https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63506951 For once I make FIFA absolutely right. The time to speak out and protest this farcical world cup was fully 12 years ago when it was first awarded to Qatar. Doing it now is pointless posturing aimed more at placating fans and gaining some virtue signalling points in the media. It's done. No one spoke out vociferously or convincingly enough when there was still time to change the situation, so doing it now on the eve of the tournament just comes across as empty and shallow in the extreme.
Personally, I don't agree. Whilst you're right that the original sin lies in the corruption of awarding the WC to Qatar, it's never too late to highlight the disgrace that is holding the tournament there. And that's without even considering the damage it is doing to the players and the disruption of national leagues. Have no interest in the WC and would love for - even more so at this stage - the top 16 nations to pull out altogether. Greed and corruption will ensure that doesn't happen, but I can live in hope...
A large part of the blame for that ultimately falls on The FA for bawling about how unfair it was that Russia got the 2018 tournament and that was obviously corruption as opposed to The FA submitting a bid that consisted solely of saying "We invented football" and waiting for the tournament to be awarded (see also: the 2006 WC, where The FA's bid was exactly the same) while ignoring the actual dodgy bid from Qatar as that didn't affect them as if that made up for the English bid being the first eliminated from consideration with just two votes, meaning they ****ed it for any of the US, Japan, South Korea or Australia if they lodged a complaint about the awarding of the 2022 tournament Add to that Blatter's mania for "expanding the FIFA family" which is why the 2010 tournament was going to an African nation no matter what, coupled with both the 2018 and 2022 tournaments just so happening to occur in timezones that maximise the potential viewing audiences in both Europe and Asia (but not benefitting the gambling industry, oh no, definitely not helping out bookies in Shanghai and Malta at the same time) and the only other "new" bidding nations for 2022 being Australia and Indonesia, the real question is why Qatar felt the need to bribe anyone as there was a likely fix as soon as Indonesia pulled out and the Australian bid tanked hard
1. UK broadcasters had the opportunity to bid for the cheapest coverage deals (no live coverage, MOTD style highlights programmes etc) , or if live coverage, "home" nations only. 2. Tax-payer funded gobsh*tes like Lineker have the opportunity to NOT work as presenters (or if they do : see 1) . 3. UK commerce, for any ads-funded broadcaster, has the opportunity to NOT take ad space during the active timespan of any live/highlights programme. (or if they must : see 1) . 4, Players, and nations, have the opportunity to withdraw from participation in the tournament. I do not agree with the socio-politics of Qatar, so I will never holiday there, never do business there etc. Beyond a 'Klaatu' declaration, they will get nothing more from me (and like-minded people) on the matter.
Personally I would prefer we did no trade and had no sporting links with any country where the Government didn't have the freely declared support of the majority of the people. The problem is that the UK would fail that test currently and indeed every year except 2010 to 2015. So we've not got a firm base to criticise others. If our Government hasn't sanctioned Qatar then I don't think the FA should be expected to either.
When did a government in this country last win a general election with over 50% of the electorate voting for them, even Blairs massive landslide victory in 97 only saw him get 43% of the votes cast and when you consider that nearly 30% of people didn't vote getting to 50% is virtually impossible. I doubt that there are many democratically voted governments anywhere in the world with the support of over half their electorate.
Most countries with some sort of proportional representation come close at least based on those who actually vote. I didn't mean to imply that you needed 50% of the total. The more general point is that it really isn't easy to come up with an objective system for sporting sanctions. If it was gay rights or even racial or sexual discrimination then England wouldn't have passed in 1966. I am not sure that a country being some years behind us in adopting these things is sufficient grounds.
I just don't think it is any worse a venue than Russia or China, both of which have had recent events.
Only boxing events so far, although they are in line to host the Asian Winter Games in 2029 if the 'smart city' is completed, offering year-round skiing conditions!!
Even if you chose to ignore the human rights aspects of it, Qatar isn't a suitable sporting venue. Russia and China are enormous and clearly have the applicable infrastructure. It also only has about 300k citizens. It's a ridiculous host.
