As the headlines go `The Most Controversial World Cup’ (FIFA Edition) is upon us.
I don’t intend watching a single kick…or should I.
Cards on the table, I have the only international football sides I support at the finals, Wales and Poland. My mother is Polish, dad Welsh.
I can think of many reasons to give for my decision, reasons anyone reading this will be aware of.
However, am I overreacting? Is there any good reason I should watch?
Over to the AWers.
I’ll be watching cos it’s the World Cup. Not all of it, all England Games, probably most of Wales, and then highlights of the others.
Most tournaments throw up precious few memorable games (maybe 3 or 4 each tournament) so wall-to-wall watching could be quite a dull existence.
There is a sour taste with the World Cup being in Qatar, as has been widely documented and discussed here, there and everywhere.
I just hope that at the end of the day Brian, Football is the Winner
(to paraphrase Jimmy Bullard from the nowhere nears as good as it used to be Soccer AM)
“Can you name 3 Qatar players?”
Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix and Mark Knopfler
Is that like one o’ them really small zithers? Or…wait…is it the ones you play in your teeth? I think Sting had summa then didn’ he?
I posted this elsewhere but in case anyone hasn’t seen it it’s a brilliant story about Argentina 78 and a protest against the Junta by the groundsme at the world Cup stadiums. Despite Argentina’s less than clean government It remains my favourite World Cup probably because I was 13 but also the atmosphere generated by the football crazy Argentinian fans. A world Cup hosted by an extremely dodgy government and without those home fans seems destined to fail. At the moment I won’t be watching. Unless there’s some goalpost messaging going on…
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/football/in-bed-with-maradona/2017/jul/05/1978-world-cup-argentina-political-protest-goalposts
That article is a fantastic read.
Isn’t it? That’s the first WC I remember, I was 10, we lived just outside Maryport and I lived for football, Panini stickers, kicking a ball everywhere.
I remember the final, that goal by Archie Gemmill, the amazing kit worn by Peru, only previously ever seen on a Subbuteo kit poster, the ticker tape all over the pitch, the sheer quality on display. Halcyon days.
I suspect I will watch the WC this year measured in minutes, perhaps even seconds. I have almost zero interest in football. Cheating and gamesmanship is written through it like letters in a stick of rock, the FA and the world organisations seem to encourage it, not call it out and address it. The game stinks even at junior level where kids are bawled at, referees serially abused all game and parents behave appallingly. Football often brings out the worst in idiots, in my experience.
Running a grass roots club is a thankless task, managing a team even more so. Being a ref? I was told that a ref gets £30 a game at U13 level, the other day. “Is that all?” was my incredulous response. I’d want danger money.
So, overall, mildly disagree…
OOAA, of course.
PS I have Switzerland in the work sweep, happy days…
Cometh the hour, cometh the man…
…and goeth he home again, back to Ayr United…
Only missing “jumpers for goalposts”…. I was a massive football fan, reading “shoot”, “scorcher”, “score and roar”, and occasionally the more boring “goal”. Regular 15p position on the terraces at ‘the Albion (Brighton and Hove). Always watched MOTD and TBM. The emergence of puberty, girls and music drew me away, as did seeing football violence at games with Millwall and Crystal Palace. Many friends remained fans, but I drifted away. I miss the camaraderie and humour, but the money and bs in the game now puts me off.
For a while, after Shoot bought up Goal, the magazine was known as “Shoot Incorporating Goal”, which always looked a bit long-winded and clumsy.
My favourite Shoot question for the player of the week was ‘Miscellaneous likes”. I am sure most of them didn’t now what the question meant!
I’m not surprised. What would your answer to that question be?
A load of miscellaneous rubbish…
‘Who of?!
Laurel an’ Hardy!’
Footballer: ‘What’s miscellaneous mean?’
Interviewer: ‘Think of it like, umm, mixed grill’
Footballer: ‘Ah right. Sossidges then’.
@Jeff
“And the vegetables, Mr. Clough?”
Ooh, nicely adapted, @jaygee
In a 1970s mode.
Corned beef sandwiched=s for lunch and liver and onions with sautéed potatoes and peas for tea.
Footballers’ music of choice was generally George Benson. George only charted because of the sales generated by rich footballers. A big star like Clive Woods or Laurie Sivell probably bought two copies.
