I can only imagine the crowd reaction when the Israeli anthem is played in the stadium...iff Israel manage to qualify

This denotes that I've just said something absurd. Don't see how as I've just agreed with everything you've said below.

I've not been there but I did bother to read up a little. This is exactly why I doubt if it will be a 'successful' tournament. Religion and culture aren't things you can just change with money.

Qatar is not exactly a top class football team either, they have only once went past the first round in Asian Cup. Unless they "BUY" a team of foreigners to compete for them which will be more disgraceful than their contingent of African medal winners at the just concluded 2010 Asian Games.

Australia should have won though, USA/Japan/Korea realistically not logical to have them host again so fast. My mind is boggled too that Qatar won. Remember 2006 Asian Games, Malaysia lost to Qatar? This is what Tunku Imran Tuanku Jaafar said



Same story again.

start thinking? they already got the right to host WC la ts....

i think u're confused between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, u dont have to be wrapped up in Qatar, nor are u forbidden to hug in public (PDA is another different issue). Unlike Saudi, non-local women can even wear tight fitting shirts and jeans around, though not encouraged but certainly not punishable. Plus going out with family is not frowned upon as well. Besides, FIFA's policy is to bring football to different cultures around the world, not finding cultures that suit the typical western football. Drinking is another issue i guess, but like i said, we are bringing football to different parts of the world to different cultures, not changing cultures of different people to suit "stereotypical" english version of football. And i'm pretty sure drinkings will be allowed to some extend, maybe there's a "alcohol" and "non-alcohol" section? And about the Jew thing, that's a political problem. the issue with Israel is the same even if the WC is held in Malaysia. I think many here fear the Arabic culture, but my point is, it's the main purpose of FIFA innit, to expose the world to different cultures and religions. If every venue is required to do what the typical English do for football, might as well hold it in England every single time.

The main and biggest problem i can think of is the heat, even at night the temperature can reach 30 degrees, and the humidity is intense, making it difficult to breath, and the air does feel heavy. i can see a lot of players struggling to catch their breathe. At least they've got 12 years to figure out what to do with this.

Personally i don't fancy Qatar as well, as i would have preferred Australia. But what's done is done, i think instead of highlighting the disadvantages now, it's better to discuss on what can be done on it. Every of the contenders have their shortcomings, for example the thing with USA, people will complain they still call it "soccer". Korea and Japan, complain about how recent they've just held one. Australia people will complain about timing and all. The best thing to do now is to witness and discuss how Qatar can improve whatever disadvantages they may have. It's not like they are gonna hold it next year, 12 years is a long time!

This post has been edited by pyroboy1911: Dec 3 2010, 12:22 PM

The Asia Cup will be a yardstick but not an accurate one. It will test the extent to which they've set up their infrastructure but Asian culture is still a little more subdued in comparison with the South Americans or Europeans.

1) From what I understand, the roads are the primary modes of transportation now. I'm sure they will have better access by building multi-storey highways or by having better transit systems by then. Still, given it's size and the possibility of tens of thousands of fans flying in, it could get pretty congested.
2) Not a deal breaker, just a deterrent. What if laws are broken? What will be the repercussions then? Might have an adverse effect on the host nation.
3) What will the rest of the citizens or Islamic nations think about Qatar putting aside one of the oldest conflicts in history just for this one tournament?
4) Easy for someone who doesn't drink but when you consider that beer and food are very much big components of having a good time, especially over a month, it's hard to just put it aside. Westerners consume alcohol almost on a daily basis.
5) Kudos.

"Open ourselves to different cultures". Fairplay but it's hard when that culture is such a closed one with so many restrictions. Do you openly invite a person into your house and then tell him he can't go to your bedroom, walk around your living room on his own, take off his coat, etc? It's a double edged sword. Even if they do give in, how will other Islamic nations look upon them? How will their own citizens?

