I thought rather than the discussion in the football thread, if there is any political discussion it is best off in this thread.

 

I am a huge fan. I love the World Cup. I will enjoy this World Cup, but I don't have the same level of enjoyment as a summer tournament. One it just feels uneasy in the middle of the season and secondly because this World Cup should not be taking part in Qatar. It is built on corruption and the principle of a World Cup in Qatar goes against FIFA's own documented and audited principles.

 

There are lots of very brave journalists who have been highlighting the stories in Qatar and their supression of news and modern day slavery. I feel it's right we all educate ourselves and remember journalists out there are there to cover the football - however there are also journalists out there to uncover the truth and share news that Qatar does not want us to hear. In the past 12 years the sport world has become way more acustom to sportswashing and can see through the positive PR states spin.

 

Russia were given an horrendously easy time in 2018 and I hope this is not the case for Qatar in 2022. I suspect there will be some fantastic journalist pieces out during the World Cup and some good podcasts over the next 10 days highlighting the story in Qatar and the countless deaths of migrant workers. Let's share and educate ourselves and hope a corrupt organisation never holds a World Cup in a State like Qatar ever again.

I saw that documentary on ITV on Thursday night, I was appalled and angered by what I saw that the LGBTQ+ group are treated in Qatar.

Yeah, this one can be filed alongside Italy 1934, Argentina 1978 and Russia 2018 as the shameful tournaments held by countries with, shall we say, questionable governments

I saw that documentary on ITV on Thursday night, I was appalled and angered by what I saw that the LGBTQ+ group are treated in Qatar.

 

There's going to be loads of great stuff that comes out. I undertstand the rhetoric about respecting culture and values, but having a World Cup which violates FIFA's own ethical principles is a joke and very shameful. It's not inclusive and makes a complete mockery of what FIFA's own alleged goals are.

Didn't Sepp Blatter say only yesterday that he wished the World Cup hadn't gone to Qatar??