Is Nike the Unidentified Company in the FIFA Bribery Case? ↗
Meanwhile Visa, Adidas, Coke and other sponsors are calling for Fifa to clean up its act...
This reminds me of the scene in Casablanca when the Prefect of Police explains why he is shutting down Ricks's Cafe:
'"I'm shocked, shocked to find out gambling is going on here!"
"Your winnings, Sir."
"Oh yes, thank you very much".
@ParisHawk
Nice call Paris, This development didn't surprise me at all.
@ParisHawk I would certainly hope so if it means penalties of some kind for Nike. I also wouldnt really be surprised if it was Nike. Who else but a shoe making and sports wear making company would even be involved in something like this with FIFA? Its totally a conspiracy theory. Interesting. Id like to see @jaybate-1.0 chime in on this one.
Nice thread!
I didn't know Nike was big in soccer? Thought it was all Adidas.
But let's say you are right... and let's say Nike gets indicted in this... might it bring attention to what goes on in college sports and Nike's influence?
What I take from all of this is that if the American justice department is willing to go after FIFA, can it be long before they try to clean up college basketball?
The DOJ must have played hard with Switzerland to get them on board in this raid. Pretty ballsy stuff if you ask me.
Hoping its Nike & not Adidas. Interesting the U.S. went after FIFA, but then again, we got slided by Qatar(!) and Russia? Pissed off politicians out for revenge? Who wants to play or officiate under the blazing sun in Qatar & whose bright idea was that? Money talks & outsted shoeco, media & politicians out for blood!!
Adidas is till the biggest gear supplier in soccer abut Nike has made huge gain in recent years; maybe this explains why.
Having said that, it looks like grandstanding by a publicity hungry Department of Justice who apparently has run out of police officer to prosecute. What we will find out is that this the way business is done in other parts of the world; do I agree with it? No, but in the majority of the world it will have little repercussion since most of the people involved are not Americans, don't reside here and the Justice Department has no jurisdiction over them. Yes, other countries will make some gestures but in the end it will be quietly resolved and in a few years it will be back to business as usual. Haven't we learned by now that we cannot impose our values or our will on other cultures?
Let me give you an example. When I occasionally get a traffic ticket, I normally go to court, have the ticket changed to anon- moving violation and the fine is doubled; the city gets twice the revenue and I don't get point in my license. A few year ago I got a (fully undeserved) speeding ticket in Harrisonville, MO, I went to court to get the ticket amended and I was asked if I was lawyer, I told them no and I was told that they will only deal with lawyers and if I wanted to get the ticket amended I would need to hire an attorney which I did and I ended up paying double the fine and the attorney's fees on top of that to get what I should have gotten in the first place. How is this not the same case with Nike hiring a firm that specializes in getting licensing. to get an exclusive deal with Brazil? They simply hired a firm to help them along in the process the same way I had to hire an attorney to get my ticket amended and I have no clue on whether he paid a "fee" to a member of traffic court in Harrisonville...maybe the Department of Justice should investigate Harrisonville. MO instead???
Just my 2 cents on the issue.
I've also wondered if this is grandstanding since we have a new AG, and we are coming up on an election. How much of this is politics? America was snubbed by FIFA giving the World Cup to Qatar. However... it does sound like a monstrous bribery scam... WC going to Russia then to Qatar, and the Russian deal went directly through Putin (who is now probably the richest man on the planet).
But I also read that the reason we are stepping in is because much of the laundered money ended up in American banks. Really? Swiss hiding money in American banks? Sounds like surreal comedy!
Another thing... how much will this cost US taxpayers to prosecute? I could see this getting into the hundreds of milliions.
Then we should go after Switzerland or the Maldives or the Caymans or several other countries in the world whose banks hide the ill gotten gains of every crook, thief and tinpot dictator in the world
I recently filed a formal complaint with the DOJ on organizations that manipulate data on businesses, holding them hostage to join their services (for a fee) or they keep outdated info on those businesses online, which then creates a great deal of damage to those companies by misleading potential clients, confusing search engines and more. This is a billion dollar scam being conducted by organizations like the US Chamber of Commerce.
