2022 World Cup in Qatar (or maybe not...)
What world do you live in?
And you said he should give a speech saying football can do what they like and if they don't like it then the WC will go - sounds like blackmail to me.
The fact that Qatar discriminates against potential attendees is one of many reasons why it should not have been awarded to them. IMHO, no nation should be eligible to host a WC (or Olympics for that matter) if it fails to guarantee equal rights for anyone who may attend.
But of course, FIFA don't want to give the money back admit fault. I don't expect any resolution to this anytime soon.
The fact that Qatar discriminates against potential attendees is one of many reasons why it should not have been awarded to them. IMHO, no nation should be eligible to host a WC (or Olympics for that matter) if it fails to guarantee equal rights for anyone who may attend.
But of course, FIFA don't want to give the money back admit fault. I don't expect any resolution to this anytime soon.
Ho hum.
Given the responsibility of hosting, the fact the eyes of the entire world are on them, the fact that many bitter people want them to fail and the fact that most gay couples would have the sense to keep it in the bedroom leads me to believe that there won't be any issues with this at all.
Lighten up. loyalgunner2010-12-15 03:01:44
Well it sounds like Qatar might make concessions in its alcohol laws for the World Cup, why stop there. By 2022 there could be a few openly gay footballers playing and just checking online it seems sodomy irrespective of sex is punishable by up to 5 years in prison (with those laws how does anyone get out of prison )
Given the responsibility of hosting, the fact the eyes of the entire world are on them, the fact that many bitter people want them to fail and the fact that most gay couples would have the sense to keep it in the bedroom leads me to believe that there won't be any issues with this at all.
Lighten up.
Agreed.
I certainly don't like the law but I still think leniency will be applied and I doubt if two men book accommodation together pretending to just be mates they'll be interrogated first to make sure they aren't gay. Sure, they shouldn't have to pretend to be mates if they really are gay, I get that, but athletes from more conservative areas and their fans travel to tournaments in other places where the laws in some cases probably offend them and go against their values but you don't hear a lot from them (at least I haven't - maybe in their countries there is a fuss).
Don't get me wrong, I don't think the laws are good. But I do think the Middle East is a massive region to have missed out on a World Cup and Qatar is probably one of the safest places in the region to have it. If it wasn't for my proximity to Australia there's no way I'd have wanted them to get it. I want football in the Middle East to do well, partly why I was pleased to see Iraq win the Asian Cup, though they weren't my first choice. If a team does well from one of those countries it could act as a way to bring people together, like FIFA always harp on about, and will encourage young people to take up the sport. If this could happen I consider it a greater positive than these laws are negative. Also, while the laws are harsh I do think it's harsh on the Qatari people if they weren't allowed to host various events based on the laws some people pass, people they may agree with entirely on many issues - especially considering nobody's being forced to attend.
Then there's the fact that from what I hear (I confess, I haven't been) some of the emirates are very modern, at least in some ways. The World Cup is 12 years away and over that time, who knows, they could get more lenient. Sure, you don't want to rely on that potentially happening but common sense on an individuals part, taking into account different values, and the fact that the eyes of the world are on Qatar who want to make a good impression, should lead to it going smoothly.
So to summarize this Allwhitebelievr-esque post, I don't think there will be any issues and if there are I think it will involve PDA's which heterosexuals risk just as much.
loyalgunner2010-12-15 17:50:18
Loyalgunner - I sincerely hope you're right.
Turfmoore - Well played
If the World Cup was to be held in several Islamic states in a row then I understand the complaint more fully, but this is a one off and won't happen for another 20-30+ years afterwards.
loyalgunner2010-12-15 22:15:50
Qatar should change their intolerant ways.
They probably will.
People who think they won't relax laws during the World Cup
[/QUOTE]This isn't (to me) about Qatar discriminating against their gay population. This is about FIFA awarding a World Cup to a nation fully knowing that it will exclude or put at risk gay football fans. The fact that Qatar has homophobic laws is not in itself as issue so far as I'm concerned. It's about FIFA claiming to oppose discrimination, and then discriminating via proxy. And needlessly so given the option of hosting it in a nation where everyone can safely attend.
[QUOTE=Buffon II] People who think they won't relax laws during the World Cup
Historical wrongs do not make it right or ok.
+1 to Robb
Have met a few, as hard it is to believe.
