Finally finished watching the Switzerland game. We are good in first half and suck in second halfs since the World Cup. Stupid red card by Jozy. Our offense was pretty non existent, even before the red card.

4/3/2015 10:16:23 PM

Quarterfinals on a weekend in Baltimore sounds much more enticing than a weekday in the georgia dome....so I am there!

4/4/2015 12:34:54 AM

Not a bad first half. I wish they were playing on a better field though.

4/15/2015 10:05:34 PM

Good win, still concerned with our offense. The first goal was a lucky bounce.

4/15/2015 11:24:56 PM

That kid is going to be a stud, he is SUPER FAST!

4/15/2015 11:53:36 PM

thanks to U-Verse and their fight with FS1 i got to watch this on Univision. I'm not really complaining.

4/16/2015 8:53:04 AM

Just watched some highlights from the U-23 win over Mexico...that keeper looks fucking legit. As does the Morris kid. I don't follow our national program at all...are our young kids getting better?

4/24/2015 10:56:05 AM

Zelalem officially cleared and will play for U21s

5/13/2015 8:01:00 PM

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/28/sports/soccer/fifa-officials-arrested-on-corruption-charges-blatter-isnt-among-them.html

Quote :

"FIFA Officials Are Arrested on Corruption Charges; Sepp Blatter Isn’t Among Them"

Arrested on US charges of wire fraud, racketeering, and money laundering. Arrested by Swiss authorities.





wasn't sure where to put this, but there was more discussion ITT on Qatar shenanigans, etc, than in old World Cup threads, so here is goes.

5/27/2015 8:56:29 AM

I originally posted this in the EPL thread because that's where most of the soccerheads reside.

Anyway, Blatter's a dead man walking. You know the feds are offering some nice deals to these guys in exchange for the whale. Somebody will bite.

5/27/2015 9:52:23 AM

Quote :

"Blatter's a dead man walking."

popcorn.gif

5/27/2015 12:18:21 PM

It's amazing that this is actually a full blown RICO case. The leeway they will have to freeze assets and squeeze people for information is almost unlimited. These people aren't hardcore criminals though, they aren't cracking skulls or ordering hits, and there certainly isn't a "no snitching" code like in real organized crime. One of the dudes they arrested today will crack and finger Blatter as the ringleader.

5/27/2015 12:50:40 PM

I don't follow the sport as much as I would like to, so this question is going to be dumb....

Is there any chance that the WC in Qatar gets moved? Or maybe a better, dumb question would be the possibility of any country not attending the event?

5/27/2015 12:56:08 PM

Definitely on the table, Russia has already released a statement calling the indictment and arrests "illegal", so clearly they are worried this could take away their World Cup.

5/27/2015 1:06:44 PM

It's about damn time. Not only should Qatar never have received the World Cup, but the conditions of the laborers they "hired" to build stadiums, hotels, etc. (they had zero soccer infrastructure) are absolutely deplorable and downright criminal. Qatar's own government estimates that 5,000 people (slaves) will die during construction (and you know that estimate will be substantially lower than the actual). Absolutely ridiculous that the greed and corruption of these FIFA officials have lead to the loss of life of thousands of poor laborers, and FIFA, after having given them the games, refuses to stand up for these workers.

Oh, and next up is the NCAA.

5/27/2015 1:43:55 PM

Quote :

"Qatar's construction frenzy ahead of the 2022 World Cup is on course to cost the lives of at least 4,000 migrant workers before a ball is kicked, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has claimed. The group has been scrutinising builders' deaths in the Gulf emirate for the past two years and said that at least half a million extra workers from countries including Nepal, India and Sri Lanka are expected to flood in to complete stadiums, hotels and infrastructure in time for the World Cup kickoff. The annual death toll among those working on building sites could rise to 600 a year – almost a dozen a week – unless the Doha government makes urgent reforms, it says. The ITUC has based the estimate on current mortality figures for Nepalese and Indian workers who form the bulk of Qatar's 1.2 million-strong migrant workforce, the large majority of whom are builders. Advertisement While it admits that the cause of death is not clear for many of the deceased – with autopsies often not being conducted and routine attribution to heart failure – it believes harsh and dangerous conditions at work and cramped and squalid living quarters are to blame."

To be fair, these workers will come to Qatar to work of their own free will. Still,

Why don't we just hold World Cups in the developed world, and in countries where a healthy soccer infrastructure is already in place. My God.

