FIFA's unsporting message: money trumps principle

Posted on Friday, December 03, 2010 at 08:45 AM

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Yesterday’s announcement that FIFA has selected Russia and Qatar as the next two host nations of the World Cup may be an unfolding public relations disaster of the first magnitude.

FIFA delegates awarded Russia and Qatar the right to host World Cup tournaments in 2018 and 2022 respectively, ending a drawn out process that has been marred by accusations of vote rigging.

But those accusations won't exactly be silenced by the choice of two nations were backhanders and corruption are almost a way of life. Although on the surface it looks like these choices were made to extend the popularity of the sport, something’s amiss.

Did FIFA specifically seek out countries with the highest income inequality, where 1% of the population owns 99% of everything? Was North Korea unavailable? Or was it the two nation’s records on human rights that tipped the scales?

In Russia, where their de facto leader likes to ride around topless on horseback like some latter day Marlboro man, gay people are regularly beaten off Moscow’s streets with public officials looking the other way.

And in Qatar homosexuality is punishable with up to five years imprisonment. Even men and women expressing intimacy in public can get you in trouble. That country has a history of suppressing women’s rights, gay rights, the rights of ethnic minorities, and basically everyone who isn’t drafting those rights in the first place.

I attended an Edna O'Brien play in the city last night, which prompted me to consider the inspiring journey that that formidable Irish author has made. Being a woman in 1950's Ireland was a bit like being gay in America now: many people didn't believe you should enjoy equal rights, and your very existence often seemed like a profound challenge.

Think of it, just being a woman, on your own terms, and demanding simple equality, once enraged and offended many Irish men. O'Brien had the kind of courage that put them all to shame.

Sometimes it seems the eternal struggle of our times is to signal to (usually) men that other people exist. And that they may take a different view. And that that's just fine. It's salutatory in fact. It breaks the monotony.

The trouble with the stories that repressive societies like Russia or the patriarchal societies of the Middle East (or even the outdated story that old, grey Senators like John McCain in Washington) are selling is simple: they omit everyone unlike themselves.

So just wait until tens of thousands of visitors from other nations arrive in these closely policed societies. Culture clashes of one kind or other seem certain. I mean, you can build all the high-tech stadiums you want, but what does that change if your nation doesn’t welcome the fundamental freedom to actually be or express yourself?

What’s the point of sport if it doesn’t remind us that we’re always striving for something better? With their decisions FIFA seems to have chosen money over principle.

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maireadinmelb | Dec 05, 2010, 02:19 AM EST

When the players are dropping all around and even the fifa officials in their suits are fainting, and a drink cannot be purchased, and the Qatar is at a standstill because they are using all their air con to attempt to cool the stadiums, Just remember you could have had World Cup 2022 in Australia, and spread the game to a country the world cup has never been!!

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Towngate | Dec 04, 2010, 12:51 AM EST

seamusmoore. Spot on. 'Soccer'football is, seemingly, the mainstay of 'straight' sport in the UK and Ireland, (at least). I am not aware of any ban on Homosexuals attending home matches or being barred from travelling to'away' fixtures. .....FIFA is a private organisation of 24 Football Associations and only one of them could be awarded the World Cup. England and a few others are crying 'Foul!' because the decision went against them..............The UK bidders were shocked at how badly the other members of the 'club' regarded them. They were perhaps penalised for poor behaviour and forgot that when you are playing with the Big Boys you have to behave yourself!.......as you do in politics, too: Ireland v. European Union: TAKE NOTE!

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killowen | Dec 03, 2010, 08:51 PM EST

Its about time the biggies were sent packing. A change is refreshing - having the ME folks looking as humans on such a grand platform is a good thing.

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olovely | Dec 03, 2010, 03:53 PM EST

I think it's a shame they gave the games to two of the most autocratic nations on earth. The message really is money makes you blind.

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sallygardens | Dec 03, 2010, 11:02 AM EST

American conservatives get uncomfortable when people notice they dislike all the same people the Taliban do. Funny that.

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GeorgeDillon | Dec 03, 2010, 10:29 AM EST

O'Doherty, if you are worried about being beaten up then don't go to Russia. I'll bet my Soc Security money that you have as much interest in soccer as in camel hockey. As to Rinehart, either or both you and your friend are really ignorant. Quatar is not a Sharia Law country. Why the hell can't you people post when you have done a little study, instead of using this site as the trash can for your own ignorance?

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RinehartS | Dec 03, 2010, 09:53 AM EST

Two very interesting choices for sure. As a friend of mine said, "Sharia Law and "fun" do not go together well."

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