Qatar World Cup Plans Beg Questions of FIFA Leadership

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: September 8, 2011

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Details of the Qatar 2022 World Cup preparations have begun to emerge and can only make for one question: what kind of plans were the members of the FIFA committee looking at when voting for the Persian Gulf nation?

Football is the world's game and FIFA is correct in beginning to open up the event to developing nations. But when looking at the circumstances of what will be the first global sporting event in the Middle East, it is hard not to think that something really untoward went down.

First, a little bit about Qatar. Like many oil rich nations of the region, they are highly dependent on these natural resources for their wealth. Crude oil is 60 percent of Qatar's GDP and their current production rates are only expected to last until 2023. Although after that they have five percent of the world's natural gas reserves sitting off the coast.

As their resources are depleted they will need to expand into other areas of economic growth, such as tourism. Which is of course why they put in a bid to host the 2022 World Cup. Raising the country's profile through the world's most watched event would go a long way. But given the following profile, why were they even allowed to put in a bid?

Qatar ranks "not free" in all categories when graded on their political and civil liberties scores. They are run by an absolute monarchy. Which in today's world should be laughed at as an antiquated, illegitimate and terribly unfair form of governance. FIFA, with its state like influence, should be promoting democratic principles, not pandering to the desires of a fictitious king.



Despite being the first Arab nation to allow women the right to vote, not much else in terms of niceties could be thrown their way. Their rules on alcohol will certainly deter most World Cup fans from attending. The sauce is banned everywhere, including one's home, without a special permit. Sodomy still carries a five year prison sentence. They a...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football

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