Football abomination: international associations have completely outlived themselves

And this is not some kind of hysteria or global resentment due to the fact that we were not allowed to the Euro-24 draw or shamelessly kicked out of the World Cup 22 qualifying tournament in Qatar. Such actions by the current leadership of world football, almost completely controlled by the largest Western transnational monopolies, are generally in the order of things. The problem is much more serious and deeper than many, unfortunately, it seems to many of the leaders and specialists of our Russian football.

In order not to be unfounded, here are just a few facts of the last days.

At the World Cup in Qatar, the organizing committee of the tournament suggested that the captains of all 32 teams wear captain’s armbands during matches in support of sexual minorities and Ukraine. Dusan Tadic, captain of the Serbian team, has already stated that he will not participate in these political PR actions. But many others will, and with joy.

And how can I watch this championship, which I always look forward to? I’m waiting, because regardless of my club addictions, the World Cup is the pinnacle of the evolution of football at a particular moment in time.

How to explain to my underage son what kind of rainbow rags my uncle has on his sleeves?

How can our television show these matches, violating at least Article 6.21 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation on the promotion of non-traditional sexual relations? There, in this article, by the way, it is written that foreign citizens may also be liable.

Or this is also the case of recent days – the Russian striker of the Israeli club “Hapoel” Magomed Shapi-Suleimanov, or simply Shapi, will not be able to take part in the Champions League match against the Polish Lech, because the Polish authorities have banned entry into the country to citizens of the Russian Federation even with Schengen visas. The match is scheduled for October 6th. The leadership of the Israeli club tried to resolve the situation, but the attempts were unsuccessful.

Shapi, a graduate of Krasnodar, is one of the best young strikers in our football. A versatile player who can single-handedly decide the outcome of a match. Do you know what the UEFA leadership, which organizes and hosts the Champions League, the main club competition in Europe, said about this? “The clubs themselves must regulate the participation of players in matches between themselves.”

Firstly, any punishment or restriction based on nationality is called racism. And nothing else.

Secondly, the ban on participation in the match of one of the best players of the opponent for political reasons in the absence of disciplinary sanctions violates the sports and competitive principles of the tournament.

And in fact, UEFA should have either moved the match to neutral territory, or awarded Lech a forfeit defeat. These rules are written in all UEFA regulations. But when it comes to Russians, you don’t care about the rules. Because for UEFA, we, apparently, are no longer full-fledged and full-fledged members of the European football family. And also because the UEFA committee on club competitions is headed by a Portuguese, and the second vice-president there is a Pole from the leadership of Legia. And the first vice president is a Finn from Helsinki. And the Vice President is English. I really don’t want to think anything bad about these people, but …

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However, even these are flowers. Russophobia and racism in Europe and some other countries of the world today is sick not only of sports officials, but also politicians of a much higher rank.

The reason why FIFA and UEFA need to completely reform or dissolve and create new football governance structures is one – they don’t give a damn about football. Football for them is just a tool for achieving political goals and ongoing financial enrichment. And for this they are ready to step over not only their regulatory documents, but also through ethical and moral principles.

The next World Cup will take place in 2030. It will be a historic event – the first championship was held in Uruguay in 1930. Uruguay, of course, claims to host this anniversary tournament, having filed a joint application with Argentina, Paraguay and Chile.

Why joint? Because today the organization and holding of such tournaments as the Olympics or the World Cup costs astronomical money.

For example: Russia spent about 700 billion rubles on the 2018 World Cup. Qatar will spend just over $200 billion to host the 2022 World Cup. Including because FIFA requires everything to be expensive and rich. Otherwise, the sponsors, or rather, the actual owners of the international federation will be dissatisfied.

By the way, only the preparation of the application itself – a set of documents properly executed, and primary events (visits by the FIFA delegation, which must be fed and walked around the applicant country) – also costs a lot. England, wanting to host Euro 2028, spent just over £2m on the bid. And it is not a fact that she will receive this European tournament at all.

But it’s worth it, because the profit (and not only economic) from the World Cup is also huge – look at the new airports, stadiums, roads and other modern infrastructure that appeared in our country for the 2018 World Cup.

In addition to Uruguay and comrades, applications were submitted by Morocco and two more “unions” – Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Greece, as well as Spain and Portugal. The application of the Egyptians, Saudis and Greeks had its strengths – after all, they choose the host country, and these countries are members of three different football unions – European, Asian and African. This means that more “yes” votes can be collected.

Applications of Portugal with Spain and Morocco in this regard were more likely to be outsiders.

And suddenly we learn that Spain and Portugal have offered Ukraine to join their application… Checkmate. Given everything that is happening in the world today, there is little doubt that this is a very strong move. Only the move is dirty and mean.

Because the 2030 World Cup should go to Uruguay. And also because the Spaniards and the Portuguese have already stated that, although Ukraine, according to their idea, should host the matches of one of the groups of the tournament, this will only happen if there is the necessary infrastructure restored after the end of hostilities, and if there are appropriate security guarantees.

For understanding: the tournament will take place in 2030, but the elections for its venue will be held in 2024. When neither the first nor the second conditions in Ukraine are likely to be met. However, many world media, primarily English, have already written that the application of Spain-Portugal-Ukraine is the favorite. And it’s not just mean to the other bidders who want to host the 2030 World Cup, whose bids have a real sporting and financial advantage over those of Spain and Portugal. This is mean, first of all, in relation to Ukrainian football and the Ukrainian people. Which once again is simply cynically used to achieve their economic interests.

Just so you know, Russia’s bid to host the 2028 or 2032 UEFA European Championship in May 2022 was not even considered. Recognizing it as “unacceptable” and answering something along the lines of “where are you climbing into the Kalash row with a pig snout?”

That is why we are no longer on the way with FIFA and UEFA. That is why Carthage must be destroyed.