The DnD Sanctuary

This thread starts at the run-up stages to the 2014 Football World Cup with, as seems to be customary, controversy surrounding the event.

Will the stadiums be ready in Brazil? Will the Brazilian zest for fun win out over public concern over the cost over-runs and the resulting unrest?

Meanwhile, accusations continue regarding the allocation of the 2018 event to Qatar.

The UK Sunday Times (1st June)  claims to have several secret documents (millions - yes you read that correctly, millions), which are alleged to show that payments totalling US$5m were made in support of Qatar's  bid, suggesting bribery on a massive scale. Calls are being made to rerun the competition to host the event.

But is FIFA capable of making a credible decision? Maybe they could decide that the Antarctic would be a good venue!

Oh yes, there is that other little matter - who is going to win the World Cup?

Stadiums? We don't have enough hospitals, airports, railroads, highways, jails... and we have too much corruption and criminals loose in the streets. Who cares about stadiums?
I wish we could use stadiums to get health care to the people or to arrest criminals.
The world cup in Brazil is a shameless joke.

Are we talking here about  that brand of football that is actually played with the foot?

Are we talking here about  that brand of football that is actually played with the foot?

We are, and also a World Cup that is actually a World Cup.

@Barulheira - you have a good point, these International extravaganzas are often at the expense of real life. The concept is that there should be some sort of legacy from the "investment" but all too often that is simply ignored and just used as a fig-leaf to justify the ego of a few people.

That said however, I intend to enjoy the spectacle.

At the old times, people wanted pans et circens.
Today,  they satisfy with circens.

I hope that pseudo incorporation of my Country, a bunch of underhumans that goes by the name of
the "football selection" to be crushed, defeated and, if possible, kidnapped to some distant destination and never ever return from such "World Cup".

At the old times, people wanted pans et circens.
Today,  they satisfy with circens.

I hope that pseudo incorporation of my Country, a bunch of underhumans that goes by the name of
the "football selection" to be crushed, defeated and, if possible, kidnapped to some distant destination and never ever return from such "World Cup".

Don't hold back. Tell us what you Really think

Ok... we are going to win it, we'll be the World Champions. We have Cristiano Ronaldo we need nothing more, I suppose we can play just with him in the field and spare sending the other morrons.

The more corrupt the championship, the better. It will add an extra humiliating sense of defeat and unfairness to the other competitors that will constitute poetry to my soul. :)

I'm also considering to suit the Portuguese "National Football Federation" for usurpation of the National Flag and Symbols.

Wait... are we going to play against the United States??  :lol:
I can't miss this one.

I didn't bother to watch, but apparently we beat Spain by 1 - 5; the biggest Spanish defeat since 1963. Back then Spain lost from Scotland by 6 - 2.

I didn't bother to watch, but apparently we beat Spain by 1 - 5

You missed one of the best ever goals, scored in a WC. It was a breathtaking game to watch.

I didn't bother to watch, but apparently we beat Spain by 1 - 5; the biggest Spanish defeat since 1963. Back then Spain lost from Scotland by 6 - 2.

It was a good result - congratulations to Holland.

The Dutch performance reminded me a bit of the way Ajax and then Holland used to play. The Spanish picked it up but the Dutch were better at it yesterday. Possession followed by instant denial is the key.

Ok... we are going to win it, we'll be the World Champions. We have Cristiano Ronaldo we need nothing more, I suppose we can play just with him in the field and spare sending the other morrons. . . .

Not a chance, they have an outsize TV screen, Ronald will be too busy looking at himself to score.

You missed one of the best ever goals, scored in a WC. It was a breathtaking game to watch.

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWkOWmDKqEQ[/video]

Found it. (Unless the other one's better still?)

Found it. (Unless the other one's better still?)

That was a good one too but I was thinking more of this one.
Best video I could find.

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpR4dn99WPg[/video]


Edit: Fixed video link

Heh, nice.

Meanwhile, accusations continue regarding the allocation of the 2018 event to Qatar.

So the Emir managed to bid higher than Putin who wanted the event be played in his back yard the way he did with winter olympics...

Quote from: Frenzie on 2014-06-14, 20:43:53

Found it. (Unless the other one's better still?)

That was a good one too but I was thinking more of this one.
Best video I could find.

Nice. This one still works.
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzC6bqHdbNs[/video]

Unlike others that remains mute when their country loses, I want to proudly announce to the world that Portugal was beaten by Germany by an humiliating 4-0.
As previously accorded, now we just have to pay half of our debt. :)

Mrs Merkel, present at the stadium,  seemed very satisfied with the agreement.

I've said all along that Germany will win it all. They are my favorite, and I am pulling for them, but am also pulling for the US, who are currently leading Ghana 1-0 at 79 minutes.

The Iberic countries are doing the worst so far. :(
But I expect them to overcome this soon. :yes:

I've said all along that Germany will win it all. They are my favorite, and I am pulling for them, but am also pulling for the US, who are currently leading Ghana 1-0 at 79 minutes.[/b]

Is that something the Britts taught ya!?  (https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/BigToothSmile.gif) 

Isn't that what they call ........................ wanking?   (https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/JerkOFF.gif)   (https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/lolfun.gif)

Be careful, I hear that that can affect yer vision!!! (https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fundefined&hash=9e8e11ba12f827c1e343b4c675b87bec" rel="cached" data-hash="9e8e11ba12f827c1e343b4c675b87bec" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://undefined)(https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/grin2.gif)

Maybe they could decide that the Antarctic would be a good venue!

Nah, they can't afford the bribes :right:

I hope that pseudo incorporation of my Country, a bunch of underhumans that goes by the name of
the "football selection" to be crushed, defeated and, if possible, kidnapped to some distant destination and never ever return from such "World Cup".

That's what I keep thinking every time this particular brand of mad cow disease has another outbreak.

Here's one take on FIFA
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/06/09/world-cup-brazil-john-oliver_n_5471605.html

That was fun tt.  :D

An asided, realting to the politics.

Blatter is to run for 5th term (http://www.globalruns.com/blatter-to-pursue-fifth-term/)

The bad news is that he is likely to get it unless a combination of sponsors and the relative powerful European FAs stick their ground.

But in the end, the decision will depend on the number of votes for and against and on who has the courage to stand out against him.

The other day he annoyed the Europeans by claiming that the British Press was conducting a racist campaign on FIFA's choice to World Cup Venues, notably Qatar. see here (http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jun/09/sepp-blatter-fifa-qatar) and here for the European Reaction (http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/06/10/uk-soccer-fifa-uefa-idUKKBN0EL1UR20140610) and here (http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/international/english-and-dutch-fas-turn-on-sepp-blatter-at-heated-meeting-1.1827113) and here (http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/uefa-urges-blatter-run-fifa-presidency-24072967)

So even after that criticism Blatter is eager to soldier on happily supported by a host of FAs who benefit from IFA largess and galvanted by racist goading from Blatter.

Here's a special World Cup recipe:

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqjZSsx5ARc[/video]

Portugal lost  2-2 with the Usa.
Yes, lost.
Not winning 5-0 against the Usa it's always a defeat.

Perfect, maybe this football mummery will end once for all.

I am terribly torn about tomorrow's match.

I have had Germany winning it all from the beginning, but of course have been supporting USA (us) as well.

Damn it!

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhQwLeMcbRY[/video]


vs


[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAYPN-1Yjt0[/video]

If the US and German team each bring some good food and wine and have a relaxing picnic on the grass for 2x45 minutes, they will both go on to play another day.

If on the other hand they play something resembling football, the loser risks being eliminated by the winner of the Portugal-Ghana match. That team would then have forfeited the game for having drunk too little wine.

I heard that Germany-Ghana was a very impressive match.

I think this world cup is the first one ever that I have no idea who is likely to be in the final. The teams that are left all look capable of winning their matches, except for Greece maybe. On the flip side due to some poor defending at times, they all look capable of losing their next match as well.
It makes a very good competition for us neutrals, who's team wasn't good enough to qualify in the first place.  (https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/253164678/crying.gif)

I'm going for Argentina and Netherlands in the finals. (https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sherv.net%2Fcm%2Femoticons%2Ffootball%2Fsoccer-ball-kicker-smiley-emoticon.gif&hash=379e471f909c69332e69b4b957a222db" rel="cached" data-hash="379e471f909c69332e69b4b957a222db" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/football/soccer-ball-kicker-smiley-emoticon.gif)

I am terribly torn about tomorrow's match.

I have had Germany winning it all from the beginning, but of course have been supporting USA (us) as well.

Damn it!

The coach of Americans is also a German, so there's no reason to be torn. You are for Germany in both cases :)

On the Suarez biting offence, I heard an amusing suggestion for his punishment.

