It’s hard to imagine there being many more dramatic turns on the road to Qatar 2022 than the one we’ve just manoeuvred. The inevitable was realised and a World Cup final in December beckons.
The move was expected, and completely fathomable considering FIFA’s track record, but the resistance has been stern.
It’s an unprecedented decision, one that has gained the ire of almost all who have an investment in football and no obligation to mirror the world governing body’s views.
The European leagues – and the A-League – will be most adversely affected, needing to restructure their seasons around the significant speedhump.
However, timing is not the greatest cause of dissent. With just shy of eight years remaining until the World Cup rolls into the Middle East, there is ample time to formulate a plan that suits all parties. In fact, a winter World Cup was the only option for the safety of players and spectators.
How ironic, then, that FIFA’s health and safety concerns don’t apply to the thousands of labourers ultimately putting their lives on the line to get the tournament up and running.
The scheduling is just a mere subplot amongst a dizzying list of Qatar’s flaws. The treatment of workers is the most pressing concern, tailed by allegations of bribery.
As inconvenient as a World Cup in the northern hemisphere winter is, it’s a reality we must learn to accept. Calls for a boycott are wonderfully hopeful, but little more than that. While there may be valiant attempts to throw it off balance, there is a ghost of a chance of amassing enough support to reject the globe’s biggest sporting event.
It would be a much more productive approach to accept its occurrence as fact and set about prompting change in other ways. That means an acceptance of the event happening, not of the values and methods behind it.
FIFA wouldn’t have made such a drastic decision if they believed there to be such damaging consequences. So it’s time to put more effort into what we can change.
When reports emerged of the treatment migrant workers receive across Qatar, the world’s media took notice. Although FIFA seem to distance themselves from the issue as much as possible for obvious reasons, it is believed the external pressures prompted them to prod the Qatari government asking for conditions to be improved.
As the BBC reported last month, there have been visible improvements in many of the major construction sites across the country. But the problem remains in a number of camps, where migrants are forced to live in abhorrent conditions – a disturbing truth for the richest country in the world.
The improvement is a positive sign that change is well within reach. It beggars belief that it takes so much lifting to enact this, but it’s a work in progress.
This is a case where one death is too many and Qatar 2022 can only be reluctantly accepted when the one million-plus labourers can live like humans and enjoy the most basic of rights that no person should be stripped of.
Another blight on the livelihood of migrant workers is Qatar’s sponsorship system, known as Kafala. In essence, it gives employers total control over the movement of their employees, who can’t leave the country without permission, meaning many have been forced to stay in the country against their will. Motions are in place to eradicate this but it requires constant political pressure.
A shining light in the fight to bring Qatar 2022 in line with 21st century values has been the vast array of influential people lending their name and knowledge to making a difference. I caught up with ex-Morocco and Fulham defender Abdeslam Ouaddou last year, one of a few footballers affected by the kafala brave enough to speak out.
What is now needed is action from football’s highest profile players of the present. Many of them may have long retired before 2022, and it is probably naive to call for a widespread boycott, but resistance is certainly not out of the question.
The FIFA presidential election in May could also be a decisive factor. Qatar may be capable of holding a successful World Cup, but they must be held responsible for the path they’re taking to get there. That requires a leader willing to set minimum conditions for the country to be eligible to maintain hosting rights.
Perhaps we need to take a step back from our emotionally charged desire to see Qatar 2022 fold and instead effect change on a more realistic level.
Jimmy
Guest
Yeah no corruption or human rights abuses in Russia brother . Good call
BtoThePower3
Guest
There are many ways and levels of boycotting this 2022 Qatar World Cup. It is not like just the highest level of boycotting by not sending a national football team there. It is not necessarily like USA (and 64 other countries) did not send Olympic teams to participate in USSR's Olympic Games in 1980. There can be many levels and ways of boycotting. As for me, I will not pay too much attention to this 2022 Qatar World Cup. I will not watch the opening ceremony on TV. I will not watch as many matches as possible excepting socceroos' matches. I will not watch the grand finale. I will not respond to any news report by writing blog messages. I will pay as little attention to this world cup as much as possible. On international level, it is up to individual countries to do what they feel good. They may send team B. Or they can send very young squads there. For fans, they may not take a trip there. If many fans have voiced very early on that they will boycott this World Cup, the TV broadcasting right and advertisement level will be reduced. I am still planning to go to the 2018 Russia World Cup. I know that there are people boycotting this Russian World Cup because of this country's invasion in Ukraine. However, this is a political reason to me. The reason that I am advocating about boycotting this 2022 Qatar World Cup is not about political reason. It is about corruption and human right.
