Can't understand why they won't wear armbands to protest about human rights but are quite happy to take the knee.
Because taking the knee, which is equally about human rights, doesn’t take place during game play so they can’t be booked for it.
In that case, they could wear the armbands while they TTK and remove them seconds before kick off. If they had the balls.
Its nice to see the talk moving more to the football, but look, I’m getting a bit concerned about how FIFA and Qatar have been presented over the last few days in such a negative light in the media. And the tiredness I’m getting from hearing the virtueness/saintliness of the England and other footballers and hangers-on. Here’s my observations - Can we please refrain from using terms like “bribery” and “brown envelopes” in the same sentence as “FIFA”? In any case, the correct cultural term to use is “baksheesh”. This is a long standing custom when doing business in that part of the world. FIFA would have understood that when awarding the tournament to Qatar, will have shown utmost respect for it and allegedly may have embraced it fully. FIFA seems (allegedly) to have been more successful with baksheesh in Qatar than BAE Systems were in Saudi which cost them £288 million in fines in 2010. FIFA understands that there is a symbiotic/parasitic relationship between FIFA and the players and commentators in that they are all like FIFA - egotistical money grabbing hypocrites. FIFA have shown commendable restraint in not sanctioning the few whining ungrateful players who want to virtue signal and complain while taking their blood money. Instead FIFA have chosen to gently educate the off-side players in the errors of their ways with gagging orders. It could have been worse - they could have threatened to make their WAGs wear burkas in public (imagine the frustration of having a high maintenance high value WAG and not being able to parade her in public). FIFA are also wise enough to understand that one football tournament isn’t going to influence a culture that hasn’t changed in a 1,000 years. This means they are able to take the money guilt free and without apology. And why not? The players on the other hand, for some reason, are not on-message and want to take the money AND make a fuss and seem to think being over there, over paid and over sexed is going to make a lasting difference. They should stick to their social media echo chambers, counting their money, having sex when-ever and where-ever the opportunity exists, and defending themselves (or supporting their WAGs) in court. Qatar have understood the cultural and dependency needs of non-Muslims (and the FIFA officials) for alcohol and, against their religious beliefs, have thoughtfully accommodated those people who can afford £18,000 for a champagne VIP package at the grounds. Lets give them credit for that cultural flexibility! The Qataris have also belatedly recognised that people who can afford £18,000 packages (and FIFA officials), don’t like to be disturbed by drunken football yobs hence the understandable need to remove bars from the grounds. I think that is pretty inclusive and liberal of them, so lets give them credit for that too! It’ll also be interesting to see how many non VIP fans still find football interesting after watching it sober. The players and others can’t have it both ways. If they genuinely feel so strongly about the issues in Qatar they should have protested by staying away and passing up shedloads of money. Otherwise, take the money and shut up. I just hope they play as well as they virtue signal. I’m not holding my breath though as virtue signalling and complaining can be pretty exhausting. I am really serious about this one!!! - the protesting English players and commentators are too wrapped up in their own self-importance and echo chambers to understand the impact their virtue signalling and complaining may have on the thousands of Brit expat workers, and their families, living in Qatar and other Middle East countries who are getting on with their jobs, minding their own business and trying to fit in with the local culture. While the players and commentators will soon go home counting their blood money and patting themselves on the back for their virtue, those ex-pats left behind may find themselves paying a price through no fault of their own. Islam does not forget those who offend it. Ask poor old Salman. And BAE Systems, who lost a shed load of business (to the French I recall) after their Saudi baksheesh court case. And, in a few months time, ask the two ex-pat workers in their Crusader outfits how their employment in Qatar is going after “offending” them. A lot of Brits don’t seem to recognise that by taking their protests to Qatar (and by extension against Islam) they are participating in “cultural colonialism”. Now then, I thought we Brits gave up active colonialism yonks ago, but here we are doing it again. Just because we have liberalism and multiculturalism here doesn’t mean we have a God-given right export it elsewhere. At least not these days. It needs to be remembered that liberalism and multiculturalism at home means people from different cultures and religions can come here by plane or rubber dinghy, get a British passport without too much trouble, access to housing, healthcare, education and benefits (don’t expect that in the Middle East). And can continue to practice their beliefs, hatreds and attitudes unchanged and without moderation while living here (try that in the Middle East – I dare you!). So come on, lets knock off the colonialism, it’s going to leave a bad legacy. Its old hat and history, a bit like taking the knee is. I think I'll go and watch the football now. That's what it's all about apparently - easily forgotten over the last week or so.
I’d like to apologise to anyone who was offended by my blatant virtue signalling earlier this month when I wore a small red flower on the 11th. What on earth was I thinking eh?
It was a bit big - sorry for that. It made it easier to read while typing it. I've now reduced it to the normal size - sorry for that too. It's all my own work, including any typos. Some of it is tongue in cheek, some of it I feel strongly about. I am not from the region and have no financial or family ties to the region if anyone is wondering.
I wasn't impressed with Englands performance during the first half, slightly better against a poor Wales in the second. Think the next rounds will be much tougher.