Take his teeth out!

It was in the paper so it must be true. A betting firm has paid out fifty thousand Euros to individuals who bet that he would bite at least one World Cup athlete.

It was in the paper so it must be true.

Just like on the internet, eh?

Quote from: Colonel Rebel on 2014-06-26, 00:58:10

I am terribly torn about tomorrow's match.

I have had Germany winning it all from the beginning, but of course have been supporting USA (us) as well.

Damn it!

The coach of Americans is also a German, so there's no reason to be torn. You are for Germany in both cases :)

Touché!  :cheers:

Plus, don't most of the American players play in Germany?

Alas, they're out. They put up a fine show last night. Now it's time for Argentina to be bedeviled.  :hat:

(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FXJkotV7.gif&hash=9fb4c26015baf75fd9ad8e18a764e18e" rel="cached" data-hash="9fb4c26015baf75fd9ad8e18a764e18e" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://i.imgur.com/XJkotV7.gif)        Drain Bamage (http://consumer.healthday.com/cognitive-health-information-26/brain-health-news-80/heading-soccer-ball-can-damage-brain-study-says-684615.html)        (https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/chuckle002.gif)     (https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/firefart.gif)

I've said all along that Germany will win it all.

I wish you were right but it won't happen.
In order to have real chances for the title you need at least 15 players in best physical condition and in excellent form. At the moment we have 9 at most. It's an off-the-wall team we are playing with. With some luck we might get over les Tricolores (France) tomorrow but the next station, probably the Seleção (Brasileira), will be the last one for us :(

The Economist has made a neat graph of World Cup goals that I think is an interesting as a graph, more so if you are interested in scoring.

GOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLL! (http://www.economist.com/node/21603828)

You have nine? We have one, at most. :eyes:

You have nine? We have one, at most. :eyes:

Wonder which one that is :)

You could lend us 5 players so we can have a real chance for winning the world cup ;)
How about Dani Alves, Thiago Silva, David Luiz, Marcelo and Neymar?

You could lend us 5 players so we can have a real chance for winning the world cup ;)
How about Dani Alves, Thiago Silva, David Luiz, Marcelo and Neymar?

This is not some Eurovision where you can borrow performers from any random place you want.

I agree they are great players. Though they are still not working well together as a team. And I really appreciate the way the German team is doing lately. (As well as their #2 uniform.) :)

(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FXJkotV7.gif&hash=9fb4c26015baf75fd9ad8e18a764e18e" rel="cached" data-hash="9fb4c26015baf75fd9ad8e18a764e18e" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://i.imgur.com/XJkotV7.gif)        Drain Bamage (http://consumer.healthday.com/cognitive-health-information-26/brain-health-news-80/heading-soccer-ball-can-damage-brain-study-says-684615.html)        (https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/chuckle002.gif)     (https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/firefart.gif)

I can't remember the last time I headed a ball.

I can't remember the last time I headed a ball.

It's starting! :no:

(I can't quite either, although I can offer a guess. Uh oh.)

"Headball"?
What should be the name of a sport where you can move the ball with any part of your body except the arms? :right:

"Headball"?
What should be the name of a sport where you can move the ball with any part of your body except the arms? :right:

Blow Football (http://www.davison.actinet.net/games/blowfootball.html)

(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FXJkotV7.gif&hash=9fb4c26015baf75fd9ad8e18a764e18e" rel="cached" data-hash="9fb4c26015baf75fd9ad8e18a764e18e" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://i.imgur.com/XJkotV7.gif)        Drain Bamage (http://consumer.healthday.com/cognitive-health-information-26/brain-health-news-80/heading-soccer-ball-can-damage-brain-study-says-684615.html)        (https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/chuckle002.gif)     (https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/firefart.gif)

(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Ftheonlinestuff.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2011%2F07%2Ffunny-soccer-pictures2.jpg&hash=3bad7b7a5d7b5193493d9d562b3bdb34" rel="cached" data-hash="3bad7b7a5d7b5193493d9d562b3bdb34" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://theonlinestuff.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/funny-soccer-pictures2.jpg)

Brazil playing Germany next. Any thoughts on that one?

Brazil defeated us at the world cup in Korea/Japan (2002) and are IMO also this time the team with the better chances to win.

(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fs10.postimg.org%2Fp8ja3audz%2FB_G.png&hash=584c92220dba20a152f78917c5a226d2" rel="cached" data-hash="584c92220dba20a152f78917c5a226d2" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://s10.postimg.org/p8ja3audz/B_G.png)

Brazil playing Germany next. Any thoughts on that one?

A win for Brazil, if the current standard of refereeing is anything to go by.  (https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/253164678/Whistle.gif)

In my opinion Brazil went already too far beating Chile and Colombia. I'm going for Müller, Özil & Co.

I would prefer a Championship where some outsider could go into the final.

To have Brazil/Argentina at one "side" and Germany/Holland at the other it's just plain boring.
The entire thing should be annulled and start all over again.

I would prefer a Championship where some outsider could go into the final.

Whom would you prefer?

Uruguay? Switzerland? :)
Anyone but the usual ones.

Uruguay? Switzerland? :)
Anyone but the usual ones.

Uruguay did already won the world cup twice, so you could mention the USA instead :)

Quote from: Belfrager on 2014-07-08, 08:17:46

Uruguay? Switzerland? :)
Anyone but the usual ones.

Uruguay did already won the world cup twice, so you could mention the USA instead :)

The reason I didn't was just because I don't think that turn the World Football Championship into "The biggest World's Soccer Super Bowl" to be that much interesting...

In no time, they would start playing dressed as Captain America... :)

Uruguay hosted and won the first FIFA World Cup (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA_World_Cup#World_Cups_before_World_War_II)

The 19 World Cup tournaments have been won by eight different national teams. Brazil have won five times, and they are the only team to have played in every tournament. The other World Cup winners are Italy, with four titles; Germany, with three titles; Argentina and inaugural winners Uruguay, with two titles each; and England, France and Spain, with one title each.

(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2Fb%2Fb7%2FWorld_cup_countries_best_results_and_hosts.PNG&hash=fe3da3de14e6c3610114224e25d4e5d6" rel="cached" data-hash="fe3da3de14e6c3610114224e25d4e5d6" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b7/World_cup_countries_best_results_and_hosts.PNG)

Based on the above map and your criteria, something like India-Ethiopia would be nice. If it were restricted to be two countries that got through group stage Algeria-Costa Rica would be good as well.

The reason I didn't was just because I don't think that turn the World Football Championship into "The biggest World's Soccer Super Bowl" to be that much interesting...

In no time, they would start playing dressed as Captain America... :)

Think about it twice. It could be funny, Portugal vs USA  :)
The below screenshot was made during a game between FC Porto and ManU.

(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fs13.postimg.org%2Fw6zaroqad%2FFC_Porto_Man_U.jpg&hash=fe7e2cf424c01492b329e6cf440bba85" rel="cached" data-hash="fe7e2cf424c01492b329e6cf440bba85" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://s13.postimg.org/w6zaroqad/FC_Porto_Man_U.jpg)

I really don't know what to say....
:lol:

Deutschland Deutschland über alles,  über alles in der welt!

Brazil got beat up & humiliated by Germany 7-1 :eyes:

Finally, this is Brazil.

de blitzkrieg  :ninja:

Finally, this is Brazil.
(https://dndsanctuary.eu/index.php?action=reporttm;topic=386.67;msg=23214)

You say it well.
Football is the opium of the people. Nothing as such a result to put people back to the reality.

At least something memorable to look back on when the new stadions are to be paid.


Here's a Twitter replay (http://cartodb.com/v/worldcup/match/?TC=x&vis=31ed2e2a-06ce-11e4-8c1d-0e230854a1cb&h=t&t=Brazil%2CFFCC00%7CGermany%2CB40903&m=7%2F8%2F2014+17%3A00%3A00+GMT%2C7%2F8%2F2014+18%3A52%3A00GMT&g=108%7C11%2C23%2C24%2C26%2C29%2C87%2C97#/2/-17.5/-5.6/0)

(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn4.spiegel.de%2Fimages%2Fimage-722123-galleryV9-uaox.jpg&hash=3ad1ae88f94f43ff6842ad90f5ca0a11" rel="cached" data-hash="3ad1ae88f94f43ff6842ad90f5ca0a11" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://cdn4.spiegel.de/images/image-722123-galleryV9-uaox.jpg) (https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn4.spiegel.de%2Fimages%2Fimage-722127-galleryV9-opul.jpg&hash=433e1000379c11836a33038267ae6090" rel="cached" data-hash="433e1000379c11836a33038267ae6090" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://cdn4.spiegel.de/images/image-722127-galleryV9-opul.jpg)

I really appreciate that uniform! :rolleyes:

Nice photographs, Krake...
Poor German, look how they suffer for massacring others... :)

Congratulations, by the way. That's how to play football and solve a game. :)

(Any possibility the anti doping tests to be positive? no? shit.)

