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FIFA Not Releasing the World Cup Corruption Report is Almost Laughable

By @DFresh39

FIFA Sepp Blatter

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At this point, the corruption and greed that runs through the top officials in FIFA is the status quo. On Friday, FIFA President Sepp Blatter said they will not release the investigative report that supposedly uncovers corruption into the bidding processes for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup competitions. Blatter and other top-ranking FIFA officials are simply ignoring any pressure to release the report. Blatter is also running for another term, which he said he would not do, showing that he feels untouchable despite ruling through misconduct.

U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati is among many that have publicly expressed support for the release of the report created by Michael J. Garcia. Despite public outcries, Blatter said there were no requests to release the report as part of media availability during FIFA meetings in Zurich. Gulati was reached by phone by The New York Times and refused to comment after Blatter spat in the face of public opposition.

Those calling for the release of the report were not present during the World Cup bidding process, which is one of Blatter’s main argument points. The new members are calling for the results to be shared, but they would have to find a way to change FIFA regulations. Hans-Joachim Eckert, who is in charge of FIFA’s independent ethics committee, has said that only the impressions of the report will be released.

Reports and proven findings of bribery, supplemented bank accounts, $27,000 watches and mischievous World Cup bidding are staples of Blatter’s tenure. He has many of the smaller football federations in his pocket now and runs an organizations covered by Swiss Law to do business transactions to achieve its organizational goals. If someone can get the report released, it may be the end of Blatter. Right now, Blatter and FIFA can just ignore corruption claims knowing there isn’t enough opposition. He will most likely be reelected and head the organization until 2019.

For those on the outside looking in, there is not much that can be done. Ignoring corruption and wrongdoing as an operating tactic is expected from FIFA. At this point, it will take something drastic for FIFA to change their ways. For now, most of us just shake our heads and laugh.

Douglas Smith is a soccer writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @DFresh39, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.

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