FIFA dirty secrets

[damon loves JT]

The thing that irrritated me was the comment that FIFA wanted to give the tournament to 'New Countries" who have not hosted previously.

So why ask (allow) us to spend Millions and three years creating the presentation!?

Yes I agree we should be refunded.

Yes, very good....

The point is simply, that if FIFA have certain criteria for selection of hosts for the next World Cup - announce it early and welcome bids from appropriate Countries. And those Countries only.

This suitcase... used notes... small denominations, unmarked and non-sequential

[Concrete John]

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.

You can sort of see the argument for Russia as they have an emerging domestic league and that part of the world has never had a World Cup.  OK, other than that the other bids were stronger, but I'm willing to accept the possibility that they could genuinely add greater weight top Russia's claims due to that.

As for Qatar we simply MUST be told why as I can't see a single logical reason.

I wonder what the clubs will have to say about their star assets being asked to play in that sort of heat?

[TonyD]

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.

You can sort of see the argument for Russia as they have an emerging domestic league and that part of the world has never had a World Cup.  OK, other than that the other bids were stronger, but I'm willing to accept the possibility that they could genuinely add greater weight top Russia's claims due to that.

As for Qatar we simply MUST be told why as I can't see a single logical reason.

I wonder what the clubs will have to say about their star assets being asked to play in that sort of heat?

Exactly, Russia had a case - big country, never had it before etc etc etc.

But why Qatar.  Carbon neutral - my arse!!!    Imagine the amount of concrete needed to build just about everything.    Surely the EU with all its targets on C02 should say something.

[TheSandman]

People don't like us as a nation as we're arrogant.

Speaking as an outsider, I think that a lot of the reason why other countries (and I suppose I can only speak for Ireland on this) like to see, say, England fail at the world cup is because of the "This is our year" type of hyperbole that the press constantly churn out on the run up to such events.

Personally, I think it's not english people per se that are arrogant, it's more the press.

It always makes me want to gag when certain sectors of the media cack on about our "best league in the world", when actually, it is nothing of the sort.

It is definitely the best marketed league in the world, but nothing like the best league. Not in terms of competitiveness or the players in it. Which of the very best players in the world play in our league? People like Ronaldo go from Man United to Real Madrid, not the other way around.

Fucked national team, clubs in debt, pathetic world cup bids, falling attendances, absurd ticket prices, wages spiralling out of control ..... our game is headed for a big fall pretty soon, and I can't help thinking the sooner the better, as what comes out of it at the other end might actually be much better than what we have now.

Two good posts there. Agree with both.

[damon loves JT]

Two good posts there. Agree with both.

Says the Scot. Good luck with the Commonwealth Games

[cheltenhamlion]

I hadn't paid attention to the news yesterday. Russia and Qatar? Fuck a doodle doo.

[Bad English]

- announce it early and welcome bids from appropriate Countries. And those Countries only.

What? FIFA officials would miss out on junkets to the other bidding countries, numerous brown paper bags, being grovelled to by world leaders and probably lots of sneaky free sex with high-class prostitutes.

[Legion]

Why England lost 2018

[Rip Van We Go Again]

I hadn't paid attention to the news yesterday. Russia and Qatar? Fuck a doodle doo.

Russia and Qatar I can just about understand, but why the hell they gave the 2026 tournament to fuck a doodle doo, is beyond me.

[curiousorange]

According to Martin Samuel today, some facts about the 2022 World Cup in Qatar:

- The capital, Doha, will have six venues which host World Cup matches
- Two of the cities that will host matches are less than ten miles from Doha
- One city (can't recall the name of it) has a population of 5300, which is half the size of Wombourne. It will have a stadium that holds 43000+
- The ambient temperature of Qatar in summer is usually 40 degrees or above
- The population of Qatar is 1.7 million people

So for all Blatter's claims of breaking new territories, it appears World Cup 2022 will be hosted in a shoebox that's being baked in an oven. Cheers Sepp. It's certainly new territory, but then again so is Venus.

[Jimbo]

40 degrees or over indeed. More like 50 degrees.

[Mac]

I was shocked when Blatter opened the envelope and said, "Qatar."  I was expecting him to say, "Where's the money?"

[curiousorange]

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!

[pauliewalnuts]

It is annoying for us, but it must be particularly galling for everyone else in the 2022 running to lose to Qatar. Surely the most ludicrous decision FIFA have ever made.

[curiousorange]

It is annoying for us, but it must be particularly galling for everyone else in the 2022 running to lose to Qatar. Surely the most ludicrous decision FIFA have ever made.

I feel really sorry for the Aussies, and during an Ashes series that's a real eye-opener.