This thread was starting to make me think I was the most 'right-wing' person who supports Wycombe. But then I remembered Henning Wehn's Twitter account.
The scariest aspect of the blatantly obvious global warming (for which there is visual evidence virtually daily on our screens) is the rapidity with which it has been taking place just within my lifetime.
As the second oldest Gasroomer and as a keen amateur meteorologist from my early teens, I have been well aware for about 70 years of the steady decline in the frequency, depth and duration of snow cover during winter months.
You're also missing the biggest issue of them all...that we love having these tournaments in the summer and that January nonsense was farcical. And maybe rusty as well?
This 'whataboutery' misses the point that just because something has always been done, doesn't mean in needs to carry on this way.
People are now much more aware of injustice happening across the planet now. Football is biggest sport and unifier in the world, why can't it be used for good?
The reason why is because FIFA won't let it. The corruption is so blatant now it's ridiculous. FIFA moved the bidding process at the last minute so only Saudi Arabia could properly bid. It achieved one of the highest points total FIFA score these things on, although many stadiums and even cities haven't been built yet.
FIFA had very advertised trouble in finding a broadcaster for their ridiculous Club World Cup. Suddenly, Saudi's Public Investment Fund invest one billion into the broadcaster DAZN. Wouldn't you know, DAZN then pay one billion for the rights for the Club World Cup, even though it had been valued by other broadcasters as a fraction of that costs.
This isn't a case of 'someone's culture is a bit different to our own'. It's one where many forms of liberties are simply illegal and punishable by death. It's somewhere that shouldn't be allowed the honour of hosting a World Cup, yet it will because FIFA value enormous sums of cash over anything else. It's not a bit 'problematic', it's the biggest tournament in the world being used to prop-up sportswashing by a brutal dictatorship.
It's not simply enough for a few people to 'not watch it', as it's the biggest sport in the world, so people will tune in. FIFA know that.
Name me a politician who doesn't go there and kiss the oily ring .
Doesn't make it right that FIFA award them the World Cup.
There are teenage girls in prison because they wanted to learn to drive for God's sake...(oh sorry tried to destroy the state..or something) even under Harold Wilson's oppressive 1966 junta your missus could drive you home from the pub.
@Kim_il_Swan I know Trump and Beery Nige are fans....but I think Putin's Russia have been 'baddies' for some time...not just a recent decision by the liberal elite to besmirch Vlad's good name.
a) if we are serious about climate change should we be condoning the flights necessary to participate in & be spectators of the world cup & its qualifying tournament?
b) why do people always presume that their way of life/culture/customers are better/more right than others? (I am not in anyway defending the way Saudi Arabia behaves)
c) as others have said just because something was considered ok in the cultural context of the time, it does not necessarily make it right now; after all we used to send little boys up chimmneys or down pits but now consider child labour to be wrong...
d) despite FIFA's bullshit about not involving politics in sport, this decision is about nothing but money & politics - not that anyone should be surprised by the hypocrisy
Oh and of course Starmer etc. like the Saudis because they have oil & a shit ton of money and seem happy "investing" it in the West.
Quite the opposite. If you decide that sport and morals are intertwined then you should apply it to all events and not just ones in Arab countries. Anybody boycotting the World Cup in 2026 because the USA has the death penalty? Me neither.
Saudi Arabia is modernising at an alarming pace and will probably be identical to the UAE by 2034 (a country that sells alcohol and is therefore exempt from the criticism that other Gulf states get)
Not that we will know because, as David Wheeler points out, we'll all be dead by then. From pollution.
There are a lot of people who have reason not to want the world cup to be in Saudi Arabia. The growth of football there is a threat to long term revenues for the Premier League, and the shift in global political power to emerging economies such as Saudi Arabia does threaten the dominant position western economies have enjoyed. Corruption within FIFA has also been proven so it is quite difficult to trust their selection process.
