Watching the World Cup- will you?

rick_chasey

It is interesting that the furore is for this but not for Russia a few years ago.

I mean, they're footballers, and it's the world cup. Of course they're gonna go.

laurentian

pblakeney said:

laurentian said:

For anyone interested in how Qatar won the bid for this world cup and the systemic and astonishingly high level of corruption involved in the awarding of this and past world cups, "FIFA Uncovered" on Netflix is a fascinating watch.

Four 1 hour episodes - I've watched the first three

Is the conclusion anything other than financial gain for the people running FIFA?
I'd be surprised if they come out clean.

It is, and I was expecting that but I was astounded at other stuff - I don't want to "plot spoil", suffice to say that it was not just FIFA that comes out of it looking shabby.

It's very interesting to see how FIFA changed from essentially corinthian amateurs running the sport in the era of Stanley Rous to the multi million pound corruptible organisation it became. Blatter's rise to power is fascinating. If you have any interest whatsoever, I would really recommend watching it.

rick_chasey

Seems a long documentary! How come it's so long?

kingstongraham

Ben6899

bonk_king said:

I'm a big fan of club football but the international scene has never ever interested me. I couldn't give a monkeys about the English football team, so no I won't be watching any of it.

However, if I was mad keen on international football then yes, even given the venue, I'd watch the England games and probably a few more to boot.

What true patriotic mad football fan is going to boycott watching the biggest football tournament on the planet, one that comes around only every 4 years, just because of what some backward Arab nation has done?

The organisers don't give a s**t what horrific events are going on there, so I doubt most football fans will either.

Nah, I love the World Cup and Miss6899 loves it even more (she's German), but we're not watching this one.

Just to give an idea where I'm at on this... I support United, and if the Glazers (bad enough already) ever f*** off and we end up being bought by an oil state, then I will be well and truly out.

pblakeney

rick_chasey said:

Seems a long documentary! How come it's so long?

This.
I'd give it a watch for an hour. I will be giving it a miss as I'm not that interested.

laurentian

rick_chasey said:

Seems a long documentary! How come it's so long?

It basically looks at the history of FIFA from the era of Stanley Rous. How the next president (Havelange) saw the potential for the organistation (and himself) to have political power and become a commercial operation thus enabling it and those in it to be corrupted and corruptible. A process refined and developed by Sepp Blatter.

It goes chronologocally from one world cup to the next and explains how sponsorhip deals and sale of TV rights meant that money could pour in, how manipulation of the various federations and the Executive's voting for the awarding of world cups (going back much futher than you may think) were/are influenced by those votes, how those votes were bought (making the members of the Executive multi millionaires). How governments told their respective Exective members how to vote and what the countries awarded the world cup gave back to the governments of those countries who's executive representatives voted in "the right way".

I have one left to watch as the third one goes up to the awarding of the Qatar World Cup and the ensuing investigations, outcry and FBI Investigation. The presentation bid was essentially irrelevant when it came to awarding the World Cup to Qatar.

Basically, it came as no suprise to me that FIFA was bent but just how bent and the level (governmental) to which the dodgy dealings ascended is amazing.

First.Aspect

rick_chasey said:

It is interesting that the furore is for this but not for Russia a few years ago.

I mean, they're footballers, and it's the world cup. Of course they're gonna go.

Superficially Russia looked like a fairly normal bid. Whereas the technical aspects of the Qatar bid were so self evidently lacking (no stadia, no accommodation, no domestic fans, 50 degree heat) that the corruption was just easier to spot.

rick_chasey

First.Aspect said:

rick_chasey said:

It is interesting that the furore is for this but not for Russia a few years ago.

I mean, they're footballers, and it's the world cup. Of course they're gonna go.

Superficially Russia looked like a fairly normal bid. Whereas the technical aspects of the Qatar bid were so self evidently lacking (no stadia, no accommodation, no domestic fans, 50 degree heat) that the corruption was just easier to spot.

