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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Paul,
Have not been on much recently, but keep up the good work and condolences on your recent loss.
Just saw the Real Madrid aggregate score from last night.
Does this mean that Deidco have maintained their record? Or was that World Record only for Semi-finals?
Gold Coast Tom
03:31 on
19 March, 2014
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/24/us-usa-defense-budget-idUSBREA1N1IO20140224
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The hawks will now have this reversed.
Crimea is part of Ukraine as N. Ireland is part of Ireland.
Lots of Russian speakers in Latvia,Lithuania and Estonia.
Sent there by Stalin.
The “Baltic”plantation.
There was a young lady of Riga,
Who rode with a smile on a tiger.
They returned from the ride
With the lady inside
And the smile on the face of the tiger.
PUTIN…ex .K.G.B.,restoring the Soviet Empire.
Amazing the number of anti-imperialists on C.Q.N.who are now mute.
macjay:
I’ve no love for Putin but the abject hypocrisy of the west, great proponents of democracy, in legitimising the overthrow of an elected government whilst declaring the subsequent overwhelming vote of people in Crimea as unlawful is barefaced. Blowtorches and unreddened necks come to mind…
macjay1 for Neil Lennon
05:21 on
19 March, 2014
macjay1 for Neil Lennon
04:54 on
18 March, 2014
The Singing Detective Demands The Resignation Of Campbell Ogilvie
00:29 on
18 March, 2014
Pal
Nice to talk to you and to respond to your comments.
However,I do not really wish to reopen the whole subject,as I`m well aware that it is controversial.
Frank Ryan’s Whiskey
07:40 on
18 March, 2014
You seem desperate to wrap yourself in the union flag and bash the Irish neutrality during WW2 at every opportunity .
——————————————————————————————————————
That is simply not true.
macjay –
So according to your logic, the ethnic Russians in Crimea don’t count because of how they came to be there?
A dangerous precedent I’d say.
West Wales Celt
05:17 on
19 March, 2014
macjay:
I’ve no love for Putin but the abject hypocrisy of the west, great proponents of democracy, in legitimising the overthrow of an elected government……….
———————————————————————————————————
But,did the West legitimise? How could they do that?
Supported perhaps.
Cry Havoc.
Let loose the dogs of war.
Good Morning from a mild and calm South Staffordshire.
Frankie and Benny’s airport breakfast awaits before an early flight to Dublin for a meeting then an afternoon drive to Belfast for another calorie filled meeting,over dinner,with customers this evening.
Kind of gets me thinking anytime I visit Belfast on business.
In NI,unlike West of Scotland or whenever I meet someone from back home on my travels, nobody ever asks what team you support when they hear your accent,and they only ever discuss EPL if the conversation ever gets on to fitba.Maybe it’s just their way of diffusing potentially difficult conversations?
In Dublin,very few people are interested enough in Scottish fitba to ask what team I support in Scotland.
Strange country is old Ireland, when it comes to football talk.
Anyway,change the subject….I worry for the poor everyday Crimeans in this potential civil war.They must feel like the Poles did in WW2.Fascist Germany on one side and Fascist Russia on the other side.Stalin,unlike Hitler,liked to pretend he wasn’t a Fascist though.
Not to worry……USA will come along and ‘give’ them democracy if they really want it like the Iraqis didn’t.
UK should keep well back from it all as we are an ineffective and insignificant player in conflicts now, and Putin knows this.
Good morning CQNers,
Macjay
I very much doubt any ‘dogs of war’ from the UK will be released due to Russia’s annexation of Crimea.
Putin’s official spokesman recent mocking put downs of Britian…..
“just a small island … no one pays any attention to them”
Russian “oligarchs” buying up large parts of Chelsea and other upmarket London districts”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/10290243/Russia-mocks-Britain-the-little-island.html
And what was the UK’s initial response
• “Not support, for now, trade sanctions … or close London’s financial centre to Russians.”
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/03/uk-seeks-russia-harm-city-london-document
Cameron’s deploying his usual PR facade – take the money boys while I distract them with some grandstanding.
Good morning to you all………………and…………….
…………….Happy St.Joseph’s Day !
That St.Patrick fella gets all the publicity, so to all you Joe’s out there, have a fine day !
Hail Hail
Gold Coast Tom
05:26 on
19 March, 2014
So according to your logic, the ethnic Russians in Crimea don’t count because of how they came to be there?
A dangerous precedent I’d say
__________________________________________________________________
Didn`t say that.
I just don`t think the imported tail should be forcibly detached from the dog through the military force of a different country.
Viz.N.I.
