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Fifa World Cup 2022
OpinionLetters

Letters | World Cup 2022: football should foster harmony, not dissonance

  • Readers discuss the politicisation of this year’s World Cup, and draw attention to the spike in gambling during large international sporting events

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Cameroon’s defender Nicolas Nkoulou hugs Serbia’s forward Aleksandar Mitrovic at the end of a World Cup Group G match at the Al-Janoub Stadium in Al-Wakrah, south of Doha, on November 28. Photo: AFP
Letters
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I’ve been a football player for as long as I remember being alive – it helps me stay healthy, and also develops or consolidates friendships. At the end of every match, win or lose, after ferociously facing each other off, the players greet their opponents and continue to either celebrate or drown their sorrows, often together over a pint at the pub.

Football is today the single biggest sport in the world, and a multibillion-dollar business, touching the lives of many that probably haven’t even kicked a ball once. Not surprisingly, it has attracted the greed of some, marring football’s reputation as a force for good.

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Fifa, the governing body of association football, has brought together more members than the United Nations. However, there is an undeniable cloud of suspicion surrounding how Qatar won the right to host the World Cup. One has to commend the United States for taking action where Fifa itself failed, prosecuting soccer officials accused of corruption. For its part, Fifa has outlined reforms to fight corruption and increase transparency.
It is unfortunate to see the excessive politicisation of the sport. While substandard working conditions should not be tolerated anywhere, migrant workers that helped bring the 2022 World Cup to fruition were able to earn money to support their families. The sad reality is our wealth redistribution mechanisms still don’t work to perfection.
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Qatar has also been criticised for banning the consumption of alcohol in stadiums, even though other countries, like France, adopted similar measures aimed at preventing violence. And yes, Qatar’s treatment of the LGBTQ community is appalling.

However, seeing a member of K-pop sensation BTS singing alongside a Qatari at the opening ceremony was a reminder of what football is all about – bringing people together. My grandfather didn’t have a preference for a single team, but he watched all the games. Following in his footsteps, I’ve recently become a referee. It is all about the game, let it bring harmony rather than dissonance.

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