That just means you're informed enough and care enough. Respect. The wash was with them paying the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Zidane and David Beckham to put a happy face on their human rights abuses. I'm glad it doesn't work on you but sadly it works on millions of others.
Cheers Kevin, another great and important read. I boycotted the 2022 World Cup and can’t imagine myself watching anything FIFA-backed again under the correct regime. As for the nation-state clubs, nothing PSG or Man City achieve will justify what those clubs now represent. It’s frustrating players go there, but they are just young people in a football, money-driven bubble. I laugh at myself thinking Arsenal had a chance against PSG when they couldn’t afford the January striker to save their season! After all, who can spend upwards of £200 million
mid-season from teams who have loads to play for? Oh, PSG and City!
I too am a lifelong Arsenal fan struggling with my own necessity for cognitive dissonance with the ownership . Our moral high ground feels very shaky when looking down the pyramid. I did so enjoy The Arsenal Women celebrating the European triumph, apparently an achievement that cost the club money. Was this sportswashing or just a loss leader to promote the brand ?
You're so right. Now we have to deal with this new version of the "Club World Cup" bollocks as well. As a Liverpool fan (hanging on sort of) I would rather we'd have not taken part in Qatar and allowed ourselves to be a marketing tool for human rights abuses. When Liverpool released a PR statement saying they move hotels... Well whoop de fucking do. You're still in the same country where that other hotel was built by slave labour and the amount of people that died making the stadium you played in there, you may as well have gone for a kickabout in a graveyard.
Excellent write up as always. I admit I was fascinated by the football on display but did have to consider the backdrop to it all. The most disturbing part of this all to me is the Saudi Arabia World Cup. Despite an uproar about Qatar, nobody did anything to prevent it from essentially happening again.
I get it. It's tough and this is the hardest it has been because they're actually likable.
This is the latest problem we now have to deal with, any football purist can't help but love the attitude, tactics and intelligence of what we saw.
I had to remind myself how much I hate QSG. I had to remind myself why.
I understand the paradox of being part of what you're trying to tear down and how futile and hypocritical that can feel but I also know the alternative is worse and it's what they really want.
Throughout history one of the strongest weapons for fascists has been apathy. Qatar don't want you to talk about the man behind the curtain and that's why we should make sure people never forget. They may not care, but they also shouldn't be allowed to escape it.
If you'd like to read it, I wrote something similar, I hope it can inspire you as your words inspired me. I could feel the pain in your words, but you still told your truth.
When I struggle and I do, two words keep me going:
PSG were fantastic but didn’t change my mind one iota about Qatar. Where’s the wash?
True enough, and it didn't change my mind either.
That just means you're informed enough and care enough. Respect. The wash was with them paying the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Zidane and David Beckham to put a happy face on their human rights abuses. I'm glad it doesn't work on you but sadly it works on millions of others.
Cheers Kevin, another great and important read. I boycotted the 2022 World Cup and can’t imagine myself watching anything FIFA-backed again under the correct regime. As for the nation-state clubs, nothing PSG or Man City achieve will justify what those clubs now represent. It’s frustrating players go there, but they are just young people in a football, money-driven bubble. I laugh at myself thinking Arsenal had a chance against PSG when they couldn’t afford the January striker to save their season! After all, who can spend upwards of £200 million
mid-season from teams who have loads to play for? Oh, PSG and City!
Thanks again
I too am a lifelong Arsenal fan struggling with my own necessity for cognitive dissonance with the ownership . Our moral high ground feels very shaky when looking down the pyramid. I did so enjoy The Arsenal Women celebrating the European triumph, apparently an achievement that cost the club money. Was this sportswashing or just a loss leader to promote the brand ?
Thanks for reading, guys!
You're so right. Now we have to deal with this new version of the "Club World Cup" bollocks as well. As a Liverpool fan (hanging on sort of) I would rather we'd have not taken part in Qatar and allowed ourselves to be a marketing tool for human rights abuses. When Liverpool released a PR statement saying they move hotels... Well whoop de fucking do. You're still in the same country where that other hotel was built by slave labour and the amount of people that died making the stadium you played in there, you may as well have gone for a kickabout in a graveyard.
I'm tired of this shit. Thanks for having a soul.
Excellent write up as always. I admit I was fascinated by the football on display but did have to consider the backdrop to it all. The most disturbing part of this all to me is the Saudi Arabia World Cup. Despite an uproar about Qatar, nobody did anything to prevent it from essentially happening again.
Thanks for reading Luke, as always.
I get it. It's tough and this is the hardest it has been because they're actually likable.
This is the latest problem we now have to deal with, any football purist can't help but love the attitude, tactics and intelligence of what we saw.
I had to remind myself how much I hate QSG. I had to remind myself why.
I understand the paradox of being part of what you're trying to tear down and how futile and hypocritical that can feel but I also know the alternative is worse and it's what they really want.
Throughout history one of the strongest weapons for fascists has been apathy. Qatar don't want you to talk about the man behind the curtain and that's why we should make sure people never forget. They may not care, but they also shouldn't be allowed to escape it.
If you'd like to read it, I wrote something similar, I hope it can inspire you as your words inspired me. I could feel the pain in your words, but you still told your truth.
When I struggle and I do, two words keep me going:
No pasarán
Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts, much appreciated.
My pleasure. Stay strong. No pasarán
Very good