5/27/2015 1:54:15 PM

Of course they come. They dont have employment options available to them as poor and uneducated laborers. They have families to feed and this provides them with consistent work and consistent pay (until they die, of course).

Check out this article from the Guardian regarding Nepalese workers who were not allowed to return home after the earthquakes to even see their families and make sure they were alive.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/24/qatar-denies-nepalese-world-cup-workers-leave-after-earthquakes

5/27/2015 2:05:02 PM

Someone from the Railhawks was indicted?

5/27/2015 4:08:59 PM

Yeah, their owner lol. In this scheme he's the equivalent of the junior Mafiosa who gets pinched for the crimes of his bosses. He'll end up snitching, no doubt, he doesn't want to go to jail.

5/27/2015 4:40:59 PM

I'm wondering if the investigation extends beyond bribes for world cups and into match fixing, being selective with Refs, etc. who knows what they will find when people start spilling tha beans. Could end up being bad for the growth of soccer here in the U.S. as a major spectator sport?

Quote :

"I originally posted this in the EPL thread "

My b, you were postin early!

5/27/2015 4:55:49 PM

This was the better thread for it anyway.

Once it gets established that Qatar got the WC underhandedly, I don't see how they don't rebid it.

If it did stand, there would be so much boycotting and public pressure because of the slave labor and corrupt officials it would be nothing short of a total disaster. No way FIFA saves face unless they rebid it on an even playing field.

[Edited on May 27, 2015 at 7:43 PM. Reason : coys]

5/27/2015 7:43:10 PM

Quote :

"To be fair, these workers will come to Qatar to work of their own free will."

A lot of these people are duped into coming by people who get commissions or act as middlemen for these construction companies. A lot of these workers are uneducated, poor, and don't have any clue what they are signing up for. Its an all too common story among Indian, Nepali, and Bangladeshi workers.

Once they get there they realize how terrible it really is and then they can't leave because their passports are confiscated for the duration of their contract.

5/27/2015 7:54:57 PM

Quote :

"I'm wondering if the investigation extends beyond bribes for world cups and into match fixing, being selective with Refs, etc. who knows what they will find when people start spilling tha beans. Could end up being bad for the growth of soccer here in the U.S. as a major spectator sport?"

I don't believe so. The DoJ press conference made it pretty clear that their investigation did not turn up anything against matches or players. While I am sure match fixing is rampant in smaller organizations it would take a lot to keep it under wraps in European big leagues, especially after calciopoli. At least I hope not.

5/27/2015 7:58:02 PM

Early speculation tells me that nothing will change. Guy just got re-elected.

5/29/2015 1:33:04 PM

One forum poster I read put it best. It's good if Blatter wins (this said pre-vote). It's now time for these sponsors, UEFA, and other like-minded countries to show whether they backup their statements and grow some balls.

5/29/2015 1:36:22 PM

Quote :

"I'm wondering if the investigation extends beyond bribes for world cups and into match fixing, being selective with Refs, etc."

The sources for the DOJ's info wouldn't be involved in soccer to that degree. It's more corruption tied into media contracts. Their sources are Jack Warner's two sons, Chuck Blazer, and Traffic Sports who control media rights for a lot of soccer tournaments in the Americas, and also own the Carolina Railhawks. (there's rumors Nike are also involved in the investigation for stuff in Brazil)

[Edited on May 29, 2015 at 1:46 PM. Reason : /]

5/29/2015 1:42:22 PM

Brazil gonna have to take down some banners. Now states in business

5/29/2015 5:44:03 PM

Tonight at midnight the USMNT U-20 plays in the World Cup on FS1.

5/29/2015 6:49:55 PM

yea baby

5/31/2015 12:01:17 AM

Nice come from behind win by Tab's team last night.


U-20 USMNT

6-2-15 vs New Zealand 3 am FS1

6-5-15 vs Ukraine 3 am FS1

5/31/2015 12:26:14 AM

Zelalem

6/2/2015 11:10:24 AM

U-20 USA 4 New Zealand 0

We advance to the knockout phase.

6/2/2015 12:03:47 PM

Sepp Blatter just resigned.

6/2/2015 12:56:38 PM

bye.jpg

6/2/2015 12:56:52 PM

6/2/2015 1:11:54 PM

Woot!!!

6/2/2015 1:30:41 PM

So he just wanted to win the election one more time?

6/2/2015 1:32:24 PM

Crucial first step hopefully today. I want to be optimistic that this will inspire change and transparency but I remain reserved. Regardless of what happens next this is at least an opportunity for reform and as fans we can only hope they grasp it with both hands.