I really appreciate that uniform! :rolleyes:

Reminds of the Mengo uniforms (Flamengo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clube_de_Regatas_do_Flamengo)) :)

Nice photographs, Krake...
Poor German, look how they suffer for massacring others... :)

That is Dante (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dante_%28footballer%29) with Müller and Schweinsteiger. They know each other very well since they are playing together at FC Bayern Munich.
Therefore the gesture of Müller and Schweinsteiger could be less hypocritical as you might think.

Congratulations, by the way.

Thanks, even though it's too early for congrats. The decisive game is on sunday.
You can congrat or express your condolence after that game :)

That is Dante (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dante_%28footballer%29) with Müller and Schweinsteiger. They know each other very well since they are playing together at FC Bayern Munich.

And good money that is (http://www.insideworldfootball.com/world-cup/brazil-2014/14988-exclusive-the-costa-rican-world-cup-windfall-that-stretches-from-norway-to-ohio). Even the match losers make their clubs richer. Nine of the Costa Rica team have played for Norwegian clubs, so ideally for these Costa Rica should have won over Germany rather than lose for Netherlands.

(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwp.clicrbs.com.br%2Fpretinhobasico%2Ffiles%2F2014%2F07%2Fvaticano.jpg&hash=a60756512a4104f92d7fe7645c96620a" rel="cached" data-hash="a60756512a4104f92d7fe7645c96620a" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://wp.clicrbs.com.br/pretinhobasico/files/2014/07/vaticano.jpg)
"And now you pray for yours, whereas I pray for mine."

You were faster Barulheira :)
I had the same image prepared for posting it on sunday.

(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lavozlibre.com%2Fuserfiles%2F2a_decada%2Fimage%2FFOTOS%25202014%2F07%2520JULIO%25202014%2F10%2520JULIO%25202014%2Fargentina-alemania.jpg&hash=5e6898af65258d872e8d44a9f8677c7a" rel="cached" data-hash="5e6898af65258d872e8d44a9f8677c7a" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://www.lavozlibre.com/userfiles/2a_decada/image/FOTOS%202014/07%20JULIO%202014/10%20JULIO%202014/argentina-alemania.jpg)

I think it‘ll be very hard for Argentina to beat Germany,  but I had voted Argentina since the early rounds so...!!Go (https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sherv.net%2Fcm%2Femoticons%2Ffans%2Fargentina-fan-smiley-emoticon.gif&hash=c57047f9bd0c059dc37bd36937ab1a1b" rel="cached" data-hash="c57047f9bd0c059dc37bd36937ab1a1b" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/fans/argentina-fan-smiley-emoticon.gif) !!

Even before it's over, it's over for North Korea. And they won! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJoRZOK18Fg

Even before it's over, it's over for North Korea. And they won!

From the Canadian site http://www.cbc.ca/news

What appears to be a North Korean news service reported Friday that its soccer team has advanced to the knockout phase of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and will play Portugal in the Round of 16.
There are three things immediately wrong with this statement:

The Group Phase ended two weeks ago
Portugal did not make it into the Round of 16
North Korea is not in the 2014 World Cup

Other than that gaffe, North Korea is spot on. :yes:

Don't be kidded by fake news: Fake North Korean news report shows World Cup triumphs over Japan, U.S. and China (https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/soccer-dirty-tackle/fake-north-korean-news-report-shows-world-cup-triumphs-over-japan--u-s--and-china-203939872.html)

Let's celebrate that with a little song&dance!

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cG7ZVBXQII[/video]

Surprise!! Germany won.  :lol:

My congratulations Herr Von Krake.

Well,  I' m just happy Argentina made it to the Finals!  :cheers:

My congratulations Herr Von Krake.

Obrigado senhor Belfrager :)

Don't be kidded by fake news: Fake North Korean news report shows World Cup triumphs over Japan, U.S. and China (https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/soccer-dirty-tackle/fake-north-korean-news-report-shows-world-cup-triumphs-over-japan--u-s--and-china-203939872.html)

You have to hand it to the North Koreans. They don't just have fake news like the rest of us, they have fake fake news.

Surprise!! Germany won.  :lol:

My congratulations Herr Von Krake.

:yes:

They don't just have fake news like the rest of us, they have fake fake news.

Fake fake news which happens to be... true news, no? :)

Same day Germany won the World Cup, a German cyclist won the Tour de France stage.  It was impressive the way he did it, amazing.
We don't even know his name of course...

Thanks God we'll not speak about football for the next four years.

Thanks God we'll not speak about football for the next four years.

What, there won't be a Euro 2016? :P

And before that the 2015 Asian Cup, the 2015 North/Central American Cup, and the 2015 South American Cup, and then the 2017 African Cup and 2017 Confederations Cup. There are plenty of cups to run over before 2018.

My cup is full! :wine:

Quote from: Belfrager on 2014-07-13, 21:23:30

Surprise!! Germany won.  :lol:

My congratulations Herr Von Krake.

:yes:

  :cheers:

My cup is full! :wine:

Speaking of full cups :)

(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fs3.postimg.org%2Fcksdv6bi9%2Fimage.jpg&hash=ba38bea84630996b553590a52ed770cb" rel="cached" data-hash="ba38bea84630996b553590a52ed770cb" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://s3.postimg.org/cksdv6bi9/image.jpg)

Oh yes, I should have added, Congratulations to Germany - they thoroughly deserved to win the tournament, being the best team.

The other team that won my respect was the Algerian Team.





England for the 2018 World Cup !

Perchance to dream
Perchance to scream
well, you know what I mean.


:jester: :drunk: :hat:

And before that the 2015 Asian Cup, the 2015 North/Central American Cup, and the 2015 South American Cup, and then the 2017 African Cup and 2017 Confederations Cup. There are plenty of cups to run over before 2018.

The question remains how much of that'll be given much media attention in Europe/Portugal. But the fans'll have plenty if they want.

Indeed. It doesn't require scoring to be interesting. :rolleyes:

I was wondering what the hell is missing from this thread about the world cup won finally by Germany.
Our hero member SmileyFaze gave the answer. It was a dancing Hitler.
:down:

(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi57.tinypic.com%2F2e1hmw5.png&hash=4a8d4dd4ec5e93093015a7cbc93a70e3" rel="cached" data-hash="4a8d4dd4ec5e93093015a7cbc93a70e3" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://i57.tinypic.com/2e1hmw5.png)

The long awaited report on corruption within FIFA has been published.

Well sort of.

What was published was a report by Hans-Joachim Eckert, Fifa's independent ethics adjudicator, who wrote the report. A synopsis, that is, of the full report written by Michael Garcia, a former United States federal prosecutor.

Eckert's report clears Qatar but criticises (the) English FA (http://), concluding, more or less, that FIFA and Qatar are blameless but the English FA are really naughty.

When I started writing this post I was going to follow-on the above by writing something like "Bollocks" and pointing out that FIFA people have been mired in corruption for many years as evidenced by how many of them have been suspended from their posts. But then I would say that wouldn't I, being English.

But such words are not really necessary, Garcia has already objected to Eckert's interpretation of his (Garcia's) report :

Fifa report 'erroneous', says lawyer who investigated corruption claims (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30037729). He is reported to have stated that the report

"contains numerous materially incomplete and erroneous representations"

.

There are calls for Garcia's report to by published in full, naturally by the naughty English.

So FIFA's reputation remains questionable. Mind you I don't expect them to publish the full report.

Edit: I see that UEFA (with others) has joined the Naughty Club in also calling for the full Garcia Report to be published:

Michel Platini wants Fifa World Cup report to be made public (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29337509)

Meanwhile, things are going just fine in the favelas.
(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.npr.org%2Fassets%2Fimg%2F2014%2F04%2F23%2Frio232way-3e0711fff0ad36abe07ea20ad147e74d82ff0d11-s1200-c85.jpg&hash=a280423e58739b9b26ea6880de84de19" rel="cached" data-hash="a280423e58739b9b26ea6880de84de19" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2014/04/23/rio232way-3e0711fff0ad36abe07ea20ad147e74d82ff0d11-s1200-c85.jpg)

Noting the position of the finger I suspect a posed picture is what we're looking at.


SF to advise please.