I still haven't received my acknowledgment, which they are required to send.
You should have told them a police officer...or a Christian is in charge and they would be all over it...
"Then we should go after Switzerland or the Maldives or the Caymans or several other countries in the world whose banks hide the ill gotten gains of every crook, thief and tinpot dictator in the world"
We've been doing that for about 20 years now through Int'l agreements with our IRS and other foreign agencies. Kind of makes you wonder what the real goals were in doing so. The net impact was to stop small individuals and business entities from diverting taxable income or hiding assets acquired through illegal means. This has been somewhat successful. But there is a "line in the sand" for bigger entities that still maintain a protected system for their assets and transactions.
It is just my humble opinion that by nailing smaller interests, the conduct of the bigger players will be protected because there is little public attention placed on what they are doing.
Get ready for the new 5 Stars coming to Kansas in the wake of all this. Putin is defending the Bastard that he bribed.
The thing is here in America we are a bit sheltered. We believe the NFL, Basketball, Baseball, and then soccer is how the pecking order goes. Yet in the rest of the world it's Soccer and then Soccer. It really is.
Last time I checked Adidas is still king in soccer. However it may seem Nike is trying to change that at all cost. Even it means breaking the law.
Oh where is @jaybate-1.0? Oh great one we need your input.
@JayHawkFanToo said:
Adidas is till the biggest gear supplier in soccer abut Nike has made huge gain in recent years; maybe this explains why.
Having said that, it looks like grandstanding by a publicity hungry Department of Justice who apparently has run out of police officer to prosecute. What we will find out is that this the way business is done in other parts of the world; do I agree with it? No, but in the majority of the world it will have little repercussion since most of the people involved are not Americans, don't reside here and the Justice Department has no jurisdiction over them. Yes, other countries will make some gestures but in the end it will be quietly resolved and in a few years it will be back to business as usual. Haven't we learned by now that we cannot impose our values or our will on other cultures?
Let me give you an example. When I occasionally get a traffic ticket, I normally go to court, have the ticket changed to anon- moving violation and the fine is doubled; the city gets twice the revenue and I don't get point in my license. A few year ago I got a (fully undeserved) speeding ticket in Harrisonville, MO, I went to court to get the ticket amended and I was asked if I was lawyer, I told them no and I was told that they will only deal with lawyers and if I wanted to get the ticket amended I would need to hire an attorney which I did and I ended up paying double the fine and the attorney's fees on top of that to get what I should have gotten in the first place. How is this not the same case with Nike hiring a firm that specializes in getting licensing. to get an exclusive deal with Brazil? They simply hired a firm to help them along in the process the same way I had to hire an attorney to get my ticket amended and I have no clue on whether he paid a "fee" to a member of traffic court in Harrisonville...maybe the Department of Justice should investigate Harrisonville. MO instead???
Just my 2 cents on the issue.
Your example is nothing like the bidding for a World Cup. Key word is bidding. If you were bidding on some road work or a government construction job and greased the pockets of an individual(s) that had control over the selection process then your story would make sense. The only way you could relate your story with the FIFA scandal would be if you were to bribe the officer not to give the ticket. Or to bribe the judge to throw it out. Then both stories would have bribery in them. All you did was paid for a diversion.
First, my story was related to Nike dealing with Brazil to obtain exclusive rights to market their name in sport merchandise and had nothing to do with bidding for the next site for the World Cup. Nike did exactly the same thing I did, they hired someone to help them obtain what they wanted, in my case get a ticket amended and in Nike's case get an exclusive deal with Brazilian Soccer Association.
In the case of bidding for the next World Cup site , this is done by the National Soccer Associations of the interested countries (with the backing of their governments) which in most cases are appointed by the governments. Now, if you are going to go after the people that accepted the bribes you also need to go after the people that offered the bribes, i.e. the National Soccer Associations and Countries involved.