Footballers’ music of choice was generally George Benson. George only charted because of the sales generated by rich footballers. A big star like Clive Woods or Laurie Sivell probably bought two copies, hence the elevated chart positions.
Four copies altogether then?
‘Hello, is that the BPS Flying Squad? Yeah, there’s something you should know…’
Please please tell me now
My name is Rio, and I dance upon the sand
Just like that river of no-existent Bud twisting through a dusty land
Etc etc*
*Etc etc is Latin for ‘I can’t be arsed to invest any more time and energy in this’
Juntas for goalposts was on a golf tee for you there!
Malvinous!
Jeeze, Dave, “Argentina’s less than clean government” must be one of the understatements of the year. I knew people from there at the time who had felt obliged to leave the country, as they knew full well that they might end up supporting a flyover if they stayed.
The same horror is true of this lot, except there are thousands who have gone into the country in search of work only to die building a flyover, stadium, fast-food plaza or suchlike as part of the ghastly arab vanity project facilitated by FIFA.
Fuck them all.
I am also pondering whether I should watch or not and, on balance, I probably will watch occasionally. Apparently the UK gets much or most of its gas from Qatar so it seems a bit pointless to boycott the World Cup while using their produce to heat my home. I will watch on the BBC though and in that way will not feature in viewing figures for advertisers who stand to gain from the tournament. Pointless defiance, maybe.This dilemma arose recently in slightly different form when the Saudis bought into Newcastle United. There was an outcry over that, but the UK makes billions from selling arms to the Saudis and, as I see it, it should not be up to a football club to take a stand against the regime.
There is little in practical terms that we can do to directly influence go ernment policy. We can, however, make choices of our own.
No.
Surely, as with anything on telly, it depends very much what else is on the other side? Wouldn’t want to miss Blankety Blank, for example.
Mrs Wrongness loves watching the big footie tournaments, the World Cup best of all. She is 100% adamant she is not going to watch a single moment of Qatar.
I’ve done my research (best info came from the wonderful World Corrupt podcast. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-corrupt-episode-1-a-toxic-love-affair-between/id1200016351?i=1000581985408)
There is no doubt whatsoever that the corrupt and loathsome FIFA only gave the World Cup to Russia then Qatar based solely on trolley fulls of cash being wheeled into hotel rooms. There is no doubt whatsoever that Qatar is ruled by a corrupt and loathsome regime desperate to sportswash its image by throwing astonishing and obscene amounts of money on crazy projects like air-conditioned stadiums and paying David Beckham 79 squillion dollars to be their “Sports Ambassador”. It makes me want to vomit. No way will I watch a single moment, I will stand side by proud side with my darling wife…..
….but it’s the WORLD CUP! I might (might) resist Qatar v Ecuador but miss England v Iran ? Forgive me Lord, ’bout to sin big time.
Exactly.
You can get new wife anytime, but a World Cup only comes round once every four years.
As I posted on the other thread, Wales qualify for the first time in my lifetime. I plan to watch. Doesn’t really feel like a proper World Cup though
First one since 1970 that I won’t be watching. Above and beyond the human rights stuff, I simply can’t countenance the planetary impact since 2010 when they bought/won the tournament. Qatar has spent more than every previous World Cup and Olympic Games combined; there’s my tipping point.
Not happy at all about Qatar hosting it, but if I’m not at work, l will probably be in my local for the England games. Only usually watch the England games when they are in the finals, but not bothered enough to take time off or change shifts (Manchester United fan). Missing the first game due to work and I’ll see how it goes from there.
No.
After deep though, 17 seconds I’ll be sticking to my decision of not watching a single kick.
Hey Infantino you Putin suckholing twat shove your feckin` World Cup up yer arse.
Articulate, erudite, measured, razor-like precision – are all words .
All those lovely words Lodey, how come you`re shyte when it comes to Wordle? ; – ))
“Sorry, we seem to be having some technical problems there. Back to you in the studio Gary”.
Gary’s hosting this thing? We are truly blessed
I think he means Lineker or Neville or maybe even Barlow. But I very much doubt he means Glitter, to whom you were clearly referring.
‘I can’t believe he’s missed that, at that distance! Open goal, absolute sitter. Back to you Jeff’.
No. But then, the last football match I watched was last century.
Pigs bladders, isn’t it, hmm? Marvellous.
