The decision to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar didn’t bother me in particular, for me, World Cups are a chance to watch great footballers playing for teams I don’t have a vested interest in. That changed when reports of hundreds of deaths of foreign migrants, allowed in to build the infrastructure required to host the tournament.
The Indian embassy in Qatar report that the death rate of their nationals involved in construction projects in Qatar is reaching epidemic levels. 233 died in 2010, 239 in 2011, 237 in 2013 and 241 in 2013. 24 died in January this year, a total of 998 since the beginning of 2010. This is a blight on humanity.
The Guardian revealed that 197 Nepalese died in 2012 and 185 died in 2013. Many of the deaths are no characterised as classic construction accidents, the heat and environmental conditions, together with the lack of facilities for immigrants, mean many die of ‘natural’ causes, including heart failure, there are other nationals there too, also dying in alarming numbers.
Labour MP, Jim Murphy, last month said, “Some of the practices we know are taking place in Qatar amount to forced labour, and there are widespread concerns that the death toll could reach well into the thousands if nothing is done.” The International Trade Union Confederation estimate (without needing to extrapolate greatly) up to 4,000 workers could die before the country is ready to host the tournament.
The prospect of a sea of blood on the pitch has not been enough to convince Fifa to call a halt to the slaughter, or at least use the threat of withdrawal to ensure migrants experience safe and humane living and working conditions.
As the tournament draws nearer, pressure groups will become better organised, but by that time, many more will have died. As fans, or, in this instance, to adopt our more effective role as consumers of TV and companies who sponsor the tournament, we have a lot of work to do, and we need to start now.
Before Fifa act they will need a lot of encouragement from sponsors, unhappy at the prospect of their brands being associated with a death trade, and they will need approval from the lawyers. Qatar ‘invested’ hugely in football as they were busy vacuuming up votes, including buying real estate on the front of Barcelona’s shirts, once regarded as an ethically responsible club. The platform association with UNICEF looks like blatant opportunism.
Today’s Telegraph offers Fifa a chance to call a halt to the project. They allege former Fifa vice president, Jack Warner and his family, were paid $2m just weeks after Qatar were awarded the tournament. The Qatar authorities deny wrongdoing.
This is perhaps the most important article concerning the football industry in decades as it opens a door to stop the despair of thousands of workers living in abject poverty and mortal danger. According to the Telegraph, law enforcement agencies are already active on this issue. They need to quickly establish if the Qatar bid was assisted by criminal activity before the tournament can be withdrawn. The danger is that irrespective of what law enforcement agencies uncover, or who ultimately goes to jail, there is so much illicit cash floating around Fifa that those in positions of power will protect their paymasters.
Before this happens, you, me, our clubs, and whoever cares from the various football associations, must organise and turn up the pressure on the criminals with their snouts in the Fifa trough. If we pass up on this opportunity, we could wait decades for the next chance to rid the top of our game of criminals.
Seville – The Celtic Movement is available now:
“Of course we’d loved Blackburn, Stuttgart, Liverpool etc, but with twenty minutes to go in Oporto, I sat with my stomach recreating a range of football related sinking feelings from the past. You know, being told I was ‘rubbish’ by the high school team prima donna as another of his cannonball passes rocketed out for a shy under my foot, or the time I ran home from primary school to watch Celtic lose to…. someone…on a black and white television during the seventies. I’ve never wanted to find out who we lost to or what year it was. The memory is more intriguing left blurry like footage of the moon landings.”
Get yours here:
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ggh
He’s a goal keeper.
No chance of Dilo scoring is there?
G G
The fish in our area was abt £5 pre Lent now £5.60. Its only 60 p but what the hell is that abt?Must chin him next time im in the shop.
ps was lovely btw
Was on a bus trip years ago and 2 OAP’s were bragging abt how nice their room was. One said it has lovely dildo rails on the wall too.
John O’Neil
23:09 on
18 March, 2014
I really have no knowledge of the fascist demographic of Kiev and am perfectly happy to bow to your superior knowledge on the subject.
