2022 World Cup

exactly my thinking.
Just go if you’re going to go, but don’t dress it up/ think you’re having a go by wearing an armband ffs. You’ve just paid them for the privilege of that and no-one gives a ****.

 

Gareth. The ultimate yes man.
Him & Eddie Howe make a lovely pair……

 

It's basically the Mag excuse imo.

'I'm fighting the good fight by going to the matches and pretending it will change hundreds of years of Islamic law'.

 

What exactly does not watching achieve?

 

Boo , miserable git

 

Very little but it doesn't endorse the competition, lowers viewing figures and advertising revenues.

 

Would take us going out in the groups if it means Southgate gets the boot after the tournament. Personally think Portugal will win it this year.

 

So nothing about the issues inside Qatar then. At least the two in question have said they will make a statement about the issues inside of Qatar, pointless as it may prove to be. I would find it amusing, and it would be newsworthy, if he managed to get his chant going with fellow brits. Much more so than people not watching.

As for lowering viewing figures and revenues I dont see the relevance personally. The money from tv rights goes to FIFA, not to Qatar. If you want to punish FIFA then carry on, but it wont mean much to Qatar in my opinion. In the last world cup FIFA made something like £3.5bn profit from the tournament. 90% of that is given to football governing bodies to develop the game in their country. As somebody working in grassroots I see first hand how much that money is needed, it must be a hundred times worse in developing countries.

Nobody would disagree that Qatar should not be hosting, nor that the process of awarding was dubious. The time to demand and affect change was 12 years ago, and there were not enough of us then prepared to demand it. Now everyone is up in arms, rightly so, but to keep digging out people for wearing a rainbow armband is hardly worthwhile, in my opinion.

 

Best manager we have had since Bobby Robson. Hope he is still here in another 3 tournaments personally. It will mean as an England fan I have continued to enjoy my team doing really well. Each to their own though, but those hoping we fail are beyond my comprehension.

 

That's the point, everyone already knows the isssues in Qatar.

It's not like these two are whistleblowers exposing terrible secrets, the issues are clearly enshrined in Qatar's laws or denied by them.

What can he say in his statement that isn't already known?

And I'm not digging anyone out for wearing an armband, I'm saying it's contradicted by the act of attending the World Cup.

I find it hypocritical, especially from Kane who's happy to talk about principles.

 

That's the thing. These types are so thick skinned, so apart from the real world, that they will carry on, ( and be allowed to carry on by Sky etc) and see no contradiction at all.

They are used to getting their own way.

 

It's no different to David Attenborough investing in coal fired power stations ...

... if you do that, it's your business, but don't lecture me about climate change.

England players are always very quick to jump on anyone who chooses to show displeasure at kneeling ...

... but quite slow to criticise a regime that openly tortures people for their sexuality.

 

Why is wearing an armband contradicted by attending the world cup?

 

Easy to do the easy things.

It's the same with Sky going on about " fighting discrimination of all kinds", and then toadying up the backside of Eddie Howe, as he avoids questions about his employer's discrimination against almost everyone.

 

Wearing the armband is a statement of principle ...

... going to the country you're 'protesting about', for your own benefit, shows your own wishes are actually more important.

If I wave a Ukrainian flag 'on principle', then accept a free holiday from Putin I'm a hypocrite.

Some England fans are actually being paid to go to Qatar and sing to order, it's shameful.

 

I would say you were hypocrite if you did nothing to criticise Putin and Russia whilst on the free holiday. If however you used the trip to openly show your disagreement, then I would consider you somebody attempting to make a positive contribution, perhaps even an activist depending how far you went.

 

This fella isn't an activist, not even close.

He's just someone excusing himself for going to watch the football imo.

He won't do anything that puts him in the slightest risk.

As for starting a chant then hiding behind other people in the stadium, big deal ...

... if you really believe in your 'principles' sing it in the square on your own or with like minded people.

He won't.

 

I did not state he was an activist. If he wears the arm band then I consider that a positive contribution. I consider Kane and the other european captains continuing to wear the rainbow armband a postive contribution too. It is better than making no contribution I think.

 

Yes, an armband. of course.

Why didn't Nelson Mandela think of that ...

... could've saved him all those years in prison

Sorry mate, not being rude but it's just an armband and it's not even clear what it means.

If it's in support of LGBTQ+ why not just use their symbol?

 

Nelson Mandela was an activist though. I have already said I think this is just a positive contribution. Mandela aimed far higher.

The rainbow flag has been around for a long time, since the late 70s. The original LGBT Pride Flag. It is quite an interesting story to read. It is now seen as a global symbol of support. I think its meaning is well understood in football circles too, where we have adopted it in various guises over the last decade or so. Most notably the rainbow laces campaign. The armbands arent new either, they have been around a while, so I am surprised people are unsure what they mean to be honest...