Clip round the ear? Physical brutality towards children? Never did us any harm. ‘Know your place, sonny!’, ha ha ha. Spell in the Army? Oh yes, everybody thankful then. Sleep in the Tube stations? ‘We’re going to hang out the washing on the…er, District Line’, wasn’t it? Oh yes, marvellous, hmm, Hello Dolly! No, that was later.
PS @retropath2, for the avoidance of doubt, this was absolutely not meant to be a snarky response to your post, even though it admittedly looks like it. My apologies, if needed. It’s actually nothing more than Rioja-fuelled, no-offence-intended, sleep-deprived, insomnia-driven wibble, as is my wont.
You wrote the Fast Show, didn’t you?
Hardest job in the world, that, writing the Fast Show.
Fancy Ecuador to nab a draw against the hosts tomorrow
Fancy Smith, I’ve heard of…but Fancy Ecuador?
Had to look that up. A fictional cop with such a name, fancy that. In reality got no opinion or knowledge on the potential for Ecuador to end the game level on goals with Qatar. Will watch it though. But feels an utterly uninspiring tournament about to commence.
Not interested and really believe England may struggle to get out of the group.
Choosing Maguire (because he is useless) snd Phillips (because he hasn’t kicked a ball this season) has cost two places that could have been utilised much better.
If they do get out the group I might watch the later stages but I have never been less interested in a World Cup tournament.
Tbf, now that the squads have expanded to 26, it’s not quite the risk it was.
Mind, that would seem like an argument to bring the world’s best penalty taker to a tournament where a shoot out is a near certainty..
Yes. Like most world cups I’ll try to catch England and be disappointed, and any other interesting looking games. I’ll watch the final if it looks interesting. The Quatar thing stinks but FIFA being loathsome is hardly news.
Hoping my official FA-sanctioned rainbow-coloured wristband will arrive in time for me to watch tomorrow’s Engerland and Wales games with a clear conscience
Humourless old dullard here. Not as sharp as I once was. . is this one of your jokes?
Peace, love and Brotherhood of Man
It’s finally beginning to penetrate my thick skull why the joke writing department at the local Christmas Card company failed to respond to any of the application letters I sent out
See, that’s funny.
Peace, love and may your soul find its own Bay of Tranquility
Tough crowd tonight
The only football I’ve watched is Offspring The Younger’s U17 team, and that folded at Easter.
We started watching one match of the last World Cup together, I went to make a cuppa at Half Time, and he went off to his PS4. He was right, it was “boor-ing”.
If you like a quiet dip, I can recommend timing your visit to the local swimming pool to coincide with Engerland games.
I applaud your honesty, but I think you might be breaking the pool regulations there.
‘Float… flodaaahhhhhn…’
c/w
‘Don’t Touch That!’
The way I manage to sidestep the moral quandary here is to not be interested in football at all. Same goes for the Saudi Grand Prix – not being a fan of the world tyre-changing championship, I don’t have to worry whether I’m supporting an abusive regime.
On the other hand I did have a vodka and tonic last night, which makes me pro-Russian and pro-colonial expansion, so don’t come to me looking for moral guidance.
Try some Polish or Ukrainian vodka.
…or Islay whisky…
Whisky and tonic though?
Not my pref, but each to their own…I’d recommend using a blend, though…
Or Swedish or Finnish vodka.
But yes, a nice Speyside single malt is the way to go.
I’m on a Slane jag at the moment, and very nice it is too. Oban 14 next.
I had a wee Bunnahabhain Stiuireadair last night. Couldn’t smell it, nipped my tongue but I couldn’t taste it.
Did an LFT about an hour ago and – bugger it – I am covid +ve!
No more good whisky for me, until I get my sense of smell back…
Bad luck Stokey. Hope the symptoms don’t get any worse than that.
Cheers, Moose.
Played bass in a crowded pub on Saturday; started with a “bad cold” on Tuesday/Wednesday; improved every day since then. Taste/smell vanished last night, hence the test. So I’m hoping the worst of it was last week.
Playing bass: Just say no, kids ✊🏻
You might end up punching the air in a Metal band because there’s not enough else to do.
Cheers, Mike…glad you could make it! 👍
I wonder if Mike Howlett had enough to do?
Or Ray Shulmam?
Or John Wetton?
Or Percy Jones?
(List extends to n+1)
Or you could end up like this.
Then there really would be no turning back.
