World Cup Time
Yes, it is in Qatar and yes it has been marred by scandal, but ...
The FIFA World Cup is on. Hard to miss and also hard to ignore the politics and money games surrounding this crucial event. But we should all note that in its essence it is just a sport and football at this level is a deep emotional journey that brings up memories of wins and defeats, national pride and an unmitigated love for the world’s most popular game. Apart from the Olympics there is nothing like it. Letting go of that emotion to say that we should not go to Qatar or not watch it for political reasons is a tough one.
For me 1974 was the first world cup I can visibly remember and it also inflicted the pain of seeing my side end up losing the final while being the better team. Four years on in 1978 the same happened, but that world cup also saw the exposure of the political dynamics behind the tournament. The ‘Mundial’ in Argentina that year was about the brutal military regime under Jorge Videla that held the host nation in its grip. Before our Dutch boys could leave and participate, a campaign to boycott the event dominated the airwaves. Even now, forty-four years on, the event is still associated with not just the blood spilled during the final match, but the blood on the hands of Argentinian junta. There was also direct interference in the tournament itself: the home country reached the finals through an improbable win over Peru and the stories about how Videla himself looked up the Peruvian players and impelled them to ‘do their duty’ still abound. They did and it was probably more than just the dictator’s words that swayed them.
So in other words we have been here before and we will always be here, one way or another. The horror stories about the migrants killed building the stadiums, the human rights abuses, the attempt to bribe Ecuador to give the game away against Qatar (did not work apparently) and the dollar games behind the scenes: Qatar’s record is pretty abysmal. But not necessarily out of character for a host nation. So the calls to pull out, to boycott and to make the voice of human rights heard were just as loud as they were in 1978. The only difference is that we now are a global village amplified by social media so it feels like everyone is on about this issue. There is now a real belief that the outside world can force some changes. Think of the One Love captain’s armband which could have been a way to protest and annoy the Qatari leadership. As of the this morning that plan failed, but at least it has sparked a discussion.
In the end the games are always on. Dollars, national pride but also the passion of fans and the central role of athletes willing to push themselves yet further will overrule most political considerations. Boycotts serve no practical purpose and only devalue the opportunity to engage with an issue or establish a dialogue. The world did go to Moscow in 2018 for the FIFA event and also did go to Beijing for the 2008 Olympics while in both cases there would have been a good argument to stay away. But by the same token the respective boycotts of the 1980 Moscow Olympics by the USA and the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics by the then Soviet Union did not materially alter the world. They were rather unfortunate blips that deprived athletes and audiences of a chance to engage and progress together.
What we have witnessed over the past few months is an intense debate where everyone chipped in so that Qatar and FIFA became somewhat exposed. There is a lot more scrutiny now and at the same time initiatives such a footballers meeting with migrant workers are rolled out to give effect to what is being debated. The world learns and progresses. And that process may well have started back in Buenos Aires in 1978. When Argentina played its games imprisoned political prisoners could actually hear the crowds cheering, something that gave them a tiny sliver of hope some later testified. If the world had boycotted then these people would have remained locked up in a world of silence. In Qatar in the next few weeks it will probably not be all that silent and therein lies some hope. And a lot of great football. The show must go on.
Photo: The 1978 FIFA World Cup was won by Argentina with 3-1 win over The Netherlands after extra time. Dutch star Johan Neeskens restrains Alberto Tarantini.