http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/14032012/58/premier-league-premier-league-chief-foreigners-stole-football.html

Keith Richard's Less Culturally Significant Cousin Thrice Removed wrote:

"For 50 years, we owned the game … We were the governance of the game. We wrote the rules, designed the pitches and everything else.
"Then, 50 years later, some guy came along and said you’re liars and they actually stole it. It was called FIFA. Fifty years later, another gang came along called UEFA and stole a bit more."

which is stupid, cus everyone knows the Hawaiians invented football by kicking coconuts against a fat woman's behind as punishment for overeating.

He does have a point too about the prohibition of alcohol in the gulf state.
They should never have been awarded the world cup if their laws don't conform with basic international standards of freedom.

It should never have been awarded to Qatar in the first place, for both humanitarian and sporting reasons. It's such an indictment of the crooked nature of FIFA.

They don't own the game, someone should start up a rival football federation.

He knows how much of a global phenomenon football is, that's how the PL gets its money.

So why the rant about footballing sovereignity? What bloody sense would it make to have a national FA run the whole thing- when it's shambles on its own turf?

Yes, FIFA is crooked and someone needs to start a breakaway. Indonesians are doing it already. England's going to be the one taking the lead on that front? Don't kid me!

As for alcohol at games... we don't miss it over here. I wouldn't say alcohol constitutes basic standards of freedom. Regardless though, the Qatari bid was a joke, and the fact that they won farcical.

Despite its glorious role in the sport's history, "England" didn't invent football and this guy didn't either. Some other guy did.

Just another ignoramus twerp in a suit who's used to yelling at people. Deep undertones of racism in there as well. Fuck him I say.

banduan wrote:

I wouldn't say alcohol constitutes basic standards of freedom.

Dictating what people can eat and drink is an attempt to control their lives, it's a common tool used in most cults and religions.
Moreover attempting to dictate what non believers should do is fascist and terrorist.

Modern democratic people and countries should boycott these regimes.

Dictating what people can eat and drink is an attempt to control their lives

Plenty of constraints on what you can stick in your mouth in England (or Australia), and where you can do it though Biggsy.

Of course, I didn't say the so called "democratic West" was immune from trying to control peoples personal habits.
As long as you don't involve anybody else with whatever foul depraved object you choose stick in your mouth (or anywhere else for that matter) it's no concern of mine or the state's. 🙂

that's the thing though, it's a public arena you drink alcohol you involve everybody else. Some people consider the stuff putrid.

Don't misunderstand me, there are good reasons why alcohol just like smoking shouldn't be allowed in the stadiums, but they're not public are they? they're privately owned.
A public area is different, the law is there if anyone steps out of line "some people" considering the stuff putrid is not a valid reason for forbidding it outside the venues.

The world cup is in Qatar, it doesn't make much sense, it looks corrupt and I don't know how it will turn out.

But at the same time, anyone who chooses to go has to respect the rules of the country and if they say no alcohol well I'm sorry but no alcohol. When people come to a western country they have to respect our rules so it's only fair that we respect theirs even if we don't agree with them.

Don't agree with the rules? Then just don't go.

Indeed, and you'd be advised if you're female keep your head covered and if you're gay to stay in the closet.

Or even better - to simply stay at home, since football is obviously a sport played and watched by white heterosexual males.

Gotta say I agree with Biggus here. Alcohol restriction as a security measure - acceptable. Alcohol restriction as a way to impose religious beliefs on others? No. Just no. If you sign up to host a world cup you should realise that it's an event for the entire world. It's not for the people in Qatar so they can get some nice football to watch in their backyard. It all comes back to the original statement Biggus made though: don't fucking give them the world cup to begin with if their laws don't conform with basic international standards of freedom. Simples.

Heh- what about alcohol restriction due to stinking the place up?

We've got fruit banned over here for stinking the place up (admittedly you could kill people with 'em).

There's a similarly smelly fruit in the carribean that the locals call "stinkin' toe"; always makes me laugh.

Klaus wrote:

Gotta say I agree with Biggus here. Alcohol restriction as a security measure - acceptable. Alcohol restriction as a way to impose religious beliefs on others? No. Just no.

A profoundly illiberal view.

People excuse too much bullshit with the pretence that it's just rooted in cultural differences.

People also excuse too much cultural egocentricity on the pretence that their own culture is naturally congruent to a morally advanced standard of living - both expressing and (by default) conforming to "basic international standards of freedom".

Regarding alcohol consumption specifically. You all live in countries that place all manner of restrictions on consumption and use of various controlled substances. The exact substances vary from country to country - there may well be some that are controlled in your own country that are freely used in Qatar for all I know.

The exact means by which religious views propagate into legislation and enforcement is another area that's both divergent and widely misunderstood.

Also, there's nothing explicit in the UNDHR on alcohol so I'm not sure which "basic standards" you're referring to. Stringent controls on alcohol are certainly not unknown to the supposed bastion of freedom, the USA.