THE WORLD CUP MUST GO (on?)

Ally is lying here as he has been watching every macth avidly. I wish Scotland were there though (not in the semis though, obv).

Still enjoying it although my plan of spending the whole of the first week watching every game has had the desired effect: if I miss a half here or there I don't mind.

Any plans for communal SF/F watching in London this week?

As for plans, I'll just pop out from work for the semis, but I'd be up for a central London meet for the Final, if there is any interest.

Ballack has picked up a YELLOW so will miss the final.. if things stay the same.

Probably unpopular opinion -- I am not in favour of World Cup in Qatar, but find Morgan convincing here, and think Maitlis shows her true character in citing key progressive thinkers like Lineker and Baddiel.

This is very good from Piers Morgan ;#Qatar2022 …. pic.twitter.com/Zc3xc2QJLF

— Simon Jordan (@Sjopinion10) November 17, 2022

Think it's probably a poor development that the debate seems to have moved to the human rights situation in Qatar (which is of course terrible but on a par with many other countries, some of which are participating) and away from the thousands of human beings who died building the stadiums.

That sounds accurate!

do you read the LRB article about the qatar world cup?

I don't. I am probably more than one issue behind.

I mean, Morgan seems to be saying “if you take that argument to its endpoint, then no one should play in the World Cup” but if you take Morgan’s argument to its endpoint, it’s basically just “lol why bother boycotting anyone, nothing really matters”. I don’t know what the answer is but I’m not sure it’s nihilism?

participation in a world cup isn't the same as hosting. don't think it's hypocritical to say that FIFA shouldn't award the world cup to countries that outlaw homosexuality.

so no I don't find Morgan convincing

do get annoyed when athletes or sports presenters do the whole kick it out/ rainbow laces thing then post pictures on Insta of their vacation in Dubai tho.

I mean, it's appalling that thousands died to produce this sporting event. As far as I'm concerned, no one should watch or participate, even though the damage has already been done. It's like dancing on someone's grave.

So no, it doesn't fucking have to go on.

Hypocrisy(*) is impossible to avoid without being a complete moral saint and ascetic. So I don't find Morgan convincing either.

(*)I wanted to say "as Morgan defines it" here but I think the more general point stands, though Morgan's definition is particularly unforgiving.

I mean, Morgan seems to be saying “if you take that argument to its endpoint, then no one should play in the World Cup” but if you take Morgan’s argument to its endpoint, it’s basically just “lol why bother boycotting anyone, nothing really matters”. I don’t know what the answer is but I’m not sure it’s nihilism?

― Chuck_Tatum, Friday, 18 November 2022 bookmarkflaglink

I think if you were looking at queer rights, and then researching the participants record on these issues it's true you would never watch any WC. It's a cultural boycott. Somewhat similar to many people who wish a loss on a team (notably Croatia at the last WC final) before a match. I have often been nonplussed about that stuff.

There is something of a different order when thousands have died. More so than the displacement of people when Olympic sites are built.

Anyway I am watching it.

lol.. roaring at that nob from fifa who deeply feels prejudice and intersectionality because he got bullied for having freckles when he was a kid.

I wasn't going to watch it but now I've heard that Baddiel and Skinner are releasing a brand new version of Three Lions to commemorate so I'm hyped!!

I’ve just watched the new Three Lions and now I’m in the back of a taxi crying and laughing. I never knew a song could be so emotional and funny.

The president of FIFA: pic.twitter.com/92ieNVpS1X

— Stuart Millard (@franticplanet) November 19, 2022

Lads can we keep this to one thread, I’m not following two

I thought I might get ticked off for disrupting the football chat!

Why can't you follow two threads?

Politics itt and sport+lols in the other thread imho

He drinks a Qatari drink. He drinks an Arab drink. He drinks an African drink. He drinks a gay drink. He sings the songs that remind him of the disabled times. He sings the songs that remind him of the migrant worker times.

— The Devil has many bollocks, my friend (@snowrespecter) November 19, 2022

xp: what if Pol and its funny?

What verse of the Quran says alcohol is fine in hospitality boxes https://t.co/vKkQGMmtRv

— Ciaran (@Ciaran2607) November 18, 2022

AB has a view.

“Qatar should be able to enforce strict rules around alcohol, those are the laws of the land”.

Literally nobody is making it host the World Cup and therefore acting as a point of convergence for every culture on earth. It’s hosting an event, clue is in the name.

— Aaron Bastani (@AaronBastani) November 19, 2022

Hosting the World Cup isn’t a human right either. If you want to host the biggest sporting event in the world you should be able to extend hospitality to people of different faiths. If you can’t, don’t host it.

— Aaron Bastani (@AaronBastani) November 19, 2022

Today, I’ll be thinking of the thousands of workers who died building the stadiums for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

I’ll be thinking of LGBT+ people fighting for their human right to love.

And I’ll be supporting local grassroots football in Islington North! pic.twitter.com/48KYv02Y7r

— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) November 20, 2022

https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v44/n22/david-goldblatt/how-to-get-on-tv

Really good piece on WC politics. Every bid winner has bribed since '98. Slave labour used at the last WC too. The next WC will be very carbon intensive too. The world is fucked.

Ecuador kick off the World Cup today.

Here's their captain Enner Valencia faking an injury to avoid getting arrested over £13k of unpaid child support.

The former Everton striker was driven away on a stretcher while 13 policemen gave chase. pic.twitter.com/oNCfKMbj6t

— The Upshot (@UpshotTowers) November 20, 2022

I worry a bit about some of these players that might be a bit more pliable than others!

A grifter on Gary Neville.

Taking Qatari money & then attacking Infantino & Blatter for being 'divisive' is unreal levels of hypocrisy. Lost huge amounts of respect for Neville.

When you take money from unsavoury sources - that's up to you. But you lose credibility in claiming to be self-righteous. https://t.co/zFcYKzav4v

— Aaron Bastani (@AaronBastani) November 20, 2022

> twenty years pass...

biggest yet?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8tBocrUzc8

Remarkable footage of the USSR team in 1982. Very occasionally features John Helm, but mostly unhelpful dramatic music.