FIFA dirty secrets

[Jimbo]

40 degrees or over indeed. More like 50 degrees.

I know it would fry my kidneys what with all the pasty flesh I've accrued in the West Midlands, so ten degrees is neither here nor there to me!

And it's not just the heat. The humidity is an absolute killer. Obviously, all games would be played indoors, but what about the build-ups to games, where fans want to hang around and get pissed in the open air? That ain't gonna work when it's 52 degrees centigrade and 95 percent humidity, with the local constabulary getting all hitty at the first sign of inebriation. But, of course, you'll be looking at around ten or twelve quid a pint at least by 2022, so you won't be getting slaughtered too often. Camping will be out of the question, as it'll be too hot. It'll be hotels all the way - and they won't be cheap. Fans who can afford to go and want to stay the duration will spend a whole month indoors.

Then there's the games. Cameras lingering upon Brazilian babes in skimpy tops and hotpants in the crowd? She'll be arrested at the first flash of a bare upper thigh. Caught flicking the Vs at the Germans? You'll be slung in the cells for that highly offensive gesture. And how do you think your average brainless England fan and EDL member is going to get on with the local muslim population? Well, it's going to be interesting finding out.     

[hawkeye]

Its sort of ironic that FIFA response to allegations of corruption is to award the next 2 world cups to Russia and Qatar> If our FA had any gumption they would form a break away alliance with all the countries that are being sidelined by them,

[Dante Lavelli]

One day on I still cannot believe that Qatar has been given the 2022 WC.

Surely the rest of the world's FAs should stand and be counted and say NO.    FIFA rated their bid as "high risk" and then gave it to them.   I would like England to start the ball rolling and I really dont care if we get banned from this and that.   Time to make a stand.  I can see plenty of other FAs who would join the boycott.

I'm with you on this.  Spain/Portugal put up just as good a bid as us (maybe better) and I can even see some merits in the Russia bid so I'm not too annoyed that we lost 2018.

BUT QATAR!!  My list of concerns off the top of my head:

1.  It's 50 odd degrees in the day.  Okay so many of the matches will be at night but what will the fans do in the day?
2.  Not drink.  It's a dry state as far as I am aware.
3.  Unless you drink in one of the expensive 4-star hotels.  Not great for the average fan.
4.  Maybe they could visit some of the many sights...  Ummm.
5.  Where are the stadiums?  What will happen to them afterwards?
6.  What is the population of Qatar (even the middle east), it's hardly an untapped reserve of kids that can start playing the sport (Australia would have been good for this)
7.  Extending point 5 - I'd like to think that FIFA would/should consider the carbon footprint of hosting the WC.  Just building the required stadiums is a joke, plus the infrastructure etc.  Air conditioning everywhere...  They've already forced Brazil to chop down the equivalent size of a small country in the Amazon to get a motorway to one of the chosen venues.

I'm sure you guys can think of more.

It's insane.  It's as if the enjoyment factor for the fans is their last consideration.  They can't even claim that it will spread the game to a new population (USA 94) as hardly anyone lives there!

If I was an editor I would be instructing my best research journalist to dig up every bit of dirt that I could on FIFA.  Collectively the US, Spain, Portugal, Holland, Belgium could share the pleasure of releasing the news so they could not persecute any single nation.

Grrrrrr. 

[Pete3206]

[Dante Lavelli]

stole this off some comments on a Guardian article.  Provides the numbers to a lot of points raised elsewhere.  Note it was written before the announcement.

It would be an hilarious exposé of FIFA corruption were Qatar to host the World Cup. A few notable features of the bid:

- A host country the size of Yorkshire with the population of greater Leeds, some of its "host cities" inhabited by as few as 10,000 people.
- Not just 40 degrees, 45-50 degree daytime temperatures during the cup. That is scary hot.
- Definitely no cold brewskies in the fan zone with blanket alcohol bans.
- Systematic discrimination against women
- Exploitation of foreign workers by the lazy locals
- Only one existing stadium anywhere that's near suitable for international football. Somehow they will renovate it and build another 11 for an average of less than $300m each, about half the amount other bidders quote to build their stadiums.
- One single, solitary airport.
- Nil public transport whatsoever.
- A "carbon neutral" stadium air conditioning system that hasn't even been invented yet, let alone put to use in any football stadium anywhere in the world. But who would doubt that the Qataris would be capable of inventing it, given their long proud history of engineering innovation?

