I’ve held off writing about the Qatar World Cup until now due to what I perceive to be a past ‘conflict of interests’. I did, after all, work for Al Jazeera for 16 years, a channel which is financed by Qatar. I left in April 2022 and though I have no ties with it anymore, I strongly believe that Al Jazeera is a
The coverage here focuses exclusively on the football. Michael Owen and Owen Hargreaves in studio with a number of former greats from Africa. The football has been good and exciting so far. Seems well attended but stadiums might have been packed with freebies. The officiating has been good too. Was some coverage of the rainbow armband. The organisers did hoodwink the process though. They always knew they couldn't host it mid year. FIFA still reeks of corruption. FIFA2010 did nothing to grow the game here. Wasted opportunity thanks to inept SAFA and govt. White Elephant stadia. Unlikely to make much impact in Qatar?
Dear Barbara, you have no idea how much your words resonated to me. The hypocrisy you unveiled it is the same I often encounter in my work as humanitarian aid worker. International Relations are full of contradictions and double standards. Far from defending Qatar, I think we as Western countries, should also acknowledge that we are not always the champions of human rights, especially when those collide with our geopolitical interests.. (see The migrants issue in the Mediterranean, Lybia, etc.. etc)
Dec 6, 2022·edited Dec 10, 2022Liked by Barbara Serra
Dear Barbara, while I completely agree about the drink culture and was interested in the LBTQ piece you linked to I think you left out some of the most salient points about why the Qatar world cup is a mess. Qatar is basically too small for such a huge event and, we might argue, too rich; or at least we might say they have - to use that Irish phrase - "more money than sense".
and more darkly Qatar should never have been considered except for the fact that Qatar is so rich and could afford to buy the slot according to no less than the New York Times
Now we might say this really is a reflection on FIFA more than Qatar - fair comment I say - but all in all this world cup while exciting football has come at much too high a cost and very damaging for Qatar, who has handled the whole thing extremely ineptly in terms of communications; I have even seen ex-colleagues - news casters - of yours at AJB posting Fake News Tags for perfectly legitimate criticism of the event and that's Trump playbook territory we are in.
Spot on as always Barbara, and I don't think you're too conflicted to write on today's subject :) When it comes to the rights of migrant workers I can only speak of the UK and Italy, and whilst the majority do not work in the construction industry (as in Qatar these past few years), the rights afforded fruit pickers and agricultural labourers for instance are hardly the last word in humane and civilised treatment.
As for LGBT rights, well every country moves at a different pace (on many issues) but I remember the 1980's as being a particularly cruel time to be gay in the UK. Just because we have become more enlightend here doesn't mean every other country must fall into line with us and our timescales. Where religion is more prominent, then the word of your God is likely to be more cleanly felt and religion is slow moving when it comes to change and overturning doctrine.
The alcohol issue has always made me laugh here in the UK. Unfortunately a football match seems to be more of an excuse to drink than a spectacle itself. That said, with the quality of some of the football played in this country, I think you do actually need to be three sheets to the wind to get through it!
I find it odd you seem to be implying that because Russia and China were worse than Qatar that the media just should not be allowed to level criticism at a barbaric regime?
Qatar bought the World Cup to improve their global image, that’s it. The Qatari government don’t care about football - clearly after they became the worst performing host nation of all time.
Just because a World Cup hasn’t been hosted in a part of the world before doesn’t mean that it should be for the sake of it, what is next? North Korea?
Your point on abortion in the USA is ‘whataboutism’ at its finest, as abortion isn’t legal in Qatar? In fact, the Humna Rights Watch have reported that Muslim women can be stoned to death in Qatar for something as simple as having sex outside of marriage.
You’re only credible point in this article is your comment regarding alcohol. Yes, alcohol is not a given right. Here, however, lies the problem with the Qatari regime.
When the project to host the World Cup was originally pitched, they said alcohol would be sold. When the stadiums were being built, they said alcohol would be sold. When the tickets were being sold, and overpriced ‘hotel’ spaces being booked, they said alcohol would be sold. In fact it was only two days before the tournament began they suddenly changed their mind.
Everything they have said is a lie. The original figure for migrant worker deaths was 4… well that suddenly changed to 400 this week. LGBT people would be welcome according to the Qatari government, oh but no wearing rainbow clothes because that’s offensive to our culture. The alcohol issue was just another lie told by the Qatari government and FIFA.
Europe and the West certainly has its own issues that need to be addressed, but you know what, Europe and the West aren’t hosting a World Cup right now, Qatar is.
And don’t even start on hypocrisy with the West. Arabic fans holding up pictures of Mesut Ozil to the German fans after crying for months about how football shouldn’t be politicised…
This is a World Cup of sports washing, and clearly it is working…
Yes I do not agree about fascismor any of the type.A terrible time for your lovely country went through.I understand how you feel about your grandfather,he made his choice and taught to strong and ascertive,to have empathy, integrity all the good gualities.So bravo,have a bubbly with me.
About the cup, I think it's a well,the world wasn't in it.I.do like the game,it's because of all the underlying bad facts underneath all that gloss the imagrant workers are suffering harsh treatment upon others that we don't normally hear about.Plus still the poor is there.I could yak yak about these and other things I know interest you.
