I’m sure I’m not the only person wondering how a tiny oil rich nation with a particularly inhospitable climate, notoriously famous for playing fast and loose (looking the other way) with cheap imported labor and deeply averse to LBGTQ people, ever got the go-head for the World Cup. They had to move the event late in the year to minimize the intense risk of excessive heat, but the event was still marred by officials hell-bent on keeping those symbolic rainbows off the pitch and trying to silence those who decried some pretty abysmal labor practices. There were even some untimely deaths. So much went wrong with the games, with an even worse negative icing on the cake: a viral infection shot up in the waning days of the Cup competition.
Even within Qatar, between a desire to reflect modernity and their deeply religious heritage, it was almost always going to be a challenge. They threw money at the World Cup. I sincerely think they did the best they could given their historical practices, standard operating procedures and the press of conservative Islamic values, but those questions still remained. FIFA, the relevant international governing body, tried to minimize the protests and the politics behind many of the players and their fans, but that was a hopeless goal from the onset. “Footballers” are notoriously outspoken and unwilling to be contained.
For example, England’s violent and disruptive hooliganism at soccer matches in the 1980s led to Brits being banned from playing in European stadiums. "We really must eradicate the blot on our reputation," said Margaret Thatcher declared as existing UK leagues were disbanded. The wildly popular Premiere League, a 20 team UK organization founded in 1992, grew from those ugly roots. While the sport is rising in importance here in the United States, it generates nowhere near the passion and commitment of fans from most of the rest on the world. Its top athletes are the highest paid on earth, and its champions are demi-gods in their home nations. The mere thought of completely containing rabid fans is close to absurd.
So why did Qatar, an unlikely venue, gain selection as the 2022 host nation for the World Cup? World Cup venues are generally selected 7-10 years in advance through a bidding process: Countries interested basically propose a super-elaborate project for hosting that includes what kind of stadiums, infrastructure, transportation, and housing they will build. A FIFA committee examines the bids and determines which country is best suited for the event. That FIFA committee will eliminate host nations that might not qualify and otherwise narrows the field. An electronic vote of member nations makes the final selection, often following the preliminary committee’s recommendations. Ah, that committee. It would seem to have a lot of power. And an unlikely selectee would probably need some serious international support to gain approval.
There have been wiffs and sniffs of possible bribery resounding now and again, but until recently, these were generalized accusations. Then came the notices of specifics, discovering caches of cash linked to those associated with the games. The BBC.com headline for December 13th read: “EU corruption scandal: MEP [member, EU Parliament] denies Qatar bribery after €1.5m seized.” That seizure is pictured above. Here’s how that BBC piece presented that accusation:
“Greek MEP Eva Kaili has denied involvement in an alleged bribery scandal involving World Cup host Qatar at the European Parliament… She is one of four suspects charged after Belgian investigators found €1.5m (£1.3m) in two homes and a suitcase… MEPs have voted - by 625 to one - to strip Ms Kaili of her role as one of its 14 vice-presidents.
“Parliament leader Roberta Metsola has spoken of ‘difficult days for European democracy.’… Qatar has denied any wrongdoing… ‘[Eva Kaili] declares her innocence and that she has nothing to do with bribery from Qatar,’ her lawyer, Michalis Dimitrakopoulos, told Greek TV on Tuesday [12/13]… Prosecutors carried out a string of searches over several days and said cash worth about €600,000 had been found at the home of one suspect, €150,000 at the flat of an MEP and €750,000 in a suitcase in a Brussels hotel room.” Makes you wonder what really happened? Hmmmm.
I’m Peter Dekom, and this should roll out into a most interesting scenario.
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