Of protests, a song and venue security
DOHA: Four days into it, this World Cup has already seen a number of protests, the latest in what could be a long line being the way Germany did their customary pre-match photo shoot. The Die Mannschaft covered mouths while posing for a team photo before their game against Japan.
Iran linking arms and staying mum during their national anthem and Alex Scott going where her men’s team feared to tread have been the others. Scott, a former England defender, was seen with the “One Love” armband to show her support for same sex relationships in a country where it is an offence.
England and a host of countries, Germany included, decided not to wear them for fear of sporting sanctions from FIFA.
On Wednesday, at their prematch press conference, Portugal coach Fernando Santos was asked about it and he said while that decision to not wear armbands was the federation’s to take, he is a fierce defender of human rights. I remember us fighting for democracy and peace in the 1970s, he said. Santos, 68, was referring to Portugal’s transition from the autocracy under Antonio de Oliviera Salazar to democracy a process started by the Carnation Revolution of 1974.
Sing a sign
Ubiquitous volunteers, many with outsized cardboard hands pointing in the direction to move, help the non-doha residents, who seem to have outnumbered those who live here, make their way through the metro of which the city has three lines: red, gold and green. Just so you don’t get lost loud hailers also let you know which way to take.
But at the Al Bidda Station, her arms swaying and pointing to the right way, a young woman volunteer from Ernakulam, was singing “Metro, Metro, this, this way” to the tune of “Twinkle, twinkle little star.”
Security blanket
This World Cup has a private security force checking accreditation cards even at exit points of the stadium media tribune. The problem with outsourced security in a country whose nuts and bolts are kept greased by people from outside is that they often know a little more than the tourist. “Which way to the media centre,” is the most common question scribes ask. Unless you are very lucky, it is met by a stoic “please ask someone else.” The metro station? Ditto.