Qatar, Riyadh and the dark side of Sport

Gymnastics coaches banned for abuse are to be named;

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/gymnastics/63298671

I'm not sure at all that this is a good idea.
These people will probably be targeted by some who will conclude the abuse was sexual. My current understanding is that only a tiny fraction of claims of abuse have been of that nature. Most of the claims involve emotional abuse (bullying) and the like.

Also, I don't believe these banned coaches were 'rogue'.
Somebody higher up was giving them orders to push gymnasts ever harder.
Who are they?
And why aren't they being punished?

 

Peter Tatchell

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-63389409

No respecter of local customs

 

Australia's Soccer team talks the talk about Qatar...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63407407

But in my view these are empty words if they will not walk the walk - and refuse to play in the World Cup Finals.
Sportswashing only works if sportspeople allow themselves to be involved with it.

 

FIFA has officially warned all 32 Nations competing at the Qatar World Cup Finals not to rock the boat.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63506951

That's as good as an admission that this tournament is a giant sports-washing exercise.
And that migrant workers' lives don't matter.

 

It's FIFA who should have concentrated on football and awarded the WC to Oz. They would have organised a brilliant tournament.

 

...and they wouldn't have been telling people who's sexuality isn't part of their agenda to 'keep a low profile'. FIFA really should hang their heads in shame over this.

 

....and the w/c would have been in our summer, their winter.

 

Fan leaders?

I think not. Stooges more like.
Were they vetted first to make sure none of them were Jewish or gay? You bet they were.

 

That stinks.

 

Awarding the World Cup Finals to Qatar was a mistake... says Sepp Blatter

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63554507

Better very late than never I suppose.
So you'll be giving them back that fat envelope full of cash then Mr B.

Then he moans that an FBI investigation into him was accelerated because the USA didn't get the 2022 Finals.
He is a piece of work
FIFA won't be happy with the old lecher. They want folks to concentrate on the football

 

Are we focusing on the football yet?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63566517

Qatar's attitude towards homosexuality seems backward to us now, but it's worth remembering that when England hosted the World Cup Finals in 1966 being actively gay was against the law in this country.

What bothers me more are the deaths and abuse suffered by migrant workers there.
Our civil rights champions in Parliament and the Trade Union movement did away with that kind of abuse a century ago, 5 or 6 generations.
If the Qataris want to treat their migrant labourers like slaves there's nothing we can do to stop them.
But we should not be rewarding them with a major Global sports tournament, should we Mr Blatter.

 

We've known it was happening all the time and nobody lifted a finger to do a thing about it.

 

The FA should of withdrawn from the competition if they really want to stand against discrimination of any kind - but I expect they’ll all have a jolly good ,all expenses paid ,knees up - and on arrival be presented with a lovely fat brown envelope!

 

If they win it, can we say Charlton won the World Cup?

 

It's being reported in the Daily Telegraph today that thousands of Pakistani troops are being flown into Qatar to provide 'security' during the World Cup Finals.
The paper describes them as "potentially trigger-happy".
I can see that ending well...

 

Are you sure it wasn’t “potentially Tikka happy ? “

 

Danish film crew forced to stop filming in a public place by Qatar security guards who threatened to smash their camera.