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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620 Comments- Pages:
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tonydonnelly67
10:35 on 19 March, 2014
leftclicktic we are all neil lennon
10:13 on 19 March, 2014
I don’t post to impress you or anyone else on here, it’s my opinion, and the last time looked here, many where posting opinions on many other subjects, but I think I know where YOUR coming from, .
————-
From all the available evidence, the reason you post in here is to seek attention.
It usually works too.
TTT
need to phone tohg,….
I’m sure he is in Alloa that evening too…..
SRS
getting there buddy, back in later on in the year again..
KTF
BMCUW 1029,
that was the plan all along…..
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
#Lyingthroughhisteeth
John O’Neill –
I was agreeing with you.
My comment was aimed at neganon, not you.
MWD,
i agree mate. I’ve been too long back home, the cold is beginning to effect me.
10-12 days of 30Deg C sunshine – and plenty of hard work of course! – sounds just the job to cure my technical issues!
:-)
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
Stringer bell
From all the available evidence, the reason you post in here is to seek attention.
It usually works too.
__________________________________________
If my posts get attention then that would mean you read it, and you say some thing about it, agree or disagree, up to yerself, but I really don’t remember replying to any of yours a less you mention my name or make a comment about me? So what does that tell YOU, about who is seeking the attention? Think about it?
BT,
TOHG is a busy man indeed……hope he’s not got a double booking though!
Let me know once you’ve spoken to him will you?
Cheers
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
Anyway, things to do, HH.
Apologies Gold Coast Tom.
Off oot.
Now I’m just putting this out there before I go, lol, fill yer boots.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/controversial-brand-name-german-firm-wins-right-to-make-beer-called-fucking-hell-a-686305.html
blantyretim is praying for the Knox family 10:45 on 19 March, 2014
Good man. Glad to hear it.
I thought that was an expression uttered by someone who had spent a miserable holiday in Norway.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hell,_Norway
My favourite town-name over here is A.
Just “A”.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%85,_Moskenes
TTT – think that link disappeared with all your phone contacts…! :-)
Sorry can’t make that do in the London Rd club, as we’re going on holiday that day. Hope it’s a cracking night and there’s plenty raised for TKF.
T4
tonydonnelly67
11:03 on 19 March, 2014
Stringer bell
From all the available evidence, the reason you post in here is to seek attention.
It usually works too.
__________________________________________
If my posts get attention then that would mean you read it, and you say some thing about it, agree or disagree, up to yerself, but I really don’t remember replying to any of yours a less you mention my name or make a comment about me? So what does that tell YOU, about who is seeking the attention? Think about it?
——-
I’ve though about it. It doesn’t make a great deal of sense.
Your comments about a good Celtic fan this morning were ludicrous. Angry, misanthropic bile. That’s why I replied.
T4,
indeed!
Hols again? You 2 are getting as bad as the Che’s!!
:-)
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
Paul,
Powerful post from you yesterday. I wasn’t unaware of the workers plight in Qatar (sadly this isn’t new or unique to stadium building). On the other hand, I think I’m like a lot of people; felt powerless, assumed I’d be watching the world cup and trying not to think about the bodies buried beneath the pitch (figuratively I hope) and finding ways to disassociate the game I love with the ugly, greedy process of organising the tournaments I thing (used to) were special.
Something about the way the numbers were presented perhaps, but, watching the world cup now seems unpalatable. That applies to this summers tournament too.
I want to watch it; but, if we are to protest or boycot or find words to express our outrage, then you are right, this must begin now. How can anyone, in good conscience, invest their time, money, or interest in this summers world cup when the organisers are tacitly endorsing a mini genocide.
Of course there are many outrageous iniquities in the modern world and football is among the least important things in life, in this context. It’s not the health of football that bothers me, for a degree of financial dodginess has been part and parcel of the game for ever. The game goes on and football finances are, as is often mentioned, thoroughly unremarkable when compared to other much bigger industries which face similar problems.
What makes football stand out from other industries is the emotional investment we make. The consumer attaches emotion to football in a way that simply doesn’t apply to their mortgage, or food shopping or choice of tailor (primark or your local suit guy). It should give us power. It means football fans have an opportunity to bloody the nose of the 1%, those who correctly believe that just about anything can be rationalised in the name of profit.
Maybe, this time, the football fans of the world will collectively vomit in disgust and save the world in the process.
Bloody football… love to watch it… hope I can find the strength of character to ignore the FIFA world cup… hope a few others can too. Paul you have my support in any campaign.
Dear Campbell,
Just a wee reminder that I have kept in shape and aye ready to step in for the semi final, if needed.
Yours sincerely,
Rev Michael McCurry
TTT – Che must have almost as many air miles as you!!
Haven’t seen him on here in a while…he must be on holiday again! :-(
T4
Your comments about a good Celtic fan this morning were ludicrous. Angry, misanthropic bile. That’s why I replied.
_____________________________
Misanthropic? Not me mate, I’m surrounded by people and have been all my life, you don’t know me at all, so try an get your facts right, I’m a people person, maybe not your kind or others in here, but it sleep well at night, and have a wonderfull life, and your not in it.
