Favourite football / Soccer team

[purplethistle]

^ Same feeling here. Australia would have also been the closest thing to Oceania hosting a WC.

 

[Empress Merel]

as well as the naivity of some others about how things work in real life

How the FIFA works yeah. It's not for nothing FIFA is always under discussion...

I do believe FIFA wants to promote football everywhere and give the countries a boast (South-Africa) but in the end, these men want the money. As for the choice for Russia and Quatar? Oil. You sum it up.

For the rest, I could honestly not care more. It's not like I'll travel there, just watching from the tube.

 

[MulletProof]

^^^
We're way off-topic with this but taking travel advice from a government kind of proves the ignorance that xerq mentions, I know it should be expected, it isn't a travel forum by any means, but just so you know, the UK government also ''warns'' its citizens about crime.... in Canada. Notices for travelers are often exaggerated, they have to conform to a political agenda. Any traveler knows that.. sometimes I think these notices are only to be taken seriously by people that actually don't move and settle for the comfort of that type of information.

As for your.. information on Qatar, many of what you mention is also illegal in plenty of 'free' and 'modern' countries. PDA is prohibited in many American schools/communities. The Israeli stamp is understandable, none of the Arab countries have a good relation with Israel, they have the right to suspect of anyone from an 'enemy' country in the same way Iran doesn't trust American tourists and Americans suspect of Cuban stamps.

Modernity is a debatable concept. There are only countries calling themselves 'modern' while practicing barbarism and keeping its citizens paranoid and countries that do the same but don't bother on telling everyone that they are modern.

I understand you wanted your country to get this, same for Birkin wanting Spain to win but I really think pulling out the negative just to prove how bad of a choice it was is not going to be very convincing, especially when most of the arguments sound straight out of a Fox News viewer.

 

[Birkin]

no..no..i'm not from Spain, i'm from.... damn , she caught me!

 

[*Bianca*]

if fifa was all about the money wouldn't they have gone for England? or America, i seem to recall them hosting the most financially sound WC ever.

It's about the money they can receive right now, as opposed to years later in the future. The majority of current ExCo members won't be holding these positions in 2022, possibly won’t even be alive then (some are currently in their 60s and 70s).

And of course, typical politics is a major part. One of the most convincing rationales circulating, even months before the announcement of the bid, is that Blatter wants another term as FIFA president, but Bin Hammam, president of the Asian Football Confederation (who is from Doha), actually has the numbers to challenge and oust him.

So a deal was struck: Blatter can stay on for one more term if Bin Hammam’s country is awarded the hosting rights.

 

[*Bianca*]

^^^
We're way off-topic with this but taking travel advice from a government kind of proves the ignorance that xerq mentions, I know it should be expected, it isn't a travel forum by any means, but just so you know, the UK government also ''warns'' its citizens about crime.... in Canada. Notices for travelers are often exaggerated, they have to conform to a political agenda. Any traveler knows that.. sometimes I think these notices are only to be taken seriously by people that actually don't move and settle for the comfort of that type of information.

If you had read correctly, my information (yes, information...) on Qatar was regarding the country’s laws, not simply travel notices issued by various governments warnings about crime, bad weather and whatever else (as a side note: the UK and Australia list the rate and risk of crime in Qatar as low.)

As someone who has traveled several times throughout the world, I think it is laughably ignorant, and in fact, arrogant to not be aware of a particular country’s laws before entering.

The laws, described on the Australian government’s travel website, are not Western exaggerations - you can find them outlined in Qatar’s own Penal legislations
http://www.gcc-legal.org/MojPortalPublic/CountryHome.aspx?country=3

As for your.. information on Qatar, many of what you mention is also illegal in plenty of 'free' and 'modern' countries. PDA is prohibited in many American schools/communities.

You cannot seriously compare rules in American schools to government laws of a whole country. It’s a completely different thing to not be allowed to kiss your partner in a school, than not being permitted to kiss your partner in a restaurant, street, or any public place in Qatar. You made a poor analogy based on flawed logic.

And I didn’t even mention Qatar’s highly questionable ‘sponsorship’ laws under the Kafala system. Please take into account the workforce who will actually construct Qatar’s dazzling stadiums and new infrastructure: thousands of impoverished South Asian migrant workers who are treated crudely under conditions that constitute slavery. They are forced to endure hazardous working conditions, inadequate pay (if paid at all), excessive work hours, trade union bans, inhumane living conditions, threats of deportation, confiscated passports, and a myriad of abuse. And without their employers permission they can’t quit, nor leave the country. Keep in mind, more than 70% of Qatar’s entire population are foreign workers. The systematic widespread exploitation in the construction and energy sectors in Gulf nations cannot just be left ignored. You may argue immigrant workers are taken advantage of in the US too, but the difference is in the US it is not legal - in Qatar it is. And just because it happens elsewhere, it doesn’t absolve Qatar for their role in the practice. Perhaps the 2022 WC will highlight Qatar’s abysmal record, putting international pressure on them to reform their existing labor laws.

The Israeli stamp is understandable, none of the Arab countries have a good relation with Israel, they have the right to suspect of anyone from an 'enemy' country in the same way Iran doesn't trust American tourists and Americans suspect of Cuban stamps.

I am not talking about Israelis, which I agree, is understandable, but tourists of any other nationality who have happened to travel through or visit Israel, and had the misfortune of having their passport stamped.

I understand you wanted your country to get this, same for Birkin wanting Spain to win but I really think pulling out the negative just to prove how bad of a choice it was is not going to be very convincing, especially when most of the arguments sound straight out of a Fox News viewer.

