Yes we do have racists in our society, but on the whole I'd say we were a pretty tolerant nation, and have a much better reputation regarding intergration, multi-culturalism etc than our Antipodean mates. And Aussies aren't just intolerant of Johnny Foreigner, just look at how their indigenous population have been treated over the years, and how they continue to be treated even today.
Can't remember who, but somebody a while back pointed out the lack of representation of ethic minorities in any of the Australian sporting teams which I thought was a very good point. Apparently they do have one black guy in their rugby union squad (forgive my ignorance, I've never been an egg chaser) but as for football and cricket teams absolutely nobody at all.
Their rugby team has had quite a few from ethnic minorities over the years, and probably proportionally about right, but it is basically the only one of their teams that has shown any tolerance
It's not the foreigners to blame, it's the politicians for letting what has/is happening, happen in the first place. I don't think it fair to place 'blame' on the indigenous population, after all, the people had no say whatsoever in the immigration process. Most (not all) perceived or actual racism present today is the making of politicians over the last 30 years or so.
Those ethnic minority players are mostly from the South Sea islands and not true Aussies, a bit like KP in cricket.
That is true, but equally they have had some big names like George Gregan (who is half-Zambian, but his father is an Aussie so you can't really say he isn't "true Aussie"), Wendell Sailor and Kurtley Beale, but also now the Faianga'as are of Aboriginal descent (as well as South Sea islands). I'm not saying the Aussie rugby team can be proud of their record, but it is definitely better than most of their national sides.
While I agree with you to an extent that England (And the Prem) have essentially ruined English football with all the money and stardom that we seem to love to shower on anyone who shows some kind of talent, you can't really believe that Qatar is more worthy to hold the world cup. Whether it be on historical contributions to football or ethical considerations, they fall far far short of a country that should even be dealt with, let alone entrusted with arguably the biggest sporting event in the world. I don't care whether Blatter knew about all the corruption or not (If he didn't then he is the most clueless, useless president of an organisation there has ever been and clearly has no control over anything within FIFA). What matters is he has been the head of FIFA during what seems to be an entirely corrupt period of footballing history. There probably is a lot of corruption in the other governing bodies around the world, but who is to say that didn't happen because you had to be corrupt to get the FIFA officials on their side. It's incredible that essentially every single fan of football is delighted that Blatter has finally gone, yet you argue for the man, and still manage to bring it round to how England don't play the lovely style of football YOU want to see. It's pretty arrogant to think you're opinion on how England play football means it's ok for corruption to run rife through FIFA because "At least it'll keep the world cup away from England!"[/QUOTE] Its not about being worthy. I never said its ok for corruption to keep England out, I said keep England out because we don't know what we are doing, we develop money and business interests, not fairness and quality. The point I am making is that Fifa have done a far better job at developing football around the world than our own incompetent lot have managed looking after just one. Who the hell are we to tell others about how to run World football? I will say this now, all the animosity from this country comes primarily from England not winning the bid. Nothing to do with it going to Qatar.
Its not about being worthy. I never said its ok for corruption to keep England out, I said keep England out because we don't know what we are doing, we develop money and business interests, not fairness and quality. The point I am making is that Fifa have done a far better job at developing football around the world than our own incompetent lot have managed looking after just one. Who the hell are we to tell others about how to run World football? I will say this now, all the animosity from this country comes primarily from England not winning the bid. Nothing to do with it going to Qatar.[/QUOTE] But England weren't even bidding against Qatar.
But England weren't even bidding against Qatar.[/QUOTE] Qatar or Russia, it makes no difference. If we had won the bid nobody would heve been complaining about Qatar.
Well, following on from Chuck Blazer's revelations, Qatar's bid to host the 2022 World Cup looks to be in serious jeopardy thank goodness and we have got rid of the 'dinosaur' that is Sepp Blatter. I predict that video replays will be introduced in the next few years and I'd love to see that happen, but only for penalties and red card decisions..
