INJURY TIMES
NO INFANTINO, JUST NO
SO ya, Gianni Infantino doesn’t want the countries who are participating in the World Cup to tell you how they feel about all the bad stuff that happens in that country. Human Rights violations? “Shut up and kick the ball.”
The banning of LGBTQ+ citizens? “No, no, you keep dribbling.” Workers dying? “Just score the goal you, you play football.”
That’s basically what that statement from his office, sent to all 32 competing nations, boils down to.
There’s no reflection whatsoever about the corruption that has been proven to have taken place regarding the vote to host the World Cup in a country that has no football pedigree or history.
We do know that “brown envelopes” were dished out.
So no, Gianni, you don’t get to tell anyone how they should act at the tournament. You and that corrupt executive brought this upon yourselves.
QATAR PAYS FANS
So now, knowing that there is so much attention on all of Qatar’s ills, that country is attempting to paint a prettier picture.
They are literally handing out free trips for fans to the tournament, giving them accommodation and a daily cash allowance — about R1200 reportedly, which is more than the workers who built the stadiums were paid. Reports the New York Times: “In exchange for their World Cup perks, this year’s fans — as many as 50 from each country — will be required to perform in a ceremony before Qatar opens the tournament against Ecuador on November 20.
Organisers have dedicated five minutes of that celebration to a fanthemed segment that will require the beneficiaries of Qatar’s generosity to perform a chant or song specific to their country, selected not by them but by tournament organisers.”
‘SPORTSWASHING’
The brilliant Guardian sports writer Barney Ronay summed that situation up perfectly.
“It is the sharpest point of the thing we call ‘sportswashing’, humans literally being paid to dance and smile for the cameras in a stadium haunted by the ghosts of migrant workers.”
WILL UNITED SIGN PARNELL?
Meanwhile, in actual football news, well not actually because it was in The Sun, which doesn’t really report football news, just vibes, there is this remarkable breaking update on the future of one of the world’s most sought-after players.
“BRAZILIAN wonderkid Endrick has fuelled speculation about a transfer to Manchester United after copying Cristiano Ronaldo’s celebration.” Say what?
Ronaldo’s “nap” celebration — with the hands clasped in front of his chest and his eyes closed — means United are favourites to sign a footballer?
Hey, Wayne Parnell does the same celebration, do United want him to swap sports so that they can sign him also?
HALLAND NOT HAALAND
Meanwhile, there is trouble for tourism in a seaside town in Sweden because people, especially English ones, are having trouble with spelling.
“Visit Halland” director Jimmy Sandberg has written an open letter asking English people, journalists and football fans worldwide to hit the spell check before hitting send.
“We are Halland. He is Haaland.
The popularity of the football phenomenon is completely suffocating our online presence,” he wrote.
That Haaland being Erling, the Manchester City striker, who can’t stop scoring goals.
“To our despair, we now see that all of our efforts promoting Halland are rapidly being wiped away,” Sandberg added.
“If nothing is done, we fear our dear region is at risk of becoming a forgotten Atlantis, a place only known in stories and ancient scriptures.” So Erling claims another victim.