Criticism of FIFA continues. According to Michael Garcia, the American Lawyer who conducted FIFA's own investigation in Corruption, Hans-Joachim Eckert, for FIFA, has misrepresented the conclusions of his report. This confirmed the suspicions of many and there is a growing clamour for the full report to be published. Both in the UK (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30077311) and in Germany (http://www.itv.com/news/2014-11-17/germany-warns-that-uefa-could-quit-fifa-if-bidding-report-is-not-published-in-full/) there are calls for strong action by UEFA, raising the possibility of a boycott of the Russian-hosted World cup in 4 years time or even UEFA quitting FIFA.

External to Europe, in America is also dismay at the continuing inability of FIFA to  put its house in order, or even admit that a problem exists. Spicing up the whole thing is an ongoing investigation by the FBI - see  FBI moves ahead with FIFA corruption probe (http://edition.cnn.com/2014/11/13/politics/fbi-fifa-corruption-probe/).

Australia too is not silent Fifa under fire after World Cup corruption report (http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/football/fifa-under-fire-after-world-cup-corruption-report/story-fn63e0vj-1227122733740?nk=d152b836b8a2ce06c32d17cb681ef4c3)


This Thursday
- Michael Garcia and Hans-Joachim Eckert (are) to discuss FIFA bidding report (http://). I doubt that anything will come of it directly excect that FIFA may well dig the hole they have fallen into even deeper - see here (http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/9567649/michael-garcia-and-hans-joachim-eckert-to-discuss-fifa-bidding-report-as-whistleblowers-hit-out).

There are many articles to choose from Just Google

Corruption FIFA.

It looks as though FIFA is approaching an end game of sorts.

Arrests have been made for corruption and some FIFA officials/ ex-officials have admitted guilt already, as a result of an investigation by the FBI.

The arrest comes a couple of days before the election for a new President.
Fifa corruption inquiries: Officials arrested in Zurich (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32895048)

So far so good.

We are issuing FIFA a red card": US Department of Justice vow clamp down on football corruption

The USA showing the red card to the International Football Association?

One starts to wonder if it's really only about corruption or rather politically motivated.
Fighting corruption is one thing, instrumentalizing the FIFA for political purposes just another.

The next president of FIFA has a responsibility to ensure not only a safe and successful 2018 World Cup, but the endurance of the FIFA mission that claims to promote football ‘globally in the light of its unifying, educational, cultural and humanitarian values.’  We strongly encourage you to elect a president who will uphold these values and work to deny the Putin regime the privilege of hosting the 2018 World Cup.

So far so good.

Quote

We are issuing FIFA a red card": US Department of Justice vow clamp down on football corruption

The USA showing the red card to the International Football Association?

One starts to wonder if it's really only about corruption or rather politically motivated.
Fighting corruption is one thing, instrumentalizing the FIFA for political purposes just another.

Probably Putin had to pay up less to FIFA bosses than U.S did in their time, so the outcry is most definitely only about corruption. Under a fair system, the prices would be equal or in some agreed proportion.

In the meantime UEFA has asked Blatter to resign, which he has refused to do.  Putin has weighed in, accusing the US for pursuing a World Domination agenda in investigating FIFA. It is worth mentioning that the Swiss authorities are investigating the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups won, respectively, by Russia and Qatar. The FBI has been investigating previous corruption, money laundering and so on.

Platini, UEFA President, has openly mentioned the possibility of UEFA boycotting the FIFA World Cup should Blatter get re-elected.

Several people, ex FIFA Officials, have been arrested for questioning in connection with the FBI investigation.

This Friday there will be an election for President of FIFA for the next 4 years. UEFA will have a meeting afterwards to consider their reaction should Blatter win another term as President.

Quite a mess!

I'm not a FIFA fan but there's news about the scandal everywhere.

From http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/29/sports/soccer/sepp-blatter-fifa-corruption-soccer.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0 (http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/29/sports/soccer/sepp-blatter-fifa-corruption-soccer.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0)

ZURICH — Sepp Blatter, the president of world soccer’s governing body, acknowledged the “unprecedented and difficult times” for his organization on Thursday and said it must do a better job of policing itself, but he largely avoided taking responsibility for the actions of “a tiny minority” arrested in a corruption inquiry this week.

Jack Warner, a former FIFA vice president, is among those expected to face charges in the United
Despite Wednesday’s arrests, Sepp Blatter is expected to win a fifth term as FIFA’s president on Friday.

FIFA officials, including Eduardo Li, were led out of the Baur au Lac hotel on Wednesday. Mr. Li was set to join FIFA’s powerful executive committee this weekend.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the annual congress of the members of FIFA, the governing body, Mr. Blatter initially struck a somber tone after the arrest of several top soccer officials during a dawn raid at a luxury hotel here on Wednesday. Mr. Blatter, who was not directly implicated in the indictment from the United States Department of Justice (which is seeking extradition of the executives detained on their request) or a separate investigation announced by Swiss authorities, said he knew that many soccer observers “hold me ultimately responsible for the actions and reputation of the global football community, whether it’s the destination of the hosting of a World Cup or a corruption scandal.”

What the fuck Americans sending international arrest orders against football? Do they even play it?
It will be like Strauss Kahn, some American prostitute trap used to interfere in international order.

Some local news reports suggested that the arrests took far too long because the suspects were all writhing on the ground pretending to be injured.

Yes they play it Belfrager kind of but like everything else they do they think the usual boasting is sufficent!

In the last world cup, the USA advanced past the first stage.
Portugal did not. :right:

Well Blatter got re-elected which sets him up to complete 20 years in charge of FIFA.

Now, is the ***t about to hit the fan?

OK. UEFA, let's see what you've got (they have a meeting tomorrow (.I think)

edit: Correction - the meeting is not this Saturday it is "next week" - see here (http://www.tsn.ca/blatter-re-elected-as-fifa-president-1.294499)

Despite the chaos and controversy engulfing Fifa, world football’s governing body, its president, Sepp Blatter, has secured a fifth term in charge.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/may/29/sepp-blatter-reelected-fifa-president-fifth-term (http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/may/29/sepp-blatter-reelected-fifa-president-fifth-term)

The London Times has been one of the most active media sources in the struggle to bring evidence of corruption to light in the FIFA/World Cup/Blatter saga. They amassed a large dossier identifying issues that needed investigation but were not successful in getting FIFA to gaze inwards at their own corruption. Such inputs were, it seems,  deemed "too late", or "biassed" or simply ignored.

But the Times data has been passed to the FBI and at last there seems to be the prospect of the whole business being brought to a head.

I don't normally buy the Times (it costs 4 or 5 € here in Majorca (my mind tends to black out unpleasant things!)) but yesterday, I bought the Sunday edition where they had some 6 large pages all about FIFA. I searched to see if there was a "killer" fact.

I didn't find one, but there were some promising remarks.

The view was that the FBI investigation was making good progress. Some 14 People have been arrested, including a couple of FIFA Vice Presidents (1 past,  1 present) and more information is being unearthed. The USA deems any criminal activity related to its currency as a Crime in America and this forms the legal basis for it's investigation and justification for arresting/deporting people from anywhere. This would normally be viewed as high handed, but I'll swallow it in this case.

The US also has the facility for "plea bargaining" where a criminal can get a lighter sentence of he helps the court, for example giving evidence against other criminals. This seems to be a major factor in the FIFA prosecutions and likely to gather pace. Chuck Blazer, the American head of the N.American Football grouping, is reputed to have taken bribes and to be availing himself of this arrangement. Walker, an ex FIFA Vice President has indicated he might be amenable to "spilling the beans".


In Switzerland, investigations are ongoing on the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, and the Swiss Press is apparently starting to fulminate against Blatter, a Swiss Citizen. It has been reported that he will be questioned by police although there has been no credible claims yet that he has taken bribes, only that all this happened on his watch and thus he should go.

UEFA have their next meeting on this Friday to decide what to do, and there is a rumor that they will consider a competing competition put forward by the Danish delegate.


All that is probably  more than enough for now, but I can recommend a very good article: Fifa corruption: The 161-page dossier exposing the organisation's dark heart (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/fifa-corruption-the-161page-dossier-that-exposes-the-organisations-dark-heart-10283050.html)

Fifa President Sepp Blatter issues defiant warning to opponents: 'I forgive everyone, but I don't forget' (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/fifa-president-sepp-blatter-warns-his-opponents-i-forgive-everyone-but-i-dont-forget-10286984.html)
(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.independent.co.uk%2Fincoming%2Farticle10286302.ece%2Falternates%2Fw620%2FBlatter2-Getty.jpg&hash=23f3ee94c408322df196e3bbe99ad91b" rel="cached" data-hash="23f3ee94c408322df196e3bbe99ad91b" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/article10286302.ece/alternates/w620/Blatter2-Getty.jpg)

Blatter is innocent, and if you don't believe me, look at this bit from The New York Times.