Naturally I was disappointed Australia wasn’t given the chance to host a WC, and probably won’t ever in my lifetime. But I honestly didn’t expect them to win.

I don't watch Fox News. I get my international news from CNN and BBC. I know Qatar is dynamic, constantly evolving and relatively progressive compared to others countries in the region, but I was particularly talking about their current laws. Pointing out laws, stating facts, cannot be classified as the type of anti-Middle Eastern sentiment that you see on Fox news from their Islamophobic pundits.

Mind you, being slightly more liberal with respect to freedom and equality than other countries doesn't negate Qatar's serious flaws. It is still a deeply conservative society with an uncompromising government ruled by an absolute monarchy.

The geopolitical considerations made it a compelling bid, but if you really want to go into the negative reasons why Qatar shouldn’t have won, a few clear ones are:

The blistering heat. I’m from Australia so I often experience 40-45 degree summers, and I personally cannot even begin to imagine playing a football match in 55 degrees. Yes, there’s the promise of glitzy air-conditioned stadiums, albeit very environmentally unfriendly, but what about the time not on the field? Are players and fans expected to spend the entire time indoors? Part of the thrill of attending a World Cup is exploring the host country, visiting tourist attractions, celebrating in bars and beer gardens, enjoying the nightlife and clubs. There is unfortunately nothing for tourists to do in Doha, especially in June/July.

Most significantly, Qatar gravely failed FIFA’s risk assessment. They weren’t even close with regard to infrastructure and team facilities. They were deemed high to medium risk in just about all operational factors. And keep in mind, the FIFA technical evaluations aren’t based on what they have now, but based on perceived capacity to deliver. Overall operational risk – Qatar – High, Russia – Medium. England, the US, and Australia were the three bids that received the highest scores for technical merit, yet they ended up with a grand total of only six votes in the first round. Clearly, the voting strategies were devised to knock out the most viable nations.

So, yes, I am disappointed with the outcome considering it was handed to the two least viable, highest-risk bids with critical weaknesses deemed by FIFA itself. Plus, taking note of the number of votes Russia and Qatar both received in the first round alone, resulting in a massive disparity between bid quality and bid success. No matter how much you expect corruption, when it happens it's still hard to stomach and tolerate.

I would not have been upset if the US had won 2022. At least they met FIFA’s supposedly set-in-stone requirements and it could be quite comfortably justified. Technically, the same can be said about South Korea and Japan, except for the issue both countries hosted it so recently.

 

[*Bianca*]

It's kinda fun to watch them self-destruct.

Suspended Fifa vice-president Jack Warner has made public an e-mail that claims Mohamed Bin Hammam "bought" the 2022 World Cup finals for Qatar.
Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke admitted he sent the e-mail, which also questioned why Asian football boss Bin Hammam was running for Fifa president.
Valcke wrote: "[Hammam] thought you can buy Fifa as they bought the World Cup."

Full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/13592684.stm

 

[bunburyist]

god they're just an absolute embarrassment. The organisation needs a complete overhaul, perhaps even replaced completely. Their skulduggery has gone on far too long and it's time something was done about it. It's just appalling that such an inherently distrustful organisation is in charge of the most popular sport in the world, particularly given how insufficiently they act in service of the sport itself.

Hopefully this farce will be the catalyst for reform.

I sent this letter to The Fiver last week. Slam dunk

"I see Sepp Blatter claiming that he played no part in, and takes no joy from, the recent allegations of corruption levelled against Fifa executives and rivals in his bid to retain his presidency. Finally, something novel from the upper echelons of Fifa: utter transparency"

 

[japoelflaco]

Is anybody watching the "Golden Cup" or Copa de Oro (spanish) in the US?? Guate, Guate.

 

[alonsoJonathan]

Soccer (Football)

Most leagues are about to start,so lets talk about Football!! (Soccer)​

World Cup Winners​

Spain​

Champions League​

Barcelona​

Both Pictures from Daylife​

 

[alonsoJonathan]

Champions League 13 September 2011 – 19 May 2012

Serie A (Italy) 28 August 2011-13 May 2012
La liga (Spain) 21 August 2011-13 May 2012
Premier League (England) 13 August 2011-13 May 2012

 

[alonsoJonathan]

Feel free to add anything you want or correct me if im wrong

 

[japoelflaco]

Only a month away, I cannot wait for la Lega Serie A to start. FORZA MILAN

On transfer news: Bojan left Barca to join AS Roma with Luis Enrique as the new head coach.
Alexis Sanchez was presented today with FC Barcelona.
In Milan News: New for the season; Taye Taiwo, Philip Mexes, El Sharawy.
Out to Juventus: Andrea Pirlo

Sorry if I don't write much about Madrid or Barca, but I couln't care less about those two.

 

[kokobombon]

Alonso, this thread should be called Football (soccer)

Uruguay. Copa America 2011 Champions



alt1040.com

 

[japoelflaco]

That's an impressive record. Grandpa, father and now son (Diego Forlan) have won the Copa America.
He really has football in his blood. B)

 

[alonsoJonathan]

this thread is about Favorite soccer team, not about the leagues i really dont get it.

 

[gossiping]

how did i not discover this thread before? haha.

 

[ladygodiva]

I'm so upset, my brother cancelled our Sky subscription which means no more live football. I have to watch the stupid highlights on MOTD.

 

[gossiping]

get espn! way better, imo. more football (well i like bundesliga a lot so it's good for me but still!)

 

[dorien]

well, we've used different threads to talk about fútbol at different times
no need to open up a different thread for every event, or league, imo
but yeah. i'ts only a few of us who are actually into the game, and not just because it's the world cup, and a fad.
new league seasons!!!

vamos Barcelona!!!
(let's go barcelona)