Russia and Qater win right to host football World Cups

[malaise]

in 2018 and 2022 respectively

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/9250612.stm

[Kievan Rus]

1. I hope they don't have any vuvuzelas there

[Blue_Tires]

2. QATAR??? What a FIX!!!

[malaise]

5. Oh yes

This is about votes for Blatter - money rules

[sledgehammer]

19. Absolutely!

A country smaller than Connecticut and with 1.6 million people hosting the biggest sports event on earth???

Very uninteresting for tourists in general. Overkill for the local economy, the infrastructure developed will go to waste (besides the stadiums which are somehow going to be reused in less developed countries). The oppressive heat means that no one will be out in the public outside of the matches. Let alone the players who will have to train in the heat, even if the outdoor stadiums are magically air conditioned.

It's good for the region, and a good opportunity to reflect a different impression of the Arab/Muslim world. But it's just too small a place for such a huge event.

Imagine if a city in the US without an NFL team, with a small population, and with no NFL tradition to speak of hosted the Superbowl? Let's say Oklahoma City. Qatar being awarded the 2022 tournament is a hundred times as shocking than that.

But, they have money and total financial guarantees from their royal dictator. For FIFA, that's all that matters.

[muriel_volestrangler]

25. More like putting all the playoffs and Superbowl in Alaska. Outdoors.

But don't worry, Alaska says they've got a marvellous idea of using geothermal energy for underfloor and pitch heating, and it worked fine in a test 500 seat stadium, so they're sure fans will love spending 3 weeks in Alaskan cities in January. Oh, and they've decided to adopt Utah alcohol laws.

[sledgehammer]

27. Yes! Great analogy! :) n/t

[Mudoria]

Qatar? lol

I imagine those games are going to be fun in 100+ degree weather. What a joke.

[Upton]

6. Qatar has promised state of the art technology

to keep the players and fans cool. Should be interesting.

[enlightenment]

7. All the stadiums will be indoor.

Of course they'll have to build eleven of them between now and 2022. No alcohol sold, of course. Who knows what sort of recommendations they'll make for what women should wear.

The worst part is that they have given the venue to a nation that practices modern-day slavery. Human rights? Who cares - they offered FIFA a wad of cash and that's all it took.

They shouldn't be allowed to host anything, much less a world-wide sporting event.

[Upton]

8. BS..

did you feel the same way when China hosted the Olympics?

[enlightenment]

10. Yes. nt

[polly7]

9. Well ........ to be fair, other top contenders don't have much to brag

about when it comes to human rights, unless only domestic human rights are the ones that matter.

[enlightenment]

11. So, domestic human rights don't matter?

Qatar is unapologetic about their 'sponsorship' program. They make no excuses and they rarely, if ever, prosecute 'employers' who beat, abuse, mutilate, and assault their 'employees'.

http://gvnet.com/humantrafficking/Qatar-2.htm

Feel free to cheer them on. I refuse.

[Upton]

14. The US has killed thousands if not millions

of innocent civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan. Should we be banned from hosting world wide sporting events as well....or does your human rights angle only apply domestically?

[enlightenment]

28. Apples and Oranges and you know it.

No, there are no innocent nations - but comparing the depredations of war to human trafficking and human rights abuses is stretching it until it screams.

You don't have to agree with me; if you want to support a nation that condones sexual abuse of migrants, women, and children; 'sponsorship slavery' of migrant workers; gross discrimination against women; child abuse - including refusing to raise the age at which a child can be executed for a crime - SEVEN . . . I can go on - shall I? . . . go for it.


But don't try to convince me that our crimes - heinous as they are - makes us the same.

[polly7]

15. ALL human rights matter, kind of hard to pick a winner

based on human rights issues when most, if not all of the contenders have caused some serious horror and devastation. I'll cheer them on just as I would anyone else hosting. What you do is up to you.

[sledgehammer]

17. I hate that Qatar is hosting, but...

They are allowing alcohol to be consumed publicly for the event. In fact, alcohol can already be obtained in Qatar in certain hotels and restaurants. There are also no real segregation laws or dress codes in the country. Still though, alcohol sponsorship and consumption in the streets is going to be a huge challenge.

