FIFA

Blatter Showered In Cash By Protester

July 21, 2015 Justin Block, www.huffingtonpost.com Resist! Capitalism, Corruption, FIFA

By Justin Block in Huffington Post - Outgoing FIFA president Sepp Blatter was treated to his preferred choice of shower on Monday in Zurich, Switzerland, courtesy of British comedian-turned-protester Lee Nelson. Nelson interrupted Blatter's press conference, which addressed a new FIFA reform task force, by approaching Blatter and placing a stack of fake one dollar bills on his desk, saying it was given to him by North Korea as part of a bid for the 2026 World Cup. FIFA security quickly escorted Nelson out of the room, but not before he could make it rain all over Blatter. Blatter, taken by surprise, immediately backed away from the shower in feigned disgust, as if this isn't exactly what he's been doing in his office for the past 17 years. Nelson, who also interrupted Kanye West's set at Glasonbury last month, so upset Blatter that the president stopped the conference before returning with an odd joke, according to Sam Borden of The New York Times.

Soccer Players Punished For Palestinian Solidarity

September 9, 2014 Adri Nieuwhof, www.electronicintifada.net Resist! Europe, FIFA, Israel, Palestine, Soccer

In an attempt to bring the Euro 2020 competition to Jerusalem, the Israeli Football Association (IFA) has submitted a bid to UEFA – the governing body of European football. The IFA is proposing the Teddy Stadium as the location for the tournament. But this venue is also home to Israel’s ultra-racist Beitar Jerusalem team. The Red Card Israeli Racism campaign has been pushing for the exclusion of Israel from the bidding process, reminding UEFA of Israel’s unlawful claim on Jerusalem as its “capital” and the recent massive assault on Gaza. UEFA will make a decision on 19 September. The federation claims it does not mix sport and politics. But if UEFA awards the Jerusalem bid it will be a political decision. Israel is sure to exploit the occasion to promote an image of Jerusalem as if Palestinians do not exist. Political symbol? In fact, UEFA does mix sport and politics. Last week it was reported they had imposed fines on Scottish and Irish football clubs over supporters who waved the Palestinian flag and chanted pro-Palestine slogans during European matches. UEFA apparently considers the flag of Palestine a political symbol because the conflict with Israeli forces in the region was then still ongoing, reported Scotland Now.

A World Cup For The 1%

July 14, 2014 Dennis Trainor Jr, www.PopularResistance.org Resistance Report Brazil, FIFA, Finance and the Economy, Freedom of Speech and Assembly, Indigenous Rights, Labor, Solidarity, Worker Rights and Jobs

When Germany and Argentina square off in the Word Cup Final, the whole world will be watching the culmination of what may be the most exciting FIFA World Cup Tournament ever. What most people are unaware of, however, is the brutal conditions that FIFA creates to pull off the games.

Majority Of Brazilians Think World Cup Is Bad

July 9, 2014 Dennis Trainor Jr, www.PopularResistance.org Resistance Report Brazil, Corporatism, Democracy, Education, Environment, FIFA, Finance and the Economy, Human Rights, Indigenous Rights, Poverty

In this episode of Acronym TV, Derek Poppert of Global Exchange talks with Dennis about his Re-Think The Cup series. In a recent piece from the series, FIFA: Return The Beauty To The Beautiful Game, Derek writes: “So who wins the World Cup? While it may seem that decision is still getting played out in stadiums across Brazil, FIFA president Sepp Blatter is surely laughing from his luxury suite. The winner had already been decided well before the first match even began. FIFA’s 4 billion dollars in untaxed revenue from the event is the trophy. It appears to be of little interest to Mr. Blatter or other FIFA execs that this trophy has come on the backs of 200,000 low-income people being forcefully evicted from their homes to make room for the event, 8 construction workers dying in the frenzied rush to erect stadiums on time, or 14 billion dollars in Brazilian taxpayer money being spent on the tournament in the face of poverty, inequality, and widespread social issues within Brazil.”

Why At Least one FIFA Player Should Protest The World Cup Final

July 8, 2014 Dennis Trainor Jr, www.PopularResistance.org Resistance Report Corporatism, Democracy, FIFA, Human Rights, Indigenous Rights, Protest, Worker Rights and Jobs

Imagine the impact if a player from one of the remaining FIFA semifinal World Cup teams (Germany, Brazil, The Netherlands, or Argentina) were to engage in an act of protest against FIFA for it’s Imperial practices that have literarily displaced at least 250,000 Brazilians? Imagine if Lionel Messi, Thomas Muller,Arjen Robben, or even the injured Neymar were to pull a John Carlos sometime during the semifinals or finals of the World Cup? If any sports organization deserves to be protested, FIFA is it. As Dave Ziron correctly pointed out, Luis Suárez May Bite, but FIFA Sucks Blood.

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