Soccer World Cup Gay Controversy

[fountainhall]

Would a winter World Cup work? If the dates are changed, many of the top soccer clubs in the world will all scream 'Foul!'

Sheik Blattter's antics force me to come back to this topic. The all powerful FIFA Executive Committee, it will be remembered, decided that the World Cup in 2022 would be awarded to Qatar purely on the basis of bids being made for a tournament to be held, as all World Cups have hitherto been held, in the summer months. This despite warnings about the hellish heat and humidity and the potential risks to players, to say nothing about the travelling fans. Stadia, after all, FIFA told us, would be specially built with climate controlled zones to ensure a pleasant month of football for all.

But then, Blatter has never been someone who lets rules stand in his way. He admits that he can make them up as he goes along. Well, he didn't quite say that. What he did say was -

The Executive Committee is free to change anything

And who is in charge of that Committee? So now we know! Precisely what is it Blatter now wants to change? Well, the timing of the World Cup, of course.

"I expect it to be in the winter because when you play football you must protect the main people, the players," he said at a media roundtable in the Qatari capital Doha ahead of the Asian Cup, which kicks off later Friday.

And what of the immense disruption this will cause to the clubs who pay the players wages, the most wealthy and supported of whom are totally opposed to a winter World Cup?

In England, where many of the biggest names in football play, Wolves manager Mick McCarthy branded the prospect of a winter World Cup as "nonsense" and Blackpool boss Ian Holloway said it was "crazy".

It's no surprise that this is of absolutely no consequence to Blatter and his compliant Committee. But bloggers are already preparing for what they call a "battle royal" between the rich football clubs and FIFA.

On another front, the ageing 74-year old Blatter has been taking steps to ensure his candidacy for yet another 4-year term as FIFA President is another shoo-in, adding his "job was not yet complete"! One of his main rivals for the post, a moderniser and staunch anti-Blatterite, Korean Chung Mong-Joon, yesterday lost his position as a Vice President to Jordan's Prince Ali bin Al Hussein by 25 votes to 20. Chung is therefore no longer eligible to enter the contest. The prince, on the other hand, is a Blatter ally. Arab officials said afterwards that all his 25 votes would go to the Swiss at the FIFA elections. Ah! If only promises of this and promises of that could be heard like gunfire, the noise from Doha would be deafening. But then, knives in the back don't make much sound either. Anyone betting against Sheik Blatter now?

And what of the long-standing concerns about corruption within FIFA and of Blatter's own position on the matter? A few days ago he announced the establishment of a new anti-corruption commission

"This committee will strengthen our credibility and give us a new image in terms of transparency. I will take care of it personally, to ensure there is no corruption at Fifa."

It does not take a crystal ball to know the outcome of that little exercise! After all, Sheik Blatter has given his word - again! (But then, isn't he in a habit of changing his word?)

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/sports/ ... -in-winter
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/sports/ ... ball-chief
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/9333340.stm

[fountainhall]

The all powerful FIFA Executive Committee . . . decided that the World Cup in 2022 would be awarded to Qatar purely on the basis of bids being made for a tournament to be held, as all World Cups have hitherto been held, in the summer months. This despite warnings about the hellish heat and humidity and the potential risks to players, to say nothing about the travelling fans.

In the 2 1/2 years since my last post, guess what? Sheik Blatter was reelected as President of the money-pit that is the world football organisation FIFA, with some of his rivals conveniently accused of bribery and being forced to withdraw just before the election. In fact, there were no others standing for election!

But it's the decision to award the 2022 tournament to Qatar that just refuses to go away. Did FIFA pay any attention at all to the heat issue prior to awarding it to Qatar? Clearly not. It and Blatter were no doubt swayed by the cash flowing to them - er, to FIFA - from the Qatar organisers. It will be no problem, Blatter condescendingly announced. The stadia will be temperature controlled.

But as often is the case, Blatter's comments have come back to haunt him and the weasel changes his mind. The headlines on the BBC website yesteday says it all -

Fifa president Sepp Blatter is determined to switch the 2022 World Cup to the winter because of the intense Qatar summer heat.

It goes on to say -

"The Fifa World Cup must be a festival of the people, but, for it to be such a festival, you can't play football in the summer. You can cool down the stadiums, but you can't cool down the whole country and you can't simply cool down the ambience of a World Cup. The players must be able to play in the best conditions to play a good World Cup."

I'm not so concerned about the disruption this will create for the northern European countries. It is more the foul smell that permeates the entire bidding process. As I understand it, the bidders had to make proposals for a Summer tournament. If there is now talk if it being moved because of Blatter and yet another example of FIFA's incompetency, then what should happen is that the bidding process should be reopened. You don't change the goal posts after the event. Oops, but then, of course, that is snake Blatter's speciality. He's turned 180 degrees on so many issues - racism and goal line technology being the latest in a long list. The man should have stuck to his former profession - as a lobbyist for and President of the World Society of Friends of Suspenders. This august organisation had the aim that women should not be allowed to replace "suspender belts" with pantyhose!!

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/23351824