Qatar 2022

[zekekelso]

Second, get a number of big time billionaire sports team owners such as Mark Cuban, Jerry Jones, Paul Allen, to organize a one-time rival tournament with the top players promising them nice paychecks, more than they could receive even as a member of a World Cup championship team

No way in heck the clubs release their players for some new tournament.

[TorchbearerSydney]

No sign of a boycott here. England is planning on winning 2022, it was Officially Announced today.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/may/19/martin-glenn-england-2022-world-cup-qatar-man-on-the-moon

I imagine the hot desert conditions would play right into England's hands!

[Nacre]

FIFA would not suspend the likes of Germany, England, Brazil, etc. on political grounds. Maybe a public scolding and a fine, but FIFA knows where the bread and butter comes from.

They are going to take a world cup spot away from South America based on the actions of a few ultra fans of one club in Argentina. FIFA doesn't care if they antagonize the whole world as long as the money keeps coming in.

http://golazoargentino.com/2015/05/19/fifa-could-take-south-american-world-cup-playoff-spot-after-superclasico-incident/

Edited May 20, 2015 by Nacre

[Quaker2001]

I cannot find the link anymore but there was an article about two months or so ago that offered a solution to the whole Qatar World Cup mess, especially with the tournament being moved to the winter months. It centered on two points.

First, while FIFA can mandate clubs release players for their national teams, FIFA cannot mandate which players get chosen. In protest, European powerhouses along with the likes of Mexico, Brazil, and the U.S. should select "B teams" most likely under 20 squads to send to the World Cup.

Second, get a number of big time billionaire sports team owners such as Mark Cuban, Jerry Jones, Paul Allen, to organize a one-time rival tournament with the top players promising them nice paychecks, more than they could receive even as a member of a World Cup championship team. FIFA and Blatter would go insane, but really what could they do, ban powerful UEFA team from competition. Like I said before, it's a lot easier to suspend a federation such as Myanmar than it is to go after one of the big boys.

These ideas of mass boycotts and rival tournaments aren't likely to work. What's in it for the Mark Cubans and Jerry Jones' of the world to do something like that? Not a risk worth taking. Like England's top players have any idea who Mark Cuban is.

There's been talk before of the big boys of international football breaking away from FIFA. For better or worse, they need FIFA to drive home sponsorships and TV dollars. That's not something they can easily do on their own. Now if FIFA starts to lose sponsorships and TV drawing power (and they're pretty darn close), then that's an issue to deal with. But for a 1-time solution, a rival tournament isn't likely to accomplish anything.

[baron-pierreIV]

No sign of a boycott here. England is planning on winning 2022, it was Officially Announced today.

That's why Tony (TELA) has retired from GamesBids. He sent me a PM saying that he's working 24/7/52/365 selecting the All-England 2022 team!!

Edited May 20, 2015 by baron-pierreIV

[Rob2012]

Superb piece on @SeppBlatter's conveniently schizophrenic view of football's political influence

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/may/20/slave-deaths-qatar-world-cup-2022-fifa?CMP=share_btn_tw

[baron-pierreIV]

The latest 'humanitarian' moves from Qatar...

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/24/qatar-denies-nepalese-world-cup-workers-leave-after-earthquakes?CMP=ema_565

For God's sakes, FIFA, it's time to cut this Qatari crap!!!

[baron-pierreIV]

The latest 'humanitarian' moves from Qatar...

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/24/qatar-denies-nepalese-world-cup-workers-leave-after-earthquakes?CMP=ema_565

For God's sakes, FIFA, it's time to cut this Qatari crap!!!

I have to take credit. The above msg is what set the US Justice Dept. off!!

Anywho, on a more serious note, much as something like the WC should NOT be played in a place like Qatar (primarily because of the climactic and cultural conditions), the big losers in this if 2022 is eventually removed from Qatar, will be the poor migrant workers. I imagine construction of the stadia will altogether stop and be aborted. Then they will be ordered to be torn down; and then they are sent home. To what? To an earthquake-ravaged land like Nepal which will take maybe a decade and a couple of billion $$ to recover.

