Spockydog Posted September 23, 2022 Share Posted September 23, 2022 The Welsh and English football supporters associations have returned from a fact finding trip to Qatar and are reporting their findings back to the media. The chap from the English FSA spoke at length on Football Weekly (he starts about 31 minutes in). Nothing he had to say was particularly positive. There is virtually nothing to do in Doha. It sounds like it is going to be a grim, wallet-shredding experience for fans. And due to the enormous fees venues have to pay in order to show the games on TV, it also sounds like it is going to be almost impossible to watch matches unless you are actually in a stadium. Or a 5* hotel. But seeing as FIFA have hoovered up 80% of the hotel capacity for themselves, with the remaining 20% going to their advertising partners, fans can forget that. Instead, it's tents in the desert, or eye-wateringly expensive apartment rentals where you will not even be able to watch games. On top of all this, for the first time ever, the fans of every nation competing in the competition are going to be crammed into a city the size of Sheffield. I'm sure that will pose no particular problems. At the end of his briefing, the response from one of the panel members was, 'It's just shit, isn't it.' Fuck FIFA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Chatywin et al. Posted September 23, 2022 Share Posted September 23, 2022 32 minutes ago, Spockydog said: At the end of his briefing, the response from one of the panel members was, 'It's just shit, isn't it.' Fuck FIFA. I heard about a report, but couldn't find it on the interwebs, that there was also next to no parking or infrastructure to accommodate the number of expected tourists and that the stadiums are woefully inadequate when it comes to concession stands and bathrooms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spockydog Posted September 23, 2022 Share Posted September 23, 2022 11 minutes ago, Tywin et al. said: I heard about a report, but couldn't find it on the interwebs, that there was also next to no parking or infrastructure to accommodate the number of expected tourists and that the stadiums are woefully inadequate when it comes to concession stands and bathrooms. The FSA chap spoke of having to travel to one stadium via a train, then a bus, followed by a mile walk in 35 degree heat with zero places to rest. He also said that they raised a whole bunch of organizational issues, but 'The Supreme Committee' does not appear interested in receiving feedback. On any matter whatsoever. For instance, any fans removing their shirts are to be immediately ejected from stadia. The FSA tried to explain that this will likely cause problems, because in England and elsewhere, it is perfectly normal for male football supporters to remove their shirts. Especially when it's hot. But according to the Supreme Committee, there will be no attempt to ask any offenders to put their shirts back on. Instead, they will be summarily ejected, probably dragged from their seats by goons with batons. People seeing this will be confused. And angry. And this might cause an escalation. But, the Supreme Committee do not appear to care about any of this. Once again, fuck FIFA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Chatywin et al. Posted September 23, 2022 Share Posted September 23, 2022 I hadn't even considered something as simple as fans removing their shits being an issue. I was more worried about what will happen to fans who want to drink and party. And if it's going to be that hard to get in and out of the stadium, and you can't bring in food and water, and they're expected to run out rather quickly, this could be a medical disaster... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spockydog Posted September 23, 2022 Share Posted September 23, 2022 23 minutes ago, Tywin et al. said: I hadn't even considered something as simple as fans removing their shits being an issue. I was more worried about what will happen to fans who want to drink and party. £15 a pint. And that's if you can get inside in the first place. Doha isn't London or Paris. There aren't thousands of pubs, bars and restaurants where you can just rock up to and get pissed. If you want to drink, it will have to be in a hotel. And most of these places will not be welcoming your average football fan with open arms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winterfell is Burning Posted September 23, 2022 Share Posted September 23, 2022 2 hours ago, Tywin et al. said: This story has a lot of layers to it, but how common is it for a team to dismiss the majority of the players instead of firing the coach when the former clearly hate the latter?: https://www.espn.com/soccer/spain-espw/story/4752428/spain-womens-team-to-replace-15-players-threatening-to-quit-over-head-coach-stay Well, it's a national team, and they quit, not have been fired. But yeah, unheard of so many players walking out publicly. And considering how's a woman's team, apparently the FA president is a buddy of the coach, it's not hard to have suspicions... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polishgenius Posted September 23, 2022 Share Posted September 23, 2022 This was apparently at half time. It looks bad for the US but imagine being the Japanese players, having to explain to their manager how they won the ball, in their opponent's half, more than once a minute, but only scored one goal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFatCoward Posted September 23, 2022 Share Posted September 23, 2022 39 minutes ago, Spockydog said: £15 a pint. And that's if you can get inside in the first place. Doha isn't London or Paris. There aren't thousands of pubs, bars and restaurants where you can just rock up to and get pissed. If you want to drink, it will have to be in a hotel. And most of these places will not be welcoming your average football fan with open arms. Do we have much sympathy for people who are going there though? They should have known what they were signing up for and everyone collectively said 'no thanks, fuck you fifa'. If enough ingerland fans get arrested and detained for a long time it might make England matches more