WCpete wrote:Should we post a worker death toll clock? It's at something like 1200 now. For some reason lots of news agencies anticipate the rate to increase ultimately reaching the 4,000 range.
2.6 million people in Qatar....90% are migrant workers.
How many dead people tipped into the foundations of these stadiums every week as a result of Sepp wanting his brown envelopes?
Fascinating topic (though it may have to continue elsewhere). Qatar are currently being 'frozen out' by the other Gulf states, chiefly Saudi, for many reasons amongst which are supposed ties to Islamist extremism (go figure). The story goes that the Arabic version of Al Jazeera is involved in this. From the outside I reckon it's more to do with regional rivalries. The current policy is to attempt to physically isolate Qatar from the other Gulf countries. Four years can be a long time in that part of the world. Throws up questions like if Israel (unlikely) were to qualify and Iran (likely). All hell is loose in Syria and doesn't look like ending. Then there's Yemen (though I assume Qatar aren't taking part in that proxy war with Iran).
I believe that Yugoslavia were expelled from Euro '92 (which they may very well have won) for reasons of conflict.
****er of a decision to award 2022 to Qatar. Think it will be an uncomfortable time approaching it.
Cuenca 'ammer wrote:do they even HAVE a national team to play in it ??
serious question......they don't have a league that I am aware of.....
They do, and they're not terribly good. They've improved a bit recently, but unless they improve significantly in the next 3 years, they're going to get tonked.
e17 wrote:A World Cup in Australia would be amazing
Exactly, know the WC is supposed to embrace all nations, but when it means we all sit back in our arnchairs to watch something with so much suffering involved (not just the deaths, migrant labourers are regarded as and treated like **** everywhere in The Gulf) it kind of sours our beer. They should have gone for somewhere that already has a functioning football infrastructure, not somewhere exploiting people for a prestigious showcase.
I wouldn't have been able to point to Qatar on a globe before they won the bid, let alone know about their slavery issues. So maybe it took football to bring the matter to attention. I hope the world doesn't just shrug it's shoulders. Of course I know that's exactly what will happen.
Neither would I before I went to The Gulf. There was a boycott of the (winter?) Olympics in the Soviet Union in 1980, but that was probably more a line-up influenced by Cold War stuff than any great concern about Afghanistan. Chance that would happen to Qatar these days? b*llocks. Everyone's tied by finances these days.
The US has already been bought off by the awarding of the ‘26 Cup, so we won’t be hearing anymore re the FIFA investigation. Nothing will happen. That’s humanity for you.
WCpete wrote:
They do, and they're not terribly good. They've improved a bit recently, but unless they improve significantly in the next 3 years, they're going to get tonked.
Australia would be incredible.
Qatar are already in the process of naturalising lots of foreigners (mainly brazilians) who play on their domestic league
They will have a competitive team by 2022 but probably won't be many Qataris in it
Yeah, they've been at that for a few years now. And they buy their players spots on clubs all over Europe, but they still have a long way to go before they're any good.
[quote="westham,eggyandchips"In the winter?[/quote]
Australian winter is well suited to football. Most capital cities have mild days that range from about 10C up to 20C. (Tasmania is a bit colder than that). Might get a fair bit of rain, but generally excellent for football.
When they put in their bid (which made a lot more sense than Qatar's), they planned for the other football codes here to accommodate the anticipated arrival of the World Game. It was of course typical FIFA corruption that led to the decision to award it to Qatar. And Qatar did not win the bid on the basis that they would change the date of the tournament.
It made perfect sense for it to be held down under. Weather wise, it would have been similar to the Argentinian World Cup of 1978.