WC 2018 & 2022 Bids

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Originally Posted by eaststand85

Think you answered your own question there Enda, absolute joke that Qatar have been given it. Good article in today's Irish Times/Guardian (http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...4682355.html):

For football fans and supporters of cultural and political pluralism the questions also now start. Items high on this agenda are just how enjoyable and expensive the fan experience will be during a month in Qatar’s blistering heat, where the drinking of alcohol in public is a criminal offence. And how a strict Muslim state will negotiate western mores – homosexual behaviour is illegal there, as is kissing in public – and the welcome it will afford Israel, should they qualify. Israel’s citizens, along with most gulf states, are banned from Qatar.

Fifa’s technical report noted: “The fact that the competition is planned in June/July, the two hottest months of the year in this region, has to be considered as a potential health risk for players, officials, the Fifa family and spectators, and requires precautions to be taken.”

Can only hope the fact that it will now be 10 years or so before they vote again means someone will have the balls to stand up and expose FIFA for the corrupt, hypocritical organisation it is.

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I might imply something but I'd never accuse them without evidence, I'm sure they know where I live!!

In other news, it hasn't taken long for the goal posts to be moved again...

http://www.setanta.com/ie/Articles/2...rt/gnid-82454/

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Originally Posted by endabob1

I might imply something but I'd never accuse them without evidence, I'm sure they know where I live!!In other news, it hasn't taken long for the goal posts to be moved again...

http://www.setanta.com/ie/Articles/2...rt/gnid-82454/

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True, end up like Gene Hackman in that film 'Enemy of the State'! :)

Interesting article on potentially moving the dates of the tournament, they really are a joke (or would be if if it wasn't such a serious matter for football).

I think the June/July thing omes from Beckenbaur (a member of the ExCo) who said it might have to be moved (and conspiracy theorists will have heard the rumours its a FIFA power play against the clubs)

Beckenbauer voted for Australia, and then the USA apparently

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/9284186.stm

Good old Sepp!!!

Can't see Blatter letting it happen but you never know. Maybe forces outside of football may drive this along though.
Politics and football, funny old games!
http://www.theguardian.com/football/...-crimean-teams

Not a chance. Qatar maybe, because its selection reflects badly on FIFA more directly. But FIFA has shown, repeatedly, that it has no problem sending tournaments to countries with dodgy reputations or internal problems.

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Originally Posted by punkrocket

Can't see Blatter letting it happen but you never know. Maybe forces outside of football may drive this along though.
Politics and football, funny old games!
http://www.theguardian.com/football/...-crimean-teams

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It looks like an EU boycott of the 2018 World Cup is being mooted instead of changing venue (or perhaps as a means of exerting pressure on FIFA to change venue).

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/26f10494-3...#axzz3CL22k8Jg

I'm not sure they could get EU wide consensus to do this, but if for the sake of arguement it did happen, there could in theory still be 13 UEFA teams. Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia, Macedonia, Israel, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia (as hosts), Serbia, Turkey could all attend. Added to that you have countries not in the EU, but who tend to follow the EU line (Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, possibly Scotland in two weeks) some of these might not boycott. I wonder if this might affect the number of spots UEFA gets at a World Cup in the future?

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/31600194

Looks like Qatar 2022 will be in November/December.

https://www.theguardian.com/football...-fifa-football

Well, well, well. Five years out so plenty of time for things to simmer down, but it's something that can presumably be held over Qatar from now until the actual tournament. Yet another reason it should never have been considered as a possible host.