World Cup

[fintanstack]

I have been reading stories about Harry Kane and other wearing a rainbow armband in Qatar.

Denmark are playing in a plain shirt with no sponsors on training tops.

It seems the players pretend to care but no one has had the courage to refuse to play.

A big name, first team starter for one of the top nations could send a massive message that human rights, religious freedom, women's rights and LGTBQ issues are more important than football.

They will not, of course.

Am I alone in thinking this whole sportswashing tournament is a sham?

I would be so much happier if England just refused to play. (No jokes about refusing to qualify from the group needed)

Will most of us end up watching anyway? I hope I will not be tempted but I probably will. Does that make me hypocritical?

Am I as much to blame as players and officials who are willing making it happen?

No answers, just interested in the thoughts of others, since it is obvious I am very conflicted.

[baggins]

Sept 28, 2022 18:45:19 GMT fintanstack said:

I have been reading stories about Harry Kane and other wearing a rainbow armband in Qatar.

Denmark are playing in a plain shirt with no sponsors on training tops.

It seems the players pretend to care but no one has had the courage to refuse to play.

A big name, first team starter for one of the top nations could send a massive message that human rights, religious freedom, women's rights and LGTBQ issues are more important than football.

They will not, of course.

Am I alone in thinking this whole sportswashing tournament is a sham?

I would be so much happier if England just refused to play. (No jokes about refusing to qualify from the group needed)

Will most of us end up watching anyway? I hope I will not be tempted but I probably will. Does that make me hypocritical?

Am I as much to blame as players and officials who are willing making it happen?

No answers, just interested in the thoughts of others, since it is obvious I am very conflicted.

I'll watch, we'll only be in it for 3 games anyway.

[yattongas]

Yep I’ll be watching because it’s a World Cup ….. you just can’t beat it . Every sport that has big viewing figures is tainted somehow or other . Golf , football formula 1 , etc with betting firms , tobacco, crypto all sorts . Loads of top clubs are just fronts for various countries , Newcastle , Man City , Paris SG etc .

[yattongas]

Double post 😬 

[oldie]

I share your concerns.
If our media was strong enough, they would counter the "sports washing" with simultaneous programming that could highlight the issues you raise. But they won't (hope I am wrong) because the Government won't want to offend Arab Government controlled Sovereign wealth funds and the commercial outlets won't want to upset their advertising clients.

As for the victims in Gulf States, who cares, they are only Muslim anyway, right?

[dudelebowski]

Fly out Nov 24th, there for the games Vs USA, Wales & our R16 fixture should we go through. Also taking in group matches involving Argentina, Brazil & a few others.

[wrongsideoftheriver]

Fly out 17th November come back 3rd

Potentially stay out for the whole tournament depending how far england go.

[fintanstack]

Sept 29, 2022 5:25:26 GMT dudelebowski said:

Fly out Nov 24th, there for the games Vs USA, Wales & our R16 fixture should we go through. Also taking in group matches involving Argentina, Brazil & a few others.

So the human rights issues do not bother you at all?

[dudelebowski]

Sept 29, 2022 12:19:10 GMT fintanstack said:

Sept 29, 2022 5:25:26 GMT dudelebowski said:

Fly out Nov 24th, there for the games Vs USA, Wales & our R16 fixture should we go through. Also taking in group matches involving Argentina, Brazil & a few others.

So the human rights issues do not bother you at all?

It’s obviously not great, but then I was in Russia 2018 for a month as well🤷🏻‍♂️I suppose I’m taking the same line as the Danes, I’m heading there as an England supporter only having missed less than 5 matches of Gareth’s entire tenure. I don’t agree with any of their beliefs I.E LGBT and the alleged treatment of the workers over there. Whatever the death toll figure actually is, they say 37 on site deaths, the papers say 30 odd thousand. Who knows.

Also, I’ve never been to the Middle East in any description, as with all my international travels I’m curious to sample the culture and see what it’s like in that part of the world. Though I’m under no illusions it’ll be exactly like Russia & far from the authentic experience for the time I’m out there, merely jazzed up & putting on a front for the occasion. But I’m ok with that.

[fintanstack]

Sept 29, 2022 12:31:33 GMT dudelebowski said:

Sept 29, 2022 12:19:10 GMT fintanstack said:

So the human rights issues do not bother you at all?

It’s obviously not great, but then I was in Russia 2018 for a month as well🤷🏻‍♂️I suppose I’m taking the same line as the Danes, I’m heading there as an England supporter only having missed less than 5 matches of Gareth’s entire tenure. I don’t agree with any of their beliefs I.E LGBT and the alleged treatment of the workers over there. Whatever the death toll figure actually is, they say 37 on site deaths, the papers say 30 odd thousand. Who knows.

Also, I’ve never been to the Middle East in any description, as with all my international travels I’m curious to sample the culture and see what it’s like in that part of the world. Though I’m under no illusions it’ll be exactly like Russia & far from the authentic experience for the time I’m out there, merely jazzed up & putting on a front for the occasion. But I’m ok with that.

Fair enough, I am not judging.

