Professor Christopher Gaffney updates TSG on Brazil 2014.

Chris Gaffney

About: Professor Gaffney is a visiting professor at the Universidade Federal Fluminese in the Department of Architecture and Urbanism. His research and teaching at the university are focused on the urban and social impacts of the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Ricardo Teixeira, the CBF president for 23 years and the man behind Brazil's 2014 World Cup bid stepped down citing health concerns. It was a great day for football.

Romario, the former footballer and now elected official who campaigned on reforming football reacted: "Today we can celebrate," Romario posted on his Twitter and Facebook pages.

How is it that the global game, the people's game followed by billions is ruled by a fraction of a fraction of an elite that plays by its own rules? The plutocracy have no need to be beholden. They enjoy no term limits, need no financial disclosures, and bilk billions of tax free dollars without qualm.

*Brazil won the FIFA U-20 World Cup, defeating Portugal 3:2 in the final in Bogota. Mexico beat France 3:1 to clinch third.
The seleçao were top gunners with 18 goals in seven matches but Nigeria were the most prolific, averaging three goals a game. Spain were the most on-target team, shooting on goal 54 times in five games.

STARTERS
Like the finale of Lost the drama is underwhelmingly over in England and Spain as Barcelona bought midfielder Cesc Fabregas from Arsenal.
-Sid Lowe of the Guardian with the story.
-Phil Minshull of the BBC wonders how The Cesco Kid will fit in.
dN
LA Galaxy has made a huge move toward securing their front line by signing 31 year old Irish forward Robbie Keane from Tottenham.

The investigations into FIFA's corrupt practices continue, and the attention has again been focused on American Chuck Blazer.

Andrew Jennings, one of soccer's most outspoken reformers, released a new detailed report yesterday with a laundry list of accusations against Blazer and his lavish lifestyle.

Banned Ex.Co. member Mohamed Bin Hammam has slammed Sepp Blatter and Chuck Blazer following his expulsion from football last week.
He compared Blatter to a tyrant wiping out his rivals and called for Blazer to go before the FIFA Ethics Committee for receiving suspicious payments.
Bemoaning his life ban from football, the former Asian Football Confederation chief told Sky News, "This is the act of the dictators and we have witnessed this through history.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
Please join all your soccer friends in the Twin Cities for a special Fund Raising screening of Rise & Shine: The Jay DeMerit Story
Sat Jun 11 at 4:30pm - The Sweetwater in St Paul
USA v Panama game kicks off at 7pm
The movie is still a work in progress and the filmmakers are on a mission to raise funds to finish it.

This blog is at heart about my love affair with soccer, an affair that is unwavering after five or six years. From very early on I became aware of the corruption that has been in our game and that is in our game at a high level. I was more properly informed about it after reading Andrew Jennings' book, Foul!

If agents are known as 'Mr. 10%'s for what they take out of soccer, then Jack Warner is Mr. 300%.For the CONCACAF boss and FIFA Vice-President sold World Cup tickets at a 295% profit, according to a former customer who spoke to the BBC on last night's 'Panorama' special.Norwegian ticket broker Atle Barlaup told Jack's hunter-in-chief Andrew Jennings how he bought 820 of Trinidad & Tobago's 2006