That’s almost exactly what I looked like – howdya get hold of that pic? Someone in my organisation is leaking…
Bad luck…Shame you couldn’t smell it, @fitterstoke. But you can console yourself with the fact that you can spell it.
Arf! Cheers, @mikethep – although, of course, I had the bottle in front of me at the time…
Won’t be watching a single minute.
Should others watch? Entirely a matter for them (and I genuinely mean that). I certainly won’t be judging anyone who does – it’s a complicated old world and we all make our accommodations with it.
The same does not apply to the Qatari government, their bullshit “Supreme Committee”, FIFA, the moral vacuum that is Infantino, the media sources who have spent years pontificating on morality and now send legions of hacks to cover the event because a game of football and advertising clicks are just that bit more important, the despicable hypocrite David Beckham, the half wit Robbie Williams, any player or manager who has ever built their personal brand on “social justice” and chosen to get on the plane anyway, and the people who try to wave away the very real moral concerns here with juvenile false equivalences, whataboutery and accusations of racism (give me strength). The creepy half arsed mascot can get to fuck as well, just to be comprehensive.
I profoundly hope the entire thing falls on its arse and that FIFA implodes entirely. They’re already talking about a Saudi Arabia bid for 2030, just in case the slippery slope is not already glaring enough,
I loved the World Cup from when I was tiny. This isn’t a World Cup, this is just utter bullshit.
🗑️
..and come summer, when the hoo-hah has died down, there’ll still be planeloads of Brits heading there to get pissed in the hotel bars and get a tan.
hear hear.
This is the first time in my life I’ve not been even a little bit excited for a World Cup, and it does make me a bit sad, but I know that every time coverage switches to the aerial view of the stadium, or even just a crowd shot, I’m not going to be able to not think that scores of people died, and far more were treated appallingly, to build that. Which will somewhat detract from the action on the pitch. And that’s before we get started on the corruption and general vileness of the regime there.
Agree with all that Bingo, except I think it’s asking an awful lot for the players to boycott. I’ve always watched every World Cup game I could, even timing my Summer hols to maximise my enjoyment, but it’s still a pretty minor sacrifice for me to follow this one through reports. But if you’re a Wales or Canada player (for example) this is likely to be your only opportunity to play at the ultimate level. If you’re a Brazil or Argentina player, your whole professional life has been building up to this. One wonders, as well, whether their respective F.A.s or supporters would stand up for them if they pulled out or whether they’d be hung out to dry..
Hey, but Ian Broudie and the boys have done a FESTIVE update of Three Lions, making it EVEN BETTERER!!!
As I was ‘playing out’ when england won the world cup and the only time I watched a football match on TV was when I was too stoned to move from the sofa, I’ll let this pass me by.
I’ve not seen a single car with those flag attachments on yet and only a few houses with flags on.
Also it is happening for the first time ever over my birthday which has rather annoyed me.
No, but then I wouldn’t be watching if it was held in my back garden.
I used to live in a basement flat too!
I might have a periscope.
Joe Lycett’s due to shred £10,000 at midday today if Beckham doesn’t pull out of his Qatar deal. I don’t get that. Isn’t it a bit like me saying if The Afterword doesn’t vote for Tears for Fears in the end of year poll I’m going to set fire to my favourite trainers? I must admit, I’m curious to see what he does.
Just seen he’s set up a livestream thingy:
https://benderslikebeckham.com/
Well! That sure showed Becks! Take that, you greedy ex-footballer! Now, where are my trainers?
Worst KLF tribute ever.
If the matches themselves are not corrupt (although I accept that not even that is a given), and bearing in mind that most of us will happily watch our club side’s UEFA-competition away games in several other countries with similarly dodgy regimes and human-rights records (hi, Zenit! Hi, Galatasaray! Hi, Ferencvaros!), then it seems quite justifiable not to put a penny into Qatar and FIFA’s pockets by watching any matches that interest us on freeview and illleg….er, unofficial streams. The event is happening, whatever we do. The games will be played regardless, and at the end of it all someone will raise a trophy that’ll count just as much as all the ones that have been won before. And there may well be some fabulous football to enjoy along the way. I fully respect anyone who’s choosing not to watch any of it, provided they acknowledge in return that those of us who have made a different choice are not necessarily terrible people.
Abstention is a legitimate form of protest. If you choose not to protest this, what other issues will you also choose not to protest? And how many other issues can you choose not to protest before, inevitably, you do become a terrible person?
