FIFA says "f*** you" to the world

In the annals of terrible (and terribly selfish) decisions, the ever-corrupt FIFA delegation created a new category for itself today by awarding the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, a country with little soccer history, limited existing infrastructure, oppressive weather conditions, an incredibly small population, but very deep pockets. The United States, which welcomed record crowds when it hosted the 1994 World Cup, was the initial favorite but lost in the final round of voting.

Qatar, the smallest nation to host the World Cup, used its 30-minute presentation to underline how the tournament could unify a region ravaged by conflict. Presenters also promised to overcome summer heat of up to 130 degrees by air conditioning outdoor stadiums it will build, then dismantle and give to needy nations.

Really? That's your closing argument? Yikes. With so little going for it except money, there's simply no other conclusion to draw than that FIFA (like the voters in the delegation) was overwhelmed by Qatar's oil-lined bank accounts.

Former French star Zinedine Zidane (he of the infamous head-butt) will reportedly pocket $15 million for himself as a result of the Qatar win, after having appeared in a series of advertisements promoting the nation's bid. Given that, it's definitely not much of a reach to wonder if (or assume that) other pockets were lined during the bidding and voting process.

Qatar's soccer team itself has never qualified for the World Cup, and the nation has zero stadiums that are currently World Cup-ready (in contrast to the United States, which has dozens). Qatar has plans to build between 7 and 9 stadiums (reports vary) specifically for the Cup, many of which will be dismantled immediately afterward.

The nation made its innovative plans to air-condition the stadiums with solar technology a centerpiece of its bid, but its history must cast some doubt on its ability or willingness to actually see that plan through. Qatar is first in the world by a long shot in CO-2 emissions per capita--blowing away every other nation--at a rate nearly triple that of the United States.

By rewarding a nation with such an abysmally dubious distinction as that--and one which profits handsomely from the rest of the world's oil addiction--FIFA has sent a troubling message to the world. At a time when the whole world should be asking itself tough questions about its energy usage and what it means for our future (and I'm not just talking global warming, I'm talking about the question of what types of rogue governments we support with our inability to kick the oil habit), FIFA is instead cheerleading for one of the greatest benificiaries of our gluttonous oil consumption.

Is FIFA alone responsible for setting the precedent that the rest of the world should follow? Certainly not. But as the guardian of the world's most popular sport, it has political reach and clout that few organizations can claim, and today it showed that it has no interest in using that bully pulpit to bring social good. Today's vote isn't about promoting the global growth of soccer or of giving poor Middle Eastern kids a chance to enjoy the world's greatest game (to paraphrase Zidane). Those arguments are smokescreens, and weak ones at that. Today's decision was about money, pure and simple, and about utter indifference with regard to that money's source. Score one for big oil. Thanks, FIFA.


[ESPN]