Qatar, Riyadh and the dark side of Sport

After buying FIFA, looks like you-know-who tried to buy the EU as well...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-63941509

 

Thank God our own government is completely honest and transparent.

 

Good to see the police raiding the offices and promising there will be no immunity for people taking back handers. Grubby thieving politicians (and FIFA) are a curse that needs stamping on. You watching this @metpolice?

In other news, the Spanish government are planning to lower the punishments for fraud and bribe taking to help their Catalan mates who have politicians in jail for diverting public money into Independence operated bank accounts. It may help keep them in power til the next elections, but is damaging their share of the votes.

 

I too fully accept the UK has nothing to be proud of regarding corruption. The stuff going on around Russian money in London is an utter disgrace.
People in power for too long do dodgy deals in the shadows to feather their nests, while real hardworking folk endure years of real term pay cuts.

 

That Infantino is a piece of work.

Bought and paid for by the Qataris, he stands up and claims that the 2022 World Cup Finals have been the best ever
Yes, some up-and-coming football Nations have excelled - Morocco in particular.
And the drinking ban has removed a catalyst for crowd trouble.
But the best Finals ever? Leave it out.

South Africa and Italia '90 were both far more exciting and full of genuine raw passion, with much less authoritarian stage-management.
Qatar 2022 has been the most tightly controlled tournament of all time for sure. But State corruption and control freakery are no substitute for values of freedom and equality, however much you polish your suppression techniques up.

And two more migrant workers have died during the tournament itself - both falling to their deaths.
Let alone the hundreds who paid with their lives while preparing for this massive triumph of Sports washing.
FIFA has plumbed new depths of shame.
And the English FA have been complicit.

 

Something dodgy going on in the world of Snooker...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/64152359

 

Remember the Chinese betting syndicate who were sabotaging the floodlights during football matches and got caught when they did the ones at Charlton?

 

I read today that Infantino wants every country in the wolrd to have one stadium called the Pele stadium. I'm a big fan of Pele, but there are limits and Infantino always seems to find them. Can we look forward to another daft speech (today I feel like a dead footballer, today I feel like a concrete stadium) from the guy? Most countries have their own heroes, and they generally get a stand named after them at most (Seed and Curbs at the Valley), so while I am happy to admit Pele was amongst the very best footballers everywhere, this idea is just another embarassment from FIFA as far as I am concerned.
Could FIFA try and get someone honest and sensible (and not Swiss) in charge, while the major football nations plot getting out?

 

It seems likely there will be a split.
And when it comes, responsibility will lie wholly on the unfitness of FIFA to lead a united football community.

Reminds me a bit of another bureaucratic autocracy that couldn't hold itself together
I'm talking about the darts of course

 

Bad joke of the day

Amnesty International wants £3m -per-week Cristiano "I want to play in the Champion's League" Ronaldo to speak up about Human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia


https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64170047

I'd laugh more, but it really isn't funny.
Sportswashing
Gets those stubborn stains right out - Saudi are nailed on for the World Cup Finals in 8 or 12 years' time.

 

Money but no class.

 

The spineless Jellyfish at the IOC are going to let Russian & Belorussian athletes compete in Paris 2024, as "neutrals".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/64406442

Cue a rash of Z emblems and Russian flags, and much chortling in the Kremlin.
I wouldn't blame Ukraine if they boycott it.

By the way, Novax's dad has been seen hob-nobbing with Putin supporters at the Australian Open Tennis Tournament

 

Up to 40 countries could boycott the Paris Olympic Games if Russian & Belorussian athletes are allowed to compete

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/64503198

I know not everyone agrees with athletes being punished for the misdeeds of their Nation's Government.
But there are some things that go beyond the pale in my view.
Mercilessly savaging a neighbouring country and wrecking its infrastucture during a freezing winter is one of them.

It will be interesting to see what the GB team is instructed to do.
Unlike the Qatar scenario where there was an embarrassing conflict of interest, our Government is supposed to be backing Ukraine to the hilt.
Would be a bit inconsistent if we send our athletes to compete alongside Russians.

 

Simple for me - the Russians should be barred from the games - the people of Russia should be made aware of how the rest of the world feel about Ukraine

 

Interesting that Arsenal aren't on that list once.
Or Leicester City.

 

Surprised Charlton not on that list

 

We will be when the US billionaires buy us