Should the 2022 World Cup be boycotted?

Tombo2001

“As things stand,” declares Play Fair Qatar, “more than 62 workers will die for each game played during the 2022 tournament.”

The death toll associated with this tournament is off the scales.

The organisation that awarded it to Qatar is appears to be corrupt.

Surely, as sports fans and tv viewers (and the World Cup is the single most watched sporting competition), there comes a point when you just go : "no, I don't want to be part of this".

MonkeyTennis

Yes

TwoShedsJackson

Can't see myself getting too enthused about the 2018 one in Russia either.

Mesrine65

Soccer...ZZzzz

Reiver

Its always bloody fixed. The best teams usually win. When does Ireland get a shot?

darkpagandeath

How many people died in the constuction of this event ?

Tombo2001

Mesrine65 wrote: »

Soccer...ZZzzz

Well that's the whole point isn't it.

62 deaths per game. 64 games.

I wish the discussion was about soccer.

BoJack Horseman

Mesrine65 wrote: »

Soccer...ZZzzz

4,000 slave deaths.... Zzzzzzzz

Larbre34

From the day it was announced, I never believed for a second 2022 was going to be held in Qatar, quite apart from the stink off the bid and the human rights abuse, the leagues and clubs hold too much power and were never going to wear curtailment as is being suggested.

I would say this investigation is only the tip of a massive scandal which will play out like the cycling federation, will bring down Blatter and reexamine all of football governance.

Qatar is goosed, the question is will Russia be cancelled too?

VinLieger

Yes of course it should be but nobody will actually step up and start it. It literally would take one and then it would start a wave of countries and sponsors abandoning it. But I doubt there's anyone brave enough, certainly not Delaney anyway

Mesrine65

Tombo2001 wrote: »

Well that's the whole point isn't it.

62 deaths per game. 64 games.

I wish the discussion was about soccer.

BoJack Horseman wrote: »

4,000 slave deaths.... Zzzzzzzz

ZZZzzz

martinedwards

yes, both Rep of Ireland and Northern Ireland should fail to qualify.......

Tombo2001

Mesrine65 wrote: »

ZZZzzz

Very good, you've made your point.

seamus

Be interesting to see how these corruption allegations play out.

I wonder if it reflects negatively on the award to Qatar (and even Russia), will the national associations start putting pressure on FIFA to move it? If even a couple of the big nations were to boycott, like England, Germany & France, FIFA would have to do something to save their credibility.

Actually looks like it could be serious enough. If 2022 was proven to be down to bribery, the US will lose their ****. If 2018 was too, then it's England, Spain, Portugal, Belgium and the Netherlands who all lost out. They're all big hitters that FIFA couldn't afford to have boycotting the tournament.

newport2

VinLieger wrote: »

Yes of course it should be but nobody will actually step up and start it. It literally would take one and then it would start a wave of countries and sponsors abandoning it. But I doubt there's anyone brave enough, certainly not Delaney anyway

Delaney will probably take a strong stand against these abusers once we don't qualify. He'll then back down in time to attend the event all expenses paid.

darkpagandeath

Any awards involving bribes should be cancled and re awarded.

The_Valeyard

The whole thing is ridiculous. Reminds me of the Roman gladiator matches. Slave labour, slave deaths, but no government seems to care enough to speak out about it.

Mint Sauce

VinLieger wrote: »

Yes of course it should be but nobody will actually step up and start it. It literally would take one and then it would start a wave of countries and sponsors abandoning it. But I doubt there's anyone brave enough, certainly not Delaney anyway

Delaney has already said he wont be voting to re ellect blatter. As for boycotting it, we would be lucky to even qualify. We are already struggling with a revamped euros format.

With tournament having to be moved due to weather, the current corruption, 6 arrests in Switzerland this morning/last night, the conditions of construction, etc etc etc. I can still see the 2022 competition being given to England closer the time.

Knex*

To think of the thousands of workers, slaves really, who are dying in preparation for a corrupt World Cup that may never happen. Jaysus. Its hard to grasp.

anncoates

Not sure if I'll boycott it all but the enjoyment of top level football really is being soured with the ridiculous wages, corruption, cheating etc.

VinLieger

Mint Sauce wrote: »

Delaney has already said he wont be voting to re ellect blatter. As for boycotting it, we would be lucky to even qualify. We are already struggling with a revamped euros format.

With tournament having to be moved due to weather, the current corruption, 6 arrests in Switzerland this morning/last night, the conditions of construction, etc etc etc. I can still see the 2022 competition being given to England closer the time.

Of course we won't qualify and I fully expect delaney to only announce his displeasure after that becomes inevitable.

However doing so now would open the door for other countries and sponsor's. Obviously we are small so it wouldn't have too much effect at the off but other small countries would hopefully follow putting pressure on the larger countries and multinationals

valoren

They can only hold the tournament in the Winter thus interfering with the European leagues schedule and that is unfeasible.

Stinks to high heaven.

UEFA shouldn't boycott the tournament, but they should allow individual federations to opt out without any penalty.

Trent Houseboat

VinLieger wrote: »

Of course we won't qualify and I fully expect delaney to only announce his displeasure after that becomes inevitable.