The embattled Sepp Blatter struck a familiarly defiant tone as he began his fifth term as president of FIFA, blaming others for the widespread corruption scandal that has engulfed international soccer.
Mr. Blatter told reporters late on Friday and on Saturday that the United States authorities chose last week to make a raid in Zurich as an attempt to stop him from being re-elected as the head of FIFA, soccer’s world governing body.

Mr. Blatter also said the arrests of 14 soccer and marketing officials had stemmed from resentment by England and the United States, which failed in bids to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
He also suggested that the United States authorities acted because of American political support for Jordan, the country of Mr. Blatter’s rival in Friday’s FIFA election, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein.
When FIFA has been confronted with charges of corruption, Mr. Blatter has often blamed larger nations to shore up his support among smaller, less developed countries.

The timing of the raid was not a coincidence, Mr. Blatter told RTS, saying, “The Americans, if they have a financial crime that regards American citizens, then they must arrest these people there and not in Zurich when we have a congress.”
On Saturday, Mr. Blatter said at a news conference that he did not believe he would be arrested and denied that he was the unnamed FIFA official accused in Wednesday’s indictments of offering a $10 million bribe in an attempt to influence the vote for the 2010 World Cup.
“I have especially no concerns about my person,” Mr. Blatter said.

You might take a look at John Oliver's assessment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=qr6ar3xJL_Q (https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=qr6ar3xJL_Q)
This is getting better and better. When The Onion gets in, madness can't be far behind.
http://www.theonion.com/article/fifa-assures-fans-investigation-wont-affect-2022-q-50536 (http://www.theonion.com/article/fifa-assures-fans-investigation-wont-affect-2022-q-50536)
From The Onion piece...

“Regardless of this ongoing probe, our officials are committed to accepting bribes in exchange for FIFA media and marketing rights, redirecting construction funds to personal expense accounts, and offering lavish gifts to Qatari political ministers in order to sidestep government regulations exactly as originally planned. These accusations of wrongdoing will not be a distraction as we prepare for what we all hope will be the greatest FIFA slush fund yet.”

And there's the clip from The Simpsons.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=UIj4c7dJsQ8 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=UIj4c7dJsQ8)

At last!

Blatter is resigning (http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/32982449)

Sepp Blatter says he will resign as president of football's governing body Fifa amid a corruption scandal.

In announcing his exit, the 79-year-old has called an extraordinary Fifa congress "as soon as possible" to elect a new president.

Blatter was re-elected last week, despite seven top Fifa officials being arrested two days before the vote as part of a US prosecution.

But he said: "My mandate does not appear to be supported by everybody."

"My mandate does not appear to be supported by everybody."

Obviously, the man is a genius. He's done something for the good of world football.

Yes, but in a very awkward way. Apparently the earliest that a new election can be held is in December, but it could be as late as March next year.

So even in resignation he is going to f**k things up!

In the meantime I understand he will be going ahead with some of the reforms he has been aching to do all these years.

Well it takes a long time to shred documents.

The right thing to do would be to ask the (ex) Vice President (who resigned earlier, refusing to serve under Blatter) to reconsider his resignation and hand over the reins to him as an interim President.

A local columnist described him as a man with a name like an anagram.

FIFA seems to be imploding with the potential body count of arrests seemingly increasing daily.

Fifa crisis: Jack Warner 'to reveal all despite fears' (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-33002674).

Jack Warner was a former Vice President of FIFA who is on the "Red List" (those for whom a warrant is out for arrest (he is on bail at the moment) and is probably going to be extradited to the US. He has been seriously compromised for years and this comes as no surprise.

He seems to be a bit of a drama queen. When he left FIFA some years back he was full of threats about telling all about other people and it seems this has now re-surfaced in his recent statements. Whether he is a reliable witness is open to opinion. As you will see from the link he is now implicating Blatter in a bribery scandal. That comes as a bit of a surprise to me, I have not been assuming that Blatter had committed crimes, just that he was blind to them.

Incidentally, the day after Blatter's statement of intent that he would resign, an English Newspaper had a pithy headline:

Blatts all Folks !!

From the New York Times...

LONDON — Jack Warner, the former FIFA vice president who was among 14 people indicted by the United States last week as part of an inquiry into corruption in world soccer, says d he knows why the organization’s president, Sepp Blatter, announced plans to step down from soccer’s governing body.
“Blatter knows why he fell. And if anyone else knows, I do,” Mr. Warner said in his home country of Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday, referring to Mr. Blatter’s decision this week to resign after 17 years at the helm of FIFA, soccer’s governing body. Mr. Warner, who said he feared for his own life, also said he had evidence linking FIFA to his country’s 2010 election.
Mr. Warner was once a close ally of Chuck Blazer, the former general secretary of Concacaf, the governing body that oversees soccer in North America, Central America and the Caribbean. Mr. Blazer has admitted taking bribes from bidders seeking to host the 1998 and 2010 World Cups and is now cooperating with the American authorities. On Wednesday, a judge in New York ordered the release of a redacted version of his plea hearing in 2013

The problem with someone like Warner is that he's capable of lying and does so very well. Blatter may well be guilty but I wouldn't rely on the unsubstantiated word of Warner who will do anything to cover his own ass.

Sepp Blatter to travel to Women's World Cup final (http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/32969143)

According to a press conference I just watched, this is not confirmed yet.

It raises some speculative thoughts about possible conversations the FBI might want to have should he fly through a US airport.

In a way I hope not because the Woman's World Cup is a major tournament and it would be a shame of attention was distracted from it.

Incidentally, for those that have not habitually followed the woman's game, the standard there is very high. Admittedly it is not quite as fast as the man's game, but the skill level is very high and the games are well worth watching.

The United States beat Germany, 2-1. There is a God, and He's American!

And to think that Rj doubts our greatness.

Obama will win a third term.

In a way I hope not because the Woman's World Cup is a major tournament and it would be a shame if attention was distracted from it.

The women’s World Cup of Soccer is underway in Canada, not that you’d know it from the sports pages. Team USA played the Australians who didn’t have very friendly things to say about us after the game… which, we did win, 3-1, not that you’d know from the sports pages on Yahoo…
(source (http://thedavebowmanshow.com/2015/06/10/a-muscular-attitude/) 38:58+ on the podcast)

Most Americans just don't care about soccer… It's dull! (Just like most Brits don't care about American football: It's dull, and violent… So, the violent part must be your problem. You're used to dull! Or do y'all just like running back and forth over grass?)
The Mexicans have a different perspective: Without severed heads and mutilated torsos, it's not really a sport, is it? :)

Perhaps that explains Mexico's poor showing…

There have been suspicions of this, but now Blatter has seemingly confirmed his wish to try for re-election

Sepp Blatter: Fifa president says he did not resign] (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33284185).

He seems determined not to leave himself any dignity in this sorry corruption-ridden business called FIFA.

So we are in for more of the saga.

OakdaleFTL is largely wrong about European football not being popular. While there's an element of truth in that claim, soccer for youngsters is growing wildly, and downline that means much more interest in professional football. My grandsons played soccer in Michigan and do here in Tennessee, too.

If somebody had shown me a soccer ball when I was a child, I wouldn't have known what it was. Not so today.

University soccer is common and professional teams are widespread.

Check this out.
https://www.google.com/search?client=opera&q=soccer+in+tennessee&sourceid=opera&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8 (https://www.google.com/search?client=opera&q=soccer+in+tennessee&sourceid=opera&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8)

Do a state search for soccer in any state, and you'll find the same interest. Montana?
https://www.google.com/search?client=opera&q=soccer+montana&sourceid=opera&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8 (https://www.google.com/search?client=opera&q=soccer+montana&sourceid=opera&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8)

and violent…

The reason why no one cares about American "football" it's exactly because it's the only game where the sissies who plays it wears helmets and so many protections that makes them look as monkeys.
Probably most not even needs to wear it to look the same way.

I'd love to see Mr. Belfrager in one of these.

Probably most not even needs to wear it to look the same way.

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aM4_5EisrPQ[/video]

I played Rugby and Boxing at my school times dear jimbro, your "football" doesn't impresses me.

It doesn't impress me, either. I've never been a fan and never will. The same goes for your football. I prefer sports with a higher level of violence.
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkdRzO5SKEA[/video]

Ahh Nascar, where Americans shows they can't even drive cars turning always just to the left side.
I hear people enjoys to go there and eat hot dogs while watching the worst pilots in the world. They find it very American.

I'd love to see you pilot one of those cars, sir. When I watch a race I munch on a Francesinha.

