Blatter resigns.

[Beef Oven!]

Who, what???

Why on earth should we give a sh*t anyway?
If people want to play football that's fine

Wake me up when it's all over

Philistine!!!

[teamsaint]

Philistine!!!

isn't Philistine hosting the tournament in 2026 ?

[Beef Oven!]

isn't Philistine hosting the tournament in 2026 ?

[MrGongGong]

Philistine!!!

Not really my style

[Ferretfancy]

He is 79 for heavens sake, about time he stood down apart from any other consideration.

I have a horrible feeling that he might be doing a Farage. He's still in charge until at least the end of the year, so there could be scope for a come back at the next vote. I certainly wouldn't put it past him, although of course he might be behind bars by then.

[gurnemanz]

Excellent news (maybe the FBI have something on Blatter after all..) but it's only step one - step two is finally removing the World Cup from Qatar (as if we needed any more reasons...) and probably Russia too.

I've watched every World Cup since 1970 (Italy 4 W.Germany 3! ) and it's brought me much joy and sporting sorrow, many highs and lows.
Now I have some hope that I might enjoy another, free of the taint of greed and inhumanity...

Italy 3 Brazil 2 1982! ... I hope the beautiful game can be beautiful again ...

I watched England's 3-2 quarter-final defeat to Germany as a student on TV in Nürnberg in 1970 in the company of several German colleagues. The Frankenwein was flowing free that afternoon and England had led 2-0 only for Gerd Müller to score an extra-time winner. I remember slumping ever lower into my armchair as the game went on. Harold Wilson's cunning plan to milk World Cup elation for a general election victory as he had done in 1966 consequently misfired only four days later when he surprisingly lost to Ted Heath.

[EdgeleyRob]

I watched England's 3-2 quarter-final defeat to Germany as a student on TV in Nürnberg in 1970 in the company of several German colleagues. The Frankenwein was flowing free that afternoon and England had led 2-0 only for Gerd Müller to score an extra-time winner. I remember slumping ever lower into my armchair as the game went on. Harold Wilson's cunning plan to milk World Cup elation for a general election victory as he had done in 1966 consequently misfired only four days later when he surprisingly lost to Ted Heath.

Shouldn't have taken off Bobby Charlton and Martin Peters.

Good riddance to Blatter.

[Flosshilde]

I have a horrible feeling that he might be doing a Farage. He's still in charge until at least the end of the year, so there could be scope for a come back at the next vote. I certainly wouldn't put it past him, although of course he might be behind bars by then.

There's probably nothing in the rules that says a convicted criminal can't be elected president, even if he is behind bars.

[Pabmusic]

I agree Gongers. In fact I'd go further. Football is arguably a force for evil in the world! Mob violence, greed, bribery, corruption and tribalism all seem part and parcel of the professional (beautiful?????) game. To suggest kids should find some sort of role model amongst that lot, well, I'm speechless. To see a two year old in ****(dis)United strip in the supermarket shopping trolley being addressed as 'mate' by his dad......Yuk.

Adcarp, such eloquence - you've pre-empted everything I wish I had said first!

[P. G. Tipps]

Blaming the 'beautiful game' for the unsocial behaviour of a small minority of its enthusiasts is like blaming music for a coughing, spluttering audience.

Association Football is a true art form when played at the highest level. It is deservedly the most popular and classless game in the world adored by paupers, princes and popes. Some of those who clearly don't understand it should stick to promoting metal-bashing.

As for poor Herr Blatter, who will the English press blame next time England fails to secure a future World Cup?

I don't envy his eventual successor!

[johncorrigan]

Blaming the 'beautiful game' for the unsocial behaviour of a small minority of its enthusiasts is like blaming music for a coughing, spluttering audience.

Association Football is a true art form when played at the highest level. It is deservedly the most popular and classless game in the world adored by paupers, princes and popes. Some of those who clearly don't understand it should stick to promoting metal-bashing.

As for poor Herr Blatter, who will the English press blame next time England fails to secure a future World Cup?

I don't envy his eventual successor!

As someone who still loves a spot of walking footie I agree with much that you say about the game, PGT. However Blatter had become a Dictator and as such seems to have lost all touch, surrounding himself with those happy to feed from brown envelopes - almost all men needless to say - and thinking himself untouchable. I do think that there is still bad feeling in the English media and political circles about the Russians getting 2018, though personally it's the 2022 award to Qatar that gets me. It makes no sense at any level at all (except when we talk the aforementioned brown envelopes).

[MrGongGong]

Association Football is a true art form when played at the highest level. It is deservedly the most popular and classless game in the world adored by paupers, princes and popes.

Can I use this for pedagogical porpoises?

[Beef Oven!]

Blaming the 'beautiful game' for the unsocial behaviour of a small minority of its enthusiasts is like blaming music for a coughing, spluttering audience.

Association Football is a true art form when played at the highest level. It is deservedly the most popular and classless game in the world adored by paupers, princes and popes. Some of those who clearly don't understand it should stick to promoting metal-bashing.

Absolutely.

What surprises me is that some of the people who don't get it, are quite bright in other ways.

[teamsaint]

what surprises me is that the anti football brigade fail to see the up sides of the world's most popular game. I'd put at least some of this down to popular press style myths...such as the belief that there is endless live football on terrestrial TV, ( there is very little ), football matches are like a tribal war with helpless local populations cowering in their back rooms etc etc.

For all the bad that big money brings, ( and it does this in all walks of life) football can be and often is a very positive thing in the lives of many people, rich and poor. It is a way out of poverty for some. it is a fantastic creative outlet for many millions of players( I imagine Ken Robinson might have something good to say in this regard). playing football is great and enjoyable exercise for millions of people. Most of the time it brings people together much more than it divides them. EG, work place matches.It gives many people at lower football levels a chance to coach, (and think about how to get the best out of situations) and try their hand at leadership, that they may never get in working life, or elsewhere in their social life.

Football has many problems, and is much too important in our society. But our society itself is full of the same problems. Personally, I can't see how a 2 year old wearing a Man utd shirt is any worse than wearing another piece of corporate branded clothing, such as a Gap shirt...as long as they come from Manchester of course.

[jean]

...as long as they come from Manchester of course.

Pity most of the team don't!