The corruption of FIFA

Every sport in today's big money environment appears to be fighting corruption in some way/shape/or form. Fifa, on the other hand, may actually be embracing it. Case in point, some of the allegations made by former FA Chairman Lord Triesman regarding the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids last December.

• The ex-FA chairman has accused four Fifa members of trying to bribe him, including Fifa vice-president Concacaf president Jack Warner, who denies any wrong doing, of allegedly requesting for £2.5 million to be channelled through him.
• Lord Triesman also alleges the president of the FA of Thailand, Worawi Makudi, asked for control over the TV rights of a friendly between England and Thailand in return for his vote.
• He has also claimed Paraguayan Fifa executive Nicolas Leoz asked him for a knighthood and alleged that Brazil's Ricardo Teixeira said: “Tell me what you can do for me when you come to see me.”
  

There is still more to be found out about this story. The fact of the matter is that Great Britain and the U.S. were both believed to be front runners for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups respectively and the countries lost out overwhelmingly to Russia and Qatar. There had been several cases of bribery revealed prior to the December decision, and it would surprise no one if either of these tournaments were bought rather than earned. FIFA holds itself above all government intervention and its board members effectively are lifetime appointments. This seems to be a fertile breeding ground for this type of foul play.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2931/go-global/2011/05/10/2479962/former-fa-chairman-lord-triesman-accuses-four-fifa-members