to the trough.
You want FIFA fixed? Relocate it from Switzerland were non profits make virtually no disclosures. Have a board of directors, noa UN General Assembly voting system.
Something to be said for disclosed audits and third part reviews. Until such day, a bunch of greedy men in their 50s and above will continue to run this circus without adult supervision.
Something to be said for disclosed audits and third part reviews. Until such day, a bunch of greedy men in their 50s and above will continue to run this circus without adult supervision.
29
Americans couldn't stand by while the Euros swindled both FIFA & IMF, so they gathered some evidence, and went out to fetch those rascals holding posts which should be accrued to investment bankers gone broke, if you could find any of those.
1
Are you through rewriting history? The facts! We actually enforce laws requiring payment of income tax in the U.S., perhaps that's not the case in he D.R. When a person throws money around like water, and their tax return doesn't reflect sufficient income/tax paid to account for this, it attracts the attention of the IRS - see "Al Capone" for further details. An investigation of a FIFA official living in the U.S. by the IRS was the start of this affair. It was like pulling a thread in a garment, and watching the whole thing unravel!, .
9
FIFA has an ethics committee? You can't make this stuff up.
"I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!"
-- Captain Renault in the movie Casa Blanca
"I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!"
-- Captain Renault in the movie Casa Blanca
40
Renault's line is immediately followed up by a croupier walking up to him and saying, "your winnings, sir." Just like FIFA, too.
The "ethics committee" is alternately known as the whitewash committee.
The "ethics committee" is alternately known as the whitewash committee.
5
The American "justice" system can get anyone except the ones who are actually breaking the laws that effect Americans...starting with Wall Street. I could not care less about FIFA and its issues, yet my government seems to think this is a priority, just like destroying Syria. When will the US government start dealing with the issues important to me, and not our "allies" in the Middle East?
3
Alcibiades, you know a government with a $ trillion+ annual budget can do a LOT of things at once, including enforcing US tax law, which precipitated the whole investigation.
9
Actually, the US governemnt spends far more going after small time offenders than anyone who does any real harm. How many investigations into the manipulation and subsequent destruction of the US housing market have occurred, how many Wall Street crooks do we see in jail? Oh that's right, the US AG says they are too big to fail, any harm to them would mean harm to us...LOL. Its NOT that the US government does not enforce laws, its just they do it (just like the military) selectively, and with great prejudice.
1
Alcibiades, and why would it upset you that the DoJ appears ready to drop a load of bricks on FIFA. Is massive tax evasion and wire fraud unworthy of prosecution? The DoJ's obvious failings, starting with Eric Holder proposing a deliberate system of hefty fines instead of criminal prosecutions as an assistant in the Clinton Administration, and his implementing it as AG, bracketed by two stints as a partner in a white shoe law firm representing, surprise, banks, are dire. But that does not negate the reasonableness of AG Lynch going after rotten to the core FIFA. By the way, I hold no brief for Holder, whom I consider a hack, the fact that he and I are graduates of the same High School notwithstanding.
2
And it only took about 6 months, give or take....
1
Poor Europe. Having to deal with some 1.5 million Middle Eastern immigrants starting a new life there and now Soccer being in disarray spells out nothing but misery and loss of dreams for the lower middle class folks.
2
More corruption to be discovered I'm sure which will leave no person standing. Perhaps we need Trump to build us a wall from it all and vote in Cantona to run it all.
FIFA is rife with corruption, starting at the top.
22
Oh please, please tell me which international organization is NOT corrupt, the only difference is FIFA gave the games to Russia, and not America. It is never about corruption, its about control.
1
Even Tom Brady's lawyer couldn't help save this bunch of scoundrels.
9
You really think the IRS investigation was started by a case of sour grapes? You could be right that international all have corruption, but that's no reason governments should go after one when there's enough evidence to do it. It's a little like saying, everyone gets sick, so why bother trying to cure a disease.
14
Is anyone left? I volunteer to run FIFA, but can someone explain the rules of soccer to me?
9
'Soccer' doesn't have rules, it has laws (seventeen of them). Yes, I'm being that guy.
4
Gavin, and "The Laws of the Game" are the only laws FIFA deigns to follow.
2
The name of the Game is FOOTBALL.
Thats the first rule you have to know if you want to run FIFA.
Good luck.
Thats the first rule you have to know if you want to run FIFA.
Good luck.
Note that this is internal suspension that comes at that the same time as one of Mr. Blatter's challengers, Mr. Chung, is barred, i.e. eliminated from FIFA...
I don't trust this...
I don't trust this...
4
Two thoughts that immediately come to mind:
1. Even though FIFA's ethics committee has found Chung guilty of violating 5 FIFA articles (which accounts for his lengthy ban), they are not releasing the details of the allegation nor the evidence against Chung. The ethics committee is chaired by Hans Eckert, who last year controversially decided to withhold Michael Garcia-led 2014 investigative report on the 2018 and 2022 bidding process.
2. Even though Eckert's committee has been investigating Chung since Jan 2015, they did not suspend him while the investigation was ongoing and only when he was found guilty. Why then did Eckert suspend Platini, Blatter and Valcke while they are investigating them?
1. Even though FIFA's ethics committee has found Chung guilty of violating 5 FIFA articles (which accounts for his lengthy ban), they are not releasing the details of the allegation nor the evidence against Chung. The ethics committee is chaired by Hans Eckert, who last year controversially decided to withhold Michael Garcia-led 2014 investigative report on the 2018 and 2022 bidding process.
2. Even though Eckert's committee has been investigating Chung since Jan 2015, they did not suspend him while the investigation was ongoing and only when he was found guilty. Why then did Eckert suspend Platini, Blatter and Valcke while they are investigating them?
7
Xavier, spot on analysis, and certainly questionable that they seem to have found nothing amiss in the *successful* 2018 & 2022 bids...
1
Are those pigs I see getting ready to take off?
4
like the Swiss would have ever raised a finger if there hadn't been incredibly powerful evidence from other sources. Most of their wealth was raised by the German's European campaign on the utter annihilation of Judaism. When the German's failed their Swiss bank accounts were federalized - no wonder the Swiss are so powerful they confiscated the wealth of 6 million European Jews by proxy - I wish I could suck the wealth out of six million people and not have to pay any repercussions.
2
Don't worry, Wall Street is getting paid back in spades...
2
About time!
7
Question: After these 90 days, do all the people who died in Qatar while building the world cup stadiums get to come back to life? Or do their families just get restitution? 90 whole days!? Wow FIFA you really made an example out of them. Disgusting isn't a strong enough word.
38
Unfortunately, it is the limit of what the ethics committee is allowed to suspend somebody for based on being charged. If they are found guilty they can easily up the suspension to a ban, probably will be a lifetime ban, but this is just the start. Jack Warner was the start of this thread and he had mentioned that he had more incriminating evidence in his spat with John Oliver, so we could see even more FIFA executive committee members looking at punishment. Blatter could be facing even more serious charges in the next few months.