Right. But they're also beating up gays in Russia.

I think it's a but much this Lycett jobbie on Beckham; I mean, the guy's dedicated his entire career at the highest level to football; of course he's gonna go. It's not his fault FIFA are corrupt.

Nor is it the fan's fault for it either. Not really sure why all the fans need to lose out too. They've already lost out for the fact it's a pain to go, if you're a minority it's probably not worth going.

Now we're going to judge them for not wanting to watch it either?

kingstongraham

rick_chasey said:

First.Aspect said:

rick_chasey said:

It is interesting that the furore is for this but not for Russia a few years ago.

I mean, they're footballers, and it's the world cup. Of course they're gonna go.

Superficially Russia looked like a fairly normal bid. Whereas the technical aspects of the Qatar bid were so self evidently lacking (no stadia, no accommodation, no domestic fans, 50 degree heat) that the corruption was just easier to spot.

Right. But they're also beating up gays in Russia.

I think it's a but much this Lycett jobbie on Beckham; I mean, the guy's dedicated his entire career at the highest level to football; of course he's gonna go. It's not his fault FIFA are corrupt.

Nor is it the fan's fault for it either. Not really sure why all the fans need to lose out too. They've already lost out for the fact it's a pain to go, if you're a minority it's probably not worth going.

Now we're going to judge them for not wanting to watch it either?

Joe Lycett is not criticising him for going or watching it. It's for taking tens of millions for this kind of thing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbnIHJl41t4

rick_chasey

He's supposed to go for free?

Christ, I look forward to everyone bringing up every human right infringement of any holiday programme too.

They won't be able to leave their own town before they get to something.

kingstongraham

rick_chasey said:

He's supposed to go for free?

How much do you think a ticket costs?

rick_chasey

Ugh the double standards of the critics are remarkable.

kingstongraham

Only telling you what Joe Lycett said. He's disappointed.

MattFalle

rick_chasey said:

First.Aspect said:

rick_chasey said:

It is interesting that the furore is for this but not for Russia a few years ago.

I mean, they're footballers, and it's the world cup. Of course they're gonna go.

Superficially Russia looked like a fairly normal bid. Whereas the technical aspects of the Qatar bid were so self evidently lacking (no stadia, no accommodation, no domestic fans, 50 degree heat) that the corruption was just easier to spot.

Right. But they're also beating up gays in Russia.

I think it's a but much this Lycett jobbie on Beckham; I mean, the guy's dedicated his entire career at the highest level to football; of course he's gonna go. It's not his fault FIFA are corrupt.

Nor is it the fan's fault for it either. Not really sure why all the fans need to lose out too. They've already lost out for the fact it's a pain to go, if you're a minority it's probably not worth going.

Now we're going to judge them for not wanting to watch it either?

Sorry?

Lycett go at Beckham?

Have you honestly no idea about Beckham/Qatar/tax/hypocrisy/corruption?

Seriously seriously or are you taking the absolutepiss?

First.Aspect

rick_chasey said:

He's supposed to go for free?

Christ, I look forward to everyone bringing up every human right infringement of any holiday programme too.

They won't be able to leave their own town before they get to something.

Price of fame is being judged. He's done a cost benefit analysis here, clearly.

I'd compare what Beckham is doing to, for example, Sebastien Vettel. Also getting paid a huge wad to represent corporate clients in parts of the world with problematic human rights records - Russia, China, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi, Abu Dhabi.

Regularly intentionally wears a rainbow coloured crash helmet and gets fined by the sport for changing the design too often.

MattFalle

Seriously Rick, seriously?

MattFalle

rick_chasey said:

Ugh the double standards of the critics are remarkable.

your naivity is shocking.

First.Aspect

MattFalle said:

rick_chasey said:

Ugh the double standards of the critics are remarkable.

your naivity is shocking.