BTW, not all races are on "round" tracks. This weekend's race is on a road course.

The round courses are exciting for somebody who doesn't drive fast. I went around the Daytonna track at 160 MPH some years back.

(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.projectofrancesinha.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2011%2F07%2Ffrancesinha_chines-300x2391.jpg&hash=a159fae504e26d1ebb6efb795d3d4fec" rel="cached" data-hash="a159fae504e26d1ebb6efb795d3d4fec" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://www.projectofrancesinha.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/francesinha_chines-300x2391.jpg)

On occasion (*), I've sat in front of a telly to watch an American Football game but I've never lasted more than 10 minutes.

A couple of quotes from this link (http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevedenning/2012/02/05/not-so-super-sunday-eleven-minutes-of-actual-playing-time/):

"Football combines the worst two things about America: violence punctuated by committee meetings.
–George Will"

and

"As David Biderman pointed out in a fascinating article in the Wall Street Journal in 2010, although the typical NFL game lasts more than three hours, only 6 percent of the total—eleven minutes—is actually spent playing with the ball and attempting to move it forward. The other 94 percent of the time is spent sitting, standing around, and talking about playing rather than actually playing."

In some respects it's a bit like American TV - perpetually waiting for something to happen.

(*) probably 3 or 4 times.

Most sports seem boring or pointless unless you are at least somewhat of a student of the game being played.   :knight:  :cheers:

Hockey is nice.
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmVG31m6lMU[/video]

As we speak, two talented teams are playing soccer in Canada.

And two in Mexico.
(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fsmileyfaze.tk%2Fslides%2F2691k.gif&hash=e25377441414aa8cc01391d792693a27" rel="cached" data-hash="e25377441414aa8cc01391d792693a27" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://smileyfaze.tk/slides/2691k.gif)

Hockey is nice.
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmVG31m6lMU[/video]

Tarnasky - 19 teams in 14 years! Difficult to keep friends in such a sport?

Otherwise:

Glad for England - sorry for Canada.

For the uninitiated:



... and not a crash helmet in sight! (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/33299186)

The last try is quite something.


Mod edit: Fixed URL (hopefully the right one)

"Page not found"

"Page not found"

Try it now. Though as it's on the BBC, I don't know if you can view it.

Thanks, Luxor. I can get to it now.

Thanks, Luxor. I can get to it now.

For the uninitiated:

... and not a crash helmet in sight! (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/33299186)

The last try is quite something.

Mod edit: Fixed URL (hopefully the right one)

Hockey is more dangerous.
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yh_UN3RuoN8[/video]

But see this.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-2408067/Rugbys-ticking-timebomb-Fears-grow-evidence-links-brain-damage-dementia-increasing-number-head-injuries-suffered-players.html (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-2408067/Rugbys-ticking-timebomb-Fears-grow-evidence-links-brain-damage-dementia-increasing-number-head-injuries-suffered-players.html)

Does this go here or in the "Bad News" thread?
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/japan-beat-england-to-reach-world-cup-final-after-laura-bassetts-horrendous-own-goal-20150702-gi37qh.html

It depends on whether you're Japanese or English. We may need an Indifferent thread.

Well it seems that congratulations are in order for the American Ladies who beat Japan in the Final to becopme World Champions for the third time.

Those American gentlemen who gather here might like to ask their SWMBOs what it's all about.

In the play-off for 3rd place England beat Germany. I'd ask my SWMBO about that but she's Danish so it wouldn't help.

In more news, France and Germany intervened over World Cup votes, says Sepp Blatter (http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jul/05/france-and-germany-intervened-over-world-cup-votes-says-sepp-blatter).

It looks like the mud is being spread around. The result of the Swiss investigation into the awarding of the World Cups to Russia (1018) and Qatar (2022) will be interesting to read. I hope they get it out before the Finals take place!

The result of the Swiss investigation into the awarding of the World Cups to Russia (1018) and Qatar (2022) ...

Does the US now investigate the Kievan Rus'?  :o
I thought the English invented football and not Vladimir the Great already at the beginning of the 11th century.

BTW, it's a politically motivated attemt of the USA to deprive Russia from hosting the world cup.
It started (http://www.kirk.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=1018) more than a year ago.

Quote from: string on 2015-07-06, 09:51:24

The result of the Swiss investigation into the awarding of the World Cups to Russia (1018) and Qatar (2022) ...

Does the US now investigate the Kievan Rus'?  :o
I thought the English invented football and not Vladimir the Great already at the beginning of the 11th century.

BTW, it's a politically motivated attemt of the USA to deprive Russia from hosting the world cup.
It started (http://www.kirk.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=1018) more than a year ago.

I certainly approve of sanctions against Russia for their annexation of the Crimea and their instigation and support of secessionists in the east of Ukraine, but the preparations for the World Cup in Moscow are too far gone to stop now unless some very, repeat very, football, related behaviour comes to light.

By the way Switzerland is not beholden to the US, they are, I hope, sharing evidence, but working to a political agenda, I doubt it. The Swiss are good at being neutral.

Should politics and sport be kept separate?
=================================
(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ushmm.org%2Flcmedia%2Fphoto%2Flc%2Fimage%2F14%2F14495.jpg&hash=045b7c6a6060a5487a77b18a8c52c11a" rel="cached" data-hash="045b7c6a6060a5487a77b18a8c52c11a" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://www.ushmm.org/lcmedia/photo/lc/image/14/14495.jpg)

Should politics and sport be kept separate?
=================================
(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ushmm.org%2Flcmedia%2Fphoto%2Flc%2Fimage%2F14%2F14495.jpg&hash=045b7c6a6060a5487a77b18a8c52c11a" rel="cached" data-hash="045b7c6a6060a5487a77b18a8c52c11a" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://www.ushmm.org/lcmedia/photo/lc/image/14/14495.jpg)

As far as I can see, the picture is from the 1934 world cup in Italy. Neither was fascism a concern for the USA at that time nor did it boycott the games.
As you probably know, the USA was one of the participants.
Besides, should I enumerate some big US corporations which helped Hitler to vage war? ...

Anyway, how about a more recent example (one example should suffice so far) instead of yours that is more than 80 years old?

Should the FIFA have ban the US soccer team from the 2006 world cup because of the Iraq war which was in breach of international law and based on lies?
What sanctions would be appropiate for setting on fire entire regions?

Should dirty geopolitical games be extended and used as propaganda on sports and athletes?
In case you think it should - who can guarantee that it will be done equitably?
You? The USA? Russia? China? Switzerland? Or rather Tuvalu?

Besides, should I enumerate some big US corporations which helped Hitler to vage war? ...

What are you trying to imply sir?  And it better be good.   :knight:  :chef:

Quote from: krake on 2015-07-07, 23:57:45

Besides, should I enumerate some big US corporations which helped Hitler to vage war? ...

What are you trying to imply sir?  And it better be good.   :knight:  :chef:

It's astonishing how little some (most?) Americans know even about their very recent history, even so American history as a whole started very late (17th century).
BTW,

(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fwp-srv%2Fnational%2Fimages%2Fnazi4_113098ap.jpg&hash=79c62adec7e84d11d32bf2619fe9e179" rel="cached" data-hash="79c62adec7e84d11d32bf2619fe9e179" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/images/nazi4_113098ap.jpg)
German diplomats award Henry Ford, center, with their nation's highest decoration for foreigners, the Grand Cross of the German Eagle, in July 1938.
=========================================================================

Looking at Jimbro's picture more carefully, I realise that it's from the Summer Olympics (1936).
In contrast to the soccer team in Italy (1934), the American olympic team (359 athletes) was quite successful in Berlin. ;)

On September 30, 1938, British prime minister Neville Chamberlain (an advocate of appeasement), French premier Edouard Daladier, Italian prime minister Benito Mussolini, and Hitler signed the Munich agreement. The Munich agreement ceded the Sudetenland to Germany. In March 1939, Germany occupied and dismembered the rump Czechoslovak state.
=======================================
My picture or my avatar? The avatar is an amalgam of the American and British flags.

Congratulations ladies!
(https://s.yimg.com/cd/resizer/2.0/FIT_TO_WIDTH-w540/ac790b241e7f2d2fa4ba6095266b3ba14062dadb.jpg)

It's astonishing how little some (most?) Americans know even about their very recent history, even so American history as a whole started very late (17th century).

Not their fault, they live in what's basically a giant history/reality washing machine.

It's astonishing how little some (most?) Americans know even about their very recent history, even so American history as a whole started very late (17th century).

