Some thoughts on the World Cup, What do you think?

I don’t know how many Jewish people in Brighton are football supporters, and how many keep an eye of Brighton’s result or some other team, and how many could not care less. 

But this World Cup somehow goes beyond football. I suspect that the majority of Jewish people in Brighton spiritually Zionists, whether you approve of the new Government or not. 

Qatar has sided itself with Iran’s Revolutionary Government, and is very hardline and probably supportive of the worst of Israel’s enemies including Hamas and Hezbollah. But apart from that, they share much of the inflexibility of Iran against personal freedoms which whether as Jews or as British we hold sacra-sanct. 

Now as I write, the most that has happened is that some Welsh people have had hats confiscated which purported to support the LGBTQ. Personally, I don’t raise nearly so much objection to the fact that the supporters cannot get a beer in or near the stadium. 

Of course one must also remember the number of people who came from the Sub-Continent to help build the stadia and hotels etc, who were treated inhumanely as well as the thousands who have died. 

However, this does paint an awful picture of a country, very different to the democracies defending their principals. But who is to blame? 

FIFA knew what Qatar was like when they voted to award the World Cup 22 to Qatar. All the countries who are complaining knew of the situation. My question is why FIFA was allowed to get away with it?

The same countries who now are complaining could have brought pressure on FIFA right from the start. If countries such as the EU teams + other democracies in Europe and beyond had even made intimations that their teams would not attend, FIFA would have had to have awarded the competition elsewhere. 

But they did nothing, so apart from blaming FIFA, I also question the football associations of these countries and their governments. 

So, since the World Cup has started, how is it progressing. As I write, Argentina and Germany have lost to opposition they would have expected to beat easily. Some of this has been poor play by the favourites, but we should congratulate Saudi Arabia and Japan for having advanced in football parlance. 

It was delightful to see England beet Iran  6-2, as well as to watch Ecuador with 3 players from Brighton and Hove Albion win so easily. 

I am drawn to the conclusion that if the football is interesting, I am going to help no-one if I boycott the matches – so till Jack Kaye takes up his rightful place, expect to hear from me. 

This is my opinion, why not let me know what you think in the Contact opportunity.