FIFA needs to strip Qatar of the 2022 World Cup

[thebin]

Time quickly running out for FIFA to get in front of perhaps the biggest scandal in the history of the biggest sporting event in the world. Qatar bought the world cup. There is no doubt about it. Which is to say they stole it from the USA bid. And they are proceeding to build ALL stadia within biking distance of one another with de facto imported slave labor. Thousands of whom have died in the process (vs. about 12 in Brazil for 2014 Cup.) Literally. How is this not a massive story?

www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/10869227/Fifa-need-to-revote-for-2022-World-Cup-after-Qatar-corruption-allegations-or-fans-will-lose-faith-in-sport.html#source=refresh

[nodak89]

Move it to the USA.

[ksf42001]

Jun 2, 2014 9:50:55 GMT -5 thebin said:

How is this not a massive story?

Mostly because no one is all that surprised, since it's not like corruption in FIFA is a new thing. If FIFA cared what the public thought, they'd have done something decades ago, but they don't. The only reason there might be change now is that their top sponsors are making noise this time, since the only thing FIFA cares about it keeping the gravy train going.

Also, I wouldn't put it as a lock that the US would win a revote. I'd put it closer to 50/50 between the US and Australia.

[SFHoya99]

Australia is fine if everyone wants to keep up their anti-US agenda.

[HometownHoya]

It is too soon to send it back to Asisa (S. Korea/Japan hosted in 02) but Japan did have some pretty interesting ideas for bringing the world cup fever to the world.

[hoya9797]

Jun 9, 2014 11:02:17 GMT -5 SFHoya99 said:

Australia is fine if everyone wants to keep up their anti-US agenda.

Australia makes sense because it's the same federation as Qatar. The US will get it in 2026.

[ksf42001]

Jun 9, 2014 11:16:15 GMT -5 hoya9797 said:

Jun 9, 2014 11:02:17 GMT -5 SFHoya99 said:

Australia is fine if everyone wants to keep up their anti-US agenda.

Australia makes sense because it's the same federation as Qatar. The US will get it in 2026.

While officially in the Asian federation, I don't think the Exec Committee will consider Australia "asian", especially since both Japan and South Korea applied in separate bids as well. If Australia or US does end up with 2022, I doubt the other will win 2026, since the chances of having two english speaking countries hosting in a row seems unlikely...

[Boz]

John Oliver takes FIFA down.

Except that, in the end, he doesn't.

[Jack]

I heard George Vecsey on NPR over the weekend promoting his soccer book, and he made the point that the US would not want to be seen as taking a World Cup away from their great allies in Qatar at this point. I don't know how much credence to lend that idea, but from everything I have seen about Qatar since the bid was awarded, Georgetown's relationship with SFS-Q makes me incredibly queasy. I wonder how many Nepalese "guest workers" died in the name of building our global brand.

[nodak89]

Jun 9, 2014 12:02:58 GMT -5 Boz said:

John Oliver takes FIFA down.

Except that, in the end, he doesn't.

that was a great piece. you beat me to linking it.

[prhoya]

Loved the John Oliver piece... highly recommended...

[prhoya]

Jun 9, 2014 12:41:56 GMT -5 Jack said:

I heard George Vecsey on NPR over the weekend promoting his soccer book, and he made the point that the US would not want to be seen as taking a World Cup away from their great allies in Qatar at this point. I don't know how much credence to lend that idea, but from everything I have seen about Qatar since the bid was awarded, Georgetown's relationship with SFS-Q makes me incredibly queasy. I wonder how many Nepalese "guest workers" died in the name of building our global brand.

Also, the FIFA-appointed lead investigator into the 2018 and 2022 WC bids is a former US District Attorney. The USSF needs to play it cool for now.

[Elvado]

Jun 2, 2014 9:50:55 GMT -5 thebin said:

Time quickly running out for FIFA to get in front of perhaps the biggest scandal in the history of the biggest sporting event in the world. Qatar bought the world cup. There is no doubt about it. Which is to say they stole it from the USA bid. And they are proceeding to build ALL stadia within biking distance of one another with de facto imported slave labor. Thousands of whom have died in the process (vs. about 12 in Brazil for 2014 Cup.) Literally. How is this not a massive story?

www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/10869227/Fifa-need-to-revote-for-2022-World-Cup-after-Qatar-corruption-allegations-or-fans-will-lose-faith-in-sport.html#source=refresh

Wait. Qatar can not be trusted to run the World Cup? Good thing we are not trusting them with anything more important, like guarding released Taliban killers.