Amazingly they also have fan zones where people can watch the World Cup at their venues on big screens. Disingenuous pricks. Maybe James Watt should fix his own house when it comes to the way workers are treat before wading into anything else. I like plenty of Brew Dog beer, but that man is an insufferable bellend.
Bailey Wright has been called up by the Aussies for their world cup squad https://www.safc.com/news/team-news/2022/november/bailey-wright-call-up
There was a time, many years ago, that I used to be really excited about the world cup. Looking forward to the start, checking out the opposition, looking at who would be hardest to beat in the group stage and who we might come up against once we get through. This time I can hardly be bothered to think about it, crap place to hold it, ridiculous time of the year, I don't even know the teams in our group and don't really care. The only good thing about this world cup is it gives our lads a chance to get back to full strength, on the other hand, how do you get through a month, mid season without watching SAFC?
I thought exactly the same when I saw this. I suppose he is at least doing something though. I have thought quite a bit about the world cup in Qatar and how I can justify watching it, because I will be watching it all. I disagree fundamentally with it being in Qatar, I also disagreed with Russia getting theirs. Despite me disliking the awarding process, and the country, I cant see me tuning out having any positive impact to be honest. I did have an invite to go out to stay with friends in Abu Dhabi, and go in and out for matches. I turned that down. As much as I would have enjoyed it I wasnt comfortable actually putting money in. I have decided to do my own tiny protest though. I run a soccer school on a Saturday morning for 5-6 year olds. Nothing fancy, just a chance for kids to come and hopefully kick start their passion for the game. I have a rainbow armband for each of them, and I will start wearing mine this coming Saturday. I will give one to their parents and let them decide if they want to let their kids wear it, and hopefully a chance to explain why. Then if they see it on TV it will be a chance again to understand. Hardly going to change the world, but hopefully a little something.
I must be the only one happy at the timing of this WC. It's our wedding anniversary next week and we go away to celebrate. Means this year I don't miss any SAFC games while we are away.
All very good points mate. I think your stance with the kids is far bigger than any impact you could have by not watching the World Cup. It's long overdue for FIFA and UEFA to be reformed, but the problem we have is that much like corrupt countries, the only people vying for control are looking to tip the odds in their own interests rather than create fairness. FIFA has been corrupt pretty much since its inception, even when an Englishman was in charge. Qatar are already dominating French football with their ownership of PSG. Barcelona were happy to take their money a few years ago in sponsorship. In England we have 2 clubs that are state owned and morally questionable. None of that even includes the oligarchs etc. who have bought clubs and were unfit owners. That's a long ramble without much of a point, but I guess my question on the Qatar world cup really is "why is this the line in the sand?" Our game has gone beyond repair sadly, and for me personally, if I was to ignore this world cup on moral grounds, then it's about time to give up football in general too.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63554507 What a knob. You’ve got your money and now you try crawl out of a hole you made to claw back some credibility
The welcome mat is being rolled out Remarks by a Qatar World Cup ambassador have been called “harmful and unacceptable” after he described homosexuality as “damage in the mind”. Khalid Salman, a former Qatar international footballer, made the comments in an interview with the German broadcaster ZDF. Asked about the fact that homosexuality is illegal in his country, Salman said: “They have to accept our rules here. [Homosexuality] is haram. You know what haram means?” When asked why it was haram, or forbidden, Khalid Salman said: “I am not a strict Muslim but why is it haram? Because it is damage in the mind.” Last month HRW published a report documenting what it claimed was “arbitrary” police action against LGBTQ+ residents in Qatar, including six cases of severe and repeated beatings and five cases of sexual harassment in police custody between 2019 and 2022.
With Bennette joining the club in 2022 means Sunderland will have to share the £9,000 per-player-per-day payout with Herediano. The Black Cats will, however, pocket the full amount from Wright’s trip.
I'm willing to pay anyone £100 if they can hack the PA system in any Qatar stadium during the World Cup and play YMCA instead of the FIFA anthem as the teams walk out.
