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Pricking the balloon of the World Cup as romantic footy competition
EveshamAddick
Posts: 7,019
2
Comments
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Not perfect, true.
But to me the World Cup is unique in captivating the entire world: Europe, South America, Africa, North America, Asia, the Caribbean, everyone. I love it. Life would be so much poorer without it.3 -
Currently half way through Jonathan Wilson's new World Cup book - would definitely recommend to anyone interested in the social/political interaction with sport and the wider world.1
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Personally couldn’t care less where the tournament is held as long as it is run properly
didn’t mind it in Russia as a proper footballing nation
didnt mind it in Qatar as was nice having it in November/December and having all the stadiums concentrated for the fans.Dont mind it in America even if country is run by religious nutters who oppress women’s rights
don’t mind it going to Saudi Arabia as I don’t believe in sports washing. My opinion of Saudi doesn’t change by them hosting football boxing etc4 -
Wow! That's a pretty maddening take.MrOneLung said:Personally couldn’t care less where the tournament is held as long as it is run properly
didn’t mind it in Russia as a proper footballing nation
didnt mind it in Qatar as was nice having it in November/December and having all the stadiums concentrated for the fans.Dont mind it in America even if country is run by religious nutters who oppress women’s rights
don’t mind it going to Saudi Arabia as I don’t believe in sports washing. My opinion of Saudi doesn’t change by them hosting football boxing etc5 -
You don’t believe sports washing exists or that it works?MrOneLung said:Personally couldn’t care less where the tournament is held as long as it is run properly
didn’t mind it in Russia as a proper footballing nation
didnt mind it in Qatar as was nice having it in November/December and having all the stadiums concentrated for the fans.Dont mind it in America even if country is run by religious nutters who oppress women’s rights
don’t mind it going to Saudi Arabia as I don’t believe in sports washing. My opinion of Saudi doesn’t change by them hosting football boxing etc3 -
Doesn't workAddicksAddict said:
You don’t believe sports washing exists or that it works?MrOneLung said:Personally couldn’t care less where the tournament is held as long as it is run properly
didn’t mind it in Russia as a proper footballing nation
didnt mind it in Qatar as was nice having it in November/December and having all the stadiums concentrated for the fans.Dont mind it in America even if country is run by religious nutters who oppress women’s rights
don’t mind it going to Saudi Arabia as I don’t believe in sports washing. My opinion of Saudi doesn’t change by them hosting football boxing etc
Has your opinion of Qatar changed because they hosted the World Cup ? Mine hasn't.
Has your opinion on Saudi Arabia changed since they started hosting boxing title fights, or since they were awarded the World Cup ? Mine hasn't1 -
It works for those very few ( FIFA etc) who want to line their own pockets but it shafts the proper supporter.AddicksAddict said:
You don’t believe sports washing exists or that it works?MrOneLung said:Personally couldn’t care less where the tournament is held as long as it is run properly
didn’t mind it in Russia as a proper footballing nation
didnt mind it in Qatar as was nice having it in November/December and having all the stadiums concentrated for the fans.Dont mind it in America even if country is run by religious nutters who oppress women’s rights
don’t mind it going to Saudi Arabia as I don’t believe in sports washing. My opinion of Saudi doesn’t change by them hosting football boxing etcIf you’re happy with that MrOneLung then so be it .0 -
Did you watch any of the games in the Qatar World Cup ?JiMMy 85 said:
Wow! That's a pretty maddening take.MrOneLung said:Personally couldn’t care less where the tournament is held as long as it is run properly
didn’t mind it in Russia as a proper footballing nation
didnt mind it in Qatar as was nice having it in November/December and having all the stadiums concentrated for the fans.Dont mind it in America even if country is run by religious nutters who oppress women’s rights
don’t mind it going to Saudi Arabia as I don’t believe in sports washing. My opinion of Saudi doesn’t change by them hosting football boxing etc0 -
Not everyone is as bright or aware as you.MrOneLung said:
Doesn't workAddicksAddict said:
You don’t believe sports washing exists or that it works?MrOneLung said:Personally couldn’t care less where the tournament is held as long as it is run properly
didn’t mind it in Russia as a proper footballing nation
didnt mind it in Qatar as was nice having it in November/December and having all the stadiums concentrated for the fans.Dont mind it in America even if country is run by religious nutters who oppress women’s rights
don’t mind it going to Saudi Arabia as I don’t believe in sports washing. My opinion of Saudi doesn’t change by them hosting football boxing etc
Has your opinion of Qatar changed because they hosted the World Cup ? Mine hasn't.