Next stop Donetsk.
murdochbhoy
06:13 on
19 March, 2014
Good morning CQNers,
Macjay
I very much doubt any ‘dogs of war’ from the UK will be released due to Russia’s annexation of Crimea.
_________________________________________________________________________
I know.
Nor,imho,should they.
Can`t —- against thunder.
Appeasement springs to mind.
I just find the whole situation alarming.
Perhaps the territorial ambitions have been satisfied.
Perhaps.
Affoot.
maestro-number8 –
My middle name’s Joseph.
Does that count?
The first day I started work in NYC I had to give my passport to personnel to be copied for my file. By virtue of my middle name I was thereafter known as TeeJay.
I hated it. St least it was better than Limey.
At the risk of being gently corrected by our fine Polish friend… The Poles would mistrust the Ukrainian even more than the Russian!
That some legitimacy exists in the Russian outlook upon Crimea is clear but the perception of active Russian Imperialism is growing.
The ousting of the president before the next elections in 2015 was not only anti democratic & unconstitutional but stupid. The door was opened and Putin happily walked in.
The west has also been stupid and unnecessarily confrontational in manoeuvring towards a NATO partnership with Ukraine. On no account were the Russians going to accept their Black Sea Fleet base being hosted by a US/NATO puppet territory.
After the deceptions perpetrated following the German unification agreements the Russians having recovered at least some of their vast military & economic strength will take/accept no more backward steps.
What has happened is the result of bad diplomacy and bad politics by the West over a number of years. Refusing to accept a Russian sphere of influence (horrible concept but Realpolitik) anywhere beyond their national borders is both hypocritical and unrealistic.
Hope the posturing stops soon.
Gold Coast Tom……of course it does, all the best my friend.
Good morning all and a very Happy St Jobo’s Day from a damp, windy but fairly bright East Kilbride. A real feeling that Spring was in the air as I came downstairs there – only to find I’d left the heating on full blast all night.
Have a pleasant day.
Joseph
West Wales Celt @ 05.17 hrs.
“I’ve no love for Putin but the abject hypocrisy of the west, great proponents of democracy, in legitimising the overthrow of an elected government whilst declaring the subsequent overwhelming vote of people in Crimea as unlawful is barefaced. Blowtorches and unreddened necks come to mind.”
———————————————————————————————
Although I’m suffering this morning I think you have summed up the situation in a “nut shell”
There is clearly not a simplistic solution with loads of history attached and as previous posters have stated the UK should steer well clear, ( This is not 1854 )
How Obama, Cameron and any of the rest would love a pretty convincing > 90% rating for anything.
HH.
My friends in Celtic,
Many Aberdeen supporters have experienced Paradise for the first time. Quite a few have expressed how awesome and atmospheric our stadium is.
As has been said numerous times on here and elsewhere, the vision & legacy of Fergus McCann is indeed something to cherish.
The challenge to the club, board and fans is to work out how to do this magnificent stadium justice in filling it every second week.
For starters : Realistic pricing policy, competent ( Helpful and non aggressive stewarding ) and inclusion for all within agreed parameters.
Withstanding all the varying discussions the stadium will be superb for the Commonwealth opening and can only enhance our status.
HH. ,
Hmmmmmmm?
The headline may make you jump, but how else could this latest piece of appalling appeasement of Islam by a British police force be described.
There was intended to be a memorial to Kriss Donald, the young man murdered by Muslims in Pollockshields, ten years ago in Glasgow. This memorial was to take the form of the laying of flowers. However it seems that some of the local Muslims have most likely threatened violence over this memorial to a victim of Islamic violence that could plainly be seen to be racially and or religiously motivated. Rather than do the right and proper thing, which would be to keep the Queen’s Peace by slapping down hard on the violent followers of Islam, Glasgow police have instead banned those wishing to lay flowers and threatened them with arrest. The police have used the excuse that laying flowers to a murder victim constitutes inciting racial tensions, whilst also quite plainly showing that the police are either unwilling or unable to take the necessary action to threats of violence coming from the Glasgow Muslim community.
Sir Stephen House, the Chief Constable of Police Scotland, is paid the princely sum of £208,000 per year for this sort of cowardice and treachery. The police have failed to do the jobs we are paying them for because they have taken the easy option, which is appease a bunch of violent thugs. They have also scandalously sidelined and demeaned those who, as far as I can make out, are attempting to peacefully counter these Islamic thugs and the violent and morally inverted ‘culture’ they have brought to Glasgow.
Here is the public statement from one of the groups taking part in the proposed memorial to Kriss Donald.
