The Corruption That Is The World Cup

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The World Cup is about to begin. All nations on the planet Earth who have a national football (soccer) team are eligible to try and get there. It’s the greatest show on Earth – well it is if you like football (soccer). If you prefer track and field or something then I suppose the Olympics qualify as the greatest show on Earth and certainly, as they were last in Britain and we did a marvellous job then I see no reason not to crow!

fifa

Right. Let’s get this sorted before I waffle on further eh?

Football is a game consisting of 11 players aside with several substitutes. They run around trying to kick the round ball into the oppositions goal.

That is football. I have no issue if you want to call it soccer but it is football. Probably because the feet are used throughout barring the goal keeper.

Whilst there are ‘World Championships’ in snooker, athletics and such like and whilst there is a ‘World Cup’ in rugby and cricket the only truly ‘world spectacle’ of a ‘world tournament’ is ‘The World Cup’ of football.

Sadly it is all unadulterated bullshit.

The players earn more in a week than we earn in several years. That is one problem. Their ‘passion’ and pride and desire when representing their country is somewhat diminished for some because, as footballers, they are generally pretty stupid people who earn ridiculous sums of money and mistakenly believe they are somehow ‘special’.

Of course there are great footballers who are intelligent ‘off the field of play’, recognise the honour of representing their country and behave accordingly. As long as there are some of this ilk all is not lost. The Corinthian spirit flickers still.

The biggest problem is FIFA. FIFA run football across the globe. Their president, Sepp Blatter, has been known to be corrupt in every sense of the word for years but they keep right on electing him over and over again.

Qatar was awarded the World Cup in 2022. Qatar is an Islamic Arab country with absolutely no football. What the hell happened?

What happened was this. Some billionaire Qatari paid bribes to lots of FIFA officials who, having their ill gotten gains securely in their banks, promptly awarded the 2022 World Cup to a tiny and very hot Arab country that haven’t even got a decent footballer amongst them.

We all know this happened. Investigations can ensue until the end of time as we know it and it will make no difference what so ever. FIFA are corrupt, have been so for decades, and will continue to be so.

Brazil have spent billions preparing for The World Cup yet most of their population live in squalor.

Football was once ‘the peoples game’. It hasn’t been that for so so long.

I will watch ‘The World Cup’ and cheer England on. I will stoically accept our failure to go very far beyond the group stages. I will take down my England flag and dream of better things to come next time around. I will do all these things because I always do all these things.

FIFA have taken football beyond the sewer. They’ve taken it into the very bowels of hell were honour and dignity and fair play are anathema and countries are awarded the tournament because they pay FIFA officials to vote for them.

My poor ‘beautiful game’.

What have they done to you?

About Post Author

Neil Bamforth

I am English first, British second and never ever European. I have supported Oldham Athletic FC for 50 years which has made me immune from depression. My taste buds have died due to too many red hot curries so I drink Kronenburg beer and milk - sometimes in the same glass. I have a wife, daughter, 9 cats and I like toast.
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Bill Formby
9 years ago

Good points from both of you. I learned a lot about soccer, as it is known here in the states, when my son was 5 years old. He wanted to play and my next door neighbor was going to coach so I volunteered to help. After a couple of years of helping to coach, and a lot of reading to learn all of the rules, tactics, etc. I decided to take on coaching myself. I really came to love the game especially for young people. I must agree with Norman though that, like all other professional sport, I really don’t think the salaries these adults make are justified for playing what should be just a game of fun. I hope Brazil can come through with a good setting for the games this year. The last I heard they were really having problems getting the venue ready for this and the Olympics.

9 years ago

Being in Brazil, I can testify that it is not as you think. It is far worse.

In Brazil, futebol fever in at it highest pitch anywhere in the world. For example, it is considered vital to set off long strings of firecrackers from the top of tall buildings, if you favorite team does something decent, like almost make a good play. If they should actually score a goal, it will sound like a major artillery battle. Should Brazil win any games in the world cup, enough gunpowder will be expended to fight WW II again.

The game is something that is designed for children. In that context, it is nearly perfect. Almost no equipment is required. A reasonable round ball, some sticks to mark goals and that’s enough. The number of players on each side should be nearly even but the actual count is unimportant.

How grown men could be passionate about this activity is one of the mysteries of the universe.

As I type this, I can hear strings of firecracker going off right now. They must be practicing the technique of lighting and throwing them in preparation of destroying the quiet enjoyment of anything, like sleeping, for the duration of the event.

My only hope is that Brazil is eliminated early and ignominiously in the Cup. That will reduce the carnage by about half.

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