by The Insider » Fri Dec 03, 2010 5:40 pm
Bill
You, like me, have obviously been to Qatar.
I was there for the Moto GP, it is exactly as you say regarding alcohol, I am truely astounded (well within reason) that they were awarded it the World Cup, they have no footballing history whatsoever, the place is tiny and there is nowhere to go to enjoy yourself if your Western, you and I understand that they are actually quite liberal compared to their ruthless Saudi neighbours.
The World Cup is mean't to be a global celebration of the beautiful game, it's all about dressing up in your national colours and having a fantastic time with a few drinks, that is NOT Qatar or anywhere in the Middle East.
The whole FIFA voting system is totaly corrupt and long past requiring a comprehensive overhaul, the bribery is rife, so much so that the whole affair is an embarrassing global sham.
I've lived in England almost thirty years, we had a fabulous time here in the Northwest when it was Euro 96, the country could host a World Cup this weekend at the drop of a hat, it has the fans, the stadia, the infrastructure and the passion.
If you followed the bid and the final presentation then you would have seen that it was not only the most financially viable, but the overall best bid in terms of progressing grassroots and community football on a global scale, the fact that England was NOT awarded it proves that FIFA has NO interest in the development of the game for the benifit of the mass population per-say, they are ALL about who will line their wallets, it's pathetic and needs addressing ASAP.
I will be in Brazil in 2014, I have great friends there, the country eats, sleeps and breathes the game, the people are super friendly, the girls are stunning, the food is amazing anf the weather is fab, compare that with going to Russia (been there several times) where they are VERY unfriendly, the first answer to any question is NO and the Mafia control EVERYTHING from bars to hotels, they will run the whole tournament and make tens of millions, it will be challenging and for the nieve traveller, a minefield.
Follow that by going to that poxy little desert landmass of Saudi Arabi where (in certain circumstances) you can get arrested for speaking to a single female......NO CONTEST.
Brazil and England or Russia and Qatar, you choose.......NO CONTEST.
See you all in Rio.
TI
We're here for a good time, NOT a long time, so keep it lit and never quite.