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Originally Posted by Bagor
Absolutely wrong to just assume that players just love playing for their countries too much.
Let's take Ronaldo and Messi as an example. You think the Portugese and Argentinian FA are going to ban them or anyone else for that matter for taking a stance against Slavery. The optics would be terrible. You think there would be no backlash? From fans and players? Punishing someone for speaking out against such a matter? Same for FIFA. Whose side do you think the public and players would take? A lot of noise is created. Then you have the big corporations involved.
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Saying and doing are two different things. If Ronaldo stands up tomorrow and says i'm not playing in a Russian World Cup due to racism, anti-homosexuality and the invasion of Ukraine and will retire after Euro 2016. Portugal would just be like ok, we can't select you then, that's your choice to not play. And then if Portugal makes a stand and says to FIFA, we're not playing in a Russian World Cup. FIFA will just go thank you, you're suspended. Nothing FIFA does is surprising. This is a federation that suspended TOGO because they didn't show up to a game because their bus GOT SHOT AT and two officials were killed.
You are right, if a bunch of these players and a bunch of federations and a bunch of sponsors do it then yeah FIFA is under pressure. But who wants to go first and who wants to take that risk just in case the others chicken out and don't follow suit. It would almost have to be England, Brazil or the current champions Germany.