Why should one be surprised at the western complaints about Qatar and other Middle Eastern and South Asian countries? Having cowed the majority of their own populations into toeing the line on all matters gay, they're predictably moving on to try it on everyone else.
Konstantin, I agree on FIFA, on hypocrisy, on most of what you say, but it seems to me that many of the people who now harp on what's wrong with Qatar do it because (1) they imply we / the teams should boycott - one of your 2 options, and my preferred one; (2) the fact that one protested at the time the decision to award Qatar the World Cup does not mean one cannot protest again now; (3) Qatar wanted publicity, so let's give them the publicity they deserve.
(Of course, Italy solved the dilemma in a stereotypically Italian way, by failing to qualify -- which might also have been due to the pressure of the players' moms not wanting their sons to play in such heat...)
Why should one be surprised at the western complaints about Qatar and other Middle Eastern and South Asian countries? Having cowed the majority of their own populations into toeing the line on all matters gay, they're predictably moving on to try it on everyone else.
Konstantin, I agree on FIFA, on hypocrisy, on most of what you say, but it seems to me that many of the people who now harp on what's wrong with Qatar do it because (1) they imply we / the teams should boycott - one of your 2 options, and my preferred one; (2) the fact that one protested at the time the decision to award Qatar the World Cup does not mean one cannot protest again now; (3) Qatar wanted publicity, so let's give them the publicity they deserve.
(Of course, Italy solved the dilemma in a stereotypically Italian way, by failing to qualify -- which might also have been due to the pressure of the players' moms not wanting their sons to play in such heat...)