tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593189288898730807.post5628872229987335546..comments2023-09-02T19:33:30.329+08:00Comments on The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer: Keep the World Cup in Qatar even if it bought its way in (JMD in Arab Weekly)The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08780576145703699280noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593189288898730807.post-17109220107315190602015-06-05T21:12:36.860+08:002015-06-05T21:12:36.860+08:00sorry meant thanks for the commentsorry meant thanks for the commentThe Turbulent World of Middle East Soccerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08780576145703699280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593189288898730807.post-50044936307194780132015-06-05T21:11:59.256+08:002015-06-05T21:11:59.256+08:00William, thanks for the conflict. The jury is out ...William, thanks for the conflict. The jury is out but change of if not abolution of the kafala or sponsorship system would constitute a major change and ultimately have a ripple effect in the Gulf. Moreover, we don't discriminate against individuals because of whatever attributes in size or whatever they may have, why would one make an axception to that rule for countries. If one wishes to credit Blatter with having expanded the geography of the game than one has to also accept the consequences on the basis of equality.The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08780576145703699280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593189288898730807.post-72738418592267679902015-06-05T20:54:16.455+08:002015-06-05T20:54:16.455+08:00James, as you know I love your work, but find the ...James, as you know I love your work, but find the conclusion of this piece hard to swallow (and that's not British sour grapes, I promise!). I'm really not sure that the World Cup's potential to leave a 'legacy of change' matters all that much, leaving aside the question as to how paper-thin or non-existent such a legacy might turn out to be. As important is the actual staging of the event itself and the reality is that a World Cup staged in a city state will be a diminution of the very fabric of the tournament, where travel across a country and football heritage play a big part in the feel of the event. I'd love to see a World Cup in the MENA region, but not in a place whose sole merit is that they threw lots of money at the process. A World Cup in Turkey would be really something, Egypt too (if the politics could be sorted), even Morocco, but Qatar, not so much. <br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13091960430679670132noreply@blogger.com