But to what extent does an individual not watching something constitute a protest, rather than mere virtue-signalling?
“I fully respect anyone who’s choosing not to watch any of it” has aged well.
Surely it’s neither? It doesn’t become a protest, or virtue-signalling, or anything else until you advertise the fact – whether here, Twitter, FB or whatever.
It’s just an individual, sitting in a “sealed system”, making a decision to do (or not do) something. Or have I missed something?
Ask the advertisers and the marketing morons.
Duly acknowledged.
I think the argument about watching/not watching is a bullshit red herring, frankly. It’s not where the action is, it’s divisive, and its only net result is to encourage those who are watching to parrot nonsense arguments about why the Qatari regime is really no different from x, y and z.
I have zero issue with anyone watching this thing. It’s the active participants (some of whom I’m historically a huge fan of) who really need to take a long hard look at themselves.
The cows are dead, whatever we do. Little point in becoming vegetarian, then. And there may well be a couple of fabulous rib-eyes to enjoy along the way.
FIFA have just announced that the World Cup has been cancelled because they are aware that certain Afterworders are boycotting it, not by refusing to buy tickets or travel packages, but by placing their TV on a different channel.
Journeys of a thousand miles and all that. Mock if you must, but it has even less effect than watching another channel.
Turn it into a hobby. Here’s Ian Brown of “Stone Roses” to show how it can be done.
I don’t like watching dull football unless it is my team playing it, but I do love great football. If some of the teams play some great football, that will be when “to watch or not to watch” becomes awkward.
Taking all the “other” stuff out of the equation for a moment I don’t think I’ve ever been as disinterested in an England team as I am in this one. They’ve been successful. They’re all seemingly lovely lads and while I’m disappointed in their hypocrisy would I really expect any of them to miss a World Cup? I think Henderson, who I admire, may regret not making a stand but how can I judge from my sofa? Anyway, the football is all just a bit dull. A World Cup semi and Euro final is a phenomenal achievement yet there’s something missing. Maybe years of England following means I miss the chaos, the misbehaviour, the injuries, the laughable optimism. Maybe like music I yearn for a better time that never really existed. Whatever it is. If the World Cup was starting in Sweden tomorrow I’d probably watch with a Partridgesque shrug. I think it’s all over for me….
I’m watching it. Football (the actual matches) mostly transcends politics – and when it doesn’t it’s normally better.
I also strongly suspect this world cup has inadvertently created a much stronger link for football to its political and environmental impact and to sports washing in general.
‘Course the problem with not watching this one is all the extra time it gives you to ponder the indefensible carbon footprint of the next World Cup, with its 48 teams playing 60 matches, travelling across most of North America. Gulp.
There’s another one? FFS!
Sort of. It’s going to be called Soccer Bowl World Series 2026.
Harry Kane now looking unlikely to wear his rainbow armband because
doing so carries a booking.
Rule one: nooooo pooftahs!
You are Shaikh Amed-al-Kuwari and I claim my five Qatari Riyala
I said a few things around the time the parasitic Olympic Overlords took over Japan and gave this country a cold-blooded rogering in the run up to and during their ‘event’ here last year.
It’s well gone now, thankfully, but the scandals related to the event continue to make the news here. Who’d have thought there was tons of corruptuon involved?! And of course, we are still paying for it.
I don’t think not watching is a pointless protest. Even if it just makes you feel less dirty. Obviously, many people just don’t give a s$!5.
I haven’t been following all this, but how Evil are FIFA compared to the Olympic Overlords? Same kind of thing?
The podcast link I gave above is an excellent place to start answering your question.
Thank you for that.
One day I might listen to that. For now though I’m in a particularly good frame of mind, so perhaps best not to load up on such things.
I suppose it’s probably safe to presume that they’re probably a similar brand of parasitic Evil.
From what I gather they might be even worse!!
Oh golly, I cannot imagine.
That might not even be possible.
Infantino even looks like a comic book supervillain.
Except when he’s complaining, and then he looks like Karl Pilkington.
Mr. I’s resemblance to The Hood from the original (and best) series of Thunderbirds caused me to run screaming from the room
I Can’t Believe It’s Not Blatter.
V.G.
So are those boycotting the World Cup doing so solely because of the migrant worker deaths? Or is it the wider problems with the regime?
