Understand the angst about FIFA and the location. I will 100% watch though. I said same before Qatar and did so. The world cup remains my favourite footballing event, and sporting event. It is the pinacle for me, and ia so historic. I will head to the 2030 one no dramas. Hopefully Morocco. I will also try for the centenary game in Uruguay if I can somehow. Would love to be part of that tbh.
The face of football when it was ours ... please log in to view this image The face of football now it's theirs ... please log in to view this image
Comparing FIFA to UEFA is like comparing Harold Shipman to Jack the Ripper. Both are despicable and corrupt, though one is slightly worse than the other, though it's hard to tell at times. I've read a lot of books, articles and reports into corruption in sporting bodies, like FIFA and UEFA, but also the IOC, IAAF (now World Athletics) and boxing. One common thing is generally the organisation gets taken over by an autocratic leader (Havelange, Samaranch, Nebiolo, Jacque George) initially appearing ok and reasonable, but who gradually replaces opponents and critics with people dependent on them. This leads to patronage and people only progressing by playing the game and if you don't play it their way, you get treat with suspicion and marginalized. Then it becomes easier just not to rock the boat to avoid consequences.
See there's not a thread about this on the mags forum, strange. My take on it....Saudi have got what they wanted. The mags were a starting point, but i genuinely don't think they have any interest in them. They just needed a foot in the door, and those sad knackers held it wide open for them. They aren't interested in any club in particular, they just wanted "football". They got the golf, but they're not arsed who wins the tournament, same with boxing, F1, Tennis. They spent big to get the sport, not any particular individual to win it. I think the mags could be surplus to their requirements now, can't see any benefit of having them now. Tbh, i can see the mags becoming even more of a pariah in the eyes of other fans.
Wow, that's a very powerful post and, I believe, holds a great deal of truth ... ... the Mags are probably doing their best to ignore the absolute storm that's about to hit them. They prostituted themselves for money but they're beginning to realise the shame they've brought on their club ... ... it's such a shame, the rivalry was one of the best in football but now we can only look down on them. That's truly ironic when we're actually a division below.
They have produced their version of golf and it utter garbage. I went to a LIV event this season and lasted an hour. Dreadful experience. I give it 5 years before it is finished. If they get their own version of football to govern they will balls it up too.