Historical wrongs do not make it right or ok.
+1 to Robb
Good to see you understood what I was implying...
The first point is really that none of us know how much of an issue this will really be. What we do know, however, is that Qatar is intent on providing a certain positive image of itself and the Middle East in general for this World Cup, and have already indicated that it would liberalise its position in terms of alcohol availability and Israel for the duration of the Cup in pursuit of this goal. They have 12 years to rationalise and work out how they're going to approach issues like this - and they know they will have to make compromises to avoid getting negative press which a lot of people in the West are seemingly just waiting for, and the people in the Middle East are desperate to avoid. Does anyone here honestly expect that a gay fan will be chased through the streets of Doha by a bunch of Qatari police wielding scimitars?
More generally, to expect FIFA to adopt political criteria when selecting World Cup hosts is just simply naive. Although FIFA inevitably involves itself in politicking simply due to the size and importance of the game globally, it has been careful to always position itself as a non-political body. This is as much about self-preservation than anything else - start looking at individual member nation's politics when assessing their bids, and it opens up a whole clusterf**k within FIFA - you don't like our laws against homosexuals? What about the plethora of other countries with human rights abuses? Or those that illegally invade other countries? Or those that have a death penalty? Or those that don't allow Muslim women to wear the traditional garb? You honestly think that FIFA would EVER willingly go down that path? Or that it should? el grapadura2010-12-16 21:56:21
Historical wrongs do not make it right or ok.
+1 to Robb
Good to see you understood what I was implying...
The first point is really that none of us how much of an issue this will really be. What we do know, however, is that Qatar is intent on providing a certain positive image of itself and the Middle East in general for this World Cup, and have already indicated that it would liberalise its position in terms of alcohol availability and Israel for the duration of the Cup in pursuit of this goal. They have 12 years to rationalise and work out how they're going to approach issues like this - and they know they will have to make compromises to avoid getting negative press which a lot of people in the West are seemingly just waiting for, and the people in the Middle East are desperate to avoid. Does anyone here honestly expect that a gay fan will be chased through the streets of Doha by a bunch of Qatari police wieldin scimitars?
More generally, to expect FIFA to adopt political criteria when selecting World Cup hosts is just simply naive. Although FIFA inevitably involves itself in politicking simply due to the size and importance of the game globally, it has been careful to always position itself as a non-political body. This is as much about self-preservatio than anything else - start looking at individual member nation's politics when assessing their bids, and it opens up a whole clusterf**k within FIFA - you don't like our laws against homosexuals? What about the plethora of other countries with human rights abuses? Or those that illegally invade other countries? Or those that have a death penalty? Or those that don't allow Muslim women to wear the traditional garb? You honestly think that FIFA would EVER willingly go down that path? Or that it should?
I think your comments are OK, but the fact is that a huge number of football supporters will not go to Qatar, and I don't blame them.
My point is that with all the negative press re heat, Muslum laws etc. a lot of Europeans won't go.
FIFA will more than likely change the dates to Jan
My point is that with all the negative press re heat, Muslum laws etc. a lot of Europeans won't go.
FIFA will more than likely change the dates to Jan
There is zero chance of them changing the dates. I can't believe you would fall for this.
My point is that with all the negative press re heat, Muslum laws etc. a lot of Europeans won't go.
FIFA will more than likely change the dates to Jan
There is zero chance of them changing the dates. I can't believe you would fall for this.
I have not fallen for anything. There have been reports coming out of Asia and Europe that some teams will boycott the WC if they have to play in 40 plus.
I know that there is meant to be air con, but what about training etc.
If you have ever played in these conditions Buffy you might appreciate what others are worried about.
My point is that with all the negative press re heat, Muslum laws etc. a lot of Europeans won't go.
FIFA will more than likely change the dates to Jan
There is zero chance of them changing the dates. I can't believe you would fall for this.
I have not fallen for anything. There have been reports coming out of Asia and Europe that some teams will boycott the WC if they have to play in 40 plus.
I know that there is meant to be air con, but what about training etc.
If you have ever played in these conditions Buffy you might appreciate what others are worried about.
All playing facilities will be temperature regulated, same goes for all fan related areas.
No way will the clubs let a World Cup take place in January, that's when you really would see a boycott take place. Otherwise, it's all rubbish.
Qatar should change their intolerant ways.