The Qatar winter World Cup sparked numerous debates about political issues surrounding the host nation's laws, ethical ideals, actions, and stances. With teams such as England and Denmark taking definitive standpoints regarding specific affairs, many fans, groups, and communities have questioned the Arab country's morals and virtues.
The objective of this piece is not to take sides on political matters but rather explore the implications that politics has on football and the precarious state the sport finds itself in.
(Giovanni Infantino, the president of FIFA, has been heavily criticized for his comments in a recent press conference)
Months and years prior to the start of the 2022 World Cup, journalists, reporters, and other groups were vocal after several reports emerged of human rights violations, the unfair treatment of migrant workers, and uncertainty regarding the freedom of the press in Qatar.
It initiated conversations about a possible boycott of the tournament from the middle eastern country, and protests slowly started to stir. However, not all fans were happy to see the sport getting 'mixed with politics'.
That got many people thinking, including myself, about what boundaries existed between football and politics before the controversies of the winter competition, and the impact the two have on each other.
(The Norwegian national team stood up in support of the migrant workers before a match against Greece in 2021)
Although there has been a recent uproar against the Qatar World Cup, do not mistake it as the first involvement of suspicious politics in football.
Here are a few examples. There were tendentious opinions on the Spanish politician, Jesus Gil's takeover of Atletico Madrid in 1987. There were doubts about Roman Abramovich, the successor of Chelsea in 2003. And as recent as 2021, there was speculation about the Saudi-backed Public Investment Fund (PIF) when they took over Newcastle United.
The case posed is not a justification of Qatar's actions but rather an attempt to highlight that this is not the first event in football that requires discussions of topics beyond the game.
(England, Wales, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, and The Netherlands decided against wearing the OneLove armband at the World Cup after threats by FIFA)
The football world has been invaded by politics, for better or worse, who knows? But we cannot ignore its evident involvement in the sport we love. So now the question beckons, what do we do?
In my opinion, we must educate ourselves on football-related political issues and encourage our community not to be afraid of having difficult conversations. Although it does not have a tangible effect on the situation, openly addressing it is crucial for widespread awareness.
Nevertheless, that is not the final step. The world witnessed the power of football fans when everyone came together to stop the inception of the European Super League. Although the suggestion is not to conduct similar protests for all issues, it is an example of the fans' influence on decisions.
Although my message does not outline a clear answer that would make a palpable impact, I hope to incentivize the football community to start the dialogue and find a course of action together.
(The Iranian football team refrained from singing their national anthem in support of their people back home, who are protesting against the government after the unjust death of Mahsa Amini)
Finally, I want to stress the point that not all fans should feel bound by this responsibility. In the end, it is up to the individual to make their choice. All I can wish for is that you consider my perspective.
I hope that this article, in some way, has either opened your mind to new thoughts or encouraged you to make a difference in any way you can. We have been tossed into a situation that many did not expect to be as a supporter of a sport, but here we are, and we should not turn a blind eye.
Sometimes change comes from unexpected sources, and we might or might not be that, but let us at least give it a try.
Comments