People are perfectly entitled to be fascists of the left or the right.
That`s their business,not mine.
I.M.H.O.,totalitarianism is the enemy of all right thinking people.
The point: Naked aggression,such as that perpetrated by Putin should be seen as such and condemned.
You suggest that the “West” is responsible for the Russian invasion but cite not one piece of evidence to back up your assertion.
Re.Dubya.
His country was attacked.He responded.
In my opinion his response was the epitome of stupidity.
Nevertheless,nobody attacked Russia.Russia attacked a sovereign independent state.
Crimea…………….Russian speakers.
Sudetenland………German speakers.
Gg
Very true, but I live in hope !
Jude
I wonder if they were spikey.
John o’neill. Dreary dearly me. I work with a Ukrainian. This is of course no democratic takeover. It’s annexing a la the Second World War. While I understand your point be ashamed of your lack of understanding.
g g
Spikey??
Malts kickin in
John. You know is just read back at your nonsense on the corrupt and undomocratkc Europe. Then you praise Russia. Who on earth are you kidding?
Night Bhoys
Night wee Oscar my hero. God bless x
Hello Hello we are the timalloys.
Good evening CQNers.
Wid ye aw stop arguing amongst yursels please ?
It´s ma birthday & I´m Trying tae enjoy maeself.
Hail hail theCelts are here.
Bye
Dick Emery once played Charlie Tully in film Ooh……..You are awful.
Hippo birdie timbhoy in spain.
HH
Good morning all
The blog’s deed. Just been up the byre lambing. Twin wee ewes. (Why the feck do they leave it to 2300 something.) Both healthy and have had their, so important, first sook of the life saving milk supplied by mamma. :-))) night night Timland, totally shattered. :-)))
Weefra HH supporting Wee Oscar.
Timbhoy
Happy birthday and many more.
I was once told that age didn’t come alone.
I didn’t understand then but I do now.
Wish I didn’t know now what I didn’t know then
To Neganon first: I work with a Russian. Actually I work with lots of Russians. Actually some of my family are Russians so that trumps your ‘I work with a Ukrainian’ argument.
Seriously though, it is a tragic situation. My point is that it is not as one sided as some would wish us to be believe. It is always tempting to give automatic support to perceived underdogs but situations in world politics are always more complicated than simple narratives suggest. My heart goes out to those affected. Regarding democracy and corruption, would you dispute my argument that the EU is corrupt and undemocratic? Usually it is only Russia which is castigated for such vulgar flaws but we really ought to sort ourselves out first.
I repeat one of my initial points: some invasion. The majority wanted it. They fear the new undemocratically elected mob in Kiev. And why shouldn’t they? Some of the ethnic Russians fought the Nazis and suffered under the Nazis(some of whom were Ukrainian) . No civilian was killed by Russians. It is not my belief that Russia wanted this situation to develop but it has. Opposition was ignited by obscene corruption and then by American and EU intervention. Russia has to defend its vast borders. The Americans are encroaching ever closer to Russian territory. Russians have a right to ensure that their interests are secure. Unfortunately, Ukraine’s people will have to suffer because of the politics. I happen not to support such matters wholeheartedly, but rather would just like to challenge some Western narratives. Did your friend tell you about the fascist influence in Kiev Neganon?
Macjay asked about evidence. McCain was in Kiev meeting with the mob. EU representatives were in Kiev meeting the mob. Those are just two micro aspects. The macro aspect is that Western powers are determined to get closer to Russian territory. Any fair analysis of the geo-political movements,since the fall of Communism, show that Western powers are moving ever closer. Countries, formerly Soviet states, have been targeted by the US in order to have more ‘defense’ bases there. One cannot expect Russia not to feel threatened by this. Of course, one can also understand former Soviet states complying with the Americans as they don’t want a return to a Marxist dictatorship.
Apologies for taking up a lot of space but I wanted to answer you both. Naturally, despite writing lots, I nevertheless don’t profess to be an expert.
Goodnight.
John O Neill
I winder how the Tatar minority feel about Russia’s latest moves in the area?
