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The one-love armband fiasco in Qatar exposes football as being weak when and where it truly matters
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has in the course of the latest FIFA World Cup revealed himself to be a willing patsy for tournament hosts, the Qataris; with the Italian allowing himself to become an apologist for one of the most oppressive regimes on the planet. His notion of ‘engagement’ on matters of human rights involves no engagement at all, merely acquiescence, and this despite his absurd press conference on the eve of the tournament during which he went out of his way to defend the indefensible on multiple levels.
Yes, there are many who believe that the world cup should never have been held in this corrupt, human rights vacuum of a state, underpinned not by Islamic values but Wahhabi values that are when it comes to gay rights, workers’ rights and women’s right indistinguishable from those held dear by the denizens of ISIS and other Salafi-jihadist groups that have run riot in the region over the past decade or so.
However given that the tournament is being held in Qatar, it is surely incumbent on those with a conscience to make a statement in solidarity with those suffering…
