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In Australia, and indeed many other countries, it is stated as fact that soccer is a sport that embraces people of all races, cultures, gender and age. It is fact that when playing a game that these traits are invisible and all that matters is the ball.
It is a fact that the game allows one for that moment to escape the realities of real life and enter a life where they can be King (or Maharajah or Emperor) for a short period of time.
Are these so called facts actually facts. Do the words of the well-travelled, worldly soccer fans embrace these ideals?
If you believe the opposition to Qatar’s World Cup bid, you would assume that soccer is very much a western game that is using the ‘World Game’ moniker to portray a false image. FIFA, the FFA and Australian soccer fans so often tell us that the sport opens gateways to a world that tourist companies cannot imagine, and that your everyday Australian would insult with every bogan word possible.
Until Qatar made a decision recently to allow alcohol (outside of current alcohol allowances) and Israel at the World Cup, opponents were stating that it was simply unacceptable for such strict guidelines to be allowed in a host country. The ignorance is continuing with the likes of Jesse Fink who recently wrote: “Qatar has promised that fans will be able to drink alcohol in specially designated areas called ‘fan zones’ but corralling millions of people into ostensible cattle yards is hardly setting the scene for a month-long carnival of fun.
“The memories you take away from World Cups are not just of football but dining or drinking al fresco in squares packed with fellow tourists and locals and celebrating to the wee hours.”
Are these thoughts of an educated open-minded person?
With soccer the game that is so often said to break down barriers, should people not be accepting the fact that Qatari societal values simply do not allow alcohol and leave it at that? It is part of modern day Australian societal values that females cover up their top half, a value not seen in every country. Should Australia be pressured into allowing the Himba people of Northern Namibia to walk around in traditional dress?
Instead of criticising a bid that does not have similar values to our own, should we not be embracing the diversity that the world offers and the chance to experience global event in a brand new context?
An Islamic World Cup in hot climate with little alcohol and modest dress codes for women. Surely that would send the message that soccer truly is a world game that transcends all.
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