langou
Roar Guru
New name, same ol nonsense from our mate Fussball
eric
Guest
disagree because we could have selected a time and period when there would no negotiations with AFl and rugby codes, and get the government to support the bid completely furthermore our october/november would be perfect temperatures. The only area that we would not compete with QATAR are the genreous offers such as building demountable stadiums that would be airconditionned and relocated to various parts of Africa amonst other significant agreements (read gifts)
AR
Guest
"...it’s pretty obvious we don’t have a great sporting culture where people embrace major events as they do overseas. The current cricket world cup is being played in virtual anonymity unless Australia is competing." Hmmm...I must have imagined the 42k at Adelaide Oval for India v Pakistan... the 87k for India v SthAf at the MCG etc. They are numbers (for group games mind you) that the recent Asian Cup could only dream about.
Perry Bridge
Guest
Uncles comments in some respects I agree with and others I don't. I've attended day 3 of the last 2 Aust v India tests at the MCG (a couple of years apart) and then again attended the India v RSA ICC WC ODI recently (as a neutral). The Australian fans are looking sports tired - sick of the fun police, and more concerned about sun hats and water hydration. The Swarmi army at the recent ODI was amazing.....absolutely amazing. And what helped was they batted and cheered every run initially and then roared for every 4 or 6. Australians can tend to be a bit reserved these days. What appears to be a relationship with the sporting event of "Come on then, entertain me". I even get that sometimes going to the footy - but, the footy (AFL) is the sort of game that builds its own narrative each time and when it's a compelling narrative there's little that's better. (most sports fans would say that about their preferred game though - and an emotive investment certainly helps). I've been to other sports where the 'atmosphere' was almost switched on like a backing track from the outset and ran almost completely oblivious to the performance on the park. That I found off putting - a distraction - rather than an enhancement. I was thinking about soccer when typing this but then couldn't help but end up thinking about the BBL with it's stage managed distractions.....erm....enhancements. Again - it'll work for some and not for others. So be it.
offsider
Guest
Selling budweiser is a positive.?
punter
Guest
Sorry Rick, having re-read my post I can understand the confusion. I meant boycotting the sponsors of FIFA & the sponsors of the World Cup .
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
I might see you there buddy. My misses is looking forward to it. I'll be the only guy most likely wearing a Geelong top so if you see me yell out :)
punter
Guest
Rick, I only ever been to 1 AFL in my life in Sydney & it wasn't my cup of tea & the atmosphere was not something I remember greatly. So no I've never been to the G to watch an AFL match, though looking forward going down to the G in July to watch one of the greatest footballer of all time in Ronaldo.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Kaks It's a difficult one this, that being boycotting Macca's :) Punter Boycotting the World Cup - tough call their my friend. I must say I won't be going to it mainly because that part of the world I have already travelled and it doesn't really interest me further. I certainly won't be going to support just the football though. BTW - those comments below were not directed at you, I mixed my posts up.
Hamish Alcorn
Guest
Football, the Immoral Game.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
It really doesn't matter what you think of me Uncle or I of you, and I already told you I don't work there, I do consultancy work for them. Do you want to know why it doesn't matter? Because it doesn't change the fact of how stupid your above comments are and you lashing out at issues from a month ago highlights this.
Uncle Junior
Guest
Rick Disnick your faux intellectualism doesn't impress me since the day you claimed you worked for St Joseph's College in Sydney and proudly claimed how many Geelong AFL players went to that school. When in reality those Geelong players went to St Joseph's College in Newtown, which is a suburb of Geelong. So, excuse me if I dismiss with a laugh your lectures on getting better understanding of other sports.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
That fact you use the word 'would' in your sentence Uncle tends to suggest you have never been to an ANZAC clash. As such try not to continue making the same mistakes please. I think we are done here.
punter
Guest
Rick, ever been to an 'el classico' it would put to shame the ANZAC day clash at the G (the A-League Derbies in Sydney & Melbourne would be better atmosphere then the ANZAC day clash). The noise at the Sydney derby on sat night when WSW equalise was HUGE. It would be like comparing the Barmy Army to the oi oi oi of the Aussies. Like you each to their own.....