If it’s the latter, there is a whole bunch of businesses and industries that have significant Qatar investment. Are you stopping shopping at Sainsburys? Are you not flying BA?
And what about those countries with similar (or worse) human rights records? Or is the World Cup a usefully sized and relatively straightforward thing to boycott. And then jump on the internet to signal what you are doing (because, frankly, no one will notice you are doing it otherwise).
Watching football is no more supporting a regime than listening to Phil Spector’s Christmas album is supporting murder.
Yebbut I listen to the stereo version. That showed him.
“And then jump on the internet to signal what you are doing (because, frankly, no one will notice you are doing it otherwise).“
My point above – it’s the “tree falling in the wood” conundrum…
For avoidance of doubt: I will not be watching the World Cup. However, I will not be flagging this fact on social media (oh! Damn!)
Responding to the OP, which explicitly poses this very question, is not ‘signalling’ anything. It’s joining this discussion. Some people on here can’t seem to see the difference.
Fair enough – I’ll consider myself educated in this regard.
It’s a strange old world.
I’m (quite rightly) not seeing a great deal of vitriol on this thread aimed at those watching this tournament, but I suppose it’s only correct that those who are refraining from doing so should be held to account.
Personally, I knew I wasn’t going to watch this from the moment they pulled the name in 2010. My chief grievance is that I quite simply don’t think that major sports tournaments should be held in places to which not everyone can safely travel. Or at least, if those tournaments are to go ahead, they can go ahead without me.
So, for me: primarily an LGBTQ rights thing. I’ve got a lot of gay/bi mates and I wouldn’t walk into a bar that wouldn’t allow them in with me, so I’m hardly going to spend a month on this tournament.
The secondary factor, at that time, was that the award was so obviously bent. I have never really understood how we all threw that accusation at FIFA and then just quietly went along with it all. Once you know something is corrupt, I think you need to think very carefully about continuing to participate with it, and particularly if you’ve moaned about the corruption.
Everything that’s happened in the intervening 12 years has only strengthened the above sentiment, and added further reasons not to bother with this World Cup. The worker deaths, the FIFA arrests, the tolerance for rape. All that stuff. A comparatively minor, but nonetheless material additional irritant has been watching all the many people who spoke absolute cock and balls about their tremendous commitment to “anti-racism” post George Floyd defend this tournament, because obviously an apartheid regime is much more palatable when we sub sexuality for skin tone.
The final reason is the 78 World Cup, discussed above. I have family who lived through the junta and who had friends disappear. I’ve stood in the Plaza de Mayo and looked at the Madres, still protesting 30 years later. That tournament should never, ever have been allowed to happen. That it was allowed to do so is one of the reasons we’re here, now, with another tournament that shouldn’t be happening, helping another regime who should not be tolerated.
As I’ve said several times, I hold no judgement at all for those who watch. We all make moral compromises in our lives at a certain point of remove, and I don’t consider not watching to be any sort of grand and mandatory position. It’s simply the position that I have chosen.
What I do request is that those who are choosing to watch give us a rest from the ceaseless attempts to explain why not watching is pointless/hypocritical/flat out wrong. It’s utterly tiresome. If you need someone to draw you a diagram of why shopping at Sainsburys isn’t the same as watching the World Cup, then you’ll need to look elsewhere.
Finally, on virtue signaling: I have no social media presence, I do not post on the Internet at all other than occasionally here, and the only times I’ve mentioned not watching the tournament here have been in direct response to someone else raising the topic for discussion. If anyone can explain how to engage on this topic without the accusation of virtue signaling, I’m all ears. Alternatively, I can just proceed by not remotely caring whether or not it’s virtue signaling, and just doing and saying whatever I want.
As far as your Phil Spector analogy, I’m afraid it doesn’t work. The equivalent here is watching a Phil Spector live show, with direct benefits flowing to Phil Spector and intended to promote Phil Spector, to which gay people aren’t invited and in a venue which Phil Spector killed (even more) people to construct, having previously told everyone how much you hate Phil Spector. I’m not saying it would be wrong to watch that, I just hate a lazy analogy.
Blimey! People “should be held to account” for not watching? Are you sure?
In my defence, I love a lazy analogy so guilty as charged.
One question (because I don’t want to prolong a debate and my post reads snarkier than I meant it to).
Did you watch the World Cup in Russia? All of the things wrong with Qatar pretty much apply to Russia. But with added military might and invasions.