I'm not a world historian d**khead, but I know enough about the history of my country.  The trouble is that idiots like you make it sound as though corporate America knew in advance of Hitler's plans and in fact that more than 60 million people would be slaughtered in a world war.  Moreover you make it seem as if IBM, Ford and Bush's grandfather were not patriotic Americans, but indeed, more evil than Hitler himself.  Why do you do stupid shit like this--you sound like rj, only much worse and more prejudiced (jealous).   :knight:   :mad:

d**khead, idiots like you, stupid shit

Mister, your primitive wording speaks for itself.
As for my statement that big US corporations helped Hitler to wage war - it's a fact. BTW, it weren't only Ford and IBM.

Back to FIFA. You boys can get back to your spitting match after this one.

ZURICH (AP) — Chuck Blazer was expelled by FIFA's ethics committee on Thursday for widespread corruption, finally ending the career of the longtime most senior American in world football.

German diplomats award Henry Ford, center, with their nation's highest decoration for foreigners, the Grand Cross of the German Eagle, in July 1938.

Never trust either a diplomat, a plutocrat or a politician, no matter how highly regarded.

:o

U.S. Founding Father and 3rd President, Thomas Jefferson, owned slaves.

:o

Back to FIFA. You boys can get back to your spitting match after this one.

Quote

ZURICH (AP) — Chuck Blazer was expelled by FIFA's ethics committee on Thursday for widespread corruption, finally ending the career of the longtime most senior American in world football.

One can't help wondering if Blazer's biggest crime, in the eyes of the present incumbents at FIFA, was to plea bargain and spill so many dirty beans about corruption at FIFA.

How much do you think a FIFA hit man would €cost€.

As for my statement that big US corporations helped Hitler to wage war - it's a fact. BTW, it weren't only Ford and IBM.

Yes, it was also all the German corporations in case you're forgetting it.

As for my statement that big US corporations helped Hitler to wage war - it's a fact.

Is it proper to make it sound as if the US corps abetted Hitler in the commitment of his atrocities?  No it is not, you are just another member of the US basher's club here on DnD--and none too veiled either.   :knight:  :cheers:

Every country teaches, and learns, and believes, its own brand of history.

Where is the true interpretation?   :knight:

I think you may have begged the question.

Where is the true interpretation?    :knight:

In the eye of the beholder. Donald Trump? Jon Stewart?

(https://dndsanctuary.eu/avs/avatar_35_1393905738.png)?

The newest news on FIFA. Putinistas weigh in.

Russia 2018 chief: Blatter is a victim
Visa has been one of the most critical of Fifa's top sponsors. Nevertheless, such public plain talking is rare.
Coca-Cola and McDonald's have also been vocal about their concerns.
Fifa's other key sponsors include Budweiser and Adidas.
Top Fifa officials were arrested earlier this year on charges of racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering as part of a US prosecution that also indicted 14 people.
It sparked the resignation of its president, Sepp Blatter, who announced he intended to leave next year.

As for my statement that big US corporations helped Hitler to wage war - it's a fact. BTW, it weren't only Ford and IBM.

Did not every European nation (Spain, Italy…), the U.S.S.R., Japan, etc.? (Let's leave out the South Americans… :) ) Your point seems to be that -if U.S. actors support "evil"- the source and main support of the "evil" can be ignored: Because the U.S. is complicit. And we all know that the U.S. needs to be pure as the driven snow — else it is dirty!
Pots calling kettles black is an old women's game. Feel free to play, Krake… :)

Did not every European nation (Spain, Italy…), the U.S.S.R., Japan, etc.?

Nazi ideology was widely spread across Europe. It had sympathizers even among members of the British Royal Family and last but not least in the USA as well (I assume you know about the failed fascist coup over the pond :) ).
But don't mix things up. There is a distinct difference (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/daily/nov98/nazicars30.htm).
Feel free to enumerate big corporations from "Spain, Italy..." able to boost with technology German war industry so it can wage war.
As for the USSR, you are really funny. It must be your 'intellectual' verbal contribution to global warming. :D

Businesses  is beyond evil .

since it serve Both Good and evil .

do not go too far till  to the US .

just watch how Hugo Boss played that so well .

Feel free to enumerate big corporations from "Spain, Italy..." able to boost with technology German war industry so it can wage war.

Portugal sold a lot of wolfram (tungsten) to Germany.
For counter balancing we also sold it to the Allies. Advantages of being neutral. :)

Any soccer expert around? One who is also seeking for a new job?

The Football Association of Finland is on the hunt for a new manager and that job could be yours. All you have to do is submit your resume via email by August 3rd. :)

source (http://blog.foxsoccer.com/post/122286826992/job-posting-new-head-coach-for-finland)

Is anybody here expert on anything?
(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fsmileyfaze.tk%2Fslides%2Fbanana-monkey-34.gif&hash=4581b91d98bc81143186674f7c630391" rel="cached" data-hash="4581b91d98bc81143186674f7c630391" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://smileyfaze.tk/slides/banana-monkey-34.gif)

Fifa: Sepp Blatter faces criminal investigation (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34363289)

Swiss prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into Sepp Blatter, the head of football's world governing body Fifa.

The attorney general's office said he was being investigated "on suspicion of criminal mismanagement as well as - alternatively - on suspicion of misappropriation".

Mr Blatter was being questioned, and his office was searched, it added.

Fifa said it was co-operating with the investigation.

Hmmmm !

This report gives a reasonable amount of data on the background to Blatter's questioning.
The raid was a surprise for Blatter (http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/09/28/us-soccer-fifa-blatter-investigation-idUSKCN0RS0BV20150928)

The end is nigh?

Sepp Blatter refuses to quit despite calls from major Fifa sponsors (http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/oct/03/sepp-blatter-refuses-to-quit-major-fifa-sponsors-coca-cola-mcdonalds-visa-budweiser)

The end is nigher!

Sepp Blatter: Fifa president facing 90-day suspension (http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/34468663)

Fifa president Sepp Blatter is facing a 90-day provisional suspension.
Members of Fifa's ethics committee have recommended the sanction after the Swiss attorney general opened criminal proceedings against the 79-year-old.

I'm  running out if "nighs"!

The end is provisionally "nighed"

Sepp Blatter, Michel Platini & Jerome Valcke suspended (http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/34474231)

The decision stops Blatter being involved in any football related activities for 3 months, close to the time when he is due to step down in February.

One interesting implication is that his FIFA salary may become known. Given that the salaries of football's managers, players etc exceed what most would think are reasonable, I'm  prepared for a few raised eyebrows.

Platini is also suspended; he is a strong candidate to be the next president, albeit tainted by association with the shamed culture of FIFAs's Executive Committee.

I could be wrong, but I think that's killed any hope that Platini had for filling the post.

One can only hope. :devil:

Agreed, I am not a fan of Platini. I am hoping that a genuinely new broom can be elected and reform FIFA comprehensively.

Charges raised against Blatter include those concerned with the payment oh £1.35 to Platini for services given in the period 1998 to 2002. These were not paid until 2011.

It now appears that Fifa’s £1.35m payment to Michel Platini: there was no written contract (http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/oct/11/fifas-135m-payment-to-michel-platini-there-was-no-written-contract)

So done by verbal agreement and in admissable under Swiss Law due to the elapsed time (see the very informative article).

It also appears that Platini is potentially a suspect in wrong doing, although this is not yet the case.

It is rumoured that the election for a new President may be delayed, not I suspect a welcome outcome. Discussions continue.

Now here's an interesting take on the FIFA Corruption Saga -

FIFA corruption scandal: Reporter who ended Sepp Blatter's reign says Qatar World Cup won't happen[/ url]

Jennings thinks thre is a possibility of Qatar being stripped of the 2022 Worl Cup and it being awarded to America. No doubt the other contenders would have something to say about that.
(http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/fifa-corruption-scandal-reporter-who-6654949)

Apparently neither the 2006 World Cup nomination was clean. It seems that some votes for the World Cup 2006 in Germany were bought as well.

Wonder which World Cup nomination during the past decades was clean? Probably none.
FIFA under the reign of Havelange was as corrupt as it is/was under Blatter.

Is there any institution on earth clean of corruption? UNO, EU, local governments?
It would have been a miracle if FIFA would have been different.

There are bad apples everywhere of course. What has made FIFA different is the seeming tolerance by the top executives to corruption and the incompetence of its governance.

There are bad apples everywhere of course. What has made FIFA different is the seeming tolerance by the top executives to corruption and the incompetence of its governance.

It makes FIFA different from what? From e.g. Volkswagen? Different how?

Occasionally they get caught, but it's just the system itself blowing its own dripping nose. It never gets any better.

It makes FIFA different from what? From e.g. Volkswagen? Different how?

Good point, Ersi.

Occasionally they get caught, but it's just the system itself blowing its own dripping nose. It never gets any better.