No one was worried about human rights abuse, LGBTQ, and racism when the USA got it, so maybe it is racism on my part for wondering about that now.

I would like to think it is just me moving with the times and growing though.

[yattongas]

You’ve gotta have a covid pass and download some app so they can monitor your movements apparently.

[dudelebowski]

Sept 29, 2022 14:14:43 GMT yattongas said:

You’ve gotta have a covid pass and download some app so they can monitor your movements apparently.

Covid test needed definitely. We’ve had to sign up for a visa like accreditation to either produce via an app, or a physical copy (which I have) that comes in the form of a laminated credit card sized pass. Mugshot, passport number etc…to wear at all times, not sure you’ll even get in the country without it.
We had the exact same thing in Russia for the last World Cup.
Wether this counts as a tracking device, I’ll leave that up to the individual.
There’s north of 1/4 million tickets sold for this WC, not sure they’ll zone in too much on a small band of Gasheads/FGR fans😄

[yattongas]

Sept 29, 2022 15:35:33 GMT dudelebowski said:

Sept 29, 2022 14:14:43 GMT yattongas said:

You’ve gotta have a covid pass and download some app so they can monitor your movements apparently.

Covid test needed definitely. We’ve had to sign up for a visa like accreditation to either produce via an app, or a physical copy (which I have) that comes in the form of a laminated credit card sized pass. Mugshot, passport number etc…to wear at all times, not sure you’ll even get in the country without it.
We had the exact same thing in Russia for the last World Cup.
Wether this counts as a tracking device, I’ll leave that up to the individual.
There’s north of 1/4 million tickets sold for this WC, not sure they’ll zone in too much on a small band of Gasheads/FGR fans😄

Must be costing you a fortune following the Gas and England ? 💰 
Hope you have a great time and it’s worth the money ! 

[dudelebowski]

Sept 29, 2022 15:47:42 GMT yattongas said:

Sept 29, 2022 15:35:33 GMT dudelebowski said:

Covid test needed definitely. We’ve had to sign up for a visa like accreditation to either produce via an app, or a physical copy (which I have) that comes in the form of a laminated credit card sized pass. Mugshot, passport number etc…to wear at all times, not sure you’ll even get in the country without it.
We had the exact same thing in Russia for the last World Cup.
Wether this counts as a tracking device, I’ll leave that up to the individual.
There’s north of 1/4 million tickets sold for this WC, not sure they’ll zone in too much on a small band of Gasheads/FGR fans😄

Must be costing you a fortune following the Gas and England ? 💰 
Hope you have a great time and it’s worth the money ! 

Just a tad, I’m very fortunate in that my only real responsibility is the mortgage. If I had a family like most, no way I’d be able to do both, maybe none of it at all.
Ah it’s always worth the money dude, if it turns out to be an unwanted result (Like Milan last week) we just palm it off with “never let the 90mins put a downer on the whole trip” 😄😄

[Gassy]

Enjoy it, those who’re going! With the little one I just can’t see how I can go to a WC off continent these days. Hopefully Germany in a couple of years.

It’s also different though, never really has that mates group to go to England games with

[Qatar Gas]

Looking forward to meeting up with some fellow Gasheads this November!

[dudelebowski]

Secured a couple of extra games this week:

Croatia Vs Canada in the Khalifa International Stadium
Serbia Vs Swiss in Stadium 974

So few tickets going at the cheapest category especially for any of the top sides. Still looking to snag an Argentina match, one last chance to finally see Messi himself.

[wrongsideoftheriver]

Managed to bag few extra myself

Opening game for Qatar themselves

A few Brazil games
Brazil vs Switzerland
Brazil vs Cameroon


Croatia vs Canada

Ghana vs Uruguay


Desperate to try and grab a Argentina ticket but with messi announcing it will his last tournament it makes it highly unlikely I’ll get one!!

[Qatar Gas]

Oct 7, 2022 3:55:16 GMT wrongsideoftheriver said:

Managed to bag few extra myself

Opening game for Qatar themselves

A few Brazil games
Brazil vs Switzerland
Brazil vs Cameroon


Croatia vs Canada

Ghana vs Uruguay


Desperate to try and grab a Argentina ticket but with messi announcing it will his last tournament it makes it highly unlikely I’ll get one!!

Have been desperately trying to get a ticket for the opening game! Annoying that they moved it so late on as I couldn’t go for it before as it was clashing with Englands first game!
Anyway, I’m on 16 games minimum now (19 if England go all the way). Had a couple more games which I sold during the first resale.

[Qatar Gas]

Oct 6, 2022 19:38:58 GMT dudelebowski said:

Secured a couple of extra games this week:

Croatia Vs Canada in the Khalifa International Stadium
Serbia Vs Swiss in Stadium 974

So few tickets going at the cheapest category especially for any of the top sides. Still looking to snag an Argentina match, one last chance to finally see Messi himself.

Argentina tickets have been like gold dust! By far the most popular team this year! Personally I haven’t bothered trying to get any Argentina games. I have tickets to both semi finals so there’s still a good chance I’ll see them then.