WORLD CUP 2018
Easily distracted. Two words on every school report card onwards and upwards from primary one.
It possibly explains the urge to rain on Russia 2018 and Vladimir Putin’s parade. There’s also a journalistic responsibility not to be blinded by the joy and just for a minute take your eye off the ball.
At a cost of over £9billion, the most expensive tournament ever has also been politicised to the gunnels and the sight of FIFA president Gianni Infantino using football to endorse Putin and his regime gives you the boak.
That despicable despot Putin even managed a few dribbles for the camera during a propaganda shoot. It was akin to Ivan the Terrible posing for few selfies to promote whatever passed as the Medieval Games.
There has even been an appearance from Infantino’s predecessor Sepp Blatter who’s making a bid for the Noble Peace Prize for his contribution to world unity. Old Jules Rimet would be distraught at what his wonderful brainchild has become.
The current president has sidestepped an ethics investigation by his own body but there has been a game changer in the form of the FBI.
Three years ago US federal prosecutors charged a number of FIFA officials with fraud, racketeering and other crimes related to taking millions of Euros in bribes and on it continues. Some blazers shouldn’t sleep too soundly in their beds.
Amidst the excitement of a tournament which has started to come to the boil, Russia earns greater international credibility with every minute and basking in the celebration of football was always their goal.
But these are hosts who along with Qatar in 2022 allegedly emerged triumphant in the bidding process thanks to bribes. Of the 22 members of FIFA’s executive committee who awarded the World Cup to these nations, 10 have subsequently been banned for corruption.
Shameless greed knows no bounds as a number of these officials were found to have continued filling their pockets during the course of the FBI investigation
Now we have another despicable character who knows the value of taking centre stage at the greatest show on earth. Wanting a piece of the action was Donald Trump.
The day before Russia 2018 kicked off, the 68th FIFA congress met to decide who would host the 2026 World Cup.
Given all of the pretournament excitement, the announcement would be quickly buried amongst any other inconvenient and questionable news.
North America’s joint bid sailed through and it was always about the bottom line. The promise of an $11billion profit for FIFA, twice what the 2018 World Cup will bring, was always going to be a winner, hands out... I mean hands down.
More accusations of political interference and corruption are now being aired and then there’s the Trump tweets and the bullying. “It would be a shame if countries that we always support were to lobby against the US bid,” he tweeted in April. “Why should we be supporting these countries when they don’t support us (including at the United Nations)?”
It was tantamount to a threat and was followed with: “We will be watching very closely.”
So enjoy the football and lap up the brilliance which is coming to the fore as the knockout stages get underway now that the wheat has been separated from the chaff.
But don’t lose sight of Russia 2018, a game of political football is now disguised as the beautiful game. out Column - Number of players of 23 in squad who play in country’s domestic league Column - Number of leagues represented in squad
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