You are right about the labor though - South Asian workers will be transported in the hundreds to work on the infrastructure in oppressive conditions. The entire Middle East has been built on this. It's shameful. On the flip side, lots of South Asians will celebrate since this means jobs for them. In a sad reflection of the world, they are willing to work in such conditions for the money they make.

ETA: I don't think any of the stadiums are indoor - they will all be artificially cooled by some unknown technology. This should be fun.

[malaise]

29. Well the US was built by slaves

so I really don't see the difference. Many argue that young black males are herded off to prison after smoking weed provided by 'the man'. The planet sucks - man to man is so unjust everywhere that no on can throw the first stone.

[AngryAmish]

3. metric football

[polly7]

4. Works for me! I wish them luck and success! n/t

[truebrit71]

12. 2 nations that have proud traditions of playing the game of...oh wait, you said Russia and a desert?

..their checks were obviously bigger than the Brits then...:eyes:

[polly7]

16. Of course. That's gotta be it. n/t.

[Blue_Tires]

18. The more I look at Qatar, the more laughable it is...

At least Russia has BEEN to a world cup and has some decent stars along with an emerging league...

But Qatar? A country the size of CONNECTICUT and a TOTAL population of 1.7 million?? With a team that has NEVER been competitive in their own confederation, much less sniff a world cup?? Whoever the last team is that doesn't qualify for 2022 is going to be fuckin' PISSED...

The BBC better get the investigation machine cranked up, because there is no way this is legit...The mere fact that I even saw them submit a bid raised my eyebrows...

[sledgehammer]

20. Agreed! It's just laughable.

But the bookies had them as favorites, despite the fact that they were rated the lowest by FIFA's evaluation committee in nearly all areas.

Something is going on here, and it will come out. USA should be on standby - we can host a tournament with one month's notice.

[Blue_Tires]

21. vote breakdown

2018 FIFA World Cup voting

Round 1: England 2 votes, Netherlands/Belgium 4 votes, Spain/Portugal 7 votes and Russia 9 votes (as no absolute majority was reached, the candidate with least amount of votes, England, was eliminated)
Round 2: Netherlands/Belgium 2 votes, Spain/Portugal 7 votes and Russia 13 votes (Russia obtained an absolute majority)




2022 FIFA World Cup voting

Round 1: Australia 1 vote, Japan 3 votes, Korea Republic 4 votes, Qatar 11 votes, USA 3 votes (Australia eliminated)
Round 2: Japan 2 votes, Korea Republic 5 votes, Qatar 10 votes and USA 5 votes (Japan eliminated)
Round 3: Korea Republic 5 votes, Qatar 11 votes, USA 6 votes (Korea Republic eliminated)
Round 4: Qatar 14 votes and USA 8 votes (Qatar obtained an absolute majority)

http://www.theage.com.au/sport/world-cup-voting-breakdown-20101203-18igt.html

[sledgehammer]

22. Wow!

England eliminated before the uninspired and written-off Belgium/Netherlands bid???

USA made it far, that's impressive. Just sad that Qatar had so many votes from the beginning. Explains so much.

[BlueCheese]

30. Oh gosh...

I forgot that the host nation gets a team. I used to look at qualifying tables and see that places like Monaco or San Marino would get beaten by 11-0 on a regular basis. Now this farce will be played at the finals.

What a joke.

[Renew Deal]

13. Whatever

Bullshit

I'm happy for the Russians. I think they'll do a great job and the world will get to look at their country.

[Blue_Tires]

23. Another point to consider: Granted, a LOT can happen both good and bad politically

in 12 years, but what happens if Israel qualifies?

[Upton]

24. Qater said in their bid they will allow Israel to compete

http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=NTMzMDk1OTA0

[BlueCheese]

31. That's nice of them.

[FrancisTreptoe]

32. Well how courteous of them.

But seriously FIFA is a joke, just because they have money does not mean this is a worthy spot for the worlds greatest sporting event. I'm so disappointed about both locations.

[musiclawyer]

26. FIFA is not corrupt!

In some other dimension............