I think it’s about time that I weighed in with my opinion on the never-ending FIFA scandal. So here goes. Above all, this scandal is a colossal bore. Because it has nothing to do with football. Nothing.
A dozen or so guys have been caught, or may have been caught, with their hands in the till. A nefarious activity that seems, these days, to be even more widespread than football itself. How much money? A few million dollars – actually peanuts when set alongside the billions that the big banks have been gambling with. Not a football scandal then, a financial one – and not even a major one at that.
It’s mostly money either extracted from commercial companies, or offered by them, as sweeteners to secure marketing and television rights. There might even be a direct football connection here – but despite the feverish attention that has been focused on the matter, no one has yet come up with proof of vote buying and selling in the process of deciding who gets to host the World Cup.
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Going for Gold in Paris- There are plenty of candidates vying for the Olympic gold medal in the women's football tournament this summer
There are plenty of candidates vying for the Olympic gold medal in the women's football tournament this summer
Face to face - Tom Sainfiet- The final goal is to reach the World Cup and write history - The Belgian coach speaks to World Soccer
The well-travelled Belgian coach speaks to World Soccer after taking charge of the Philippines-his 11th international coaching role
Inter cruise to title number 20
Simone Inzaghi's Internazionale shrug off all challengers before sealing the Serie A title in style against their biggest rivals
HAT-TRICK HERO
Ademola Lookman wrote his name into European football's history books with a hat-trick in the Europa League final
GOING UP
The story of Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres' career has been one of upward trajectory - and there's plenty more to come from the Sporting superstar
Palau soldier on alone
The isolated Pacific nation faces a long and lonely battle to improve football on the island
Brazilian clubs eye Copa number six
As the Copa Libertadores group stage concludes, a sixth consecutive Brazilian winner is looking likely
AI Hilal sweep to another Saudi crown
The first edition of the Saudi Pro League's glamorous new era ends with a familiar title winner
Disasters brewing
There is still a long way to go in World Cup qualifying, but dysfunction reigns at Cameroon, Congo and Nigeria after four matchdays in the group stage
Second round of World Cup qualifying underway
Favourites perform largely as expected, yet Cayman Islands dominate the headlines