I barely watched the Russia World Cup, and I’ve been drifting away from International Football for years, because I knew what was coming.
But homosexuality isn’t illegal in Russia. They’re intolerant, but it isn’t criminal. They’re not arresting gay people, torturing them until they reveal the other gay people they know and going after them. That seems a pretty clear bright line in my mind.
Besides all of which, even if I had watched every minute of the Russian World Cup – would it matter? You’d be able to argue I was a little more of a hypocrite, but it wouldn’t change the fundamental realities of this tournament. The constant hunt for a “whatabout” in these conversations is such a waste of time – the subject is either right or wrong, it should stand or fall on its own virtues (or lack thereof).
What I will say is that I think the decision to award a World Cup to Russia, made in 2010, was a little less nakedly mental and bent. I certainly found it less offensive at the time of the draw. If they made the decision to award to Russia in 2022, obviously that would be different.
… Beijing Olympics, anyone?
I’m looking forward to seeing Saudi Arabia host the 2029 Asian Winter Games
Isn’t it North Korea’s turn yet? No fair ..
North Korea’s turn?
1966. Pak Doo Ik. One-nil against Italy. At Ayresome Park. Enduring image.
And 3-1 up against Portugal. Then … enter the mighty Eusebio.
I visited Eusebio’s tomb at the Panteão in Lisbon a few weeks ago, actually. It’s very impressive.
Eusebio’s Tomb… hat trick from them later
I’m pretty sure that my lovely Dad was at that NK match at Awesome Park (sic) in ’66, as I remember him mentioning it during several subsequent World Cups. However, even though I’d been incontrovertibly extant on this planet for some 7.5yrs by that time, my Dad judiciously opted not to take me along to witness The Beautiful Game in all its global egalitarian glory, partly no doubt because the ‘facilities’ at the Holgate End consisted largely of pissing down a rolled-up copy of The Gazette, and partly because I was still in my Softy Walter ‘hullo clouds, hullo sky’ skipping-around-gaily-in-my-white-ankle-socks phase. Which lasted until I was 48. Damn you Mother.
No doubt Bob Mortimer would suggest that the Gazette would have a match report by Ron Waffle, or possibly John Caramel.
“pissing down a rolled-up copy of The Gazette” into someone’s pocket standing just in front?
@hubert-rawlinson
Given that those ‘facilities’ persisted at least until my own period of Boro watching (’70s-80s), should that turn out to have been my Gazette and your pocket I can only apologise.
UTB!
@Jeff having never attended a football match in my life, and only half a rugby match., the chances that my pockets were filled with warm urine from yourself is nil.
@hubert-rawlinson
Not only a fantastic stand-alone sentence on its own terms, Hubes, but also one which could be seen as very encouraging random progress by an infinite number of monkeys towards an extremely ambitious goal.
For the avoidance of doubt, however, I’d just like to make it clear that I’ve never knowingly pissed in anybody’s pocket at the football.
There was that time at the ballet though…
Skating on thin ice could be popular.
Top stuff @Bingo-little, absolutely with you on this one.
👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Three thumbs on a shirt….
The hands of God.
Same here @Bingo-little
Good man!
A good alternative to watching the actual World Cup is the new international co-production »The Net | Das Netz«, a TV series that’s currently running in Germany, Austria, Switzerland etc.
It’s four seasons of thriller/mystery/crime based on the FIFA & football universe.
It’s fiction, of course, but it illustrates quite magnificently how money is driving everything. And what fantastic amounts of cash they’re actually talking about. The first season is all about broadcasting rights, European clubs buying »talent« in Africa, and trying to establish a new international league, with the aim of even more broadcasting and merchandising income. »Two billion euros on my private account is a good argument for taking a bit of stress this evening…«
The second season describes the medical surroundings – private clinics in the Alps where FIFA bosses get a blood change, doctors specialising on medical treatment for million dollar players: »He has to play the World Cup. That may be impossible with his injury, but we pay you to make it work.« (And half of it takes place in Liverpool!)
Great fun all in all. And of course you can be sure that they appeal to your lowest expectations, too: evil Russian killers, weird androgynous doctors, tough football hooligans, and brave female lawyers.
“Weird androgynous doctors”? I can see the others as stereotypes…but that’s a curious one.
