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FIFA World Cup 2018, 2022 Decision Disaster: FIFA Corruption?

by NowPublic Staff | December 2, 2010 at 09:59 am

4588 views | 0 Recommendations | 6 comments

FIFA World Cup 2018, 2022: World Cup Bribery Scandal, Calls For Boycotting And Calling Off World Cup Decisions Awarding 2018, 2022 World Cup Russia And Qatar

The decision to award the FIFA World Cup of Football to Russia in 2018 and to Qatar in 2022 is a sham and it is time for Soccer and Football fans, and the nations that represent them to take a stand.

While some point to the BBC Panorama documentary on corruption in soccer and FIFA as the reason England did not get the World Cup for 2018 the fact is journalist Andrew Jennings should be hailed as a hero for shedding the spotlight on the dubious practices of FIFA executives.

Declan Hill the author The Fix: How To Fix A Soccer Game appropriately sums up the gutter depravity that FIFA and international soccer now finds itself in. In his blog, Hill writes,

"We now have 6 members (or 25%) of the original 24 members of the committee in charge of the world’s biggest sports decision allegedly involved in taking bribes. And at least, four other former committee members speaking openly about the culture of corruption around this decision.

This is a mess."

A bloody mess indeed. In his book, Hill chronicles the role of the Russian mafia in match fixing and bribery scandals involving soccer in Russia. As For Qatar, there are some who support the idea of Qatar hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Louise Taylor wrote this puff piece supporting Qatar's bid for 2022 World Cup in The Guardian.

Taylor sites the notion of how soccer can build bridges to the Arab world and how the stadiums being built will be dismantled and distributed to developing countries after the 2022 World Cup ends.

But the comment section from soccer fans tells a different story.

It would be an hilarious exposé of FIFA corruption were Qatar to host the World Cup. A few notable features of the bid:

- A host country the size of Yorkshire with the population of greater Leeds, some of its "host cities" inhabited by as few as 10,000 people.

- Not just 40 degrees, 45-50 degree daytime temperatures during the cup. That is scary hot.
- Definitely no cold brewskies in the fan zone with blanket alcohol bans.
- Systematic discrimination against women
- Exploitation of foreign workers by the lazy locals
- Only one existing stadium anywhere that's near suitable for international football. Somehow they will renovate it and build another 11 for an average of less than $300m each, about half the amount other bidders quote to build their stadiums.
- One single, solitary airport.
- Nil public transport whatsoever.
- A "carbon neutral" stadium air conditioning system that hasn't even been invented yet, let alone put to use in any football stadium anywhere in the world. But who would doubt that the Qataris would be capable of inventing it, given their long proud history of engineering innovation?

One must admire Qatar's chutzpah for taking it this far - but surely Bin Hamman must announce any day now that "Qatar 2022" is a big joke.

It is worth quoting Declan Hill again.

Should the World Cup decision be called off?

Yes, absolutely. There may be a few Bushmen in the Kalahari Desert who still think FIFA’s process has credibility. However, there are not many other people who have seen the news stories who can regard the up-coming decision with any confidence. The reputation of whichever countries get the World Cup will be besmirched. Better to postpone the decision and come up with a neutral way of awarding the tournament (Nelson Mandela pulling names out of a hat?)

Should the 2018 and 2022 World Cup decisions have been done on the same day?

No. It merely opened the way up for politicking and vote-trading. Better to split them completely. Michel Platini, the head of UEFA, said so too. He is right.

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Manjil (not verified)

at 06:00 on December 3rd, 2010

Football world cup in Qatar !!! It is same to you FIFA.

Hou (not verified)

at 05:13 on December 4th, 2010

It's a real scandal. Qatar is a small desert with about 1250000 residents in the south of the Persian Gulf. in June and July the temporature is more than 45 degrees. We will see how the European fans will enjoy the world cup and the low level culture. The only thing that they have is money. Of course there is another good thing and that is Qatar team is very weak and this could be good opportunity for many teams to beat them with many goals. I'm sure the Qatari Sheikhs will buy many foreign players.

psamuels (not verified)

at 03:50 on December 5th, 2010

These guys at Fair Shake of the Sauce Bottle have found proof to show who really won the world cup bid for 2022 - sham for sure.www.fairshakeofthesaucebottlemate.com/

Joe Footy (not verified)

at 19:06 on December 5th, 2010

I think the decision to award Russia to host the 2018 World Cup is bearable. Sure, England was a great choice as well, but looking at Russia's bid, it is impressive and I congratulate them. I am sure England will get their turn in 2026 or 2030 at the latest. They must!As for the Qatar 2022 decision, I am baffled!?! Usually a bidding nation needs around 12 stadiums in 10 or 11 different cities. Qatar does not meet those requirements. As well, climate, is a huge issue. I think it's the worst "decision" made in FIFA's history. What has Qatar contributed to World Football? The USA, Australia, Korea and Japan have all hosted major events flawlessly.USA '94, Japan-Korea 2002, and Australia has hosted a very successful Olympics in 2000 (where Football was the most attended spectator sport), as well, they had hosted a very successful (arguably one of the best) World Youth Championships in 1993.I am boycotting everything World Cup 2022... I will not attend World Cup Qualifiers... I will not watch the World Cup on TV... nothing! FIFA won't get a single penny from me!I am hoping some Football Federations around the World pull out of FIFA and make a stance. FIFA is killing Football with their grubby dirty hands laden with money.

Cressive (not verified)

at 07:45 on December 7th, 2010

A step forwards for new countries get to host football's showcase event. Two steps backwards for football and the overall management of the game.Pity problems within the process, see www.cressive.com/fifa-client-from-hell-rip-rfp/, mean that football is the loser.At least Russia and Qatar won't feel much pressure - well, relative to FIFA over the coming year.

Fredfrank (not verified)

at 22:15 on December 18th, 2010

The fifa should think now whether they will move along with filling their coffers with bribed money or do good to the cause of foot ball. The very first thing the Fifa should do is to sack Sepp Blatter who had already made fifa a mockery affair. How on earth that the world is silent on Sepp Blatters reigning the fifa body as a dictator. No president't term should be more than 8 years that is a must to make fifa an non-corrupt organization. If the fifa's 24 members again vote for Sepp's continuation of presidency, it means that Sepp will bring to them more and more money by making decisions beneficial to the members, damn football.