6/2/2015 1:41:53 PM

^Nothing changes with 2022. The guy that ran against Blatter was from Jordan right? If he does take control of FIFA then I could see more favoring of the Middle East.

6/2/2015 2:20:42 PM

That would imply that FIFA would think it smart to elect a guy who bowed out so the guy who just resigned could win.

Seems like the smartest decision that they could make ....

6/2/2015 2:28:00 PM

He didn't bow out so Sepp could win, he bowed out because Sepp had already won. I also don't believe Ali would be elected. The nations didn't support him anyway. There will be 3 to 4 months till congress reconvenes again and by then a new candidate will emerge.

Qatar is an issue to be addressed surely but Ali gives me no reason to believe he wouldn't open up the bidding for 2022 again if it is found to be corrupt in the investigations. Ali is from the middle east but he seems to be a man of integrity. Not sure if Ali was pandering to the football fans desire for change and transparency or he actually meant it.

All we can do is hope, hope that the new regime at FIFA are held accountable for their actions and new laws such as term limits are imposed. FIFA is under scrutiny now, the DOJ won't forget about them and this truly is a chance for change.

6/2/2015 2:57:37 PM

2022 better be reassigned now. Don't let the old, corrupt leaders follow through with their plan.

Also, if Blatter thinks that resigning is going to save his ass from the feds...

6/2/2015 3:04:07 PM

This is a RICO investigation by the way.

Blazer's plea bargain testimony was released: he admits to taking part in bribes along with others for awarding the 1998 and 2010 World Cups, as well as kickbacks for numerous Gold Cups, in addition he has not paid his taxes from 2005 to 2010 https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.documentcloud.org/documents/2093153/blazer.pdf

all FBI info on the mass of people involved: http://www.justice.gov/opa/file/450211/download

6/4/2015 12:13:21 AM

Broke in the last hour:

http://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2015/jun/04/jack-warner-fifa-corruption-i-have-kept-quiet-i-will-do-so-no-more-live

Quote :

"Some intriguing news coming out of Ireland now. John Delaney, the chief executive of the Football Association of Ireland, has apparently been on Irish radio revealing that his organisation received five million euros from Fifa in 2009 in the wake of Thierry Henry’s infamous handball to avoid any legal action. Daniel O’Donnell of the Irish Independent writes on Twitter: John Delaney confirms that FIFA paid FAI €5 million in 2009 after the Thierry Henry handball so they wouldn't proceed with a legal case. 11:10 AM - 4 Jun 2015"

Quote :

"We’ve managed to get our hands on the transcript from Delaney’s interview with RTE, and it’s pretty damning stuff … (the figure put to him by the presenter was five million euros): We felt we had a legal case against Fifa because of how the World Cup play-off hadn’t worked out for us with the Henry handball. Also the way Blatter behaved, if you remember on stage, having a snigger and having a laugh at us. That day when I went in, and I told him how I felt about him, there were some expletives used. We came to an agreement. That was a Thursday and on Monday the agreement was all signed and all done. It’s a very good agreement for the FAI and a very legitimate agreement for the FAI. I’m bound by confidentiality for naming the figure. You’ve put a figure out there and fair play to you, it was a payment to the association to not proceed with a legal case. In there they signed a confidentiality agreement where I can’t talk about the amount involved. You used a figure there, well done to you, but it was a very good and legitimate deal for the FAI."

[Edited on June 4, 2015 at 12:20 PM. Reason : .]

6/4/2015 12:13:16 PM

^ HOLY SHITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

6/4/2015 12:14:47 PM

Hope we show up tomorrow against Netherlands.

6/4/2015 9:44:10 PM

Quote :

"The German newspaper Die Zeit reported on Friday that the then chancellor Gerhard Schroeder supplied arms to Saudi Arabia in return for support in Germany’s World Cup bid, in which it defeated South Africa 12-11 in the final round in controversial circumstances. The claims, also reported in Der Spiegel, alleged that the government lifted arms restrictions days before the vote in order to make the shipment and help swing Saudi Arabia’s vote to Germany."

6/5/2015 2:56:16 PM

can't believe we haven't netted one yet

6/5/2015 2:56:34 PM

harsh goal. Great cross from Depay. Damn it Depay don't do this to me.

6/5/2015 3:01:22 PM

Right back at you Depay, great cross from Johnson! Cool finish from Zardes too.

6/5/2015 3:08:24 PM