Occasionally?
Most of the times only when there are 'upper' interests at stake.
Speaking of VW, it was known for 2-3 years that the software is manipulated. It was discovered here in Germany and it wasn't even kept secret except for the unwashed masses. The reason it was made public only now is something I won't start to speculate about.
BTW, Germany and VW is not the only one... Others might give even worse results if checked...

The "System", "Upper Interests"

Worth a new thread methinks - go for it.

I explained what was different about FIFA, whether what happened in FIFA is widespread is pure speculation. Cynicism is all very entertaining, but without evidence not convincing.

FIFA affects the lives of far more people than does Volkswagen by the way and those who enjoy football expect better than has been the case.

The "System", "Upper Interests"

Worth a new thread methinks - go for it.

Sorry, I won't. It would be predestinated from the very beginning to go utterly bad. ;)

FIFA affects the lives of far more people than does Volkswagen by the way and those who enjoy football expect better than has been the case.

I don't disagree.
The same way millions of people expect a decent life instead of wars and thralldom but I'm deviating again from the subject. Call it cynicism.

However, believe me or not, I'm nevertheless a football fan and tomorrow night I'll sit in front of the TV watching:

(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FCPa5Qwc.png&hash=3b26f7e4bf880830ef75afb004e4502d" rel="cached" data-hash="3b26f7e4bf880830ef75afb004e4502d" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://i.imgur.com/CPa5Qwc.png)

:)

The Volkswagen thing needs its own thread, as it happens--- but I have no idea where you'd put it. Maybe an off-shoot of the AGW thread?

I have a suspicion VW thought that because they have small engines they could get away with not hanging DEF systems on their cars. But that's just a theory.

I explained what was different about FIFA, whether what happened in FIFA is widespread is pure speculation. Cynicism is all very entertaining, but without evidence not convincing.

You mentioned what had come to light about FIFA and you refrained from noting obvious parallels with other similar events. Sometimes I think that's cynical.

"Many people will cheat if they can get away with it" is true, but an extreme expansion of this thread on FIFA cheating.

There is probably a thread in waiting for the Wolfsburg manufacturer owning large parts of my town.

That the cheating goes further back than 2014 is a fair point, though probably not a hotly contested one.

There has been a twist in the FIFA Saga with a couple of bits of not exactly unexpected news

Blatter is reported to have stated that the awarding of the 2018 World Cup to Russia was prearranged.
Sepp Blatter: Russia 2018 World Cup 'agreed before vote' (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34657900)

The English FA certainly didn't:
Fifa crisis: We want our £21 million back over Russia 2018 World Cup fix, says FA chief Greg Dyke (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/fifa/11960258/Sepp-Blatter-Fifa-planned-to-hand-Russia-World-Cup-finals-before-the-vote-had-taken-place.html)
and it appears that there is serious talk of suing FIFA by the FA. If they do the other bidders may well do also methinks.

Apparently, according to Blatter, the award of the 2022 World Cup was meant to be rearranged in favour of the USA, but there was a last minute switch to Qatar,
Blatter: US was agreed host for 2022 World Cup (http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/10/blatter-fifa-2022-world-cup-151029091335300.html)

Noting that the Swiss Authorities are examining the process for FIFA's decisions on those two World Cups, we can expect a certain amount of dirty washing to be exposed.

The following is an account of Blatter's interview with Tass, the Russian News Agency. This is what Blatter said:

In 2010 we had a discussion of the World Cup and then we went to a double decision. For the World Cups it was agreed that we go to Russia because it’s never been in Russia, eastern Europe, and for 2022 we go back to America.

I bet Putin just loved those remarks

There is a lot of self-justification going on in that interview, and a lot of blame being distributed to everyone but Blatter himself. Read ther rest for yourselves.
Blatter: FIFA scandal provoked by Michel Platini (http://tass.ru/en/sport/832283)

Both Blatter and Platini got some sentence eventually.

FIFA bans Blatter, Platini for eight years (http://news.yahoo.com/fifa-bans-blatter-platini-eight-years-085745136--sow.html)

String won.

Well I don't know about me winning, but I think Football/ Soccer is better off now that at last the prosecution of wrong-doings in FIFA are systematically being exposed.

The set up, suggested by some, seems to have been the awarding of large amounts of development funds to countries with little footballing infrastructure via the football representatives of those countries who then siphoned off their own bung. This seems to have been done by some members of the executive committee with apparent aquiescence by Blatter who could then rely on those same representatives for his own re-election.

I've written a number of times that I've not seen accusations of direct involvement in criminality levelled at Blatter himself but it's rather obvious that he should have known about such things and the charges now against him are, I think, to do with miss-governance. It is claimed, by the way, that his FIFA salary amounts to 7m$/year, or maybe It was 7m€ or 7m£ --- whatever!

One hopes that the next President of FIFA will be untainted and can do the job properly. If not I think many will get on his case.

It is claimed, by the way, that his FIFA salary amounts to 7m$/year, or maybe It was 7m€ or 7m£ --- whatever!

He probably takes his salaries in $, €, £, or CHF. Whichever looks best at the moment.

FIFA scandal was China's chance, says top sponsor (http://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2016/03/21/fifa-scandal-was-chinas-chance-says-top-sponsor/)

Wang's Dalian Wanda Group, China's biggest commercial property developer and an active buyer of global entertainment and sports companies, became the first Chinese top level sponsor of FIFA last week.

At a news conference in Beijing on Monday, the 61-year-old multi-billionaire said he expected other companies to follow suit to help drive China's ambition to become a soccer superpower.

"Two or three years ago, Chinese and Asian companies probably wouldn't even have had a chance to sponsor FIFA even if we wanted to. But because some western companies dropped out, we got the opportunity," he said.

"To my knowledge, another Chinese company will become a FIFA top sponsor soon. If there are no surprises, there will be three Chinese top-level sponsors by the end of the year.

"If more Chinese brother companies become FIFA sponsors like Wanda, we will join forces to advance the interests of China soccer," he added.

Led by China's President Xi Jinping, an avid soccer fan, China has embraced the goal of shedding decades of corruption and underperformance to become a major power in the game, aiming first to host the World Cup and then ultimately win it.

Belgians look mighty pissed that Japan is honestly beating them, totally different from Russia's lucky win over Spain.

Edit: Dang Belgium caught up and eventually won narrowly. Anyway, it was an interesting game to watch in full.

Go soccer! Woot!

My interest went with Iceland, but the Sweden/Mexico-South Korea/Germany combo was fascinating.

He probably takes his salaries in $, €, £, or CHF. Whichever looks best at the moment.

I imagine that's and, not or. The ratio will differ based on specifics of course.

France will win tonight. Just a prediction. Croatia has done well. It's a good country for tourists. Good ice cream :)

Go Croatia go!

In case you wonder who interrupted the final match briefly: it was Pussy Riot on the loose again https://eadaily.com/ru/news/2018/07/15/aktivistki-pussy-riot-na-poltory-minuty-prervali-final-chm-2018

Still the most successful

Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini have been declared innocent of corruption (https://www.tdg.ch/michel-platini-et-sepp-blatter-acquittes-en-suisse-614149120868). Specifically, a CHF 2m invoice was not fraudulent.

But the FIFA corruption scandal was much bigger than mentioned in the news this time. It involved marketing rights in Americas, World Cup events awarded to South Africa, Qatar and Russia, and elections of FIFA president. Not cleared of all of it, are they? Or is really only the invoice payment between Platini and Blatter in the courts?

Last time when Qatar was awarded the world cup, a huge scandal followed that led to the resignation of several important VIPs at Fifa and ensuing corruption lawsuits. The lesson that Fifa learned from this: Let's do it again!

According to this opinion piece (https://yle.fi/a/74-20005319) (in Finnish), in the current world cup Qatar is leading 3-0 against Fifa:
1. The event is held towards the end of the year, not during the summer of northern hemisphere. The timing of the event was a wrestle between Fifa and the host country, and the host country won. The opinion of the players (stemming from the traditional competition rhythm it's in the players' DNA to exert themselves most during Euro-Anglo-American summer vacations) was not heard.
2. Qatar-Ecuador match was transferred to an earlier date to become the first match of the event, so that Qatar would get all the attention of the world at the start of the event.
3. Beer is banned as per Qatar's laws. In contrast, when Brazil was the host in 2014, Fifa made it clear that beer was non-negotiable (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1pPGdgbrs0), i.e. Fifa's main economic raison d'être is to launder money for Budweiser and Brazil must change their laws to accommodate, so Brazil did so. But vis-a-vis Qatar it turned out that beer was negotiable after all.

This is now the second match Fifa is losing against Qatar. What a loser.