The Anonymous Widower

Qatar World Cup: It Is Hard To Know What Is Real At An Ever Creepier Tournament

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on The Times, which has been written by Owen Slot, who is Chief Sports Writer of The Times.

This is the sub-heading to the article.

It is a disgrace that, less than a month before kick-off, we still don’t know how many workers died in the construction of the facilities

I agree with Owen Slot.

The article also details what I consider to be other dubious practices.

Fans from around the world have been recruited as a PR army to report anything derogatory to Qatar.

This is a paragraph from the report.

This is the part in the agreement where these recruits are obliged, effectively, to spy on their fellow fans: “You agree to report any offensive, degrading or abusive comments to the SC and, if possible, to take a screenshot of those comments and then promptly delete them.”

The SC is The Qatar Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy.

I can see this and Qatar’s views on human rights, homosexuality and alcohol, leading to serious trouble.

On my several trips abroad to support football teams, there has general been good humour and manners between the two groups of fans.

One trip, that fans on the way out might go terribly badly was England’s trip to Belarus in October 2008.

Everything went well because everyone wanted a good time and gestures on both sides diffused tensions.

• The good people of Minsk helped visiting fans navigate the city.
• A group of us were made very welcome in their excellent War Museum.
• British fans laid a St. George’s Cross wreath on the War Memorial, which was much appreciated.
• The Belarussian police were passing local kids into the England fans to get their programmes signed.
• The hotel were excellent with my gluten-free food, after I gave them instructions in Russian.
• Several locals engaged me in conversation to test their English.

I also wrote a piece for the East Anglian Daily Times about the trip.  It is in two parts.

• Belarus – Part 1
• Belarus – Part 2

Belarus to me indicates how the good people of a country, with help from a sensible police, can still organise things in a friendly manner.

November 5, 2022 - Posted by AnonW | Sport | Belarus, Football, Qatar, World Cup 2022