Indeed. Where is your pension invested RC?

Ben6899

kingstongraham said:

rick_chasey said:

First.Aspect said:

rick_chasey said:

It is interesting that the furore is for this but not for Russia a few years ago.

I mean, they're footballers, and it's the world cup. Of course they're gonna go.

Superficially Russia looked like a fairly normal bid. Whereas the technical aspects of the Qatar bid were so self evidently lacking (no stadia, no accommodation, no domestic fans, 50 degree heat) that the corruption was just easier to spot.

Right. But they're also beating up gays in Russia.

I think it's a but much this Lycett jobbie on Beckham; I mean, the guy's dedicated his entire career at the highest level to football; of course he's gonna go. It's not his fault FIFA are corrupt.

Nor is it the fan's fault for it either. Not really sure why all the fans need to lose out too. They've already lost out for the fact it's a pain to go, if you're a minority it's probably not worth going.

Now we're going to judge them for not wanting to watch it either?

Joe Lycett is not criticising him for going or watching it. It's for taking tens of millions for this kind of thing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbnIHJl41t4

Is David Beckham made to feel welcome and afforded tremendous hospitality... because he's extremely wealthy?

I dunno it seems the Qatari state is happy to take the money, but not so keen on any give and take in that respect.

I've got a feeling that a lot of trouble will fall out during this tournament.

MattFalle

.

First.Aspect said:

rick_chasey said:

He's supposed to go for free?

Christ, I look forward to everyone bringing up every human right infringement of any holiday programme too.

They won't be able to leave their own town before they get to something.

Price of fame is being judged. He's done a cost benefit analysis here, clearly.

I'd compare what Beckham is doing to, for example, Sebastien Vettel. Also getting paid a huge wad to represent corporate clients in parts of the world with problematic human rights records - Russia, China, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi, Abu Dhabi.

Regularly intentionally wears a rainbow coloured crash helmet and gets fined by the sport for changing the design too often.

oh no - Beckham is a fuckinglizard and hasbeen for decades, he's just got away with because the media bought the idea of him being such a lovely boy and sold it to sycophantic fan base.

they managed to ignore the extra marital affairs, tax dodging, arsrlicking mediaco..sucking of him desperate desperate to get a gong and immortalise his "legacy"

fuckinglizard of the highest order.

kingstongraham

Ben6899 said:

kingstongraham said:

rick_chasey said:

First.Aspect said:

rick_chasey said:

It is interesting that the furore is for this but not for Russia a few years ago.

I mean, they're footballers, and it's the world cup. Of course they're gonna go.

Superficially Russia looked like a fairly normal bid. Whereas the technical aspects of the Qatar bid were so self evidently lacking (no stadia, no accommodation, no domestic fans, 50 degree heat) that the corruption was just easier to spot.

Right. But they're also beating up gays in Russia.

I think it's a but much this Lycett jobbie on Beckham; I mean, the guy's dedicated his entire career at the highest level to football; of course he's gonna go. It's not his fault FIFA are corrupt.

Nor is it the fan's fault for it either. Not really sure why all the fans need to lose out too. They've already lost out for the fact it's a pain to go, if you're a minority it's probably not worth going.

Now we're going to judge them for not wanting to watch it either?

Joe Lycett is not criticising him for going or watching it. It's for taking tens of millions for this kind of thing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbnIHJl41t4

Is David Beckham made to feel welcome and afforded tremendous hospitality... because he's extremely wealthy?

I dunno it seems the Qatari state is happy to take the money, but not so keen on any give and take in that respect.

I've got a feeling that a lot of trouble will fall out during this tournament.

I think he's made to feel welcome by being given a reported £15m a year for 10 years.

Ben6899

kingstongraham said:

I think he's made to feel welcome by being given a reported £15m a year for 10 years.

Yeh it's totally cynical. They'll bend over* for someone who can help them.