pleasant in future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilbur Posted September 23, 2022 Share Posted September 23, 2022 3 hours ago, Spockydog said: The Welsh and English football supporters associations have returned from a fact finding trip to Qatar and are reporting their findings back to the media...At the end of his briefing, the response from one of the panel members was, 'It's just shit, isn't it.' Fuck FIFA. On the one hand, I specifically don't have much empathy for a lot of the fans who follow England, as they often demonstrate the sort of bad behaviors I associate with football fans of the past. And in general, internationals usually generate lower-quality matches than league games, and fan behaviors of other national teams (Mexico and their piss-bags, Hungary and their ultras, etc.) are similarly unappetizing. On the other hand, absolutely no one should be surprised that this whole moveable feast is a $hitshow, since a.) assigning the competition to Qatar and b.) moving it to winter is stupid as hell and motivated purely as a cash grab for FIFA. Qatar hosting the World Cup is 1:1 with Donald Trump as US President; inappropriate, ineffective, and potentially dangerous. If I was a player in one of the sides playing in the WC, I would not bring my family to Qatar. It may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to represent your country at the WC, but Qatar is going to be a rough ride for everyone involved. Players are putting their health at risk playing in the heat and humidity. Fans are being put at risk by the lack of proper infrastructure. It won't be good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spockydog Posted September 23, 2022 Share Posted September 23, 2022 I really don't care for the lumping of all football fans together in some homogeneous, loutish mass. Nor the notion that they are deserving of being treated badly. It's a tired old trope that really needs to get in the fucking bin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Horse Named Stranger Posted September 23, 2022 Author Share Posted September 23, 2022 20 minutes ago, Wilbur said: If I was a player in one of the sides playing in the WC, I would not bring my family to Qatar. It may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to represent your country at the WC, but Qatar is going to be a rough ride for everyone involved. Players are putting their health at risk playing in the heat and humidity. Fans are being put at risk by the lack of proper infrastructure. It won't be good. Nah, families of players are safe. This is a sport washing event, the last thing you want is bad press over abducting, pardon, arresting a player's family. As for the heat and humidity. You haven't been paying attention have you. At this greenest World Cup in the history of World Cup, they will use massive AC to cool down the stadiums. That will of course cost a fuckton (or rather a few) of energy and cause another fucktong in emissions. But hey football. I am curious what on earth that fabled fact finding mission of the English and Welsh fans was for? It's a horrible idea to have a world cup there, it should never ever have been considered. Human rights violations are well documented. In short it's ethically and enviromentally a disaster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spockydog Posted September 23, 2022 Share Posted September 23, 2022 10 minutes ago, A Horse Named Stranger said: I am curious what on earth that fabled fact finding mission of the English and Welsh fans was for? To determine what conditions would be like for fans, I expect. His advice to any LGBTQ folks thinking of attending.... Don't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raja Posted September 23, 2022 Share Posted September 23, 2022 Absolute sufferball from England Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spockydog Posted September 23, 2022 Share Posted September 23, 2022 Terrible lineup, terrible tactics, terrible suit. #SouthgateIn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spockydog Posted September 23, 2022 Share Posted September 23, 2022 I feel sorry for the fans of Southgate's next job. Bloke cheesed his way to two semis, blew a final, and will now walk into a top job even after getting mullered in the WC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iskaral Pust Posted September 23, 2022 Share Posted September 23, 2022 I’m surprised that the corrupt, sports washing WC didn’t make a better effort to accommodate the traveling fans. I’m also surprised that many fans are willing to travel for this WC. Just boycott the whole thing. It’s nearly as bad as the Olympics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rorshach Posted September 24, 2022 Share Posted September 24, 2022 Yeah, boycotting it was my choice even before Norway didn't qualify. In my head canon, there will be no new world champion and France will remain champions for the next four years as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFatCoward Posted September 24, 2022 Share Posted September 24, 2022 It seems bizarre to spend billions and billions to improve you reputation, then in all likelihood have everyone reporting on how terrible an experience it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darryk Posted September 24, 2022 Share Posted September 24, 2022 17 hours ago, Spockydog said: I really don't care for the lumping of all football fans together in some homogeneous, loutish mass. Nor the notion that they are deserving of being treated badly. It's a tired old trope that really needs to get in the fucking bin. I agree with you but the behavior outside Wembley during the Euro 2021 final didn't do them any favours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spockydog Posted September 24, 2022 Share Posted September 24, 2022 26 minutes ago, Darryk said: I agree with you but the behavior outside Wembley during the Euro 2021 final didn't do them any favours. None of those idiots had tickets. That was a policing failure, not a stick to beat genuine fans with. Ditto Champions League final in Paris. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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