The recent arrest of top FIFA officials not only dropped a bomb on the world governing body of football but also drawn a heated debate among social media users in China where a delicately-designed football reform plan has just been laid out.
Some netizens believed corruption is a long-standing problem for the entire sports world and that even if the detained were found guilty in the end, it could only be the tip of the iceberg. But some questioned the legality of U.S. authorities as well.
"A sting operation carried out by the US in Zurich! Is it S.H.I.E.L.D. in real?" commented Please Call Me Li Sir.
A netizen named Yang Yinghan is more straight forward to express his irony as he teased: "USA, the hope of all human beings!"
"It is nothing but a fight for power and interests. Justice? Forget about it," said a netizen called On the way-JWF while adding a "thumb down" expression to the comment on Weibo, a Tweeter-like social media in China.
"This is a FIFA version of Game of Thrones!" echoed a netizen called Taiheng.
Seven FIFA senior officials, including vice president Jeffery Webb, were arrested Wednesday in Zurich for alleged corruption and a further seven corporate executives were also charged by U.S. authorities with allegations of corruption including fraud, bribery and money laundering.
The arrests requested by the U.S. were made just two days before the congress of world soccer's governing body FIFA, during which FIFA president Sepp Blatter will run for his fifth term against his only challenger Prince Ali bin Al Hussein of Jordan.
The online discussion came to another peak on Friday following the Uruguayan Professional Footballers' Mutual Association claimed Thursday that Lius Suarez is "the victim of this ALLEGED corruption" on its Twitter account.
The Barcelona striker is serving a nine-match international ban for biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil and the Uruguay's players' union requested "the end of his suspension on grounds that he was suspended by an organization suspected of corruption."
"If some police chief is found corrupted, should all the prisoners be released?" an account called itself Spanish Fans Union raised the question.
Weibo user Why Must I Have a Netname suggested a half-measure: "The suspension should be ended and if he bites someone again he should get a life ban."
And Classic Guitar Blue found a brilliant way to apply the logic as he commented: "I request the inclusion of China in the 2018 World Cup finals. The team was ousted under a qualifying system designed by an organization suspected of corruption."