Now if you don't think that bribing does not take place in this country, then you have not done business here. It s not as overt as giving cash to someone but more subtle, such as contributing to political campaigns in order to be invited to bid; it is called pay to play and it happens all over. If you want an example, look at the Clinton Foundation. Sweden was having problems with the Department of State because Swedish companies were doing business with Iran in violation of the embargo; suddenly the Clinton Foundation gets a multi-million dollar donation from Swedish businesses and Bill Clinton is paid $800k to give a speech there and the problems disappear...coincidence? I think not. We are a relatively non-corrupt country but to think that it does not happen here is plain naive.
Again, while bribing is not the standard MO in this country, it is the MO in a lot of places if not in the majority of the world who looks at bribes as the cost of doing business and not as a punishable offense. Just look at our next door neighbors in Mexico and ask anyone that has done business there if they were able to complete any type of deal without the customary "mordida" or bribe. You just cannot do business there without bribes, period. So, while the investigation generates headlines here, in most of the world is big yawner. Do I agree with this way of doing business? Absolutely not; not there and not here. However, some cosmetics changes will be made and and things will change for a while and then they will go back to the way it was. Sepp Blatter, the FIFA President under whom all this took place just got re-elected in spite of all the bad publicity...doesn't this tell you a lot?
@JayHawkFanToo
You got that right. Worked for a US manufacturer in international, and the US biz laws handcuffed us. Companies in the Middle East, Latin America & Asia, built their bribe into their pricing leaving us often as a highest bidder (local agents add their share, share for their govt official approving the contract, their vendor share, etc etc etc). U.S. Laws forbid stealing (bribe) in effort to keep greedy SOBs worldwide honest, but it seemed to hurt honest American businesses. That said, many Western European countries & Canada seemed clean. FIFA & Nike are going after all the dough they can like hyenas & snakes (despise these two creatures more than anything in this world!). Now, I personally believe some in the U.S. (perhaps the DoJ is the front) are finally pissed off after Qatar & Russia so much so they're going after them. It may die out, but don't see how because Adidas et el are trying to build a huge new market, the U.S., and this type of PR on FIFA can't bode well for the soccer industry. Now with Nike rearing its ugly face, not sure it will go away. Nike is huge, but so is Adidas & it wants to protect its future, the U.S. market. The question is will US govt help & side with Adidas to win the battle of shoecos? I wouldn't be surprised if we did, unless some US politicians step in & fight for Nike - for bribe! Yes this indictment won't eliminate the culture of corruption, but will teach FIFA & Nike & other accomplices to get more clever. In the mean time it buys "time" for Adidas & those who lost their fortune in the bidding war to regroup & level the playing field a bit.
You obviously know how business is conducted in other parts of the world and it is quite different than what we are used to here. Now, do you think the DOJ will side with Adidas, a German firm, against Nike, the All-American firm? Keep in mind that Germany and the US are not exactly going through a good period in their relations after the US was accused of spying on German Chancellor Merkel.
@JayHawkFanToo
Think you can answer it yourself. A case in point, idiots like Marie Harf, the State Dept has novice intellectual buffoons like her negotiating trade agreements with experienced thieves of China & Russia. She thinks ISIS just needs jobs, do you think she knows anything about the reality of human nature or how $ runs? Not much of Trump fan, but he knows biz & been very critical of the U.S. govt giving away our goods & into the hands of our enemies. Agree with him. My hunch is that FIFA shouldn't have ignored the U.S. bid to Qatar & Russia - that pissed off some serious US politicians & Adidas et el is out to maximize the situation, in my humble opinion. After all, it's the govt that dictates biz & protects its biz interests (politicians outside of the U.S. play obvious & huge role for $). Look at the Clinton Foundation that's blatant in using power of politics for dough. Pissed off (at FIFA from some fixed games) Germans could partner with the U.S. & clean out the Nike-fed officials & replace with Adidas-fed, force re-vote & the U.S. get to host the WC, & German's Adidas continue to develops its new U.S. market?
