Rugby. No, let's not talk about rugby. It's been a bad autumn series for Wales, in fact, it's not been a good year. Or two. But getting beaten by a lower tier side (Georgia) - and not just being beaten but looking rubbish as well - is the opposite of the icing on the cake.
So let's talk about football instead.
I know I never talk about football because I don't enjoy watching it - unless a grandchild is playing when I can be very noisy and enthusiastic - but the World Cup competition kicks off (See what I did there?) today in Qatar and for the first time in something like sixty-four years Wales is in the competition.
Now there has been an awful lot of controversy over the choice of Qatar. The dodgy deals mentioned fade into insignificance against the horror of the Qatari human rights record, which causes a dilemma for football fans and players.
Or not. The argument seems to be that it is better to go there and use the opportunity to show support for migrant workers, the LGBQT community, and women, and to speak out against discrimination. Whether that'll happen we'll have to wait and see.
Some people i.e. celebrities, are being paid an awful lot of money to go. It might be good if they donated that to causes linked to human rights.
As for me, I feel I should try and watch Wales' games. At least when they play England, but if I don't watch the football it won't be because of controversy; it'll be because I find football boring.
Incidentally, the Prince of WALES, gave a rousing speech to the ENGLAND team just before they set off for Qatar. In it he said, "The whole country is behind you."
The Prince of Wales is English, he's president of the English Football Association, it's understandable that he supports England.
What's not understandable is why he's Prince of Wales.
Here's the man some are calling the real prince of Wales, Gareth Bale. According to wikipedia, the footballer is "widely regarded as one of the greatest wingers of his generation and one of the greatest Welsh players of all time." And he's got a nice face.
Postscript
It seems that the President of FIFA has made an extraordinary speech in which he praised the Qatari human rights record, accused the west of hypocrisy (probably quite true) and said he understood discrimination because he was ginger. According to The Guardian newspaper it was a, "57-minute diatribe which frequently drew gasps of astonishment."
4 comments:
I don't know how anyone can play in a stadium that thousands of people died building. Migrant workers. I can't get past that.
Money, Boud. Though if just one of the major teams had been prepared to say no who knows what difference it might have made.
I agree with the position that a country's respect for, and observance of, human rights should be a PREREQUISITE when choosing host countries, not an afterthought (if at all). But money talks and Qatar is rolling in it, so corrupt FIFA got on the gravy train.
That speech was disgraceful, provoked a cross blog from me!!!
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