Has your opinion on Saudi Arabia changed since they started hosting boxing title fights, or since they were awarded the World Cup ? Mine hasn't
The governments of the middle east may be many things, but they are not stupid and they wouldn't be wasting money if they didn't think it worked.0 -
How did it shaft the proper supporter ?Bedsaddick said:
It works for those very few ( FIFA etc) who want to line their own pockets but it shafts the proper supporter.AddicksAddict said:
You don’t believe sports washing exists or that it works?MrOneLung said:Personally couldn’t care less where the tournament is held as long as it is run properly
didn’t mind it in Russia as a proper footballing nation
didnt mind it in Qatar as was nice having it in November/December and having all the stadiums concentrated for the fans.Dont mind it in America even if country is run by religious nutters who oppress women’s rights
don’t mind it going to Saudi Arabia as I don’t believe in sports washing. My opinion of Saudi doesn’t change by them hosting football boxing etcIf you’re happy with that MrOneLung then so be it .
Several posters on this site went, and said it was a great tournament to attend0 -
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Well this is very much anecdotal, and while I respect your right to have an opinion, an opinion is not what a fact is built on.MrOneLung said:
Doesn't workAddicksAddict said:
You don’t believe sports washing exists or that it works?MrOneLung said:Personally couldn’t care less where the tournament is held as long as it is run properly
didn’t mind it in Russia as a proper footballing nation
didnt mind it in Qatar as was nice having it in November/December and having all the stadiums concentrated for the fans.Dont mind it in America even if country is run by religious nutters who oppress women’s rights
don’t mind it going to Saudi Arabia as I don’t believe in sports washing. My opinion of Saudi doesn’t change by them hosting football boxing etc
Has your opinion of Qatar changed because they hosted the World Cup ? Mine hasn't.
Has your opinion on Saudi Arabia changed since they started hosting boxing title fights, or since they were awarded the World Cup ? Mine hasn't
To my mind, if sports washing didn't work, the Saudis wouldn't be spending billions doing it. It's not exactly hard evidence, I accept that, but better logic than by simply going on my own opinion.
Whether sports washing does or doesn't work is kind of beside the point. A lot of entertainment is driven by their motive to improve their standing on the world stage without improving their own human rights record. I'm not even sure they would even deny the PIF exists for that purpose.
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I think I watched the England games, not sure I watched many more than that. Why?MrOneLung said:
Did you watch any of the games in the Qatar World Cup ?JiMMy 85 said:
Wow! That's a pretty maddening take.MrOneLung said:Personally couldn’t care less where the tournament is held as long as it is run properly
didn’t mind it in Russia as a proper footballing nation
didnt mind it in Qatar as was nice having it in November/December and having all the stadiums concentrated for the fans.Dont mind it in America even if country is run by religious nutters who oppress women’s rights
don’t mind it going to Saudi Arabia as I don’t believe in sports washing. My opinion of Saudi doesn’t change by them hosting football boxing etc1 -
Given our involvement of four players, I am more interested in Jamaica than England, but a part of me is cheering on Faroe Islands whose 55k population have a chance to enjoy their 15 minutes of fame in the WC finals.2
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Just seeing if you supported the tournament , host country and sponsors associated with it by watchingJiMMy 85 said:
I think I watched the England games, not sure I watched many more than that. Why?MrOneLung said:
Did you watch any of the games in the Qatar World Cup ?JiMMy 85 said:
Wow! That's a pretty maddening take.MrOneLung said:Personally couldn’t care less where the tournament is held as long as it is run properly
didn’t mind it in Russia as a proper footballing nation
didnt mind it in Qatar as was nice having it in November/December and having all the stadiums concentrated for the fans.Dont mind it in America even if country is run by religious nutters who oppress women’s rights
don’t mind it going to Saudi Arabia as I don’t believe in sports washing. My opinion of Saudi doesn’t change by them hosting football boxing etc0 -
Sure - of course it doesn't work. The oppressive regimes in the gulf states are just paying out billions to host these sporting events because they just love hosting them, right?MrOneLung said:Personally couldn’t care less where the tournament is held as long as it is run properly
didn’t mind it in Russia as a proper footballing nation
didnt mind it in Qatar as was nice having it in November/December and having all the stadiums concentrated for the fans.Dont mind it in America even if country is run by religious nutters who oppress women’s rights
don’t mind it going to Saudi Arabia as I don’t believe in sports washing. My opinion of Saudi doesn’t change by them hosting football boxing etc
Yikes.0 -
Does anyone know someone who no longer thinks that Saudi Arabia is an oppressive regime due to them hosting sports events?0
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Several . Exactly. If it had been in Europe how many more would it have been ?MrOneLung said:
How did it shaft the proper supporter ?Bedsaddick said:
It works for those very few ( FIFA etc) who want to line their own pockets but it shafts the proper supporter.AddicksAddict said:
You don’t believe sports washing exists or that it works?MrOneLung said:Personally couldn’t care less where the tournament is held as long as it is run properly
didn’t mind it in Russia as a proper footballing nation
didnt mind it in Qatar as was nice having it in November/December and having all the stadiums concentrated for the fans.Dont mind it in America even if country is run by religious nutters who oppress women’s rights
don’t mind it going to Saudi Arabia as I don’t believe in sports washing. My opinion of Saudi doesn’t change by them hosting football boxing etcIf you’re happy with that MrOneLung then so be it .