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Uncle - the reason I suspect people have issues with you on this site is you tend to change mid-stream what you are talking about. I'll give you an example: "As much as I’d love to have Australia host a world cup, it’s pretty obvious we don’t have a great sporting culture where people embrace major events as they do overseas." Well I have just proven you are 100 per cent wrong in that analysis. You are now trying to change the argument to atmosphere, which is of course very subjective and you are entitled to your opinion on this matter of course. There is nothing personal about these comments. Go read them again and I think you will also agree they are pretty stupid in hindsight and we all mess up at times. What I think you would be better doing is perhaps following some other sports outside of football if you want to have educated discussions on them. I think the other thing that irritates people on this site is how many use opinion as fact and you tend to do this a lot. For example: I personally thought the Aus/NZ atmosphere was better than the Pak/Ind game. It helped being a better agame, but it was a very different atmosphere. You had more singing and dancing at the latter, but more in your face 'fist-pumping' at the former. Now I'm not going to now say one had better atmosphere over the other, because depending on the situation I enjoy both and I suspect many others do also. Many don't like all the carry on that goes with an India game and others love it Ever been to an ANZAC day clash at the MCG? I personally love the BBQ before the game with all the families kicking the footy around. Very relaxing and enjoyable. However, some prefer this type of atmosphere: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2968854/Greek-Super-League-suspended-indefinitely-continued-violence-games.html each to their own I guess...
Uncle Junior
Guest
That should read: "India vs Pakistan in Adelaide" not "Australia vs Pakistan in Adelaide".
Uncle Junior
Guest
Just relating what I've observed from attending Euro2004 in Portugal and the 1998 and 2006 World Cups. The atmosphere in the various countries that hosted those events was nothing like I've ever seen for any sporting event in Australia. Aussies like to think they're major sport fanatics but the reality is other nations have passionate sports fans that provide much more vibrancy than Aussies. If you disagree, fine. I won't resort to personal attacks like you and Dean have. Finally, regarding the cricket. If you can't tell the difference between the atmosphere at Australia vs Pakistan in Adelaide compared to New Zealand vs Australia you must have worn ear plugs and 2 eye patches when watching the match in Adelaide. Australia is about to play a Group match at a Cricket World Cup in our home country but I don't sense any buzz as I would expect for such a major sporting event for a sport that is hugely popular in Australia and the tournament is being played at home.
Hamish Alcorn
Guest
The following is all from Wikipedia, "Qatar" "Flogging is used in Qatar as a punishment for alcohol consumption or illicit sexual relations.[88] Article 88 of Qatar's criminal code declares the punishment for adultery is 100 lashes.[89] Adultery is punishable by death when a Muslim woman and a non-Muslim man are involved.[89] In 2006, a Filipino woman was sentenced to 100 lashes for adultery.[89] In 2010, at least 18 people (mostly foreign nationals) were sentenced to flogging of between 40 and 100 lashes for offences related to “illicit sexual relations” or alcohol consumption.[90] In 2011, at least 21 people (mostly foreign nationals) were sentenced to floggings of between 30 and 100 lashes for offences related to “illicit sexual relations” or alcohol consumption.[91] In 2012, six expatriates were sentenced to floggings of either 40 or 100 lashes.[88] Only Muslims considered medically fit were liable to have such sentences carried out. It is unknown if the sentences were implemented.[92] More recently in April 2013, a Muslim expatriate was sentenced to 40 lashes for alcohol consumption.[93][94][95] In June 2014, a Muslim expatriate was sentenced to 40 lashes for consuming alcohol and driving under the influence.[96] Judicial corporal punishment is common in Qatar due to the Hanbali interpretation of Sharia Law. "Stoning is a legal punishment in Qatar.[97] Apostasy is a crime punishable by the death penalty in Qatar.[98] Blasphemy is punishable by up to seven years in prison and proselytizing can be punished by up to 10 years in prison.[98] Homosexuality is a crime punishable by the death penalty for Muslims." Gonna be a great party then.