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Added on December 3, 2010, 12:34 pm

You paint a different picture from carlozz. Well I haven't been there so I'll avoid making assumptions then and stick to what little I know. I agree with the whole exposing football to different cultures bit. The issue however is that it should be reciprocated. I can only be open to someone who is willing to be open to me. Will Qatar be prepared to accept a culture totally different from theirs if only for a month? We are not talking about one nation visiting another here, we are talking about the rest of the world. Drinking isn't just an English culture anymore. It is largely a European one. Hooliganism for example is more prevelant in Italy these days than it is in England. There are many many cultural issues to consider and I'm just wondering if it will be one way or there will be a compromise, and if it's the latter, what other Islamic nations will think of it?



This post has been edited by Duke Red: Dec 3 2010, 12:34 PM

well you can either take a description from someone who is obviously hating Qatar, or from my view on my numerous visits in the past 4 years as a VISITOR. Of course some of them are not so positive, for example it is true the high class Qataris doesnt really mingle with the others, but that's stereotypical; my dad has a local Qatari colleague who is super friendly, according to him.

and in terms of Middle East cities opening to foreigners, i think Dubai ranks no1, and Doha is easily 2nd or 3rd in that list. Look at Qatar as a little more conservative version of Dubai. the freedom is roughly the same, but minus the bad influence such as prostitution and drugs that is quite prominent in Dubai. I would hate to visit if the strictness is anywhere near Saudi Arabia.

PS: Qatar Internet blocks porn site, if that is considered as an disadvantage as well

This post has been edited by pyroboy1911: Dec 3 2010, 12:43 PM

OH SNAP! Im with carloz28 now!

Proxy!

u guys dont scare something like Munich 1972 summer olmpic rehappen again????

Duke, not taking a mickey out of your statement but merely laffing at the their so called "culture" in Qatar...we are on the same page on this

I don't think the muppets in FIFA would have awarded the rights to Qatar if they don't see the benefits. After all, football is the most popular sports in the world. Why risk the popularity of the game ? Economically i believe it is viable to have it for the first time in the Middle East. ... but again i felt the Qatari bid was quite outrageous .. dismantling some stadiums after the world cup and give them to the poorer countries ???

Why can't Malaysia put up a coherant bid? Come on, we've probably got enough $$ and manpower to organise a successful world cup.

Seriously, why not host a world cup instead of building more gigantic buildings, grossly overpriced resorts that turn out to be dismal pondoks or million hole golf courses, an F1 team that only makes up the numbers and some stupid slogan driven pr campaign.

Imagine what hosting a world cup would do for our economy and Malaysian footie.

Another issue to ponder. What do you guys make of the heresay that Qatar bought votes just like they were alleged to have done back when they won the bid to host the 2006 Asian Games? Malaysia was pretty unhappy claiming that it was a ridiculous decision that was influenced by their economic wealth. I mean FIFA was hit with a bribery scandal earlier this year. (http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/worldcup/story/world-cup-bid-day-marred-in-controversy). There is also allegations of vote trading between Spain/Portugal and Qatari representatives as both World Cup hosts were awarded on the same day.

This all isn't conclusive but with FIFA's recent history of selling votes, one cannot completely rule it out.

May i know that when Malaysia play with Qatar in 2006 Asian Games??
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_at_t...006_Asian_Games

Dude, he's not talking about a football game. He was talking about when Malaysia lost the hosting rights to Qatar.

wouldn't be complete without a LOL article by dailymail

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13...-delegates.html

u know its not fair to all the 4 year old girls out there when u compare them together with him right ?

it wouldnt be fair if USA got it since they just host WC at 1994

Well you have to weigh them up against those they were up against. Australia, South Korea, Japan and Qatar were the other contenders. We all know the reservations some, myself included have against Qatar. Korea and Japan were also recent hosts of the World Cup. Would have been a first for Australia. Not being privy to the proposals each country had to offer, I can only comment based on what general information I have. I thought that Australia would have been a good choice. They qualified for this year's tournament and although they don't have a popular league, they have players plying their trade abroad, mainly in England. What else? Nice weather, nice people, nice scenery, nice places of interests. Having hosted the Commonwealth Games before, we know they have infrastructure. Oh yeah, and it's cheaper and geographically better set up.

I don't know about fair. I think consideration should be given to which country has the best potential to pull off the world's biggest tournament?