One must admire Qatar's chutzpah for taking it this far - but surely Bin Hamman must announce any day now that "Qatar 2022" is a big joke.

[taylorsworkrate]

stole this off some comments on a Guardian article.  Provides the numbers to a lot of points raised elsewhere.  Note it was written before the announcement.

It would be an hilarious exposé of FIFA corruption were Qatar to host the World Cup. A few notable features of the bid:

- A host country the size of Yorkshire with the population of greater Leeds, some of its "host cities" inhabited by as few as 10,000 people.
- Not just 40 degrees, 45-50 degree daytime temperatures during the cup. That is scary hot.
- Definitely no cold brewskies in the fan zone with blanket alcohol bans.
- Systematic discrimination against women
- Exploitation of foreign workers by the lazy locals
- Only one existing stadium anywhere that's near suitable for international football. Somehow they will renovate it and build another 11 for an average of less than $300m each, about half the amount other bidders quote to build their stadiums.
- One single, solitary airport.
- Nil public transport whatsoever.
- A "carbon neutral" stadium air conditioning system that hasn't even been invented yet, let alone put to use in any football stadium anywhere in the world. But who would doubt that the Qataris would be capable of inventing it, given their long proud history of engineering innovation?

One must admire Qatar's chutzpah for taking it this far - but surely Bin Hamman must announce any day now that "Qatar 2022" is a big joke.

Are they still talking about Yorkshire here? 

[olaftab]

I know Qatar a little bit. My brother lives there  and works in the region. His reason for living in Doha (main city but more of a concrete hamlet) is convenience to get about as he is  a Journalist for Gulf Times. A travel  writer so he  and his family spend most of their time out of the Country. I have been there  a number of times over the last few years.
Choosing Qatar is  the most insane decision ever.  The place is a shit hole. There are no places of historical interest. There are no places of modern interest. There is nothing to do no where to go. No one plays sports or at least the Qatari's don't. They are all on fat welfare  payments from their  State and unfit and unhealthy to do anything. Their slaves ( and believe me they are treated like slaves mostly from the sub-continent)  do all the work and their football teams  are full of washed out has been African players who have been granted temporary Qatari status whilst they can play.

The Qatari's are an obnoxious race arrogant, moody bastards and as I said earlier all inbred. They really are an unfit nation, an unfit land and wholly inappropriate place to stage the finals of the greatest  game that millions  play, billions watch and we all love.

I hate Australians for being good at all sports (more envy really) but I would have loved it if  they had been given the 22  tournament.

Blatter is  doing a Ecclestone  and treating  Football like F1. Sorry  no… F1 is a specialist event where only a privileged few can take part however millions watch. Football is peoples game. Therefore I would rather  it went to India  or  China where people can take part  rather than being sold to the filth!

[Jimbo]

I was once on a flight from Doha to Dubai with Qatar Airways. The flight was packed, and all seats were taken. A Qatari national woman got on and demanded to have her seat changed. She marched down the aisle and pointed to the seat she wanted, ordering the non-Qatari man sitting there to get up and move for her. It turned out this chap had already been asked to vacate his seat by a Qatari, because he would have been sitting next to a Qatari woman, who refused to sit next to a man outside of her family.

The poor bloke didn't know what to do. The stewardesses got involved and kindly asked the woman to take her original seat because we were due to take off. She refused, loudly, and screamed in English that the flight would be going nowhere unless this bloke moved for her, because the airline was Qatari, she was Qatari and he wasn't. She got her way.

I wonder what she'll think when tens of thousands of pissed English, Dutch, Germans, Russians, etc. come streaming through Doha airport? Both the Qataris and the world's football fans will get a rude awakening. The corporates will love it, though.

[CJ]

Just heard on the BEEB that Franz Beckenbauer (?sp) is on the FIFA executive committee and he has suggested that, because of the heat, the 2022 tournament could be held in January or February when the average temperature is a more comfortable 25C!!  Can just see all the prem managers agreeing to lose all their international players in the middle of the domestic season!

This lot really do beggar belief.

[barrysleftfoot]

  No problem with Russia getting the WC2018, in fact in some ways i agree with it going to "new" areas.

  What i have got a problem with is why was we allowed to carry on with this carve up, when we had no chance of getting it.Allowing our future king to beg scroats like Warner and Blatter.Skinner got it right in the Times today, you don't bid for the WC, you beg.Fuck em, i really hope the press go for Warner, and Blatter in partic, and destroy them.Also i think we need a united front from our football authorities,to utilise our power, and reduce the influence of FIFA.We are one of the major footballing nations at the moment, and we should use that to get more power.Be fair, and be just, FIFA is not that.