Yes,hmm, this place is known as the new Babylon.The place that fornicates with the looking seemably beautiful on top.(missed the economics of the world. I always thought war is a battle of world economics.Think about it.Someone is
reaping all the cash.I think this is where it's going.Remember Sadam Hussein,they found him with no money, well guess where it all went.
Really appreciate your clear sighted views. Qatar is absolutely entitled to restrict alcohol. Will eliminate much of the drink induced unpleasantness that happens at football matches.
I love the World Cup as a festival, though I can't say I'm mad keen on FIFA.
I seem to have seen a few seconds of the opening ceremony in Qatar (presumably not on BBC). It was (surprise!) men, all men, seemingly quite middle-aged men, waving their swords around as their paunches wobbled and they sported inane grins on their faces. Maybe the BBC refused to show it on purely aesthetic grounds? Maybe these opening ceremonies should simply be banned.
Concerning the (not properly recorded) deaths of migrant workers and the LGBT rights, personally I do feel that these aspects are bad enough that the World Cup shouldn't have been held in Qatar. It shouldn't be held in Russia until the Maggot-in-Chief is garrotted, or in China until the regime of the Not-so-great Helmsman Winnie the Pooh Jinping ends, and he is shuffled sideways to "sit by a window". In 2014, given Kruschev's lunacy of handing over Crimea in 1954 on a whim, no-one really knew how bad an event this was. Now we know. Ditto for China: since Winnie came to the throne things have become steadily worse, steadily more depressing, steadily more unacceptable.
So I'm not sure your accusation of double standards is really all that credible.
Would it then matter if Middle Eastern countries complained about never being allowed to host the WC? No, why should it particularly? Would it matter if Russia / China / Iran were to then boycott it? Not to me. The biggest problem then is that FIFA would have to decide where was OK, and where not. And that's probably the worst organisation on the planet to decide these things.
Important take. I particularly agree that media coverage does not reflect what this event means to the region. A similar situation is with social changes in Saudi Arabia, where the issue of how the changes are perceived by the Saudis themselves is ignored in favor of "this is all whitewashing" narrative. However, I disagree with the criticism of calling Qatar's line of defense whataboutism. How can one compare issues that are controversial in the West, that are allowed to discuss or protest there, with Qatar shamelessly encouraging homophobia during the World Cup? Accusations of hypocrisy would only be justified if there were universally accepted and legally sanctioned violence against a particular social group in the West.
The so-called free world’s great values: first cash in, then complain…
The coverage here focuses exclusively on the football. Michael Owen and Owen Hargreaves in studio with a number of former greats from Africa. The football has been good and exciting so far. Seems well attended but stadiums might have been packed with freebies. The officiating has been good too. Was some coverage of the rainbow armband. The organisers did hoodwink the process though. They always knew they couldn't host it mid year. FIFA still reeks of corruption. FIFA2010 did nothing to grow the game here. Wasted opportunity thanks to inept SAFA and govt. White Elephant stadia. Unlikely to make much impact in Qatar?
Dear Barbara, you have no idea how much your words resonated to me. The hypocrisy you unveiled it is the same I often encounter in my work as humanitarian aid worker. International Relations are full of contradictions and double standards. Far from defending Qatar, I think we as Western countries, should also acknowledge that we are not always the champions of human rights, especially when those collide with our geopolitical interests.. (see The migrants issue in the Mediterranean, Lybia, etc.. etc)
Dear Barbara, while I completely agree about the drink culture and was interested in the LBTQ piece you linked to I think you left out some of the most salient points about why the Qatar world cup is a mess. Qatar is basically too small for such a huge event and, we might argue, too rich; or at least we might say they have - to use that Irish phrase - "more money than sense".
Too small because in terms of climate impact of building the infrastructure it is going to be a catastrophic scale disaster and a green wash of stupendous proportions. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-world-cup-in-qatar-is-a-climate-catastrophe/
and more darkly Qatar should never have been considered except for the fact that Qatar is so rich and could afford to buy the slot according to no less than the New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/06/sports/soccer/qatar-and-russia-bribery-world-cup-fifa.html
Now we might say this really is a reflection on FIFA more than Qatar - fair comment I say - but all in all this world cup while exciting football has come at much too high a cost and very damaging for Qatar, who has handled the whole thing extremely ineptly in terms of communications; I have even seen ex-colleagues - news casters - of yours at AJB posting Fake News Tags for perfectly legitimate criticism of the event and that's Trump playbook territory we are in.
Spot on as always Barbara, and I don't think you're too conflicted to write on today's subject :) When it comes to the rights of migrant workers I can only speak of the UK and Italy, and whilst the majority do not work in the construction industry (as in Qatar these past few years), the rights afforded fruit pickers and agricultural labourers for instance are hardly the last word in humane and civilised treatment.
As for LGBT rights, well every country moves at a different pace (on many issues) but I remember the 1980's as being a particularly cruel time to be gay in the UK. Just because we have become more enlightend here doesn't mean every other country must fall into line with us and our timescales. Where religion is more prominent, then the word of your God is likely to be more cleanly felt and religion is slow moving when it comes to change and overturning doctrine.