So, really, if it should continue, it should be for humanitarian reasons' sake -- even though Qatar takes "humanitarian" to an altogether different level. So, in view of that, should 2022 still be taken away from this God-forsaken place? I think that may be the consideration that will keep 2022 in place -- despite all the immorality of its being awarded. This will be the one "saving grace" of this wretched move and organization.

I betcha Qatar will now offer to raise their wages and argue the above to keep 2022 -- or even make outright donations of a billion or 2 to rebuild Nepal. How can anyone then say "no"?

Edited May 27, 2015 by baron-pierreIV

[stryker]

In light of the revelations at FIFA the Qataris are being surprisingly quiet. Probably waiting to see how to put a racial spin on the next round of corruption allegations

[Rob2012]

In light of the revelations at FIFA the Qataris are being surprisingly quiet. Probably waiting to see how to put a racial spin on the next round of corruption allegations

They're being shrewd, unlike Putin who is making Russia look guilty by coming out with his wild conspiracy theories.

[yoshi]

I must say, I'm very surprised by Putin. Whatever you may think of him, he's normally very shrewd, the kind who knows exactly how to get what he wants. By coming up with conspiracy theories which don't really stand up (this investigation started in 1991, ffs) he's making himself look an idiot & his country look guilty. If they truly have 'nothing to hide' they should stop being paranoid & start helping the investigation

[baron-pierreIV]

he's making himself look an idiot

Well, he looks like an idiot (and like some psychopath from Arizona who used to post here.

[stryker]

Well they've broken the silence. Pretty basic with "We've done nothing wrong."

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/9868567/qatar-2022-organisers-weve-done-nothing-wrong

[Alexjc]

Blatter gone....

Now What?

Can Qatar save themselves now?

[Nacre]

I don't think it's in the interest of FIFA or the governments of the world to try and strip Qatar of the World Cup. If the USA, England, Australia, etc fight to take the World Cup away from the Middle East and give it to themselves there will be outrage in that part of the world.

FIFA is also unlikely to want to go down that path, since it would require a bloody fight between the reformers and the people who awarded the games to Qatar. It would be easier for them to essentially declare and amnesty, institute reforms, and then move on.

[runningrings]

I don't think it's in the interest of FIFA or the governments of the world to try and strip Qatar of the World Cup. If the USA, England, Australia, etc fight to take the World Cup away from the Middle East and give it to themselves there will be outrage in that part of the world.

FIFA is also unlikely to want to go down that path, since it would require a bloody fight between the reformers and the people who awarded the games to Qatar. It would be easier for them to essentially declare and amnesty, institute reforms, and then move on.

If corruption is proven, this early in the organisational period, it can very well void the contract. Would be hard for a lawyer to argue that against the Qataris. Relocation doesn't necessarily have to be to those countries - Australia would rightly be off the cards as it is also implicated in the corruption investigation (albeit far far less)

Again - we should keep our eyes on South Korea

*wouldnt be hard to argue against Qataris

[TorchbearerSydney]

If corruption is proven, this early in the organisational period, it can very well void the contract. Would be hard for a lawyer to argue that against the Qataris. Relocation doesn't necessarily have to be to those countries - Australia would rightly be off the cards as it is also implicated in the corruption investigation (albeit far far less)

Again - we should keep our eyes on South Korea

*wouldnt be hard to argue against Qataris

I actually read that Host Contract with FIFA allowed for the stripping of the rights to the World Cup at FIFAs discretion without reason. FIFA can take it away anytime it wants.

Seems strange, happy to be corrected. This debate came up in the Press about 3 months ago.

Australia's sad little attempt at corruption was paying a few million dollars for a Central American Youth Football Academy- the money was taken by the FIFA official and put in his own bank account. I don't think Australia is particularly in trouble for it. We are so bad at being corrupt, no wonder we only got 1 vote!

[stryker]

Just as I've long suspected they would, the Qataris have played the race card. In light of the recent events at FIFA since Blatter's departure, I still don't think that FIFA strips Qatar of the World Cup. This is just the beginning. There will be a huge political firestorm and Qatar will do all they can to take FIFA down with them (that might actually be a good thing).

http://www.thestar.com.my/Sport/Football/2015/06/04/Qatar-says-prejudice-and-racism-behind-criticism-of-2022-World-Cup/

[StefanMUC]

Qatar is apparently going to sue former DFB boss and former FIFA ExCo member Theo Zwanziger for a two year old statement where he called Qatar "the cancer of world football".

