World Cup Qatar 2022

[peterhague]

TV being the other one of the two evils, it would be intriguing if it took on FIFA one day over things like this. I'm even slightly surprised Murdoch hasn't yet been tempted to ape his Aussie predecessor Kerry Packer and just set up his own tournament when and where it suits TV.

This is the thing: what does FIFA *actually* do???? Run a tournament that everyone wants to play anyway? Fail to address pressing issues in the game?

It's fucking ludicrous! ANYONE could (not) do it.

 

[Jack D Rips]

Blatter is indeed a cunt. But from what I've read he didn't vote for Qatar. Platini on the other hand did.

 

[Hyena]

Is Qatar 2022 more objectionable than bloody Russia 2018?

 

[gkmacca]

Is Qatar 2022 more objectionable than bloody Russia 2018?

Certainly not morally. The stock commercial response would be: 'If you start including ethical/political objections in your judgement as to which countries can play host, you'll end up excluding or threatening to exclude more than you include'. But there has to be a certain degree and extent of questionable behaviour beyond which you just don't go. Obviously the line can be debated, but FIFA shouldn't hide behind relativism.

 

[peterhague]

Is Qatar 2022 more objectionable than bloody Russia 2018?

I think so, yes. Qatar would probably be still more repressive than Russia, wouldn't it?

In any case, my objection to Qatar isn't moral, it's that it blatantly isn't capable of staging it.

 

[Silver Sean]

Be funny if this kind of reaction becomes widespread and results in a massive loss of interest in, hence also income from, the whole thing.

I'd love to see it. When we were kids the world cup meant seeing players you'd only heard about, almost mythical creatures. Now the final is just Man City and Chelsea versus Real and PSG. Players we see every week in the PL and CL. Boring as fuck.