To wish David Beckham and Robbie Williams would just admit ...

[strawberriesplease]

They've taken the Qatar gig for the money and screw everyone else.

Beckham saying it's to support future progress and Williams saying people complaining are doing so on Chinese technology so it's hypocritical.

Just own it. You love the money so much, despite already having huge wealth, you just couldn't resist it.

@MollieMarie but why not now since we are talking about Qatari money & corruption?

If you see a class element to my post that is on you.

As for the rest, are you not also concerned that they continue to let these people not only in the sport but they become role models to our children.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino accuses West of 'hypocrisy'
...and this is one of the reasons - amongst the bribery, corruption, human rights issues - I won't be watching.

DH is sick of it too. He didn't even buy a newspaper this morning, because he didn't want the wallchart. He's 60, and was sticking cards in Panini albums (with glue - I always thought they were stickers ) before I was born.

The whole thing stinks of hypocracy from Infantino and Fifa and from the Qataris.

Explain, Gianni, why you believe a rich nation like Qatar can kill people throught their lack of basic health and safety on construction sites? or is it because immigrants are disposable?

@RedAppleGirl Are you going to wear a "I'm boycotting the world cup t shirt". Let everyone know.

The next one is being hosted by the Americas and Mexico. I'm sure you can find something to protest about those fine nations. Racism, drugs, gang slaughter.

You get the gist poppet, stick to ones principles.😂

Are you ok hun? Quite why you find it necessary to be so rude and goady is anyone's guess.

^ This

For me I think the fact that the harm has been done in the name of Fifa bothers me. And the fact that its looking like its not going to live up to the contract promised.

The stadiums were built for the championship and are unlikely to be used again. Legacy planning needs to be better. All major sporting events face this criticism and governing bodies should be getting better at it. We know that we can hold regional tournaments which is better at this.

And we know that many people died building these white elephant stadiums, on a scale that would not be allowed even in these other places.

For all the ills of the US, Brazil and Mexico its not quite so specific to the tournament itself.

I think there are elements in terms of whether Qatar can deliver the tournament it promised and the fact there were concerns about bribery of officials to get it in the first place. It says something about the game in a way that other destinations wouldnt. There was also the added problem of a November tournament.

The alcohol issue with a uturn just days before the tournament, incomplete facilities that are substandard and then rumours of match fixing is bad for the game itself.

Theres also suggestions about security being paid 35p an hour which could be a recipe for disaster.

Its the whole package. The planning, organisation, the November start date and breaks to the normal season, last minute intervention from the Royal family, the substandard delivery, the lack of future impact consideration, the legacy element, Fifa's bizarre defending of the poor standards, rumours of match fixing AND THEN the human rights issues.

Its a collective shit show.

Beckham and Williams are choosing to associate themselves with the shit show.

It’s their job and livelihood - why shouldn’t they go. As a civil servant I’ve had to work for governments that I despised. It’s not up to the sports industry to sort out dictatorships and regimes we don’t like

The lack of alcohol will be interesting.
In a “ Dry” country, it was obviously not going to be booze friendly.

Hopefully the lack of booze will reduce violence outside the stadium.

Many people were upset (and vocally so) when Qatar ‘won’ the hosting rights. I don’t really understand what people are talking about with the “where was all this outrage 10 years ago” business.

This guardian article from 2010 is one example but it was being widely discussed amp.theguardian.com/football/2010/dec/02/world-cup-2022-qatar-winning-bid. Perhaps not as widely discussed as now the tournament is here, that’s to be expected, but it was definitely not being ignored.

You can stop buying the sponsors products though for the duration (or preferably indefinitely).

Hitting the sponsors hard where it hurts may make FIFA think more carefully where they go in the future. I doubt Budweiser will sponsor any more events in the Gulf States.

What a stupid post.

Do you think the all the slaves that died to build Qatar into a country were all just wandering the desert waiting for their industrial revolution?

No, they were rich migrants that chose slavery for some reason. 🙄

6500 "Disposable" Migrant workers have died in Qatar since they won the World Cup.
I will not be watching.

I disagree its the same the players because it's their job. They are contracted. I'd still have loved them to have refused though. But it's not the same.

I'm sure any one of them could retire from international football if they had the balls to do it

I think bringing people, nations, with us is more effective than condemning them and isolating them.

One thing I do not understand why everyone is suddenly an activist when it comes to Qatar and why over 10 years ago when they were awarded no one said anything.

There was a huge outcry when Quatar was awarded the World Cup!

Here is an article from 2010 stating that many had concerns about human rights in Quatar.

Sorry, should probably learn how to spell Qatar.

Everyone participating in the tournament and everyone going to watch it are turning a blind eye to Qatar's crimes against human rights

I agree @strawberriesplease

Same as matt hancock in rhe jungle saying he went to promote dyslexia.

Same bollocks different day.

Millions upon millions then.

Why would they. It’s how they make a living.

Pity none of the countries football associations haven't the bollocks to stand up and be counted . If enough of them did then FIFA might have taken a bit of notice .