Fifa officials – believed to include vice-president Jeffrey Webb – were arrested in Switzerland today as part of an international investigation into bribes worth 100 million dollars (£65 million) spanning three decades.
For many people it's exactly the news they've been waiting for.
SHOULDN'T WANT TO JUMP AROUND THE ROOM FOR JOY AT PEOPLE BEING ARRESTED BUT HERE WE ARE. #FIFA
— sarah sprague (@sarah_sprague) May 27, 2015
Fifa president Sepp Blatter hasn't made many friends out of football fans over the years, and despite him not being one of the officials arrested, a lot of the reaction has still centred around him.
At the back door, of #FIFA right now. pic.twitter.com/bzHclUoumB
— Sophia Cannon (@UndercoverMutha) May 27, 2015
Good morning Sep… #FIFA pic.twitter.com/9WRSZ4fiK7
— Media Guido (@MediaGuido) May 27, 2015
Sepp sitting on the toilet with a shredding machine. #WhereisSepp #FIFA
— MilenaZP (@Italiataff) May 27, 2015
While it's currently unclear exactly what the bribes involve – The New York Times has reported that the charges include wire fraud, racketeering and money laundering, and that the United States attorney general Loretta Lynch is due to hold a news conference later today, the public has always had a sneaking suspicion that events surrounding Qatar's successful 2022 World Cup bid were worth investigating.
Those suspicions have only been built upon with news of how migrant workers building Qatar's stadiums are being treated.
Will @FIFAcom address appalling conditions for #migrantworkers in #Qatar? http://t.co/M3MRHdqWH2 #FIFA pic.twitter.com/natK6nQpOJ
— AmnestyInternational (@amnesty) May 27, 2015
Can we also extradite the 2022 World Cup out of Qatar? #FIFA #Corruption
— Aaron Levine (@AaronQ13Fox) May 27, 2015
Americans meanwhile are expecting the thanks to come pouring in.
Americans: we hate soccer just enough to fix it for the rest of you, you're welcome. #FIFA
— Joshua Lyman (@joshualyman) May 27, 2015
End of the day, this is probably the biggest soccer victory in US history. #FIFA
— Saint Brendan (@SaintBrendan) May 27, 2015
As an American, I find it tremendously amusing that we might be the ones to clean up association football. #FIFA
— Jeff Fecke (@jkfecke) May 27, 2015
The irony hasn't been lost on the rest of us.
Finally, an American invasion we can all get behind. #FIFA
— Ian Moore (@ianmodmoore) May 27, 2015
While people have long accused Fifa of corruption, it's not to say there isn't still some surprise at arrests actually being made.
Honestly, I'm floored. I never thought I would actually see this day come to pass. #FIFA #CONCACAF
— Jon Arnold (@ArnoldcommaJon) May 27, 2015
There's extremely little sympathy.
There can't be a more corrupt, deplorable organisation on earth than FIFA. The house of cards is falling. Time for change!
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) May 27, 2015
I believe the correct term for what is happening is concacaf'd. #FIFA
— Rachel Avery (@rachelaveryy) May 27, 2015
Except for with certain members of Fifa staff…
#FIFA's social media manager arriving at work and checking the @ mentions of @FIFAcom… pic.twitter.com/1bjns8CHrt
— Alistair Hogg (@alistairjhogg) May 27, 2015
One of the questions on people's lips though, is whether this will actually change anything. Fifa presidential elections are due to be held in two days time, and will getting rid of a few bad eggs change the motivations of the organisation?
I know people will say these #FIFA arrests are a positive sign, but really like lancing boil & seeing entire carcass is rotten.
— John Amaechi OBE (@JohnAmaechi) May 27, 2015
But the most pressing question? Fifa 16 is still a thing, right?
REVEALED: Here is an exclusive screenshot of the next #FIFA videogame pic.twitter.com/mLSwFH0Rab
— Alan Brazil (@SportsBreakfast) May 27, 2015
Source: SNAPPA
