FFA says its 2022 bid was above board

"strategically invested" - ok, apologies, that sounds all above board (did you pick up that line from the Ministry of Truth?) Bonita is the one who called out Hartigay (and lost her job because of it). She retains a very good reputation in the broader soccer community. At least you were honest enough to make a reference to our strategic investments - I tip my hat to you sir! (from one Queanbeyan boy to another)

The people who gave financial guarantees to do so when the bid was submitted........ We all know that the budget emergency is not real - and only yesterday the Vic Premier backed the bid again.

The high moral ground doesn't suit you. People decrying 'corruption' without evidence simply have an agenda. The rule of law should apply. Pony up the evidence or move on.

No idea. I've never valued that market. A good Rule of Thumb for valuations is to see what is an acceptable ROI. Unless your bribe is directed at the GK in a football team there is no guarantee your bribe will produce a positive ROI. Then the footballer has to work out his acceptable ROI. If he gets caught - is 3 months wage reasonable "risk compensation"? Rational people would say "no". What's the going rate to bribe an Aussie Cricketers these days? We know in AFL the cost of "playing dead" is a higher draft pick.

That's all well and good - but who exactly is paying for all of these new stadia. I love football, it's my passion and hosting the World Cup would make me unbelievably happy. But putting emotion aside and thinking logically, we do not currently have the stadia. So who will pay for it? I don't think Government's will step in, not when there is a "budget emergency" and they are cutting so many areas of government. New sports stadiums are not really the sorts of infrastructure investments many people have in mind.

And people wonder why corruption prospers.

Fuss, Given you think that, whats an appropriate amount of money to pay to a Melbourne Victory player to get him to play dead ? You reckon three months wages per match is about right ?

"The FFA ticked all the boxes & followed the correct process." Yes...in all, it's been a most impressive exercise. Now quickly move along.

@vinnie That's how business contracts are won. That's how Sydney won the 2000 Summer Olympics. Read this article from 1999: Sydney Olympics bid 'broke rules' "An investigation into Sydney's successful bid for next year's Olympic Games says officials broke rules set by the International Olympic Committee, but fell short of corruption." Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/296910.stm

fair enough fussbal but the main point in this scenario is that the money was only donated so that the voter would be swayed to give his preference to australia, theres no hiding around this. and if this is perfectly legal with FIFA no wonder they now have this mess on their hands

I don't think we should be worrying about who gave what to whom during the bidding race. We followed the FIFA rules end of story. What is important now is---we are be back in the race. So, let's review the stadia issue and its requirements. I want the FFA to tell the AFL that they can stick the MCG up their backside and we will build new stadia if necessary in NSW---in Victoria, to increase the Dockland rectangular stadium from 30k to 50k in Adelaide increase the Hindmarsh stadium to 45k and in Perth the Nib stadium to 45k... All other new stadia that needs to be built we can do it in the North---not South of the Murray.

@Steve The general definition of "corrupt" is: "having or showing a willingness to act dishonestly in return for money or personal gain." Based on that definition, I think every single human being on this planet has, at some stage in their life, been corrupt.

Based on what I've read & what the Aus Federal Police have seeen, the FFA have done nothing wrong. The FFA followed the FIFA guidelines perfectly - provided cash for development programs & deposited the money into the bank account of CONCACAF. The FFA ticked all the boxes & followed the correct process. Now, it appears someone stole funds from CONCACAF's bank account. That's an issue for CONCACAF. I cannot believe the hysterical nonsense I'm reading on this issue. If I donate money to Charity A & deposit money into their official bank account ... .... am I guilty of fraud if a dishonest person at the Charity A takes money out of the bank account & gambles it at the casino?

We, the FFA gave him nothing. They paid COCACAF and have claimed so since the bid and claim to have documentary evidence of this payment. No matter how often you repeat a lie - it doesn't make it true. The campaign against the FFA are running a 'guilt by association' line - which frankly borders on racism at times with references to 'shady Hungarians' etc.... Put up or shut up.

how is giving $500,000 to a voting member of FIFA not a bribe, we didnt just give him 500,000 in brown envelopes but giving him the funds to use at his disposal (apparent stadium upgrade) ok your still trying to persuade the voter to vote for you. FFA always act clean and sweep everything under the rug.

Fuss, do you think FIFA and Blatter are corrupt, because you seem to defend them an awful lot. You are allowed to love the game while despising the governing body, which I believe the vast majority do. And Blatter does not have a 90% approval rating anymore than Putin has a 90% approval rating - fantastic leap of logic though.

I am sure our bid team, within the framework of the FIFA process and apparently, within the framework of the AusAid program, strategically invested. This, alone, is not corrupt. For it to be so some evidence of a 'quid pro quo' being sought or at the very least a significant and clearly deliberate procedural breach is required. To date - nothing, nada, zero, zip. Indeed two clearances from two inquiries. All we get is Bonita and a single Fairfax journo running a campaign. Her performance on 7:30 yesterday was singularly innefective and a little embarrassing. The poor journo was working hard to get her to make a allegation of corruption or anything - but no. Just cheap political shots and strategic omissions as I would politely characterise them.

Like i said black is white

This woman comes across as more of a disgruntled ex-employee, with every time that she makes the same accusations. I'm sick of hearing her voice to be honest. I hope we bid, or if no bid required, go in the race again - we would be a good chance if the vote was re-held.

Lol, under FIFA's statutes member federations are at the national level, not confederation level. Confederations can do what they like, it only matters to FIFA if individual nations leave - and if they do, they also leave the confederation. This structure is no fluke. Zurich are not silly. Dream on.