By talking about the injustices, we can influence the fact that a winner like Qatar will never be possible when choosing future competition hosts, writes Urheilu’s expert Antti Pohja.
I wrote over six years ago Etelä-Suomen Sanomam column (you will switch to another service) About the World Cup awarded to Qatar and related human rights crimes.
A couple of quotes from years ago:
“Using slave labor and killing people, they build amazing, amazing, amazing king races of the king’s race, so that the better-off can get their entertainment. Nauseous.”
“The slack of the International Football Association has been constantly growing. Qatar was awarded the Games at a time when the smell was already unbearable. Sepp Blatter’s led by the criminal organization has been putting dirty money in their shitty pockets at a breathtaking rate.”
“Football fans should refuse to participate in any way in a tournament where the innocent blood of dead construction men and women has dried on the walls of the stadiums.”
I am signing the text today almost word for word. Qatar is still slacking off. Six years ago, the number of dead workers was counted in the hundreds, now in the thousands. The hope of moving the games out of Qatar was still alive at the time, but now that too has died. The races will start soon.
I worked at the games as an expert for Urheilu with very conflicting feelings.
Why didn’t I boycott the Games, as six years ago and even later I had thought I would?
I changed my mind about a year ago after discussing the Games and its shortcomings with experts from a human rights organization. They encouraged participation and found it more worthwhile than the little man’s silent protest.
I thought about my time and decided to go along. There are two reasons for following the games.
The first reason is Qatar and Fifa.
Talking about grievances is important. The FIFA World Cup plays a significant role in the Qatari state’s 2030 vision, the country’s comprehensive development plan, where, at least for the World Cup, beautiful words have been followed by a lot of ugly deeds. Of course, development has also been achieved, but too little, too slowly.
By keeping human rights issues on display throughout the Games, we can ensure that a more truthful image of Qatar is conveyed to the world, one that is hardly identical to the strategic goals of the country’s PR machinery. By keeping silent, we lose, because Qatar is certainly doing its own propaganda – has been doing it for a long time.
By talking about the injustices, we can also influence the fact that when choosing future competition hosts, a winner like Qatar will never be possible again.
When the games start and the “fans” published by the Qatar Football Association fake smiles on orders in the TV pictures in the newly completed slave labor stadiums, we have to see behind it.
Another reason is football an sich.
Despite everything, we have the sport’s World Championships ahead of us. Organized since 1930, the tournament has given the world a lot of great stories and memories.
Football is much more beloved, more captivating, more important, bigger and more beautiful than Qatar or Fifa. Futs is the heart of billions of people, the king sport that brings joy, hope and comfort to life around the world.
The World Cup is the main stage for the evolution of national team football. Every four years, the status and level of development of top football is proven, analyzes and conclusions are made, new innovations are made. Football and the best players in the world deserve to be in the main role even in the midst of everything sinful.
In general, the World Cup is remembered not only for the performances on the field, but also for the month-long festival organized by the host. This time, football will be played without the carnival atmosphere. Contradictory, but true.
May the best one win; the losers are already known.
What thoughts did the writing evoke? You can discuss the topic until Thursday 17.11. until 11 p.m.