From Unite Against Islamic Fascists
“IMPORTANT KRISS DONALD MEMORIAL UPDATE MEMORIAL CANCELLED After another long and very heated meeting with the police we are disappointed/disgusted to have to announce that our planned memorial for Kriss Donald this Saturday at Glasgow green is now cancelled. The reasons for a blanket ban on us carrying out a memorial for Kriss is that our presence in Glasgow that day would create racial tensions a…nd that if we attempt to enter Pollokshields or anywhere else we will be issued with section 14s and also possibly be arrested for inciting racial tensions. We are absolutely disgusted at this clear violation and breach of our human rights and our basic democratic rights. Racist Muslims from the Pollokshields community murdered Kriss and now apparently if non Muslims attempt to enter Pollokshields to lay flowers for this young man the same Muslim community will come out to try and attack us and the police say we are the ones inciting racial tensions! We believe that it is the Muslim community of Pollokshields who are inciting the tensions with indigenous Scottish people/non Muslims by threatening to attack us if we go into “their area”. We are now forced to discuss legal action with our lawyer, we can no longer allow the police to abuse their powers and breach human rights laws with impunity. We have prepared a statement for our police liaisons to read and to give to their boss/superior regarding legal action. We will post the statement on here. This is a very very sad day for democracy.”
And a comment on the above post.
A Burnett. a scot in exile on March 19, 2014 at 6:02 am said:
This is an outrage, we do not and never have had a police force in Glasgow. It started with a bunch of heavy handed corrupt bullies fae the highlands who liked tae throw their weight about
It went fae that tae beating young kids up for self amusement under the guise of playing football in a public place constituted a breach of the peace.
.
This latest abomination should come as no real surprise, they always have been a bunch of non achieving spineless thugs poorly veiled under a Blue tunic
It would be nice to know in which masonic hall in which part of Glasgow what spineless under achieving overpaid detached Lille livered Group of egotistical self abusers agreed on this further denegration of the good folk of Glasgows civil liberties.
Åre there no longer any decent local politicians or decent councillors willing to stand up for common sense ? I think the majority of people of whichever Walk of life get the idea of what is
right and what is wrong. The villain of the peace is the idiot in the uniform attempting to lay down a Law not for the benefit of peace and harmony of the community, No ! Lets get this straight this is an idiot drunk on power looking to fast track himself up the promotional ladder whilst being lauded and applauded for being the Big man that put they Glesga folk in their place.the hard man in Blue, Some things, Sadly never Seem
tae change every Crisis always
throws up an imbisile and in this case we know who that is.
In the midst of this, Lets spare a thought for the Family of this poor boy may he rest in peace and may your spirits lift your heavy souls and relieve you of the heavy burden of grief x
Reply ↓
And in fairness to even up the points.
Mark McMillan on March 18, 2014 at 11:43 pm said:
Guys, a lot of this article is a load of nonsense. I came across those guys that committed that murder and I can tell you that there was nothing “Islamic” about them. The continual use of the the word Islamic in the context here is just idiotic. I am a practising Christian and I have many Muslim friends none of whom condone what happened, in fact the entire Muslim community in Pollokshields condemned what happened. I have lived in Pollokshields for 45 years and I would agree that there has been a downturn in the quality of the area, can you blame “Muslims” for that? I don’t think so. I think we can however blame many people who might have been from a Pakistani background and who we’re born into Muslim families but they are not practising Muslims, they will profess to be Muslim when it suits them but they have no idea what the religion is about (I have a degree in Religious Studies) and there are just as many people of non ethnic/Pakistani people causing just as much havoc in the area. I do agree very strongly that the police’s decision to ban the memorial is baffling to say the least. As for the “Islamic thugs” theory, well that is a contradiction in itself. If they are “thugs” they are not “Islamic” it’s not Muslims who are the problem, it is the lack of policing and socialist attitudes that have left people to run riot that is to blame. There really are some very uneducated words in this article. Consider this, if Sharia law was in use in this country, it would be up to Kriss’ parent/s what would happen to the murderers and if they asked for them to be executed that would be allowed (not an option I would choose as I am a pacifist) in any case, this article makes out as if the entire Muslim community was to blame but the truth is that the murderers were not actually Muslims, did not do anything Islamic in their lives, did not attend a mosque, did not read the Koran or follow it’s teachings, did not give charity as Islam demands, did not look after their neighbours be they black,white, brown, yellow or whatever colour as Islam demands, did not practice Islam full stop. The entire Muslim community of Pollokshields condemned the murder and still do. The police have made a very stupid decision and I don’t see how a memorial for Kriss would cause racial tension. Extremely stupid indeed and all that is happening here is that their decision and this article is bringing hate out in people towards this supposed army of “Muslim thugs”. Almost all of the white people in this country are of one time Christian descent, does that make every white criminal a Christian Thug? I will pray for everyone who has been touched by this hate at church this Sunday. Hate is not the way.