You probably don’t watch enough German crime shows. 😉
Aye, true enough…
I half expected Tigger and Retro to pop up with a viewpoint…
Tigger doesn’t watch German crime shows, he’s a consultant for them.
Me not watching makes no difference. The only way any stand could be made is by players refusing to play or national bodies pulling their team out now FIFA has made it clear players will get fined if they wear LBGT armbands.
As that won’t happen, I will be watching at 1pm UK time!
There is an alternative to not playing.
https://www.thedailymash.co.uk/sport/england-to-take-moral-high-ground-by-losing-20221121228366?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#Echobox=1669027886
We can also watch really badly…. laptop on, timing toilet breaks carefully to coincide with goals…
…wait, I always watch football like that
Or going to a pub and sitting (standing) somewhere where you can’t see the screen
There have been pub visits I can recall where the only way to avoid the deafening bellowing sound from the giant telly screen was by shoving your head down the bog. The quickest way to achieve this position was often by remonstrating with the sweating blob of testosterone filling the public bar with its beery breath and making everybody else’s quiet pint a complete non-starter. Sports fans on the piss. FFS give them guns and send them to the front line, quickly.
Bet the bastards use Twitter as well.
Did you miss the blackboard outside! It said ” Live Football, fat guys, knobends and AfterWorders seeking a quiet pint, all welcome”
The particular ‘quiet pint’ attempt I was recalling took place many years before Twitter existed, and the pub in question, The Byron, no longer exists. At the time I just walked out, turned left, walked a little way down the hill and went to The Eldon instead. The Eldon does still exist. Perhaps that tells us something. Peace.
Peace to you. I like to think there are still pubs rammed full of rowdy soccer fans. Many World Cups ago I spent the whole tournament in one such hostelry and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Today I would look at the blackboard outside and then head for the Gun & Dog where Harry & Tony sit staring silently at their pints
Sounds like a right pair of humorless dullards…
Harry sometimes surprises. Last week he farted Bohemian Rhapsody
When I was much younger I actually enjoyed going to what the colonials wittily call a ‘sports bar’, buying a glass of some piss-poor apology for beer and sitting under an 80inch colour TV watching low resolution ‘sports’ while those around me hooted and screamed enthusiastically in response to the jocks on the screen running around with wodges of insulation foam under their shirts. The appeal wore off. I am now either Harry or Tony in my pub visiting, depending upon whether I am in a stout mood or an IPA mood.
Good heavens, that’s a relief. A piece of muck on my rather filthy screen turned that into ‘an IRA mood’.
Listening to the lunchtime wireless with my Engineer’s problem-solving head on, one possible solution came to me – if players are not allowed to wear a rainbow armband, why not change the whole team strip instead?
A quick Google revealed Altrincham FC had the same idea:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47266942
afraid FIFA are ahead of you on that one
https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/belgium-forced-adjust-away-jersey-love-message-scrap-warm-up-shirts/blt6ebf8c572dc8eb94
absolutely monumental pettiness
It’s not pettiness, it’s business
The sentence that stood out in that article to me was ‘Altrincham led 1-0 until Bradford equalised in the 83rd minute’. Sigh. None more Alty….
The Robins aren’t Bobbins….
Believe me, you wouldn’t say that if you’d seen them this season….
Must have been affected by the football gale.
I was at work today and didn’t check the score until around an hour in because I completely forgot that England were playing. I can’t imagine that happening for any previous World Cup where I’d have the wallchart up, the fixtures in my dairy, the teams’ form studied in detail. This time around I simply haven’t felt motivated or interested. Everything about it is just wrong.
That said, now it’s on, I will watch if I’m at home, as I am doing right now with Wales v USA. And maybe as it goes on I will care more. I love the game but God I hate FIFA and everything they stand for.
Cool that the German interior minister wore the One Love armband while sitting beside Infantino. Perhaps someone from the English establishment could do so at their next game? As long as it’s not Prince Harry – the last time he wore an armband it had a swastika on it..
One Love is “divisive” apparently.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/nov/28/onelove-armband-sends-very-divisive-message-says-qatar-official
Poor old Bob Marley was just….dividing people.
Well, half the Stone Roses fans I know thought it was crap. No wonder they left it off the Second Coming.
When Wales became pantomime villains by knocking out Ukraine I remember thinking “well, they had better put up a show now to make that worthwhile”. Although I didn’t see much more than cheeky pirate highlights, it seems they failed to do that..