One last point Macjay,
you mentioned ‘naked aggression’. Are American drone strikes on innocent civilians also acts of naked aggression? If they are, why on earth should Russia take lessons from Americans on how to conduct politics?
Skyfill,
They rightly feel threatened because the Marxists sent their relatives to Gulags. However, if we believe in this democracy thing, we must accept that the majority in Crimea support Russia’s intervention. The ethnic Russians, some of whom fought Nazis, are they themselves terrified of the new Kiev regime. Why? Because of extreme nationalists and fascists. You may recall that the new Kiev regime instantly placed restrictions upon the Russian language when they, ahem, came to office.
So they can decide the venue six months in advance, but they can only decide on the ticket allocation AFTER the teams are known? Interesting….
Not persuaded?
Just you ungrateful Tims remember that Dimitri Kharine played for us.
john
You got me thinking about that. Mmmmmm
Weefra HH supporting Wee Oscar.
About Dimitri Weefra? John Barnes didn’t use him enough! Greetings to you by the way. I hope that your family are well, you told me about them some time ago.
Time for bed.
Well thank you GG & Hello tae wee Fra nnie Fellow govanite long time no talk.
Hope yur keepin well
john
I have no issues, whatsoever, about the Crimeans deciding to rejoin Russia, and also agree that the Kiev situ is not the best for world security. My only thoughts at the moment are, can our wee country get freedom from this WM imposed govt and can we finally rule ourselves? No disrespect kiddo. I tend to support your views though. Just my opinions of course. :-))
Weefra HH supporting Wee Oscar.
timbhoy
How you doing kiddo? Brilliant to hear from you. All ok over there? :-))
Weefra HH supporting Wee Oscar.
Right guys, I really need to get to my cot now. Great talking, hopefully carry on the conversation the mo. Night night Timland for the last time. :-))
Weefra HH supporting Wee Oscar.
Thanks for the reply John. It is a situation that has many grey areas. I think that what worries many is wondering where Putin will stop. Their are ‘ethnic Russians throiughout the former USSR and Putin is widely believed to be trying to ensure that Russia borders only countries that are ‘under the Russian umbrella’.
Scary stuff
HH
John O’Neil
00:59 on
19 March, 2014
Macjay asked about evidence. McCain was in Kiev meeting with the mob. EU representatives were in Kiev meeting the mob.
_____________________________________________________________________
After ” the mob ” took over,not before. You suggested that this ” coup ” was provoked or perhaps caused by the ” West.”
Evidence?
John.
Russia has just restarted the Cold War.
The world must now return to that dangerous place.
Will the U.S. now re-arm?
It`s a running certainty.
The U.S.military industrial complex will start firing up.
God help welfare recipients.
Hail Hail,John.
John O’Neil
01:04 on
19 March, 2014
“Drones” on “innocent ” civilians.
Mate.
Russia invaded a sovereign,independent country.
It has now annexed said country.
In the scale of global politics,I feel your reference to individual ” crimes” ,if that`s what you consider them to be,pales into insignificance.
I hold no candle for U.S.and/or British military involvement in the ” drone” lands.
They will,however,leave.
Russia won`t.
What possesses anyone to say, “I work with a Russian” before going on to make a point about the situation in the Ukraine? As if working with or having a Russian neighbour somehow gives you much greater insight and authority on the subject.
Made me laugh anyway.
macjay said:
Will the U.S. now re-arm?
When did they disarm?
GCT.. I once went to school.with a guy who lived up the street from a family who went on holiday to India.. does that make me an expert on Indian food ?
GCT.. A rhetorical question there.. of course it makes me an expert :)
Robocfc11 –
Well quite.
:-)
There are Neo_Nazi thugs roaming the streets of Kiev beating up foreigners with the blessing of the police and the military.
Let the people of Crimea look after their own interests by welcoming the protection of the Russians.
Why? Because for a start, it’s none of our goddam business.
I’ve worked with many a Sevcovian but am happy to report that I am no further down the road as to working out their mindset.