  I do fear that the WC2022, is going to be a bit of a disaster.

[TopDeck113]

Can just see all the prem managers agreeing to lose all their international players in the middle of the domestic season!

Maybe not, but as soon as I heard that Qatar had been chosen my first thought was: that'll be the first Winter Break the clubs have been campaigning for.   2022 - lose players for the World Cup; 2023 onwards - the Winter Break was a "success" so henceforward PL clubs will be playing February friendlies in the likes of Qatar.

[kipeye]

I know Qatar a little bit. My brother lives there  and works in the region. His reason for living in Doha (main city but more of a concrete hamlet) is convenience to get about as he is  a Journalist for Gulf Times. A travel  writer so he  and his family spend most of their time out of the Country. I have been there  a number of times over the last few years.
Choosing Qatar is  the most insane decision ever.  The place is a shit hole. There are no places of historical interest. There are no places of modern interest. There is nothing to do no where to go. No one plays sports or at least the Qatari's don't. They are all on fat welfare  payments from their  State and unfit and unhealthy to do anything. Their slaves ( and believe me they are treated like slaves mostly from the sub-continent)  do all the work and their football teams  are full of washed out has been African players who have been granted temporary Qatari status whilst they can play.

The Qatari's are an obnoxious race arrogant, moody bastards and as I said earlier all inbred. They really are an unfit nation, an unfit land and wholly inappropriate place to stage the finals of the greatest  game that millions  play, billions watch and we all love.

I hate Australians for being good at all sports (more envy really) but I would have loved it if  they had been given the 22  tournament.

Blatter is  doing a Ecclestone  and treating  Football like F1. Sorry  no… F1 is a specialist event where only a privileged few can take part however millions watch. Football is peoples game. Therefore I would rather  it went to India  or  China where people can take part  rather than being sold to the filth!

Well our Karren was a consultant. You can expect West Ham's new stadium to be built in Qatar.

[TopDeck113]

Blatter is so anti-English that, apparently, he credits the Chinese for inventing the game.

So that's it.  "Bring Football Home" will yet be a winning bid slogan.  Put your money on Beijing hosting the 2026 Final.  You heard it here first.

[DB]

Yep, however we feel about getting 2 votes I'm sure the 2022 other bidding countries are a lot mor pissed off. It's a joke so Blatter can extend his legacy after he retires. FIFA are not accountable to anyone and make decisions on who can offer them the biggest sweetner, the voting system is worse than the Eurovision song contest!

If it's about taking Footy to new countries then why bother. If England has the best technical bid (we are told) and put up best arguemtn then why have all this process if it means nothing. Holland/Belguim and Spain/Portugal could have all got it easliy, Russia is so far behind those it's unreal, the cost of having to put it on - mind you 2 oil/gas rich coutries get the votes....hmmm.....

[KevinGage]

Thinking out loud here, but could the Australian bid have been scuppered by FIFA's disdain for all things English (or what is perceived to be in some way English?) Particularly following Blatter's comments to the committee just before they were due to vote.

I know the Aussies will hate me for saying it, but I'm not having a dig. There is a bond still between the UK and Australia and people outside of those countries probably don't see a huge difference between the too. Outside of the weather, obv. If you wanted to put the boot into England and were served up the opportunity to put the boot into one of her dominions at the same time it might be too big a temptation to pass up.

There can be no genuine sporting, commercial or basic commonsense reason why the bid didn't go there.

*Sports mad nation
*Proven track record of hosting international events to a high standard
*Seven fantastic stadiums good to go already with the promise of more to come
*Legacy would be covered as-although football is on the rise there- it's not the national game and hosting a WC could be a big catalyst for the country
* Modern communications and business savvy population and workforce
*Myriad commercial opportunities
*Good transport links in all cities already
*Wide range of accommodation from hostels to five star hotels already in place

Only drawback would be the distance from mainland Europe and America. But plenty undertake the journey even without the carrot of a WC, as there is plenty more to offer outside of just sport.  Close proximity to Asia and being a relatively easy commute for Asian fans should balance that out anyway.

If I were an Aussie I'd be livid at the decision. Particularly when all the above only counts for one solitary vote, compared to however many Qatar got.