France Football accuses Qatar of bribing votes for the 2022 World Cup

[Beast]

While I think Qatar should be stripped of the World Cup I think it's fair to say the middle East does not have a bug footballing culture ( supporting local teams etc )... they still love football. They love teams like Barcelona, United etc and I certainly think they would fill the stadiums when it comes to the games. My issue is what other country could host it? What middle Eastern country has the capacity to build 12+ world class stadiums?

The oil rich countries can do it but if they have to bribe to get votes then they don't deserve it. I would suggest a middle Eastern/North African games where several countries host together but under Fifa rules each country would get an automatic place at the games which wouldn't be fair on everyone else.

I lived in Qatar for a year & half.. hell i hosted Sepp lunch in the hotel i was working in after the inspection & the hotel i was working in hosted a dinner for the committee

The problem is even the most popular Qatari team has 10 K fans watching them..they give tickets for free to the national team games so people can go & still no one bother
you are talking about a small nation apart from the rulers trying to be inclusive of the world culture the Qataris are still conservative (I'd put them right behind Saudi arabia in that matter )
you want a world cup in the middle east with proper weather ... go to North Africa.. great weather all year round ... football crazy nations , they follow the football as much as we do back in Europe, enough stadiums , enough hotels and easy access from Europe & proper timing .. from the 90 Million population Egypt to Tunisia to Algeria to Morocco
The GCC (Gulf countries ) will always has the weather issue in the summer and let me tell you it goes up to 48 degrees celsius starting from end of March all the way to early November reaching 50's is just another day in the Gulf ... there is no way this one was done without bribery ... now i wouldn't mind if the decision was made to hold the WC in Qatar in the winter but summer ? get the fuck out of here... you can't stand outside so playing football is out of the question
needless to mention the beer in stadium & other global issues will still be a big issue and still without an answer.. while i lived all around the middle east countries & i understand the cultural differences the average Joe German or English will not tolerate that heat without beer ...

 

[Crixus]

Of course it doesn't mean that, but what country do you suggest?

UAE is the only middle eastern country that is capable of hosting it .

 

[Luftstalag14]

While I think Qatar should be stripped of the World Cup I think it's fair to say the middle East does not have a bug footballing culture ( supporting local teams etc )... they still love football. They love teams like Barcelona, United etc and I certainly think they would fill the stadiums when it comes to the games. My issue is what other country could host it? What middle Eastern country has the capacity to build 12+ world class stadiums?

The oil rich countries can do it but if they have to bribe to get votes then they don't deserve it. I would suggest a middle Eastern/North African games where several countries host together but under Fifa rules each country would get an automatic place at the games which wouldn't be fair on everyone else.



Well there is a bit of an issue here. The World Cup requires 12 stadiums over 40k. In a country like Qatar those stadiums are pretty much of no use after the games. The US is different as their stadiums were used for other sports. It should also be noted that the US has one of the best attended leagues in the world right behind France and the Netherlands, so it does in fact have a football culture now.

It's a bit of a shame building stadiums for a single event. Maybe somewhere like Egypt or Iran would benefit more from the stadiums?... although I'm unsure of how Iranian's would treat certain sets of fans.

I see what you are saying, Kerry. I agree infrastructure and logistics-wise, yes it requires a lot on the hosting country to build the stadiums and etc., and it is always an issue for countries that hosted the WC and the Olympic Games to figure out how to use those facilities again, even for the rich, first-world countries. While these issues shouldn't be overlooked, I still believe in principle Middle Eastern countries (and North African countries since you included them as well) should be allowed to host the WC, as long as they pass the feasibility assessment conducted by the FIFA ( by that I mean basically they are deemed suitable to host it by the FIFA).

The MLS has the third best attendance rates in the world? Wow, really? I found that hard to believe. Perhaps it is true, but back in 1994 there was no MLS.

 

[DonAndres]

So Don, you are saying "football culture" is defined as not only loving football, but to have it as part of your tradition? Did I get that right?

If that's the case, the WC can only be held in European and South American countries. The US of A has no football tradition, yet they were allowed to host the WC.

And tradition is built, not static. 50 years from now the whole world can claim to have football part of their tradition. Even the US perhaps.

I never said that the WC can only be hosted in countries with footballing culture, just that Qatar doesn't have it. Besides there are upsides with other countries that I just don't see with Qatar. USA might have no footballing tradition but they are huge on sports in general so they'll embrace a World Cup and make it a huge spectacle. South Africa had a very globally unifying feel with the Mandela influence and the efforts being very welcoming and diverse (South Africa has a lot of culture in general, even if not footballing-wise).