However doing so now would open the door for other countries and sponsor's. Obviously we are small so it wouldn't have too much effect at the off but other small countries would hopefully follow putting pressure on the larger countries and multinationals

In fairness the FAI have already said that they will not vote for Sepp.

No love lost after he openly (and rightly in my opinion) mocking them for asking to be included as a 33rd team in 2010.

Larbre34

Knex. wrote: »

To think of the thousands of workers, slaves really, who are dying in preparation for a corrupt World Cup that may never happen. Jaysus. Its hard to grasp.

All the better to cancel it very, very soon.

UEFA must take the lead on this, their membership can come together and say 'we aint going', the rest of the federations have no choice really then, not without Germany, Spain, Italy, Holland, Croatia, Portugal. The English were already skittish.

anncoates

Trent Houseboat wrote: »

In fairness the FAI have already said that they will not vote for Sepp.

No love lost after he openly (and rightly in my opinion) mocking them for asking to be included as a 33rd team in 2010.

Delaney knows what way the wind is blowing. He's hardly making an altruistic stand.

BoJack Horseman

anncoates wrote: »

Delaney knows what way the wind is blowing. He's hardly making an altruistic stand.

Well he is.

Batters reelection is certain..... Delaney voting against it wins him no favours in FIFA..

valoren

Colombia refused to hold the 1986 tournament, resigning in 1982. So there is precedence here.

Hopefully the backlash with all this will force Qatar's hand.

There are plenty of 'ready to go' countries who could host the tournament, evenly a joint hosting if necessary.

It was pure folly to give it to Qatar. Many have died in the process of this absolute shambles.

England were robbed of it in Nov 2010.

scriba

It should absolutely be boycotted. I love the World Cup, but some prices aren't worth paying. It should be down to the individual associations to withdraw, ideally without penalty, but to be honest, they should withdraw even with the risk of punishment.

SEPT 23 1989

World Cups should only be staged in Europe or South America:)

darkpagandeath

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

World Cups should only be staged in Europe or South America:)

Can't FIFA just build an Island out somewhere and perminantly do it there :P

VinLieger

darkpagandeath wrote: »

Can't FIFA just build an Island out somewhere and perminantly do it there :P

Joint venture with the IOC as soon enough nobody but autocracies/dictatorships will want to host the olympics either

MonkeyTennis

Or maybe theres an Island already in existance that's not too hot, not too cold..

darkpagandeath

MonkeyTennis wrote: »

Or maybe theres an Island already in existance that's not too hot, not too cold..

Populated by bears ?

anncoates

BoJack Horseman wrote: »

Well he is.

Batters reelection is certain..... Delaney voting against it wins him no favours in FIFA..

Delaney hasn't got an altruistic bone in his body. At the very least, he's playing to the crowd here over the Henry debacle.

It's also unwise to think Blatter can carry on like this indefinably.

Buona Fortuna

BoJack Horseman wrote: »

Well he is.

Batters reelection is certain..... Delaney voting against it wins him no favours in FIFA..

Greg Dyke has just said he's voting for Blatters opponent

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo

It shouldn't be held in Qatar.

Beefy78

The thing is that all of these tournaments are bought with bribes and as an Englishman I can say that we're as complicit in this as anyone. The major complaint from the FA when Jack Warner jumped ship from our bid in 2010 was that we'd already bribed him with a friendly, a Beckham Soccer School and a shedload of money for 'the development of football in the Caribbean.'

FIFA's massive mistake here was going so over the top in the shamelessness of the bribary. Qatar simply can't be justified on any level, from the weather to the lack of sporting culture and primarily the thousands of slave deaths and it has really exposed their dirty little practices for the World to see.

But there's no protest which will work. We all love the tournament so much that a boycott will never be effective because we'll all watch it. None of the large UEFA nations would dare back out without being extremely confident that the rest will follow and even if they did then the other Federations seem more than happy to continue with things as they are without the arrogant Europeans.

We, the fans, are better placed to make an impact by making a lot of noise about how we're boycotting every FIFA sponser. That is the only thing that FIFA care about. It won't happen though.

gramar

If the big sponsors and big nations say 'no' then FIFA will be forced to choose a more suitable location.

If Coke, Visa, McDonalds and a few others along with the heavy hitting nations said they wouldn't participate then the rest would follow and FIFA's hand would be forced.

I think Qatar could hold a couple of games in a properly equipped stadium but a whole tournament in
unsuitable conditions in winter is madness.

ancapailldorcha

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlJEt2KU33I

Tombo2001

Beefy78 wrote: »

The thing is that all of these tournaments are bought with bribes and as an Englishman I can say that we're as complicit in this as anyone. The major complaint from the FA when Jack Warner jumped ship from our bid in 2010 was that we'd already bribed him with a friendly, a Beckham Soccer School and a shedload of money for 'the development of football in the Caribbean.'

FIFA's massive mistake here was going so over the top in the shamelessness of the bribary. Qatar simply can't be justified on any level, from the weather to the lack of sporting culture and primarily the thousands of slave deaths and it has really exposed their dirty little practices for the World to see.

