It’s the viral event of the month. The Twittersphere has exploded with an overwhelmingly one-sided and raucous celebration at the news that nine senior officials at Fifa have been indicted on charges of wire fraud, bribery and racketeering.
Here’s a taste of it.
There’s the restrained satisfaction of past stars who have to watch their words now they’re media pundits…
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
And the irony of the game being cleaned up by a country that ignored it for the best part of 120 years wasn’t lost on some.
https://twitter.com/Bigmick_LFC/status/603502657119064064
Some were moved to poetry…
The Zurich police made a raid
Suspecting that millions paid
To highups at FIFA
May just be a fee for
Their votes on where cups'll be played.— Mick Twister (@twitmericks) May 27, 2015
There was delight at how the staff at the 5-star Baur au Lac hotel in Zurich protected the dignity of their esteemed guests as they were led off to face the rap.
IronyMeter off the scale as #FIFA official accused of laundering hides behind freshly laundered sheet. #FIFAarrestspic.twitter.com/cFr2CnI6x5"
— Ayoade^Dapsy #MUFC (@DPSY11) May 27, 2015
And thought inevitably turned to the scandal over the award of the 2022 World Cup tournament to Qatar.
Seems like a good day to bring this cartoon out of the archives #FIFApic.twitter.com/QSqUOsCTzK
— Morten Morland (@mortenmorland) May 27, 2015
There was no shortage of people quick to remind us that that decision had already cost the lives of (according to some estimates) over a thousand migrant workers building the infrastructure for that tournament.
Will @FIFAcom address appalling conditions for #migrantworkers in #Qatar? http://t.co/M3MRHdqWH2#FIFApic.twitter.com/natK6nQpOJ
— Amnesty International USA (@amnestyusa) May 27, 2015
It would be fair to say that a general air of skepticism prevailed regarding President Sepp Blatter’s absence from the list of the indicted.
https://twitter.com/PaulK1966/status/603507361031008256
Some had fun with Fifa spokesman Walter de Gregorio’s claim that Blatter is “calm” but “is not dancing in his office.”
Walter De Gregorio: "Sepp Blatter is not dancing in his office… but he is calm" #FIFAarrests#FIFA#FIFAgatehttps://t.co/IvjgltMU7t
— Giannis Bairaktaris (@g_baira) May 27, 2015
Others even went so far as to doubt Mr. de Gregorio’s claim that Blatter and Fifa were fully cooperating with the investigation.
Live pictures from #FIFA headquarters this morning. 😂 😂😂 #FIFAarrests#FIFAgatepic.twitter.com/EhZWUXmbJB
— Nuno 🌏 (@mentalist_nuno) May 27, 2015
But most looked forward cheerfully to the future, nonetheless.
Theres always goina be rats nidge!! #SeppBlatter#FIFA#FIFAarrestspic.twitter.com/vP8AqTAg1A
— Steve shepp (@shep221) May 27, 2015
A few optimists highlighted the lucrative possibilities for the next edition of the Fifa-branded computer soccer game.
https://twitter.com/otigembo/status/603506355270524928
But most of all, there has just been a huge outpouring of relief and joy from fans across the world at the thought that, despite all of the evidence to the contrary over the years, even Fifa and its officials aren’t above the law.
What a great day for football #FIFA#FIFAarrests
— Aaron Sharp (@aaron_sharp5) May 27, 2015