Qatar on the other hand has a very unfavorable climate and a sort of hostile feel with all these bribery allegations, social issues, and the general lack of acceptance of diversity. It's controlled by the oil-owners that have made football into a money-centric game. The slave labor is just disgusting. I can't see any sort of trait that Qatar has that would give it the atmosphere of global-unification through sport and a generally appealing tournament. And other than the fact that they are a target for footballing media campaigns, I can't find a single trait that would give them any "footballing culture" either. A lot of Middle-Eastern countries are of a similar fashion at this point. It's just a sad truth because that general area is full of conflict right now.

I've always found that a World Cup is an event that just embodies globalization and positive acceptance. There's a reason why it doesn't feel right to hold it in areas of massive conflict. It doesn't have to be only in Europe/South America, I could think of several other countries for it to be held. It's just that having it in a country like Qatar doesn't fit well in any way.

 

[Kerrybai]

I lived in Qatar for a year & half.. hell i hosted Sepp lunch in the hotel i was working in after the inspection & the hotel i was working in hosted a dinner for the committee

The problem is even the most popular Qatari team has 10 K fans watching them..they give tickets for free to the national team games so people can go & still no one bother
you are talking about a small nation apart from the rulers trying to be inclusive of the world culture the Qataris are still conservative (I'd put them right behind Saudi arabia in that matter )
you want a world cup in the middle east with proper weather ... go to North Africa.. great weather all year round ... football crazy nations , they follow the football as much as we do back in Europe, enough stadiums , enough hotels and easy access from Europe & proper timing .. from the 90 Million population Egypt to Tunisia to Algeria to Morocco
The GCC (Gulf countries ) will always has the weather issue in the summer and let me tell you it goes up to 48 degrees celsius starting from end of March all the way to early November reaching 50's is just another day in the Gulf ... there is no way this one was done without bribery ... now i wouldn't mind if the decision was made to hold the WC in Qatar in the winter but summer ? get the fuck out of here... you can't stand outside so playing football is out of the question
needless to mention the beer in stadium & other global issues will still be a big issue and still without an answer.. while i lived all around the middle east countries & i understand the cultural differences the average Joe German or English will not tolerate that heat without beer ...

Egypt or Morocco would be my choice too as they have the support for local team, I think Raja Casablanca are one of the best supported teams in Africa. I assume beer would be served at a Qata world cup, it is readily available in place like Dubai and I assume the same applies for Doha. I agree that the weather there is extreme, in fact I think Fifa admitted it was a mistake to award them the World cup. If Iran wasn't so extreme in it's views I would nominate them to have a crack it too... I hope Qatar loses the cup but I would also hope the middle Est gets another chance within 20-30 years.

 

[Ketoth]

Not sure how Qatar is an area of massive conflict, but ok.

As for the weather if you listen to people talk about it you'd think Qatar was a deserted desert. Qatar's an island with 2 million people living in it. They've adapted to their weather, as should tourists chosing to go there. For instance, you don't stand outside, you're always in air conditioned shops or vehicles. The stadiums and training facilities will be air conditioned. I really don't see how weather is a problem. It would in fact be much cooler than Brazil.

 

[Beast]

Egypt or Morocco would be my choice too as they have the support for local team, I think Raja Casablanca are one of the best supported teams in Africa. I assume beer would be served at a Qata world cup, it is readily available in place like Dubai and I assume the same applies for Doha. I agree that the weather there is extreme, in fact I think Fifa admitted it was a mistake to award them the World cup. If Iran wasn't so extreme in it's views I would nominate them to have a crack it too... I hope Qatar loses the cup but I would also hope the middle Est gets another chance within 20-30 years.

The most supported team in Africa & the middle east is actually Al Ahly from Egypt... crazy fans
Beer being served in Qatar is still a big issue.. take for example.. the Pearl area was the only area allowed to serve alcohol in restaurants in Doha (outside the hotels ) , than all of sudden they canceled the permit which made Gordon Ramsey close his restaurant there & move to a hotel
If the weather permits (meaning they will do it in Winter ) only the UAE is equipped in terms of acceptance , football culture & number of expats & infrastructure
Saudi's are football crazy but of course the tradition & rules won't allow it over there
Qatar for their credit has one of a kind sports complex called Aspire Zone , state of art pitches , medical facility you name it and run by football professions (Our own Ivan Bravo previously RM director ) among other international names like our hotel regular Walter Di Salvo the football fitness guru ... they host international teams & youth team almost weekly but a Bayern Munich camp for 10 days in January is different than a world cup for 30 days in June

 

[ammarfcb]

Not sure how Qatar is an area of massive conflict, but ok.

this.

