Can We Have It Both Ways?

[ToraToraTora]

https://streamable.com/5jmop9
...surely if all the virtue signalling, kneeling etc is sincere the surely civilised nations of the world should be boycotting the Qatar world cup.

[emmie]

they should, but won't, too much money is involved, and that makes every one involved hypocrites. Powerful piece by the way, so true and clear.

[davebro]

it's more about money innit! Trumps any other concerns.

[Ken4155]

Stopped watching when he boiled England's qualifying campaign down to beating a bunch of post office workers 10 - 0.
Thought you'd have found him to be Anti-English, TTT?

[ToraToraTora]

ken, I urge you to watch the whole thing. I think He makes a good point. I don't think it's anti English just anti Football hypocrisy. What applies to England applies to the whole sorry world of football.

[ichkeria]

You could probably make a case for a boycott of any country that has hosted anything over the years boycotting the World Cup, Olympics etc The World Cup should never have been given to Qatar, nor Russia before, as plainly both bids were mired in corruption. As it happens Russia staged an excellent event and I expect Qatar will do the same. One advantage of it is that it's a very small country so all the venues will be close together. I admit that there aren't, I would guess, many others.

[Ken4155]

TTT, the time for all civilised countries to boycott the World Cup (and for this guy to do his podcast) was when it was first awarded to Qatar, not now. What they ought to do now is to make sure, with the eyes of the world upon them, that they continue to drive home their support for human rights. Southgate has already said that his players will take the knee throughout the tournament and Denmark are to wear messages highlighting human rights on their training kit. No doubt other nations will do similar and the message will be displayed to a world-wide audience.

[ichkeria]

Indeed: far better to go there and make a point.
Ultimately nothing anyone does will bring back a single life lost
The same goes for the Winter Olympics in China.

[davebro]

I don't think "taking the knee" will have much impact with the Qataris.

[andy-hughes]

If Mister Southgate imagines that the nonsensical lipservice of 'taking the knee' negates the arrant corruption of England even thinking of taking part in the World Cup in Quatar, he is dreaming, but of course, he can do no other, except resign on principle, which he should have done a long time ago.

'Taking the knee' and pretending you understand human rights abuses is like closing your eyes and saying you know what it's like to be blind.

[andy-hughes]

ich - // Ultimately nothing anyone does will bring back a single life lost
The same goes for the Winter Olympics in China. //

True - but pretending the the deaths have not happened, and giving legitimacy to a regime that will ensure that more deaths follow is still unacceptable.

[ToraToraTora]

ich: "Indeed: far better to go there and make a point. " - the being that we will wear some slogans and kneel and that will negate all the Qatari barbarism? Cobras, better if all the worlds top sides boycotted the tournment. Now that would show it right up.

[andy-hughes]

TTT - // ich: "Indeed: far better to go there and make a point. " - the being that we will wear some slogans and kneel and that will negate all the Qatari barbarism? Cobras, better if all the worlds top sides boycotted the tournment. Now that would show it right up. //

Agree wholeheartedly.

The only 'point' we will be making us to underline our galaxy-sized hypocrisy in tutting at Qatar's treatment of its downtrodden population on on hand, while gleefully trousering millions of its corruptly obtained shekels with the other.

[douglas9401]

Some might say that using 'shekels' when referring to Qatar is Riyaly wide of the mark on a couple of levels.

[ichkeria]

If all countries boycotted the World Cup then I agree that would be something grand.
But you know and I know that that is NOT going to happen, and Ken is quite right to say that it should have been stood up to at the time.
Presumably many of the "civilised" countries voted for Qatar at the time, probably with a few back-handers to encourage them. So to turn round now and call for a boycott is hypocritical.
The current hot topic is the Winter Olympics. And I stand by my pointy that is far better to go there an make a point if you wish.
Either way it's not going to change a thing in China, not as I said before, will it undo any of the deaths in Qatar.

[andy-hughes]

It won't undo any deaths, but accepting the past, which we cannot change, does not mean we should accept the same for the future, which we can change.

[ToraToraTora]

ich: "If all countries boycotted the World Cup then I agree that would be something grand. " - it would only take a few of the top teams pulling out to reduce the tournament to a farce.

[Khandro]

//Can We Have It Both Ways?//
Isn't that what the actress said to the bishop?

[andy-hughes]

Khandro - you should stick to religion.

Like all fervent Christians, you wouldn't know humour if it bit you, but with religious discussions, it's not an essential.

[Ken4155]

TTT @ 15;15, "Better if all the world's top sides boycotted the tournament."
TTT @ 18;45, "It would only take a few of the world's top teams pulling out..."
You're even arguing with yourself now:-/
If any/all of the top teams withdrew now, how would that redress the issue regarding human rights in Qatar?

[ToraToraTora]

ken: \\"TTT @ 15;15, "Better if all the world's top sides boycotted the tournament."
TTT @ 18;45, "It would only take a few of the world's top teams pulling out..."
You're even arguing with yourself now:-/\\ - don't be a pillock try and comprehend. It'd be better if they all pulled out but in in reality only a few would reduce it to a farce, geddit?
//If any/all of the top teams withdrew now, how would that redress the issue regarding human rights in Qatar?// - Well they would all say why they pulled out and that would focus the worlds attention on the barbarity of the Qatar regime and the hypocrisy of FIFA at the same time, win win. Gawd for a gambling man you are clueless.