Saudi Arabia has Human Rights issues in relation to corporal punishment and societal inequality, particularly towards women and migrant workers. It also promotes fossil fuel use to the long term detriment of the planet, but they are far from alone in this. We need to transition to new energy sources much more quickly if we are to prevent significant and rapid global warming and this is something political engagement with them can support. Hopefully by 2034 the world will use far less oil and Saudi Arabia will look to use it to build new bridges in a low carbon world. Can Saudi Arabia be blamed for seeing the decline in fossil fuel use as detriment to their livelihood?
Whilst the settlements following worker deaths in Qatar are still lacking, the world spotlight on them has improved conditions for migrant workers today compared to before the world cup was awarded. If this kind of societal development can be achieved in Saudi Arabia due to it hosting the world cup surely that is a benefit. Given the investment that will also be put into football I think the FIFA decision is entirely understandable. The key issue is whether FIFA can be trusted to distribute revenues fairly.
Comments
That graph is in fahrenheit. No doubt another devious plot by 'big green' to misrepresent the increase as being bigger than it is.
This thread was starting to make me think I was the most 'right-wing' person who supports Wycombe. But then I remembered Henning Wehn's Twitter account.
What about Neil Harman?
I don't agree with a fair amount of his twitter output, but he's far from the more right-wing person to have ever supported Wycombe. On a sidenote, it's fair to say some right-wing football supporters haven't taken a shine to him... https://www.followfollow.com/forum/threads/henning-wehn-german-comedian.158584/page-2
Anyone who finds the use of 'moron' offensive is going to find that thread a VERY difficult read.
I haven't blocked you Mr Kim, so you must be fairly soft right-wing. Unless I just ran out of blocks...
The plagiarist must be the Gasroom’s premier far-right standard bearer.
He was the first person I thought of the other day when the stats about ‘the most popular name for a boy’ were released by the ONS.
The scariest aspect of the blatantly obvious global warming (for which there is visual evidence virtually daily on our screens) is the rapidity with which it has been taking place just within my lifetime.
As the second oldest Gasroomer and as a keen amateur meteorologist from my early teens, I have been well aware for about 70 years of the steady decline in the frequency, depth and duration of snow cover during winter months.
That’s sufficient evidence for me.
1966 took place in a country where homosexuality was illegal and women couldn't have bank accounts without permission.
1978 took place under a military dictatorship
2018 was in Russia, currently 'the baddies'
2030 is taking place in THREE CONTINENTS for fucks sake.
The World Cup is always going to be 'problematic' for somebody somewhere, David. So just don't watch it.
You're also missing the biggest issue of them all...that we love having these tournaments in the summer and that January nonsense was farcical. And maybe rusty as well?
This 'whataboutery' misses the point that just because something has always been done, doesn't mean in needs to carry on this way.
People are now much more aware of injustice happening across the planet now. Football is biggest sport and unifier in the world, why can't it be used for good?
The reason why is because FIFA won't let it. The corruption is so blatant now it's ridiculous. FIFA moved the bidding process at the last minute so only Saudi Arabia could properly bid. It achieved one of the highest points total FIFA score these things on, although many stadiums and even cities haven't been built yet.
FIFA had very advertised trouble in finding a broadcaster for their ridiculous Club World Cup. Suddenly, Saudi's Public Investment Fund invest one billion into the broadcaster DAZN. Wouldn't you know, DAZN then pay one billion for the rights for the Club World Cup, even though it had been valued by other broadcasters as a fraction of that costs.
This isn't a case of 'someone's culture is a bit different to our own'. It's one where many forms of liberties are simply illegal and punishable by death. It's somewhere that shouldn't be allowed the honour of hosting a World Cup, yet it will because FIFA value enormous sums of cash over anything else. It's not a bit 'problematic', it's the biggest tournament in the world being used to prop-up sportswashing by a brutal dictatorship.
It's not simply enough for a few people to 'not watch it', as it's the biggest sport in the world, so people will tune in. FIFA know that.
The UK has progressed beyond anti-homosexuality laws and Argentina beyond juntas.
Saudi Arabia still chops people's heads off...
