... becomes accepted as normal. Qatar ffs Whereas it's actually a totally ludicrous state of affairs that shouldn't be happening and everyone knows it. This latest cranking up of this lunacy is crazy but being passed off as nothing of any real consequence. As if Qatar doesn't have police, and as if we have loads to spare, we're sending significant numbers of officers to help a few thousand England fans have a lovely time and explain the finer details of Qatari laws and customs ... I fu*King despair. "A "significant" number of UK police officers will be on the ground ... ... the UK police delegation includes a team of 15 engagement officers, who will act as a "buffer" between supporters and Qatari law enforcement." https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63477302
It has been a total fk up since it was announced. A few people who made this horrendous decision got a hefty brown envelope and didnt give a flying one about football, fans or disruption.
Another reason to give the whole thing a wide breath. I think I will go along and support my local non league team
I agree Qatar getting the world cup is ridiculous. However, we send police to tournaments as a rule. Often we are seen as a country able to police large football crowds so our expertise is welcome. Also, we have a history of crappy behaviour so spotters, and those who can sniff trouble are often on hand. I am sure the same reasons will apply here. I suspect all competing nations will have police presence. The acting as a buffer thing seems ok to me personally. The world cup is happening, whether we like it or not, and we have thousands of fans going. Might as well allocate some of the force going to a preventative measure. We have all seen what can happen when beer, sunshine and football mix.
Does anyone expect any trouble over there? Can you even drink? What do the Qatar police do with hooligans? I've nee idea.
Yes you can drink, they have relaxed their alcohol laws for the tournament ( to an extent) but it will be monitored very closely. If anyone steps out of line, the police in Qatar ...much like the rest of the Middle East, the coppers don't piss about...whoever finds themselves in jail for whatever reason, will not appreciate the treatment they receive. Qatar is an incredibly small country with pretty strict rules and they enforce these rules diligently, however, they are now being watched by a world wide audience, I can see a more laid back approach being applied here. That said....any fan, who disregards their culture and oversteps the mark via alcohol will be in trouble for sure. I believe a good number of fans are basing themselves in Dubai and Abu Dhabi for the WC and flying in for games (its only a 45 minute flight) pretty good idea IMO... I still don't understand the thought process of awarding this WC to them....money is the only logical answer.
What's ludicrous is that Qatar obviously isn't going to be invaded by hooligans in the same way Russia wasn't. It's too expensive, too hot and too barren for people used to a pub culture at football. Most English people will be the 'corporate classes', networkers, etc, with a few hundred diehard England supporters who'll go anywhere and cause no problems. The fact that our police are being sent as cultural buffers is pathetic. "All right Sonny Jim, you can give your boyfriend a quick kiss, while no one's looking, but no tongues or you'll be down the station before I can get my baton out ... no pun intended, ha ha." Seriously, if we're having to send police to a country who don't tolerate you taking your shirt off in the sunshine or having a pre-match pint then it's clear we shouldn't be playing there, which is my point. The truth is that it's the local police and State we don't trust. Personally I hope there's an endless stream of embarrassing incidents involving all of the European countries to highlight the sheer stupidity of playing in a backward barbaric country. Their laws and punishments aren't quirky little bye laws, they're brutal, repressive and idiotic. Sadly we're gutless and have allowed this farce to proceed purely through greed. Just as Boris Johnson fixed the NUFC deal this has gone ahead simply because of money. I hope this highlights how barbaric these countries are when they fail to show tolerance towards decent people ... ... that's the only result I'll be watching for, the football is irrelevant.
I'll be treating the world cup like I do the Champions league, if I'm in I'll put it on. Nowhere near as interested as I used to be. I used to get emotional when the final was won and the BBC and ITV would put there "thanks for watching" signing off video package on. Ill never forget hearing "lucky man" by the verve after England beat Colombia at France 98 on BBC1. World Cup is a summer tournament, its always been political whom got it, but it was subtly done, now its just blatant. It wouldn't surprise me if England won the world cup nobody wants.
You're right, it's always been political but, at least, went to countries with an interest in football which would significantly increase by hosting the World Cup. Qatar don't fit that profile.
I wouldn't have had the tournament there in the first place. It's a backwards dust bowl with zero legacy potential. All about backhanders trumping decency. However, that's where it's happening, and people have to behave themselves according to local cultural norms in public. This western attitude of 'I can go where I like and do whatever I like' should have died with colonialism and will come a right cropper if individuals go over there looking to prove some kind of point. The Qataris do not give a **** what your rights are at home. Even married people can't display affection in public there. No doubt we'll get some dickhead pulled during the tournament for it, thinking being a Brit gives them diplomatic immunity. Go over there, enjoy the football, and do what you like in your hotel room. Try to snog your missus or hold your own little Pride parade in public and get what you get. No sympathy if you roll the dice on purpose and lose - everybody knows the rules.
"Even married people can't display affection in public there. No doubt we'll get some dickhead pulled during the tournament for it." And what punishment will this 'dickhead' receive for such a despicable crime How would you quantify 'affection' and how would British visitors judge what constitutes a crime ... ... can you be locked up for a kiss or a cuddle and does that make you a dickhead? At Luton strangers, of both sexes, were hugging & kissing each other and being very affectionate after the equaliser. Does that make people dickheads and would the Qatari police be justified in arresting anyone behaving that way in your opinion?
In my mind - no. In the Qataris mind -yes. And I'm talking about someone who either goes out of their way to try their luck or does it out of ignorance. And it's taking place in their country. Their gaff, their rules. Ignorance is no excuse, it's all over the news what you can and can't do in public there. It'll be difficult to police in the stadiums mind, but they've got form for retrospective punishment as well as pre-emptive.
If ignorance is no excuse perhaps you can explain if putting your arm around someone's waist, as you walk, constitutes cuddling or not. Are players hugging, after a goal, committing a criminal offence? Does being ignorant of the difference, of what constitutes a cuddle, make someone a dickhead as you've said? Do you know the difference ...
You've lived abroad, haven't you? Did you crack on like you were in Britain or did you follow local customs? Going to someone's country and not knowing what's taboo there is absolutely being a dickhead.
Never mind your usual deflection and avoidance of answering the questions. If you're not ignorant, as you're accusing others of, please answer. If you don't, or can't, that's fair enough but does it make you a dickhead?
Cuddling is definitely out. Whether they'd do it to footballers celebrating, probably not, but you never know. If you go over to Qatar ignorant of the rules or thinking they don't apply to you, then you're a dickhead. https://dohapedia.com/the-norms-to-be-strictly-followed-in-qatar/ Now you can answer my question.
So, to actually answer my questions. Does walking with your arm around someone constitute a cuddle or not? And are football players hugging committing an offence ... ... I'm not asking if the police will act on it or not.
