Mayor cancels FIFA's London 2012 rooms

[Tricky Dicky]

Speaking of journalists, here's another gem from Said & Done, this time relating to The Sun's coverage of the World Cup bid...

• Proudest media campaign: The Sun, writing an open letter to Sepp on the eve of voting, attacking Panorama's "sabotage" of England's bid.
"Today The Sun makes this plea to Mr Blatter and Fifa: don't be put off by the BBC's rehashing of ancient history. Despite BBC muckraking, The Sun trusts Fifa to put football first." (3 Dec, The Sun: "FIXED! FIFA BUNGS RUSSIA THE WORLD CUP … Calls for corruption probe …")

The Sun Consistent as ever

 

[Lady Whistledown]

The same Diana that was shagging a ......

How very DARE you? What would Diana think?

I might make some badges with that on, to help guide me through life. Like those WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?) logos that American religious types plaster everywhere.

WWDT? I reckon I could sell them in the back sections of the Mail and the Daily Express alongside the adverts for The Comfiest Shoes Ever! and Stannah Stairlifts. I'll get on to Dragon's Den immediately.

 

[kevo]

I know realistically this would never happen, but I just wondered if England fans should consider a boycott of the Russia World Cup if England qualify. England are always by far the best supported visiting country at these tournaments (even at games which don't feature England) and the loss of revenue for Fifa would be substantial. By going to the World Cup, fans (and the team) are effectively endorsing an organisation we know is corrupt to the core. If the team aren't going to pull out, then at least the fans could. It would also ensure a lot of the Russian stadiums will be empty (how many locals are going to turn up for Paraguay v New Zealand?)

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I reckon I could sell them in the back sections of the Mail and the Daily Express alongside the adverts for The Comfiest Shoes Ever! and Stannah Stairlifts.

..and those wonderful innovations like a slipper you can put both feet in.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

I know realistically this would never happen, but I just wondered if England fans should consider a boycott of the Russia World Cup if England qualify. England are always by far the best supported visiting country at these tournaments (even at games which don't feature England) and the loss of revenue for Fifa would be substantial. By going to the World Cup, fans (and the team) are effectively endorsing an organisation we know is corrupt to the core. If the team aren't going to pull out, then at least the fans could.

It's eight years down the line for starters, it's just too far ahead to even think about. And even if we did, the team would probably piss on our bonfire by failing to qualify

I can just see the next course of action though: a few hundred people attend the next England home game waving banners reading "FIFA Fix: Stop Corruption". FIFA then slam a £100,000 fine and suspended ban on us. Meanwhile, ten thousand Russian/Serbian/Italian/Spanish/insert other nation here fans make monkey noises and wave racist banners at a black player and FIFA fines their FA £500.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

..and those wonderful innovations like a slipper you can put both feet in.

And extendable secateurs for trimming the hard-to-reach parts of your bush.

Which can be a real problem for older people.

 

[BensGrandad]

Could we not follow Man Us example in the FA Cup and withdraw; since that day the FA Cup has been on a steady decline. Would the same not happen with the World Cup if we refused to take part.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

but I just wondered if England fans should consider a boycott of the Russia World Cup if England qualify.

The players seem to be on a boycott at most tournaments. Seriously though, the bid team lost....why not just get over it, or even better go away, have a re-think and come back with renewed effort and application. It's much better than blaming everyone and everything....which is the usual British way when confronting defeat. Everyone knew how the system worked when the bid first went in. It's a bit late to be moaning about it now.

 

[manilaseagull]

I know realistically this would never happen, but I just wondered if England fans should consider a boycott of the Russia World Cup if England qualify. England are always by far the best supported visiting country at these tournaments (even at games which don't feature England) and the loss of revenue for Fifa would be substantial. By going to the World Cup, fans (and the team) are effectively endorsing an organisation we know is corrupt to the core. If the team aren't going to pull out, then at least the fans could. It would also ensure a lot of the Russian stadiums will be empty (how many locals are going to turn up for Paraguay v New Zealand?)

how many "real" Russian peasants can afford to go to football? their bid film showed (Mongolian) herdsmen playing football I wonder if they will be saving their roubles to go?

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Could we not follow Man Us example in the FA Cup and withdraw; since that day the FA Cup has been on a steady decline. Would the same not happen with the World Cup if we refused to take part.

That would be aces, Thing is we could make more money as a team for hire than in the World Cup

 

[kevo]

It'll be interesting to see what happens at the next England game with either Platini or Blatter in attendance...

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Would the same not happen with the World Cup if we refused to take part.

Please see my post above.

 

[BensGrandad]

. Everyone knew how the system worked when the bid first went in. It's a bit late to be moaning about it now.

But they didnt expect the delegates to give their support to the faces of our delegation and then go behind their backs as is the British tradition they expected their word to be their bond.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Seriously though, the bid team lost....why not just get over it, or even better go away, have a re-think and come back with renewed effort and application.

Two reason spring to mind .... firstly it was undoutedly corrupt/fixed whatever adjective you'd like to apply, and secondly it seems obvious now that the bidding process is game we are trying to play without knowing what the rules are - which is quite ironic as we're fundamentally talking about a sport.

 

[kevo]

Two reason spring to mind .... firstly it was undoutedly corrupt/fixed whatever adjective you'd like to apply

The fact that for the 2022 World Cup Qatar won 14 votes to Australia's one (!), when Australia's bid was superior in every aspect (Qatar had the worst technical assessment and was deemed the highest risk), proves this beyond any shadow of a doubt.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Would the same not happen with the World Cup if we refused to take part.

Nice idea, but the team already tried that in South Africa and we still didn't win the bid.

I think Scotland should also boycott World Cu....oh.

 

[Solid at the back]

Sepps old and will probs die before 2012

 

[Bob!]

I know realistically this would never happen, but I just wondered if England fans should consider a boycott of the Russia World Cup if England qualify. England are always by far the best supported visiting country at these tournaments (even at games which don't feature England) and the loss of revenue for Fifa would be substantial. By going to the World Cup, fans (and the team) are effectively endorsing an organisation we know is corrupt to the core. If the team aren't going to pull out, then at least the fans could. It would also ensure a lot of the Russian stadiums will be empty (how many locals are going to turn up for Paraguay v New Zealand?)

So, we can still go to Brazil then?

 

[BensGrandad]

Sepps old and will probs die before 2012

When this happens the 2 mins applause may well be misconstrued.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Two reason spring to mind .... firstly it was undoutedly corrupt/fixed whatever adjective you'd like to apply, and secondly it seems obvious now that the bidding process is game we are trying to play without knowing what the rules are - which is quite ironic as we're fundamentally talking about a sport.

Are you suggesting that the bid team did not know the rules? Anyone would be pretty stupid to tender for something and not have an idea of how the system works.