Qatar or Russia, it makes no difference. If we had won the bid nobody would heve been complaining about Qatar.[/QUOTE] Yes we would, stop being so wet man
Qatar or Russia, it makes no difference. If we had won the bid nobody would heve been complaining about Qatar.[/QUOTE] I think they would Carrabuh, the World Cup is a summer tournament and the whole idea that the World Cup could ever be played in the summer in Qatar was a non-starter. The furore that ensued afterwards has led to the tournament being switched to winter in the middle of the European league season FFS. It's complete bollocks and stinks of back handers and corruption. England getting just ONE vote for 2018 when our bid was fantastic ? Fair enough you can never expect to win hands down, but ONE vote ? Again stinks. As for your comment about 'we don't know what we're doing' , what on earth are you banging on about ? Ok our national side isn't very good but WTF has that got to do with our ability to host the WC ? England has proven as recently as the London Olympics that we can organise a tournament and put on a show as good as anyone if not better. I like many others have fallen out of love with international football, not because England are 5hit and have been for many years, but because of bloody FIFA. Say what you will about the Yanks, but when they get their teeth into something like this they won't stop until they bring the whole organisation down and I for one am grateful to 'em.
I think they would Carrabuh, the World Cup is a summer tournament and the whole idea that the World Cup could ever be played in the summer in Qatar was a non-starter. The furore that ensued afterwards has led to the tournament being switched to winter in the middle of the European league season FFS. It's complete bollocks and stinks of back handers and corruption. England getting just ONE vote for 2018 when our bid was fantastic ? Fair enough you can never expect to win hands down, but ONE vote ? Again stinks. As for your comment about 'we don't know what we're doing' , what on earth are you banging on about ? Ok our national side isn't very good but WTF has that got to do with our ability to host the WC ? England has proven as recently as the London Olympics that we can organise a tournament and put on a show as good as anyone if not better. I like many others have fallen out of love with international football, not because England are 5hit and have been for many years, but because of bloody FIFA. Say what you will about the Yanks, but when they get their teeth into something like this they won't stop until they bring the whole organisation down and I for one am grateful to 'em.[/QUOTE] Spot on KIO and we pretty much have the stadia and infrastructure to host a World Cup. Some interesting times ahead!!!!
This is totally bang on. Plus we already have perfectly adequate stadia, so wouldn't necessitate thousands of migrant workers dying due to lack of a safe working environment. Unlike some. So why didn't FIFA retract the Qatari bid when the hundreds of imprisoned foreign migrant workers dying was highlighted? Do they not have a duty so show a regard for human rights?
BTW those slap heads are for FIFA's decision to give Russia the WC Cromer and not aimed at you but I trust you gathered that
There was a slight mis-quoting by Carrabuh earlier in this thread that has coursed a lot of quoted responses to get messed up. Made this thread the little bit more confusing to read. In response to your accusations Carra, I don't care if England had gotten the world cup. What I don't like is high levels of corruption in a sport that I happen to hold quite dearly, and one that has already been put on the path to ruin by all the money that has been thrown indiscriminately at it. I really don't see how you can possibly defend what's happened with the World Cups! Qatar is simply one of the worst venues on this planet to hold one. If Blatter was still in control it'd probably be given to DRC or Syria in 2026. I think it was a noble idea to spread Football around the world more and to attempt to boost smaller nations involvement but to do it through means of corruption, to send it to somewhere like Qatar! That's simply wrong. Additionally, how much good have these world cups been doing for these "Lesser" nations? I'm not entirely sure what it's been like for South Africa but I know they built a lot of Stadia at huge expense for their world cup. Brazil spent even more and the stadiums they built are essentially giant parking lots now, and it came at the expense of rainforest in some areas, and certainly at the expense of improving the lives of millions in that country. The one bad thing about Blatter resigning and this all blowing up is that it's taken so long. Qatar should never have been awarded the world cup, or at least had it immediately rescinded. Now thousands have died building the stadiums, many more are predicted to and it might all be for absolutely nothing in the end.
