Change rogue countries by taking sport away from them

THE BAR for acceptable behaviour continues to be set ever lower by the self-serving apologists and unashamed grafters who run global games. In the past week alone, we have been expected to applaud two pieces of ‘progressive’ action that expose as claptrap the notion of sport as a vehicle for change. First, Saudi Arabia ‘allows’ women into football stadia to watch games. In their own segregated part of the ground, of course. And we are expected to gloss over the fact that, in 2018, any state could have upheld a system that excludes people from a public arena on the basis of their gender. Over at the International Olympic Committee, meanwhile, there is widespread rejoicing at news that North Korea has decided to send a team to the Winter Olympics just across the border. Let’s take that second one first. And imagine how the IOC elite greeted the generous offer. ‘Tell you what, lads. That Kim Jong-un may keep his people starved, ignorant, imprisoned and forced into the service of a freakish personality cult. But those two speed skaters are like white doves bearing an olive branch... ‘Yep, never mind the umpteen UN resolutions or the scattergun flying of nuclear missiles over the heads of the Japanese people. Here’s a chance to make ourselves feel important by agreeing to a combined Korean ice hockey team. Nobel Peace Prizes all round.’ The IOC have form on this issue, of course. They persuaded North and South Korea to unite in the opening ceremony for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. Clearly, that was a huge success, ending all tension between the near neighbours at a stroke. No doubt the latest stunt will be equally effective. As for the beautiful game and its willingness to tolerate the ugly? Imagine if a FIFA member state had decided to segregate areas of their home stadia on the grounds of race, instead of gender. Oh, wait. You don’t need to imagine it. That’s what South Africa used to do during the apartheid years. And they were effectively thrown out of world football as a result. You want sport to change countries? Then take it away from them. Ban the Saudis from FIFA competition until the ‘moderates’ currently at work preside over genuine reform. A willingness to play by the rules seems like a pretty basic requirement for any country wishing to engage with the rest of the sporting world.