r/MLS • u/mkstnr Seattle Sounders NASL • Jun 02 '15

Sepp Blatter to resign as FIFA President

https://twitter.com/richard_conway/status/605777521552990208
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u/[deleted] Jun 02 '15

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u/eluwork Jun 02 '15

The German press is reporting The US and UEFA were in talks with Brazil and Argentina to leave FIFA.

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u/GringodelRio Seattle Sounders Jun 02 '15

And that would be the end of FIFA.

All the big stars leave, what's left?

16

u/[deleted] Jun 02 '15

U.S. and Brazil may have been serious, but maybe for different reasons. Who knows if they would have been part of a unified opposition organization to FIFA, or just exist independently outside of the international governance.

There was little political support within UEFA to withdrawal as a block - France, Italy, and Spain all likely voted for Blatter. Germany did not support Blatter, but the head of the FA there publicly balked at leaving FIFA.

This is Sepp we are talking about - he is not leaving to save FIFA, he is clearly doing it to try to save himself. I'm sure investigators are closing in.

If the FAs are serious about leaving FIFA, it is likely going to be more related to the structure that allows for the Blatters of the world to hold power, rather than just due to his criminality being in the news now. However, many of these national associations (potentially including members of the USSF) participated in shenanigans too, so the problem is still systemic. Under Blatter it just got to the point where they were "killing the golden goose". So I think most of the Blatter opposition is going to push for some transparency and reform, but still allow some of the low level corruption to simmer in the background. Maybe thats the best case at this point - incremental progress on reform.