But there's no protest which will work. We all love the tournament so much that a boycott will never be effective because we'll all watch it. None of the large UEFA nations would dare back out without being extremely confident that the rest will follow and even if they did then the other Federations seem more than happy to continue with things as they are without the arrogant Europeans.

We, the fans, are better placed to make an impact by making a lot of noise about how we're boycotting every FIFA sponser. That is the only thing that FIFA care about. It won't happen though.

Sadly I'd have to agree with your point here. Its been put to the test already; English soccer fans, or more specifically fans of English soccer clubs which includes hundreds of thousands of Irish people - have never once made any meaningful protest about the background of the many patrons that have come in and bought their clubs from places like Russia, Usbekistan, UAE, Thailand etc etc.

The ManUtd thing was about financial engineering; it was never about where the Glazers got their money in the first place.

BoJack Horseman

anncoates wrote: »

he's playing to the crowd here over the Henry debacle.

What does that mean?

denhaagenite

ancapailldorcha wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlJEt2KU33I

Honestly, if you have 13+ minutes watch this. It's completely worth it.

Joe prim

Delaney will take the high moral ground by appearing in a video in a pub singing a song about boycotting Quatar and Russia, and then deny that it's him in the video and then deny that he denied it , and then confirm that it might be himself alright, but that it was a private function, and then explain that he comes from a family that's into boycotts, and then announce that there will be a friendly three-way tournament in Lansdowne in July featuring RoI, Russia and Quatar, with Rosanna Davidson singing the National Anthem......and kids let in half-price....

osarusan

Beefy78 wrote: »

We, the fans, are better placed to make an impact by making a lot of noise about how we're boycotting every FIFA sponsor. That is the only thing that FIFA care about. It won't happen though.

Spot on.

I don't think national FAs would ever band together and boycott as a group, and none will go it alone either.

FIFA will probably pay more attention to financial concerns like sponsors withdrawing than anything else.

inforfun

WC2022 shouldnt be boycotted.
Should be held elsewhere.

Everything about having held it in the middle east is wrong.

anncoates

BoJack Horseman wrote: »

What does that mean?

The way Blatter handled the whole debacle.

Why don't you wait and see how the investigation and elections pan out.

Delaney is a savvy - ruthless - operator and doesn't takes a calculated side like this without some element of political or personal advantage.

I can understand he buys cans of beer for Ireland fans and is a Top Bloke © and Friend Of The Supporters © but I'm leaving cretinous elements like that aside for a moment.

osarusan wrote: »

Spot on.

I don't think national FAs would ever band together and boycott as a group, and none will go it alone either.

FIFA will probably pay more attention to financial concerns like sponsors withdrawing than anything else.

Some of the top playing superstars could make a difference too by breaking silence on the matter. Some are popular and valuable enough to escape consequences for doing so.

Tombo2001

anncoates wrote: »

The way Blatter handled the whole debacle.

Why don't you wait and see how the investigation and elections pan out.

Delaney is a savvy - ruthless - operator and doesn't takes a calculated side like this without some element of political or personal advantage.

I can understand he buys cans of beer for Ireland fans and is a Top Bloke © and Friend Of The Supporters © but I'm leaving cretinous elements like that aside for a moment.



Some of the top playing superstars could make a difference too by breaking silence on the matter. Some are popular and valuable enough to escape consequences for doing so.

Its a completely separate discussion but.....

If I was Paddy Power I wouldn't be taking any bets on John Delaney going for a senior Fifa position in the next few years. Possibly this might coincide with a time when Michel Platini, his "great friend", is at the helm of the organisation.

What is a truly remarkable coincidence, and incredibly fortuitous from a timing point of view, is that he came out so strongly yesterday against Blatter, and that this point of view was given such prominence by a leading Irish newspaper website was also incredibly fortuitous. Obviously there is no way Delaney could have know this was coming; really this information would have been limited to a small group of powerful people outside of the football domain.

inforfun

anncoates wrote: »

Some of the top playing superstars could make a difference too by breaking silence on the matter. Some are popular and valuable enough to escape consequences for doing so.

The problem is that most of today's superstars almost all play for clubs that rely heavily on money from the Gulf states, Qatar not in the last place.

If they would like to speak out personally, i am sure their clubs will tell them to stfu.

osarusan

anncoates wrote: »

Some of the top playing superstars could make a difference too by breaking silence on the matter. Some are popular and valuable enough to escape consequences for doing so.

They could but they'd be open to calls of real hypocrisy if nothing changed and they went to play in the WC anyway (which I think they would do).

Can't see them taking that risk, except maybe those who'd be retired by then anyway.

Best thing to do is get the referees to boycott it, and send Anthony Buttimer over to ref games. He'd bring down FIFA all by himself.

BizzyC

We'd have to qualify first in order to boycott it...

ancapailldorcha

To be honest, I can't see any sort of serious boycott happening after the Thierry Henry incident back in 2009. People moaned, whinged, signed pointless petitions and made vacuous Youtube videos only to go on to watch matches, buy merchandise and support the sponsors.