FIFA has NO soul (sold whatever semblance of a soul they had) - disgusting…case & point, Saudi Arabia just won the rights to the next available FIFA World Cup (2034)…
Before i even mention FIFA’s worrying recent pattern, here is Amnesty International’s article outline TEN reasons Saudi Arabia is violating human rights in the PRESENT DAY: https://www.amnesty.org.uk/saudi-arabia-human-rights-raif-badawi-king-salman )
In 2018 we had a World Cup in Russia where pro LGBTQ sentiment can get you jailed and there are MANY reports of human rights violations/ethnic cleansing etc (obv leading to Ukraine but in fairness that wasnt known at the time)…bad but it just gets worse…
Then in 2022 we just had a world cup in Qatar, the most divisive location yet - known for human rights violations, inequality for women and thousands of migrant workers dying while building the stadiums AND the fact you can be jailed for being gay there and despite many vocal protests FIFA still went ahead with it - but learned NOTHING from the backlash as viewership and Messi winning a WC brought in plenty of money…
And now the next world cup up for grabs (2034) is going to ANOTHER nation known for even worse human right violations & anti LGBTQ stance and that treats women awfully in Saudi Arabia?!?
And based on how many quality venues exist there now they’ll have the same issue Qatar had which IS a prob they have the money to throw at but it will def end up being another blight on FIFA’s ‘equality’ record and likely end with many migrant worker deaths as they build stadiums over the next decade in preparation… I thought FIFA was supposed to be about ‘inclusivity and equality’ - (no they’re about MONEY) and thats IT…im not gonna lie and say i wont watch and even admit my family will likely get tix to see England play if they’re making a run which i know ‘enables FIFA’ so i admit to that hyprocrisy, but again, im one person, while *they* represent and regulate the most popular sport in the world…obv there’s been tons of issues with FIFA in the past (Sepp Blatter could have a whole rant just about his BS over the years)
Anyway, i dont thikn you need to be a “social justice warrior” or frankly even care about LGBTQ issues (or even misogyny though we all have a Mum so fk misogyny imo) to realize the human right violations ALONE are a good enough reason to try and appeal to FIFA to retract this decision (btw does anyone know if thats possible/has happened before as far as people protesting/petitioning to change the host nation?)
Thoughts?
*apologies for lack of brevity
Be thankful it is not ICC who gave cricket World Cup to Bharat called India by British colonial power. They delayed visa to Pakistan players for the World Cup. They still not allowing visa to Pakistanis to visit Bharat for the World Cup to see their team in action. They also deported a female Pakistani journalist for some stupid tweets from her many years ago. They organized no opening ceremony instead had concert before mega Bharat vs Pakistan match in Modi Stadium with 100,000+ Bharat fans with no Pakistani allowed to celebrate rise of Hindutva. They booed Pakistan national anthem at start of match. They also had anti muslim chants during the match. They hosted this match in Ahmedabad because it is the home state of PM Modi. He was CM of that state when Hindu and Muslim had major riots and mostly Muslims and some Hindus murdered in those riots. It made Modi Hindu gun to teach muslim a lesson. He became back to back PM on back of those riots. Winning this World Cup will help him clinch third term with election next year.
They also had crap qualification to deny two times World Champions West Indies from participating in this so called World Cup. I think they did it because West Indies crash their party few years years ago by winning T20 World Cup Bharat hosted and beat Bhsrat in semifinal I think. They calling it World Cup but it has no representation from Americas, Middle East, Central Asia, East Asia, just South Africa from Africa, just English and Dutch from Europe. It has all the South Asian teams to help Bharat win this cup. It is basically extended South Asia Cup as you need world in it to call it World Cup.