(article in German here)

http://www.spiegel.de/sport/fussball/theo-zwanziger-reagiert-auf-klagedrohung-aus-katar-a-1038376.html

I'm no fan of Zwanziger, but this is kind of funny.

[TorchbearerSydney]

"The cancer of world football''... as if that is the worst thing people are saying about Qatar.

[Quaker2001]

"The cancer of world football''... as if that is the worst thing people are saying about Qatar.

That's probably being kind, actually. I'm betting most people have a better chance of surviving cancer than most of the workers in Qatar.

[baron-pierreIV]

Qatar may be a hell hole, but you can at least arrive there in style. Unbelievably, Qatar Airways is again ranked #1 in the world (on this list):

http://kickerdaily.com/qatar-airways-voted-worlds-best-airline-in-2015-by-skytrax/

Funny, I didn't think Turkish was all that special from 3 years ago (the attendants weren't even smiling); and I was very disappointed with Cathay last time I rode them about 10 years ago. I thought Cathay was excellent 20-30 years ago. Have never had any reason to try Singapore.

Edited June 17, 2015 by baron-pierreIV

[stryker]

Seems like the talk of taking away the World Cup from either Russia or Qatar is getting less. The article here is a bit over the top on repercussions if the World Cup were to be taken away, even if clear bribery is proved. I can't find the link but I read an article about a week or so ago that the if either Russia or Qatar were to lose the World Cup they would go to Court of Sport (I think that's right) in Switzerland. If the court ruled in their favor, Qatar or Russia could then seek monetary damages against FIFA and the amounts could be large enough to effectively bankrupt FIFA so in other words, Qatar and Russia could potentially take FIFA down with them especially Qatar. In recent days, the GCC, the OIC, and just about all of the Muslim world is lining up in support behind Qatar.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/stripping-russia-and-qatar-of-world-cups-could-have-serious-repercussions-1.2428288

I've flown Qatar Airways several times, even got a free business class upgrade. Hard to argue with the decision that they are the world's best airline.

[baron-pierreIV]

Seems like the talk of taking away the World Cup from either Russia or Qatar is getting less. The article here is a bit over the top on repercussions if the World Cup were to be taken away, even if clear bribery is proved. I can't find the link but I read an article about a week or so ago that the if either Russia or Qatar were to lose the World Cup they would go to Court of Sport (I think that's right) in Switzerland. If the court ruled in their favor, Qatar or Russia could then seek monetary damages against FIFA and the amounts could be large enough to effectively bankrupt FIFA so in other words, Qatar and Russia could potentially take FIFA down with them especially Qatar. In recent days, the GCC, the OIC, and just about all of the Muslim world is lining up in support behind Qatar.

I expected and have posted that possible outcome here. But if Russia and Qatar take FIFA down, then what's the point? It's like shooting yourself in the cojones.

The morality of things aside, the biggest loser in all this would be the Nepalese laborers that Qatar is employing. What with the earthquake devastation of their country, at least their being employed...even under the most dastardly conditions, at least gives them some currency with which to rebuild things at home. But if 2022 is taken away from them, you would have another small nation launched into even more dire circumstances. So, I think the Swiss would have to start thinking in those humanitarian terms. DAMN FIFA and the Qataris, but don't make the innocent parties like the Nepalese suffer any more for the corrupt ways of others.

[stryker]

I don't think Nepal as a whole would be hurt too much by Qatar losing the World Cup. The Qataris have plenty of other building projects being done. I live and work in the UAE currently and there are a lot of Nepalese workers here though most are either taxi drivers or work in the hotels. A lot work in Saudi Arabia as well.

If FIFA took the World Cup from Qatar and ultimately took FIFA down with them, would that really be such a bad thing? I say Qatar because I think it's too late to reassign 2018. The end of FIFA might be what's needed to clean up the sludge pool that it's become. Football is still big business and I would have to think that another organization would rise and take over leadership of the sport. Granted it's a worst case scenario.