The alcohol issue has always made me laugh here in the UK. Unfortunately a football match seems to be more of an excuse to drink than a spectacle itself. That said, with the quality of some of the football played in this country, I think you do actually need to be three sheets to the wind to get through it!
Best wishes, Neil.
Finalmente! Condivido ogni parola. Grazie
I find it odd you seem to be implying that because Russia and China were worse than Qatar that the media just should not be allowed to level criticism at a barbaric regime?
Qatar bought the World Cup to improve their global image, that’s it. The Qatari government don’t care about football - clearly after they became the worst performing host nation of all time.
Just because a World Cup hasn’t been hosted in a part of the world before doesn’t mean that it should be for the sake of it, what is next? North Korea?
Your point on abortion in the USA is ‘whataboutism’ at its finest, as abortion isn’t legal in Qatar? In fact, the Humna Rights Watch have reported that Muslim women can be stoned to death in Qatar for something as simple as having sex outside of marriage.
You’re only credible point in this article is your comment regarding alcohol. Yes, alcohol is not a given right. Here, however, lies the problem with the Qatari regime.
When the project to host the World Cup was originally pitched, they said alcohol would be sold. When the stadiums were being built, they said alcohol would be sold. When the tickets were being sold, and overpriced ‘hotel’ spaces being booked, they said alcohol would be sold. In fact it was only two days before the tournament began they suddenly changed their mind.
Everything they have said is a lie. The original figure for migrant worker deaths was 4… well that suddenly changed to 400 this week. LGBT people would be welcome according to the Qatari government, oh but no wearing rainbow clothes because that’s offensive to our culture. The alcohol issue was just another lie told by the Qatari government and FIFA.
Europe and the West certainly has its own issues that need to be addressed, but you know what, Europe and the West aren’t hosting a World Cup right now, Qatar is.
And don’t even start on hypocrisy with the West. Arabic fans holding up pictures of Mesut Ozil to the German fans after crying for months about how football shouldn’t be politicised…
This is a World Cup of sports washing, and clearly it is working…
Yes I do not agree about fascismor any of the type.A terrible time for your lovely country went through.I understand how you feel about your grandfather,he made his choice and taught to strong and ascertive,to have empathy, integrity all the good gualities.So bravo,have a bubbly with me.
About the cup, I think it's a well,the world wasn't in it.I.do like the game,it's because of all the underlying bad facts underneath all that gloss the imagrant workers are suffering harsh treatment upon others that we don't normally hear about.Plus still the poor is there.I could yak yak about these and other things I know interest you.
Yes,hmm, this place is known as the new Babylon.The place that fornicates with the looking seemably beautiful on top.(missed the economics of the world. I always thought war is a battle of world economics.Think about it.Someone is
reaping all the cash.I think this is where it's going.Remember Sadam Hussein,they found him with no money, well guess where it all went.
I already commented,anyway
I wanna see the family first.hah
Really appreciate your clear sighted views. Qatar is absolutely entitled to restrict alcohol. Will eliminate much of the drink induced unpleasantness that happens at football matches.
I love the World Cup as a festival, though I can't say I'm mad keen on FIFA.
I seem to have seen a few seconds of the opening ceremony in Qatar (presumably not on BBC). It was (surprise!) men, all men, seemingly quite middle-aged men, waving their swords around as their paunches wobbled and they sported inane grins on their faces. Maybe the BBC refused to show it on purely aesthetic grounds? Maybe these opening ceremonies should simply be banned.
Concerning the (not properly recorded) deaths of migrant workers and the LGBT rights, personally I do feel that these aspects are bad enough that the World Cup shouldn't have been held in Qatar. It shouldn't be held in Russia until the Maggot-in-Chief is garrotted, or in China until the regime of the Not-so-great Helmsman Winnie the Pooh Jinping ends, and he is shuffled sideways to "sit by a window". In 2014, given Kruschev's lunacy of handing over Crimea in 1954 on a whim, no-one really knew how bad an event this was. Now we know. Ditto for China: since Winnie came to the throne things have become steadily worse, steadily more depressing, steadily more unacceptable.
So I'm not sure your accusation of double standards is really all that credible.
Would it then matter if Middle Eastern countries complained about never being allowed to host the WC? No, why should it particularly? Would it matter if Russia / China / Iran were to then boycott it? Not to me. The biggest problem then is that FIFA would have to decide where was OK, and where not. And that's probably the worst organisation on the planet to decide these things.
Important take. I particularly agree that media coverage does not reflect what this event means to the region. A similar situation is with social changes in Saudi Arabia, where the issue of how the changes are perceived by the Saudis themselves is ignored in favor of "this is all whitewashing" narrative. However, I disagree with the criticism of calling Qatar's line of defense whataboutism. How can one compare issues that are controversial in the West, that are allowed to discuss or protest there, with Qatar shamelessly encouraging homophobia during the World Cup? Accusations of hypocrisy would only be justified if there were universally accepted and legally sanctioned violence against a particular social group in the West.
Thanks for the insightful article. Unfortunately, this is not what the mainstream media cares about.