Armband is not a magic device

SO have you been watching the sports-washing event of the decade?

After all, the Prince of Wales gave the English squad a special send-off with the promise, in true pantomime fashion, that “the country is behind you”, forgetting that England was not the only UK team.

Of course, England should be ‘coming home’ in plenty of time for Harry Kane to sell his One Love Armband in a Christmas market.

The armband is a magic device which when worn in Qatar will reverse the illegality of being gay, bring back to life the migrant workers who died building the stadia and allow free speech in a democratic society.

That’s about as likely as a Doha café running out of Arabica coffee beans.

There are those who argue that sitting at the warm and comfortable Qatari table (even if your mouth is gagged) is better than staying in damp old Britain and communicating freely about human rights to millions across the globe.

For they say football is a powerful influence on political and societal issues. Really?

Gary Neville is one of those who will be at the table in Qatar, yet in his recent book ‘The People’s Game’ argues that football is “rusting and rotting beneath its glamorous sheen”.

He recalls his famous rant about the greed of those who tried to set up the European Super League, condemns the elitist land grab by the Premier League, laments the opening of the floodgates to overseas billionaires, questions the wisdom of having UK teams owned by Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia, and admits that the ugliness of racism on the field and the terraces is still there.

Broadcaster Max Rushden has called Qatar more of a “grubby hymn to money and power than a joyous celebration of the game”.

To argue that high-profile events can act as a catalyst for improvement in democracy and human rights is a poor, unsubstantiated argument.

It tends to come from those desperately trying to justify a jolly to a warm climate or a fat wad of ryals.