 

[Beast]

Not sure how Qatar is an area of massive conflict, but ok.

As for the weather if you listen to people talk about it you'd think Qatar was a deserted desert. Qatar's an island with 2 million people living in it. They've adapted to their weather, as should tourists chosing to go there. For instance, you don't stand outside, you're always in air conditioned shops or vehicles. The stadiums and training facilities will be air conditioned. I really don't see how weather is a problem. It would in fact be much cooler than Brazil.

Won't be that much i've been to Al Sadd stadium which is Air conditioned... still in the extreme heat & open air venue you are still sweating like crazy...
And Qataris & expats depart as off June away from the heat for their annual vacation.. Doha is empty from June till early September needless to mention there is nothing in Qatar outside Doha.. it's not like the UAE where you have Dubai , Abu Dhabi , Sharja etc or Egypt's Cairo , Sharm El Sheikh , Alexandria .. Qatar is Doha.. the rest are nothing

 

[Kerrybai]

I see what you are saying, Kerry. I agree infrastructure and logistics-wise, yes it requires a lot on the hosting country to build the stadiums and etc., and it is always an issue for countries that hosted the WC and the Olympic Games to figure out how to use those facilities again, even for the rich, first-world countries. While these issues shouldn't be overlooked, I still believe in principle Middle Eastern countries (and North African countries since you included them as well) should be allowed to host the WC, as long as they pass the feasibility assessment conducted by the FIFA ( by that I mean basically they are deemed suitable to host it by the FIFA).

The MLS has the third best attendance rates in the world? Wow, really? I found that hard to believe. Perhaps it is true, but back in 1994 there was no MLS.

Sorry i didn't mean 3rd, I just meant they are right behind the Netherlands and France ( 2 huge footballing nations )

http://billsportsmaps.com/?p=22541

That chart is outdated but it shows the US at numbder 8 ahead of other countries who have/are hosting the WC, Brazil, South Africa, Russia etc. Also the 1995 world cup average 68k fans while the 2nd best attended was Germany at 52k. You won't find many better countries than the US to hold the tournament.

You are right about the use of stadiums also acting as a problem in other nations. Cape towns beautiful 52k seater stadium is a white elephant now. Brazil have built a 70k seater in Brasilia and it will be a whit elephant too, although it will host concerts and what not.

I agree in principle too they should get a world cup but it shouldn't go to a gulf state ( weather here is too extreme ) or to a country where they are extremely religious ( against homosexuals etc ) Egypt is largely considered a middle Eastern country so I would suggest them as the best candidate, but in all likely hood 2022 will probably be too soon for them. The Middle east may have to wait until 2034.

 

[Ketoth]

Won't be that much i've been to Al Sadd stadium which is Air conditioned... still in the extreme heat & open air venue you are still sweating like crazy...
And Qataris & expats depart as off June away from the heat for their annual vacation.. Doha is empty from June till early September needless to mention there is nothing in Qatar outside Doha.. it's not like the UAE where you have Dubai , Abu Dhabi , Sharja etc or Egypt's Cairo , Sharm El Sheikh , Alexandria .. Qatar is Doha.. the rest are nothing

They said they will aircondition them to 25 degrees. They're building new stadiums and they will put new air conditioning systems. It will be state of the art and explore new technologies. It will be 2022. A lot changes in so much time.

 

[Kerrybai]

They said they will aircondition them to 25 degrees. They're building new stadiums and they will put new air conditioning systems. It will be state of the art and explore new technologies.

That's great to hear but if they bribed the votes then they don't deserve it. The US finished second in voting, they should get it if the voting screwed them over.

 

[Beast]

They said they will aircondition them to 25 degrees. They're building new stadiums and they will put new air conditioning systems. It will be state of the art and explore new technologies.

They talk a lot i can tell you that..but they have to respect to time management.. the new great airport was supposed to be opened back when i was in Doha in 2012 (they had the date of 12/12/2012)..they just opened it couple of month ago you have to consider they use the stadium the air conditioned one in the winter mostly... and the AC is enough to cool down the 5 K attendance however when you have a bigger crowd it won't do as you know

Winter WC Doha could be great (kinda off i still feel UAE is more equipped for the GCC countries ) but for summer... a simple no

 

[Crixus]

For the no football culture guy
http://www.worldfootball.net/winner/afrika-cup/
http://www.worldfootball.net/winner/asian-cup/

 

[DonAK]

What about the 6 ft killer spiders

They can join the fun.