What's your point? Everyone should be apathetic and throw their morals out the window at the first opportunity?
Keir Starmer seems to like them though...
Name me a politician who doesn't go there and kiss the oily ring .
Doesn't make it right that FIFA award them the World Cup.
There are teenage girls in prison because they wanted to learn to drive for God's sake...(oh sorry tried to destroy the state..or something) even under Harold Wilson's oppressive 1966 junta your missus could drive you home from the pub.
@Kim_il_Swan I know Trump and Beery Nige are fans....but I think Putin's Russia have been 'baddies' for some time...not just a recent decision by the liberal elite to besmirch Vlad's good name.
Yes, I agree that they are all the same. However, I'm sure that we were told that everything was going to 'change'...
Furthermore, it is certainly not right to award them the World Cup along with Qatar, Russia etc.
A few things struck me about all this
a) if we are serious about climate change should we be condoning the flights necessary to participate in & be spectators of the world cup & its qualifying tournament?
b) why do people always presume that their way of life/culture/customers are better/more right than others? (I am not in anyway defending the way Saudi Arabia behaves)
c) as others have said just because something was considered ok in the cultural context of the time, it does not necessarily make it right now; after all we used to send little boys up chimmneys or down pits but now consider child labour to be wrong...
d) despite FIFA's bullshit about not involving politics in sport, this decision is about nothing but money & politics - not that anyone should be surprised by the hypocrisy
Oh and of course Starmer etc. like the Saudis because they have oil & a shit ton of money and seem happy "investing" it in the West.
Nice post and that, but you're addressing this to a guy posting as "kim-il-swan", aka, a spoof poster!
Quite the opposite. If you decide that sport and morals are intertwined then you should apply it to all events and not just ones in Arab countries. Anybody boycotting the World Cup in 2026 because the USA has the death penalty? Me neither.
Saudi Arabia is modernising at an alarming pace and will probably be identical to the UAE by 2034 (a country that sells alcohol and is therefore exempt from the criticism that other Gulf states get)
Not that we will know because, as David Wheeler points out, we'll all be dead by then. From pollution.
Oh I know, and I shouldn't have bitten, but sometimes the rank, stinking skullduggery needs to be laid bare.
My fault as well for taking the bait after saying I avoid these conversations in a pub.
I personally love it when you try and do a serious post as you have to shift your whole MO.
There are a lot of people who have reason not to want the world cup to be in Saudi Arabia. The growth of football there is a threat to long term revenues for the Premier League, and the shift in global political power to emerging economies such as Saudi Arabia does threaten the dominant position western economies have enjoyed. Corruption within FIFA has also been proven so it is quite difficult to trust their selection process.
Saudi Arabia has Human Rights issues in relation to corporal punishment and societal inequality, particularly towards women and migrant workers. It also promotes fossil fuel use to the long term detriment of the planet, but they are far from alone in this. We need to transition to new energy sources much more quickly if we are to prevent significant and rapid global warming and this is something political engagement with them can support. Hopefully by 2034 the world will use far less oil and Saudi Arabia will look to use it to build new bridges in a low carbon world. Can Saudi Arabia be blamed for seeing the decline in fossil fuel use as detriment to their livelihood?
Whilst the settlements following worker deaths in Qatar are still lacking, the world spotlight on them has improved conditions for migrant workers today compared to before the world cup was awarded. If this kind of societal development can be achieved in Saudi Arabia due to it hosting the world cup surely that is a benefit. Given the investment that will also be put into football I think the FIFA decision is entirely understandable. The key issue is whether FIFA can be trusted to distribute revenues fairly.
Sportswashing.
Don't ever try and have this conversation with a Newcastle fan, whatever you do.
Arsenal often get a free pass owing to the more obvious cases, but if you look at the story behind 'Visit Rwanda' it is very unsettling too.
I thought that was Priti Patel sponsoring them
I know their industry is hardly morally upright, but I bet all those gambling sponsors who get it in the neck think...'Hang on a minute...'
I regularly have to shift my MO. I assume it is my age.