FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I see your point. But that is a massive high stakes gamble, and ultimately for what?

Human Rights?

Being on the right side of history?

[SuperMatt18]

I feel like the England squad probably is the most talented in the tournament actually.

Bellingham in MF instead of Phillips really changes their dynamic, and they have the squad depth that can impact a game as a sub.

Will all depend if Maguire is Man U version or the England version when the big games start

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Human Rights?

Being on the right side of history?

Harry Kane being suspended improves human rights around the world? Interesting leap in logic.

I'm surprised at the lack of criticism for Becks to be honest. The guy has been promoting and praising the Qataris for a long time now. Harry Kane should not be the target of anyone's criticism as he at least made his stance known.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I feel like the England squad probably is the most talented in the tournament actually.

Bellingham in MF instead of Phillips really changes their dynamic, and they have the squad depth that can impact a game as a sub.

Will all depend if Maguire is Man U version or the England version when the big games start

Iran boasts that they have the greatest defense in the world. In 2018 they only gave up 2 goals in a group with Spain, Portugal and Morocco. They were a goalpost away from winning the group. In 2022 qualifying they gave up 8 goals in 18 matches.

Today they just got destroyed. If Southgate doesn't hold this team back, they could be extremely dangerous going forward in the tournament.

[The Big Chill]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Harry Kane being suspended improves human rights around the world? Interesting leap in logic.

I'm surprised at the lack of criticism for Becks to be honest. The guy has been promoting and praising the Qataris for a long time now. Harry Kane should not be the target of anyone's criticism as he at least made his stance known.

If all the captains and their teams committed to this and stood up to FIFA and Qatar then it could have been an enormously powerful message to the world.

FIFA would have backed down if all the best players were getting suspended. And if not, this would have become a massive story. Instead FIFA wins again. Money wins again.

I don’t blame Kane at all, I blame the lack of support from the rest of the countries, and ultimately the lack of support from the fans around the world.

[TheIronMaiden]

At the minimum Quatar has drawn a lot of negative attention to themselves. It will be interesting to see if anyone cares once the tourney is over.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Human Rights?

Being on the right side of history?

Or athletes should just play
Unless Kane could post a temporary FB photo frame of a rainbow shaded soccer ball - and soon after all human right violations, intolerance and hatred would end, worldwide.

[SuperMatt18]

Sarr is terrorizing De Ligt and VVD a little bit

Will be interesting to see what PL team goes to get him from Watford in January

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

Or athletes should just play
Unless Kane could post a temporary FB photo frame of a rainbow shaded soccer ball - and soon after all human right violations, intolerance and hatred would end, worldwide.

Shut up and dribble?
Is that you Laura Ingraham?

[Slava]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

At the minimum Quatar has drawn a lot of negative attention to themselves. It will be interesting to see if anyone cares once the tourney is over.

Well you can't have it both ways though. What I mean is that you can't on one hand think that having these events in countries like Qatar will help shine a light on these policies and ideals. And on the other hand feel that having these events won't do anything lasting.

The reality is that sportswashing works. The evidence is plain to see this morning. I don't blame Kane personally, but I do blame the FA. If they had any backbone whatsoever they could've said something like "we run campaigns in support LGBTQ people on an ongoing basis, and we support our players in furthering that support on a global stage."

Instead, they pandered to the money.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Slava

Well you can't have it both ways though. What I mean is that you can't on one hand think that having these events in countries like Qatar will help shine a light on these policies and ideals. And on the other hand feel that having these events won't do anything lasting.

The reality is that sportswashing works. The evidence is plain to see this morning. I don't blame Kane personally, but I do blame the FA. If they had any backbone whatsoever they could've said something like "we run campaigns in support LGBTQ people on an ongoing basis, and we support our players in furthering that support on a global stage."

Instead, they pandered to the money.

I don't know if they're pandering to money but the penalty is to not abide is too severe. FIFA is strict on uniforms and everything. Like your lettering had to be this much above your numbers etc...

The real solution is for UEFA for get out of FIFA, but even then, not all of UEFA is united. There are plenty of racist and homophobic countries in Europe. Heck, the Euros had games in Hungary last year!

So what's the solution? Abandon international football entirely? Or makes stands when possible. I mean the last 3 world cups were in Brazil, Russia and Qatar. It doesn't get much more corrupt than that and nobody boycotted. African countries went to Russia where they throw bananas and make monkey noises.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Slava

Well you can't have it both ways though. What I mean is that you can't on one hand think that having these events in countries like Qatar will help shine a light on these policies and ideals. And on the other hand feel that having these events won't do anything lasting.

The reality is that sportswashing works. The evidence is plain to see this morning. I don't blame Kane personally, but I do blame the FA. If they had any backbone whatsoever they could've said something like "we run campaigns in support LGBTQ people on an ongoing basis, and we support our players in furthering that support on a global stage."

Instead, they pandered to the money.

IMO the federations and the media are what need to keep the conversation.

The armband itself does nothing, but by even forcing these discussions and attention to Qatar that is what’s important.

As long the media keeps calling it out (think BBC has been vocal about it) then the sports washing won’t work.

TBH the Canadian media has been poor as has the federation, don’t think they’ve said much of anything about it.

[nik-]

I find it wild that people are even arguing for anything resembling support of FIFA's stance. I mean step back and just think about what you're excusing away FFS.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by nik-

I find it wild that people are even arguing for anything resembling support of FIFA's stance. I mean step back and just think about what you're excusing away FFS.

Is anyone in this thread doing such?

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

IMO the federations and the media are what need to keep the conversation.

The armband itself does nothing, but by even forcing these discussions and attention to Qatar that is what’s important.

As long the media keeps calling it out (think BBC has been vocal about it) then the sports washing won’t work.

TBH the Canadian media has been poor as has the federation, don’t think they’ve said much of anything about it.

Canada's just happy to be there. Wednesday will be a ratings bonanza for TSN. They don't want to rock the boat and alienate anybody, just hype up the soccer.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

Is anyone in this thread doing such?

Someone literally just posted that players should just play. And yes, it's the same ####.

[Yoho]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1594721724746338305

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by nik-

Someone literally just posted that players should just play. And yes, it's the same ####.

I am not suggesting that you're saying this ( although maybe you are).

I don't think it is reasonable to expect every athlete ( musician, celebrity) to be a spokesperson for social issues. If an athlete has the energy and is knowledgeable on the subject, then all the power to them to use the platform. That said, some players just want to play and that is fine too. They don't need to use their platform.

That said, saying players who are knowledgeable to not use their platform is just as silly.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by nik-

Someone literally just posted that players should just play. And yes, it's the same ####.

I'll bite. Players should just play.

Let's flip it. NHL players were going to go play in China if not for COVID. Not because of corruption or human rights, because of COVID.

The Olympics are also strict about uniforms and advertising. Hockey Canada cannot even use it's own logo. Should McDavid be wearing a rainbow C? Should Canada boycott?

[Paulie Walnuts]

Armband or not, I think the whole point was to keep the conversation going and that's what happening no?