May 27, 2015 may have been an ordinary day to most, but for FIFA, the head governing body of soccer, it was a much-needed shakeup courtesy by the FBI. On the lead-up to their yearly conference in Zurich, nine top officials were apprehended and extradited by Swedish authorities to the American government as news broke that they were involved in a corruption scandal to the tune of $100 million.
It also put their newly reelected President, Sepp Blatter, in the crosshairs of every soccer fan on the planet. He resigned shortly afterward.
The reason for my brief history lesson is that a British comedian apparently felt obligated to make it rain on Mr. Blatter at a press conference today (July 20) in Zurich. Simon Brodkin aka Lee Nelson (stage name), ran up and proceeded to toss a handful of dollar bills while Mr. Blatter was at the podium.
It shut down the entire proceeding for a little while, so that those prepared to speak could collect themselves.
While this little event does offer up an incident worth checking out briefly, I contend there is a bigger question to be asked.
Why is it that the FBI felt it necessary to bring the hammer down on FIFA?
Take into account that the companies involved in the 2008 market crash, most of whom were gifted billions of taxpayer dollars; why they seem to be perpetuating the same flawed tactics without so much as a sniff of FBI regulations? While I do support the taking down of corruption and those nine FIFA officials, it would be encouraging to see federal agents apply their fervor domestically as they do to foreign shadiness.
Until then, make it rain, old chap, I will put the kettle on.
British comedian Lee Nelson throws cash at Sepp Blatter – press conference now delayed pic.twitter.com/rvZsSTw03f
— Anton Toloui (@SkyAnton) July 20, 2015
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