A World Cup tournament has a life very much of its own; when things are in full swing** then we'll see lots of fans*** forgetting where they are and falling foul of the local laws and customs****

* only backwards though
** of sorts (it'll be sh1te)
*** actual fans
**** cue consular assistance and deals to arrange repatriation

kingstongraham

I also don't believe he thinks Burger King is particularly great.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YebzBoG68N8

MattFalle

He's a lizard. He'll sell his personal bits for £2.78 and 30 seconds on tv.

Pross

MattFalle said:

.

First.Aspect said:

rick_chasey said:

He's supposed to go for free?

Christ, I look forward to everyone bringing up every human right infringement of any holiday programme too.

They won't be able to leave their own town before they get to something.

Price of fame is being judged. He's done a cost benefit analysis here, clearly.

I'd compare what Beckham is doing to, for example, Sebastien Vettel. Also getting paid a huge wad to represent corporate clients in parts of the world with problematic human rights records - Russia, China, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi, Abu Dhabi.

Regularly intentionally wears a rainbow coloured crash helmet and gets fined by the sport for changing the design too often.

oh no - Beckham is a fuckinglizard and hasbeen for decades, he's just got away with because the media bought the idea of him being such a lovely boy and sold it to sycophantic fan base.

they managed to ignore the extra marital affairs, tax dodging, arsrlicking mediaco..sucking of him desperate desperate to get a gong and immortalise his "legacy"

fuckinglizard of the highest order.

But, but he queued with the riffraff to see our dead Queen despite being a Sir and bought them all doughnuts. He can’t be all bad…!

focuszing723

I told you all we use their gas for heating and electric and provided the evidence. Why is this thread still continuing?

If you want to plead the moral high ground you shouldn't be on the internet in the first place.

Fookin pothead horse eaters.

Chr1st!

focuszing723

Make some wicker $h1t in candle light or something if you want entertainment, for Musk sake!

focuszing723

focuszing723 said:

Qatar is willing to help the UK with its cost of living crisis, the country's energy minister has said - but he also criticised western countries who spent years "demonising oil and gas companies".

In an exclusive interview, Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi said that years of pushing for a rapid end to fossil fuel production and calling producers the "bad guys" had contributed to the current crisis.

He told Sky News that the root causes of the recent increase in gas and energy prices in Europe and beyond could be traced back many years before the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

"It's definitely a deeper issue," he said - pointing out that investment in gas production had fallen steadily in recent years, as Europe pushed to eliminate carbon emissions sooner in an effort to combat climate change.

"There was a build up of countries pushing for the [energy] transition in a hard way. [They pushed for] net-zero, moving to renewables, doing away with fossil fuels and demonising the oil and gas companies, [calling them] the bad guys. And [as a result] you don't have enough investment in the oil and gas sector."

Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi is Qatar's energy minister
The comments came as a Qatari delegation, led by the country's leader, the Emir, met with Boris Johnson to announce a "Strategic Investment Partnership" under which Qatar will invest up to £10bn across the UK.

However, with energy regulator Ofgem signalling that the price cap will rise to £2,800 this winter - the highest level on record - there is little instant remedy for the wholesale gas prices being faced by the UK.

The energy minister said: "The wind does not always blow, and the sun does not shine all the time… We are absolutely convinced that you can't achieve that transition [to renewables] without fossil fuels. And the best fossil fuel available to mankind is gas."

Qatar has the world's third-biggest proven natural gas reserves, and is now one of the biggest providers of the fuel to the UK, shipping it in vast liquefied natural gas tankers to Britain's three LNG terminals.

https://news.sky.com/story/cost-of-living-west-reaping-the-consequences-of-demonising-oil-and-gas-companies-qatar-minister-12620655

Ignorance is bliss and all that I guess.

Read it, for fvck sake!

tailwindhome

No excitement for it, but I'll be watching, and in the absence of an Irish team, I'll be jumping on the Welsh bandwagon