Qatar 2022 & The Forest Involvement

[zicorice]

Back in the UK today after 14 days in Qatar.

Absolutely fantastic time and nothing like the media has built it up to be.

One of the great positives was the lack of Hooligan element. It must, in some ways, have been the safest international tournament for football fans for some time. Although I had an interesting conversation with an Iranian who was detained “for his own safety”.

40 goals, across 14 games by twenty different countries from six different continents. Met loads of cool people and witnessed some fantastic, once in a lifetime events, England scoring six, Japan beating Germany, the atmosphere between Argentina and Mexico, Messi:Ronaldo:Mbappe all scoring on the international stage, stuffing the Welsh, Cameroon shocking Brazil, to name a few.

Probably the best group stage in history and may be the last of its kind with the new format in 2026.

Also just got back and as you say nothing like the media Portrayed it would be. However, they are now reporting many fans' positive experiences at last- especially from the female perspective.

If we progress to Final, I think I may cancel Christmas and fly out, it has been the trip of a lifetime so why miss the ultimate climax if it happens?

Undoubtedly the most welcoming place I have ever been.

Regards the negative stuff: Shining a light on the immigrant worker situation resulted in European H&S experts being contracted and the improvements have been huge according to one guy from Nepal I spoke too, who has worked here for 17 yrs and an English guy who owns a construction company. I'm not saying its OK what occurred in 1st few years, but without the World Cup, these changes would never have happened as quickly. 

Before we get on our high horses  let's not forget literally 1000s of Coal Miners died in this Country last Century and it was hell of a lot longer than 12 yrs before improvements came.

As regards LGBT rights. I can't comment as I'm straight  though I saw many gay couples walking hand in hand without issue.

Women's rights is much more complicated. Women can do almost as they please (its much less strict than Saudi Arabia by all accounts) but only with permission from their guardian or husband. This really got me thinking as a Dad and this is not a debate for here. But the flip side of this is that Women are revered and protected. It is ridiculously safe in Qatar. At the beach some Qatati Women covered up and some didn't. 

Anyway, a Country where no one pays any tax  gas  bills, water bills, electricity bills or for health and education can't be all bad. Only slightly expensive thing here is alcohol (around £7 a pint or £11 in fan parks and posh hotels.

They would just a great Olympics too....just saying.

[Sausage Roll]

That's a really interesting update Zico - thanks. Glad that you've had a positive experience there.

I'd love to hear from any LGBTQ+ people that did make the trip to understand how they found it.

Also a really good point about the UK being on its high horse. Particularly relevant at the moment with some of the anti-protest laws currently going through parliament.

On a football note, very solid performance from England last night after a shaky start. France will be a challenge but not an insurmountable one - they looked dodgy for periods against Poland, particularly against the high press.

Also really hope that Remo and Switzerland knock Portugal and the whining manbaby out.

[Sniffer Dog (Admin)]

The thing is that it's not the real Qatar though it's a fake Qatar because the World Cup is taking place and they are under the watchful eyes and scrutiny of the whole world.

What would really be interesting is if someone actually went back to Qatar again after the World Cup has finished and to report on their findings.

My brother who worked in Qatar for two years (should have been 5 but he left) tells me that the Qatar we are currently seeing is not anything like the real Qatar and he's talking through experience.

[Sausage Roll]

Really good point Sniff.

[wassy04]

It also doesn't really address the fact that they only got to be the hosts by bribing officials (which was proven) and so despite any positives that do come out of it should never have had the opportunity. They have no footballing pedigree either and there were plenty of other more deserving hosts. I think Australia would've been a really cool place to host a World Cup (think they were the favourites at the time). Although the match times wouldn't have been as fun!

[Sausage Roll]

It also doesn't really address the fact that they only got to be the hosts by bribing officials (which was proven) and so despite any positives that do come out of it should never have had the opportunity. They have no footballing pedigree either and there were plenty of other more deserving hosts. I think Australia would've been a really cool place to host a World Cup (think they were the favourites at the time). Although the match times wouldn't have been as fun!

There's been a really interesting documentary about FIFA on demand recently (think it's on Netflix). Haven't seen the last episode yet - the one before that ended just as Russia and Qatar were awarded the 2018 and 2022 World Cups (despite pretty widespread acknowledgement that England and USA respectively had the best bids). The corruption at FIFA dates back from the late 70s and hasn't got any better since.

[wassy04]

It also doesn't really address the fact that they only got to be the hosts by bribing officials (which was proven) and so despite any positives that do come out of it should never have had the opportunity. They have no footballing pedigree either and there were plenty of other more deserving hosts. I think Australia would've been a really cool place to host a World Cup (think they were the favourites at the time). Although the match times wouldn't have been as fun!

There's been a really interesting documentary about FIFA on demand recently (think it's on Netflix). Haven't seen the last episode yet - the one before that ended just as Russia and Qatar were awarded the 2018 and 2022 World Cups (despite pretty widespread acknowledgement that England and USA respectively had the best bids). The corruption at FIFA dates back from the late 70s and hasn't got any better since.

Is that any good? I haven't watched it as I assumed it would make me angry! I'm kind of glad we're not hosting though after the Euros final debacle.

[Sausage Roll]

It also doesn't really address the fact that they only got to be the hosts by bribing officials (which was proven) and so despite any positives that do come out of it should never have had the opportunity. They have no footballing pedigree either and there were plenty of other more deserving hosts. I think Australia would've been a really cool place to host a World Cup (think they were the favourites at the time). Although the match times wouldn't have been as fun!

There's been a really interesting documentary about FIFA on demand recently (think it's on Netflix). Haven't seen the last episode yet - the one before that ended just as Russia and Qatar were awarded the 2018 and 2022 World Cups (despite pretty widespread acknowledgement that England and USA respectively had the best bids). The corruption at FIFA dates back from the late 70s and hasn't got any better since.

Is that any good? I haven't watched it as I assumed it would make me angry! I'm kind of glad we're not hosting though after the Euros final debacle.

The episodes I've been have been really good, yes. But yes - they definitely induce anger at the sense of entitlement and untouchableness (not sure that's a word) of Blatter, Platini, Warner and all of them who were implicated.

[Sniffer Dog (Admin)]

Some shocking penalties there from Japan they looked totally unprepared.

[Alf Garnett]

Some shocking penalties there from Japan they looked totally unprepared.

I agree and that is something that you wouldn't expect from the Japanese.

[ozzyten10]

Not as bad as Spains pens

[wassy04]

Ramos looks pretty good, think he's playing himself above a move to us!