FIFA Awards the World Cup to Russia and Qatar, But Why?
By now you've heard that FIFA awarded the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 World Cup to Qatar. As Ryan discussed yesterday, England (the home of football) was likely a longshot due to all of the backlash against the negative reporting by the British press. Their 2 votes (last place) in the voting was a sign that the executive committee gave a collective FU to the English. However, the shocking development was the United States being passed over by an oil-rich nation roughly the size of Connecticut. That's right, the world's largest sporting event will fit into an area the size of our 48th largest state. [randallsimonsausages2]
Before we get to actually figuring out what is really going on here, let's take a step back and see how FIFA arrived at this decision. Qatar seems like a strange choice doesn't it? With it's size, complete lack of soccer heritage, and no present infrastructure to begin with... it's puzzling that it was chosen ahead of the USA, Australia, and even Korea and Japan. Russia winning the 2018 bid is perhaps a bit easier to understand because of its slow rise as a footballing country and potential as a World Cup host. However, England or even the Spain/Portugal bid seemed like more logical choices than Russia because of similar problems that affect the Qatar bid, namely a lack of infrastructure. If you don't believe me, then here are the facts...
1) Qatar was the only country assigned a "high risk" operation. Russia was the only country assigned as a "medium risk." Every other country that applied for 2018 or 2022 was deemed low risk.
2) Russia and Qatar were the only 2 countries to receive a "medium risk" declaration in the areas of Stadium Construction and Stadium Operations. The USA was the only "low risk" country in both these areas.
3) Qatar was the only country to have "high risk" team facilities, while Russia was the only country with a "high risk" for transport in airports and international connections. Again, the USA was low risk in both areas as was England. Qatar was given the worst marks for transport, accommodations, and TV access.
4) Russia and Qatar have the highest building costs of any countries, each needing over 3 BILLION DOLLARS worth of new stadium and construction renovation, not to mention the work that needs done to improve infrastructure elsewhere.
You know who discovered these facts.... FIFA!!!!!
FIFA!!!
Again... FIIIIIFFFAAA!!!!
What's the freaking point of this toilet paper technical report if all the executive committee is going to do is wipe their fat, oil soaked rectums with it and ignore their own findings.
Here's some more info about the winning Russian bid from the worthless technical report...
"The country's vastness and its remoteness from other countries, coupled with the fact that the high-speed railway network is limited and would only link six candidate Host Cities by 2018... any delay in the completion of the transport projects could impact on FIFA's tournament operations and the proposed installation of temporary facilities could impose a high cost burden."
Hmm, notice that phrase in bold italics? Yes, THE F'N TOURNAMENT MIGHT NOT WORK OUT HERE, but screw it, Putin + Oil = Win!
Here's the golden quote from the Qatar recap...
"Nevertheless, the fact that ten out of the 12 stadiums are located within a 25-30km radius could represent an operational and logistical challenge. Any delay in the completion of the transport projects could impact FIFA's tournament operations. Moreover, it appears to be difficult to test a transport concept prior to the event under conditions comparable to the FIFA World Cup."
So, in Qatar, not only could the tournament be in jeopardy... but there's no way to find out whether this thing will work or not until the World Cup even starts!! Oh, and don't worry about the excessively hot temperatures, by 2022 we'll all be somehow able to cope with 120 degree temperatures on a regular basis. When players and fans start to collapse and possibly die due to heat exhaustion in Qatar, then maybe the questions will be asked by FIFA. In case you have no idea where Qatar is, it's that little growth off of Saudi Arabia in the box below. Yes, we need a box to tell you where it is...
So, in conclusion, Qatar has no business hosting the thing and Russia is an obviously inferior bid to the English and even Spanish/Portugese competitors for the 2018 Cup. Sepp Blatter and his cartel cohorts at FIFA get a win-win though by denying England and the USA and awarding the cups to Russia and Qatar. Blatter gets to add to his own personal "legacy" by supposedly growing the game of soccer across the world while likely padding his own pocketbook along with the rest of FIFA's cartel members.
If you don't equate oil and money with World Cup bid in this, you're as naive as Cam Newton. I know the logical argument, doesn't a World Cup in England and the USA project more ticket sales, TV revenue, and overall profitability? Doesn't a 2026 WC in China present similar opportunities? Yes, of course... but, it doesn't line the pocketbooks of FIFA's cartel today. FIFA will claim a higher purpose in taking the World Cup to Russia and especially the Middle East. Supposedly the World Cup being in Qatar will help unite the region, end the Israeli-Palestine conflict, cure global warming, and bring about world peace. Bull$h*#. When reputable soccer writers like SI's Grant Wahl are tweeting this, it's not a good sign for the reputability of your organization:
Choosing Qatar and Russia is the biggest indictment possible that FIFA is not a clean organization. Petrodollars talk.
RT @
Today is just another day for corruption and dishonesty in sport. Hopefully the truth comes out about what really happened and FIFA can be exposed for what they really are. What FIFA should have done is save countries like the USA and England and Australia and Holland time and money by just acknowledging from the beginning that they're taking the money and kickbacks while claiming some sort of higher purpose. The whole thing makes me sick. [randallsimonsausages2]