I was obviously mistaken about people agreeing that politics should not be on this board. I have never been the first to talk politics although I have answered other people's posts. I don't mind if others want to go down this path. I would suggest adding religion to really keep things hopping.
@sfbahawk This KU fan agrees with you! We are all connected together in digital friendship by KU sports. Religion and politics are such divisive subjects by nature, that they can only cause problems on here. I came here to avoid such problems. Lets keep it all shiny everyone, K?
@JayHawkFanToo My personal opinion is that we can, when necessary, discuss about any topic that anyone wants to discuss as long as we keep it grown up and civil. :smile:
@HawksWin said:
A case in point, idiots like Marie Harf, the State Dept has novice intellectual buffoons like her negotiating trade agreements with experienced thieves of China & Russia. She thinks ISIS just needs jobs, do you think she knows anything about the reality of human nature or how $ runs?
This reads like "grown up and civil"?
@sfbahawk
With all due respect for the love of KU we all have & share in this site, are you serious & believe that sports (FIFA, NCAA-conferences, etc) do not involve politics? I want to live in the planet which you live since I hate politics because there are stupid, ignorance out of arrogance, proud & greedy asses in the politics, wait, that human race! Are you so blind or naive to carve out the human nature's love for power & money from the sports world? Have you worked for or with the State of Dept or its trade representatives in DC or Shanghai or Santiago or Dublin of Jeddah? I have. Marie Harf is an IDIOT, and my judgment is not based on whether she is Dem or GOP. She's an intellectual buffon. Is your your based on party? Don't tell me to separate politics from economiucs. Sports is a huge of part of economics, therefore politics exists & now thrives. "Economic mobility promotes social stability that ensures political stability." - KU Political Science Professor.
@HawksWin You have politics with any group of 3 or more people you condescending twit. What does that have to do with KU basketball? In so far as this particular thread is concerned, what does Marie Harf have to do with FIFA? What does the Clinton foundation have to do with FIFA? You can always go with the "butterfly in Australia waving its winds impacts a barn swallow's movements in Ohio" but get real. Wow!! You have worked with people who negotiate trade agreements, do they like their coffee with or without cream and sugar?
@sfbahawk
Obviously you're man or woman of a myopic view and without the wisdom of life and human nature. Let me know when you gain some maturity and knowledge, we will have more productive discourse on KUBB and FIFA and politics. But first, allow me to enlighten you a bit since you can't seem to connect the dots between KU, FIFA, Clinton & politics.
1) ShoeCos -> KUBB -> Nike vs Adidas and KU is caught in the middle according to board rats here.
"Nike rival Adidas is one of the top FIFA sponsors, paying the body that oversees the World Cup an estimated $31.6 million a year. But Nike has its own separate deals with national teams and soccer organizations, including Brazil. And that contract puts NIke squarely in the middle of the FIFA criminal case."
http://money.cnn.com/2015/05/28/news/companies/nike-fifa-corruption/index.html ↗
2) Shoes + FIFA -> Clinton & Politics
"The Clinton global charity has received between $50,000 and $100,000 from soccer’s governing body and has partnered with the Fédération Internationale de Football Association on several occasions, according to donor listings on the foundation’s website. When the U.S. lost the 2022 bid to Qatar, Clinton was rumored to be so upset he shattered a mirror. But apparently Qatar tried to make it up to him..."
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3099839/Clinton-Foundation-took-1-250-000-Qatar-World-Cup-committee-implicated-FIFA-bribery-scandal.html ↗
Hope you can connect the dots, you know if A=B, B=C, then A=C? Simple Algebra. And don't discourage your fellow Jayhawks from wanting to have a discourse on politics as related to KU - even if that is not obvious to your reasoning. If you don't like it, ignore, go to another topic or another site, twit.