First time I’ve read post and not just article for a week or two…. Nowts changed …. Ill stick to fitba predictor , nags naps comp and supporting the Celtic …. Back to lurking now…. Please play nice children
Make of this, what you will.
http://worldnewsdailyreport.com/man-claiming-to-have-been-vladimir-putins-lover-killed-in-zurich/
Zurich| Iouri Michaelevitch, a former personnal assistant of the Russian President, was found dead last monday in his swiss appartment after some of the neighbors complained about the smell emanating from the residence. According to the city’s police departmnent, many clues collected on the site suggest that he might have been the victim of an elaborate murder plot. “The police forces have only been able to proceed to preliminary analysis before we spotted a source of radiations on the scene and had to call a decontamination team” explains Sven Munger of the Zurich Police Department.”We can confirm that the radioactive agent is a very rare russian product named TCDD Dioxin. The clues we have collected are insufficient to pronounce a definitive conclusion, but the complexity of the of plot we have exposed greatly reduces the number of suspects.” The victim had attracted a lot of attention from the Russian government and media in 2011 when he had written a book entitled “Я был любовник Путина” (“I was Putin’s Lover“), which was taken off the shelves before the official release, after a presidential decree. A warrant demanding the arrest of the author was also issued across Russia, leading him to file a demand of political asylum from the helvetic state. Many sources also claim that Mr Michaelevitch had dinner with an attaché of the Russian embassy five days before his body was found, a case strangely similar to that of the former Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko in 1999. –
mhark67 prayin for oscar knox
11:47 on 19 March, 2014
First time I’ve read post and not just article for a week or two…. Nowts changed …. Ill stick to fitba predictor , nags naps comp and supporting the Celtic …. Back to lurking now…. Please play nice children
………
Being doing the same as you. Many posts are being ruined with childish name calling.
Happy Birthday to my brother.
And all Josephs of the world.
In days of old the St Patrick, St Joseph Tridium was a much welcome break from school and the unofficial end of winter for us on the moss.
Anyway from memory
Dear St. Joseph, pure and gentle,
Guardian of the Saviour child,
Treading with the virgin mother,
Egypt’s deserts rough and wild.
I often wonder what will be the outcome when
the ‘died’ huns are back in the top league.
Will the fans of the teams facing the huns – stay
away in protest ?
Or, will crowds be boosted by the fans desire to
put the huns, in the picture – so to speak ?
I think that Scottish Football ‘died’ a slow burning
death the day that the huns were allowed a licence
to play in ‘any’ league.
Were they granted a licence ‘mainly’ because of the
threat of civil disorder – the type that Sandy Jardine
spoke about to the crowd of huns from the steps of
Hampden when he said – “Blood will flow through the
streets if RFC are put out of the League!!!”
As a, far away observer…I would say that, the establishment
caved-in when the celtic support announced that if,
the huns were to stay in the League then, Celtic fans would
boycott every team who voted for the hun retention.
Just goes to show that…when the Celtic support grow a pair,
they get instant respect.
Anyway – what do I know ?
Bye.
Did anyone who attended last Friday’s magnificent shindig in the Kerrydale happen to pick up a pair of glasses?!!
My mate, sitting a table NUMBER 33, left the glasses on the table upon departure.
It was sheer absentmindedness and nothing to do with the ten pints of lager.
He’s drawn a blank with Celtic Park “Lost & Found” so the CQN blog is a last resort.
Any finders, please liaise with Paul 67 for my contact details.
Many thanks.
MrMagooCSC
(glasses were brown in colour small legs/lenses & housed in a blue case)
To all the Joe’s I’ve loved before.. not in the Putin way :-)
Joe Craig
Joe Ledley
Joe McBride
Joe Miller
Jo-han Mjallby
Jo’os Valgaeren
Happy saints day
Hi Vmhan
Smiled when I saw the car. Do not think I would get away with that version. Wish I could, but it might draw too much attraction to myself. Again thanks for thinking about me for the Greenock night.
Wee article about the ineptitude of local and provincial newspapers.
It’s not just Scotland where self-censorship and self-interest combine to neuter the press.
http://howtobeacompletebastard.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/self-censorship-is-killing-journalism.html
tonydonnelly67
11:37 on 19 March, 2014
Your comments about a good Celtic fan this morning were ludicrous. Angry, misanthropic bile. That’s why I replied.
_____________________________
Misanthropic? Not me mate, I’m surrounded by people and have been all my life, you don’t know me at all, so try an get your facts right, I’m a people person, maybe not your kind or others in here, but it sleep well at night, and have a wonderfull life, and your not in it.
——–
Your right, I don’t know you.
I can only go by what I read on CQN. For someone blessed with such a wonderful life, your posts are very angry and somewhat needy. As well as personally abusive. Go figure.
Suggest this isn’t going anywhere so best leave it be. (Anyway, you probably have plans to frolick through a meadow somewhere with a few hundred of your closest friends.)
T4,
aye. or else he’s take one of nis many frequent crabbit attacks and flounced
:-)
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
glasgowdave
Jo Venglos
Murray and Lendle parting company.
Lendl is parting annaw. Doh
a voice from the past….(AAFG ?)
Personally I wish we would just play them soon. In fact I can’t wait to have played them a half dozen or so times (including a shock 0-1 defeat)
The build up to the first game will be chronic, a media frenzy and a day for gentle folk to leave town. I will probably join them.
Once we get to a place where we regularly beat them to the point of monotony and a draw or defeat is treated the same as a loss to the Mortons and St Mirrens of this world the better.
‘GG
I personally think Dr Jo was unfortunate in his time with Celtic.
He arrived to a dressing-room revolt,and at the time when Murray was spending awesome amounts of money. Not his,of course.
Meantime,he bought two great players in Lubo and Mjallby,another who performed well in Riseth,and in Viduka the laziest bassa ever to fill our jersey-see what I did there-who we later used to buy Chris Sutton.
We had some great times under him,and he deserves his place in our history.
glasgowdave
Jo Brand ; )))
HH