Qatari World Cup’s stench will endure

NEVER Forget. In seven days’ time, we will all succumb to the siren song of sport’s most powerful enchantment.

The World Cup is only rivalled by the Olympics for scale, quality and effect.

But while the Olympics have been mottled by some terrible politics and distasteful entanglements, there is nothing in its past to compare with the deal done by FIFA that took the World Cup to Qatar.

It stank when it was announced, the corruption that facilitated it has been laid out in multiple investigations since, and on the eve of the tournament, the wretchedness of the repulsive Qatari regime has been highlighted anew.

That is why we must never forget. Never forget that as good as this tournament might prove to be – and in sporting terms, the promise is as rich as it has ever been – it should not be held in Qatar, in winter.

The frivolous point is that this discommodes players, greatly disrupts national leagues, and is certain to have wide-reaching effects across the European game when action resumes later in December and in the New Year.

The much more important point is that this entire event is an act of sports washing and, worse, like the deals for Man City and Newcastle, and the investments in golf, it will work.

This is a terrible pity, and it should ruin our enjoyment.