Several posters on this site went, and said it was a great tournament to attend0 -
We're not really the people they are trying to prove it to though. They want more investment from global companies to help boost their economy and move it away from mainly oil based. Plus they would then have more global influence.MrOneLung said:Does anyone know someone who no longer thinks that Saudi Arabia is an oppressive regime due to them hosting sports events?
A lot of international companies will be more likely to invest if Saudi Arabia at least look like they are trying to change their image. The more they have large sporting competitions the more chance global companies will invest. If people are prepared to go or watch a tournament or fight or to go on holiday there the more outside investment they get as those companies will see that ultimately people don't really care that Saudi Arabia have a nasty regime. Just like Newcastle fans don't care who owns their club now.2 -
Cape Verde 🇨🇻
Uzbekistan 🇺🇿
Jordan 🇯🇴
Have all qualified for their first World Cup0 -
I still care about the tournament and pine for what I got from it as a youngster. I still love the shared experience. I don't want the Saudis or Trump to take that way from me. Fuck them for putting any of us in that position. It's much like how I feel about Newcastle fans. I don't have any time for those wearing tea towels on their heads, but I massively sympathise with those who still go to games despite not wanting to be owned by a regime that murders people for their sexuality. I don't expect them to stop going to watch the team they've been dedicated to all their lives.MrOneLung said:
Just seeing if you supported the tournament , host country and sponsors associated with it by watchingJiMMy 85 said:
I think I watched the England games, not sure I watched many more than that. Why?MrOneLung said:
Did you watch any of the games in the Qatar World Cup ?JiMMy 85 said:
Wow! That's a pretty maddening take.MrOneLung said:Personally couldn’t care less where the tournament is held as long as it is run properly
didn’t mind it in Russia as a proper footballing nation
didnt mind it in Qatar as was nice having it in November/December and having all the stadiums concentrated for the fans.Dont mind it in America even if country is run by religious nutters who oppress women’s rights
don’t mind it going to Saudi Arabia as I don’t believe in sports washing. My opinion of Saudi doesn’t change by them hosting football boxing etc
Still, without making any conscious effort to avoid, as you put it, 'supporting the sponsorship' (I reject that premise anyway given that I am hyper aware of advertising and sponsorship, but that's beside the point here), the state of pro football at most levels has seen me fall out of love with the game, to the extent that I don't watch any PL content at all anymore. And as I said, I watched 4-5 WC games instead of 50. I didn't intend to do that. I just don't have any heart in it because it's all so fucking cynical.
Personally, I don't think enjoying an England game with friends and family undermines my opinion, and the 'if you watch the game you're a hypocrite' gotcha is employed by those who wish to completely ignore the motives of those involved. And I think you've made that point pretty convincingly.3 -
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I don’t think that’s the purpose of what they are doing. It’s about normalising their place as a top tier, notable, nations despite the oppressive regimes.MrOneLung said:Does anyone know someone who no longer thinks that Saudi Arabia is an oppressive regime due to them hosting sports events?The purpose of sports washing isn’t to make you forget that the other stuff happens, it’s so that you don’t care. And it works, loads of people from western democracies go to the boxing/F1/World Cup/whatever.1 -
Do the Saudis really need 'investment'? They already have so much money they don't know what to do with it.Karim_myBagheri said:
We're not really the people they are trying to prove it to though. They want more investment from global companies to help boost their economy and move it away from mainly oil based. Plus they would then have more global influence.MrOneLung said:Does anyone know someone who no longer thinks that Saudi Arabia is an oppressive regime due to them hosting sports events?
A lot of international companies will be more likely to invest if Saudi Arabia at least look like they are trying to change their image. The more they have large sporting competitions the more chance global companies will invest. If people are prepared to go or watch a tournament or fight or to go on holiday there the more outside investment they get as those companies will see that ultimately people don't really care that Saudi Arabia have a nasty regime. Just like Newcastle fans don't care who owns their club now.0 -
Now, but when the oil starts to run out?stevexreeve said:
Do the Saudis really need 'investment'? They already have so much money they don't know what to do with it.Karim_myBagheri said:
We're not really the people they are trying to prove it to though. They want more investment from global companies to help boost their economy and move it away from mainly oil based. Plus they would then have more global influence.MrOneLung said:Does anyone know someone who no longer thinks that Saudi Arabia is an oppressive regime due to them hosting sports events?
A lot of international companies will be more likely to invest if Saudi Arabia at least look like they are trying to change their image. The more they have large sporting competitions the more chance global companies will invest. If people are prepared to go or watch a tournament or fight or to go on holiday there the more outside investment they get as those companies will see that ultimately people don't really care that Saudi Arabia have a nasty regime. Just like Newcastle fans don't care who owns their club now.0