Here is another post on that ill informed blog which you forgot to repost here.
“Guys, a lot of this article is a load of nonsense. I came across those guys that committed that murder and I can tell you that there was nothing “Islamic” about them. The continual use of the the word Islamic in the context here is just idiotic. I am a practising Christian and I have many Muslim friends none of whom condone what happened, in fact the entire Muslim community in Pollokshields condemned what happened. I have lived in Pollokshields for 45 years and I would agree that there has been a downturn in the quality of the area, can you blame “Muslims” for that? I don’t think so.
I think we can however blame many people who might have been from a Pakistani background and who we’re born into Muslim families but they are not practising Muslims, they will profess to be Muslim when it suits them but they have no idea what the religion is about (I have a degree in Religious Studies) and there are just as many people of non ethnic/Pakistani people causing just as much havoc in the area. I do agree very strongly that the police’s decision to ban the memorial is baffling to say the least. As for the “Islamic thugs” theory, well that is a contradiction in itself. If they are “thugs” they are not “Islamic” it’s not Muslims who are the problem, it is the lack of policing and socialist attitudes that have left people to run riot that is to blame. There really are some very uneducated words in this article.
Consider this, if Sharia law was in use in this country, it would be up to Kriss’ parent/s what would happen to the murderers and if they asked for them to be executed that would be allowed (not an option I would choose as I am a pacifist) in any case, this article makes out as if the entire Muslim community was to blame but the truth is that the murderers were not actually Muslims, did not do anything Islamic in their lives, did not attend a mosque, did not read the Koran or follow it’s teachings, did not give charity as Islam demands, did not look after their neighbours be they black,white, brown, yellow or whatever colour as Islam demands, did not practice Islam full stop. The entire Muslim community of Pollokshields condemned the murder and still do. The police have made a very stupid decision and I don’t see how a memorial for Kriss would cause racial tension. Extremely stupid indeed and all that is happening here is that their decision and this article is bringing hate out in people towards this supposed army of “Muslim thugs”. Almost all of the white people in this country are of one time Christian descent, does that make every white criminal a Christian Thug? I will pray for everyone who has been touched by this hate at church this Sunday. Hate is not the way.”
The murder of the young boy was absolutely 100% apalling, and the murderer should rot in prison until the day he dies. I dont know enough about the proposed ceremony to comment on the proposed marchers
The laying of flowers, if carried out by friends and family is touching, moving and deserves EVERY respect.
If however the flowers were being laid by union jack waving BNP followers, then it could be construed to have a different agenda altogether.
Although either way its strange that some maches can be banned and other cant
Morning all. Greyish down here. BBC’s Carol saying we are in for a change in the weather. Can’t see it happening here. Spring hasn’t begun to spring.
The comfortable collective.
Cough, cough, I did not forget, look above your post.
parkheadcumsalford
our dafs are sprouting…..
Crucified Again by Raymond Ibrahim,a must read in my humble opinion.
Morning everyone…..still on the school run today (Mrs feels a bit better)….Bonzo.’s didn’t crash and burn yestertday….going for Waterboys today..
have fun everyone
HH
Tonny Donnelly.
You did indeed.
I woke this morning with 2 words in my mind about Russia: appeasement and imperialism. They seem to have been getting quite an airing on here overnight, especially from people who have no love of Engerlund (as they would have it) and the United States. Ask the peoples who were controlled by the old Soviet Union how they feel about recent events. I imagine the likes of the Poles, Latvians and Estonians are more than well aware of how Mother Russia treats those who don’t want to be dominated by them, as it seems the Ukrainians don’t.
Jobo,
Thanks for starting my day with a smile.
“A real feeling that Spring was in the air as I came downstairs there – only to find I’d left the heating on full blast all night.”
JJ
I work with a guy called Joseph, can I celebrate St Joseph’s day…..
Jobo is indeed the CQN feel good factor!
HH jamesgang
In the Fixture list for the Scottish Cup Semi-Final , who will be listed as the Home team? Who will be allocated the Home dressing room? How is this decided? Does anyone have the slightest doubt as to who will be the ” Home ” side?
JJ
I’m Neil Lennon(tamrabam)
You mentioned St Andrew’s Clydebank yesterday. I was the in the first year 1970 brand new school 1970-74 left with the princely sum of one o level. Mind you we had a good fitba team by the time I left. Old Skinneder was the headie.
When were you there?
At the airport heading to Fuerteventura first priority to find a bar to watch the game on Sat.
Left the Beanie at home hoping I won’t need it.
HH PB1888
Stalin`s first name was Joseph and I have heard of him. Do I get to celebrate St Joseph`s Day…..