Here is something that won't happen. England and other European nations will not refuse to participate in the 2022 Football World Cup.
They should do this of course, if the criminals, running and ruining football, at FIFA, go ahead and move the tournament to winter from the summer. But they won't. They will huff and puff and then they will see the $$s, ££s and €€s and conclude that 'the game' benefits from being spread far and wide.
They will ignore the fact that the game is already global. They will ignore the fact that the driver of this is the televising of European leagues, particularly, the English Premier League and that all of these leagues operate during the northern hemisphere's winter. They will ignore the lingering stench of corruption surrounding the bid. They will continue to close their eyes at the democratic deficit that is FIFA.
They won't even pause to consider why Middle Eastern businesses (Qatar Foundation, Emirates, etc.) sponsor European sporting teams and events - hint - it is because these teams get exposure.
Instead, they will wrap their obeisance to the unrepresentative FIFA, in a 'concern for the conditions in which fans will be watching the games'. Total codswallop. These people don't give a fig for the fans. The only time fans feature in the equation is on the revenue side - as in how much can we fleece them!
It was surely always on the cards that there would be calls for the games to be moved to the slightly cooler Qatari winter. However, it is like FIFA and their bid evaluation committee have just discovered that it gets a tad warm in the Qatari summer - as in typically 45-50C warm.
Here is something else that won't happen but should. England and other European nations should leave FIFA. Abandon this corrupt organization and stick to UEFA. Here is another prediction - they won't do that - compromise is the modus operandi of the national associations - even with a history of what disasters follow appeasement. Consider though, who really has the commercial clout? UEFA or FIFA? I would be willing to pay to watch Germany, Spain, Italy or England, play football or would watch on TV and endure being bombarded with advertising. I definitely don't see myself watching a Turks and Caicos Islands versus Indonesia or Qatar or any other smaller footballing nation. It just doesn't appeal and I am sure I am not alone - go into any sports bar in Vietnam or Malaysia or Qatar and see which leagues are being televised!
To those in control of the English Premier League, I implore you to do the right thing. Leave the English football season as it is. Consider, just for once, the people who follow your clubs, the people that won't be able or want, to travel to Qatar for the World Cup - they will be the overwhelming majority.
To football fans, get on social media and club sites and make your views known. Not a prediction but.... they may just listen.
They should do this of course, if the criminals, running and ruining football, at FIFA, go ahead and move the tournament to winter from the summer. But they won't. They will huff and puff and then they will see the $$s, ££s and €€s and conclude that 'the game' benefits from being spread far and wide.
They will ignore the fact that the game is already global. They will ignore the fact that the driver of this is the televising of European leagues, particularly, the English Premier League and that all of these leagues operate during the northern hemisphere's winter. They will ignore the lingering stench of corruption surrounding the bid. They will continue to close their eyes at the democratic deficit that is FIFA.
They won't even pause to consider why Middle Eastern businesses (Qatar Foundation, Emirates, etc.) sponsor European sporting teams and events - hint - it is because these teams get exposure.
Instead, they will wrap their obeisance to the unrepresentative FIFA, in a 'concern for the conditions in which fans will be watching the games'. Total codswallop. These people don't give a fig for the fans. The only time fans feature in the equation is on the revenue side - as in how much can we fleece them!
It was surely always on the cards that there would be calls for the games to be moved to the slightly cooler Qatari winter. However, it is like FIFA and their bid evaluation committee have just discovered that it gets a tad warm in the Qatari summer - as in typically 45-50C warm.
Here is something else that won't happen but should. England and other European nations should leave FIFA. Abandon this corrupt organization and stick to UEFA. Here is another prediction - they won't do that - compromise is the modus operandi of the national associations - even with a history of what disasters follow appeasement. Consider though, who really has the commercial clout? UEFA or FIFA? I would be willing to pay to watch Germany, Spain, Italy or England, play football or would watch on TV and endure being bombarded with advertising. I definitely don't see myself watching a Turks and Caicos Islands versus Indonesia or Qatar or any other smaller footballing nation. It just doesn't appeal and I am sure I am not alone - go into any sports bar in Vietnam or Malaysia or Qatar and see which leagues are being televised!
To those in control of the English Premier League, I implore you to do the right thing. Leave the English football season as it is. Consider, just for once, the people who follow your clubs, the people that won't be able or want, to travel to Qatar for the World Cup - they will be the overwhelming majority.
To football fans, get on social media and club sites and make your views known. Not a prediction but.... they may just listen.
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