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It's embarrassing that FIFA created this situation, but it's far more embarrassing that a few countries didn't get together years ago and reject the whole idea

by TillE 4y ago

It's embarrassing that FIFA created this situation, but it's far more embarrassing that a few countries didn't get together years ago and reject the whole idea of a World Cup in Qatar. It would only have taken a few top nations from Europe and South America. Threaten to withdraw from FIFA if the tournament doesn't get cancelled. There's nothing magical about FIFA, it's defined entirely by its membership. It could have been done, and it just wasn't even tried.

jleyank 4y ago
Yup. Protesting that has no risk to you nor costs you anything is posturing. Posturing's pretty much pointless, especially if it shows how painless it all is. Players could have gotten "hurt", teams could have walked.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
filoleg 4y ago
Exactly, especially given that even the most die-hard soccer fans don't hold a high opinion of FIFA at all. Just a few teams of the caliber of Brazil and Argentina pulling out would essentially make the world cup "illegitimate" in the eyes of the fans, and wouldn't hurt the popularity/public opinion of those teams at all. If anything, it would only boost their popularity, so it is a win-win all around for them. It's like Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes, and Redbull all boycotting an F1 race. They are the reason most people even watch F1. De facto, they are F1 for most people. F1 without them is F1 only in the name.
- mrguyorama 4y ago
  The F1 example actually happened once. The Indy 500 had a problem one year where the tires provided were not up to the task. Many groups pulled out of the race, but the organizer had debts basically collateralized by the race and race proceeds, so he pulled in some random cars and racers from other events and basically had them do laps. The farce and fallout and drama may have contributed to the near death of Open Wheel racing here in the US. This is a summary, check it out, it's an interesting story.

by TillE 4y ago

jleyank 4y ago

Yup. Protesting that has no risk to you nor costs you anything is posturing. Posturing's pretty much pointless, especially if it shows how painless it all is. Players could have gotten "hurt", teams could have walked.

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]

filoleg 4y ago

Exactly, especially given that even the most die-hard soccer fans don't hold a high opinion of FIFA at all. Just a few teams of the caliber of Brazil and Argentina pulling out would essentially make the world cup "illegitimate" in the eyes of the fans, and wouldn't hurt the popularity/public opinion of those teams at all. If anything, it would only boost their popularity, so it is a win-win all around for them. It's like Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes, and Redbull all boycotting an F1 race. They are the reason most people even watch F1. De facto, they are F1 for most people. F1 without them is F1 only in the name.

mrguyorama 4y ago
The F1 example actually happened once. The Indy 500 had a problem one year where the tires provided were not up to the task. Many groups pulled out of the race, but the organizer had debts basically collateralized by the race and race proceeds, so he pulled in some random cars and racers from other events and basically had them do laps. The farce and fallout and drama may have contributed to the near death of Open Wheel racing here in the US. This is a summary, check it out, it's an interesting story.