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COUNTDOWN! 0 days to the World Cup

Rob1981

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foolsgold

foolsgold

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Depends. If he does raise awareness, and consistently and regularly bring the issues to appropriate attention, then there is a fair argument to be had that it's better he's there than some other pundit who doesn't mention a thing.

Hope he donates all the money he makes to some appropriate charity though.

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Barry Cartman

Barry Cartman

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7 minutes ago, foolsgold said:

Depends. If he does raise awareness, and consistently and regularly bring the issues to appropriate attention, then there is a fair argument to be had that it's better he's there than some other pundit who doesn't mention a thing.

Hope he donates all the money he makes to some appropriate charity though.

You think he'll raise these issues on live TV on Bein? because if not, nothing stopping him doing that whilst just working for ITV 

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Baptista_8

Baptista_8

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3 hours ago, Barry Cartman said:

Neville working for Bein at the World Cup, but defending himself saying he isn't a hypocrite 

 

His answer when asked if he disagrees with Cantona's view was cringe. He changed the subject completely to how he disagrees with Cantona about not ever renaming Old Trafford...Proper politician vibes.

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  • Rob1981 changed the title to COUNTDOWN! 43 days to the World Cup.
decapitated

decapitated

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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-11300743/Qatar-airport-not-ready-World-Cup-fears-Hamad-International-unprepared-fans.html

 

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The World Cup faces being ruined for thousands of fans amid fears Qatar’s main airport is not ready for a mass influx of passengers, Sportsmail has learned.

Concerned insiders believe Hamad International is unprepared and fear safety may be compromised.

In a devastating report that raises grave questions ahead of the event, which kicks off next month, this newspaper has been told a desperate hunt for staff has seen many drafted in from across the globe, with officials now in a race against time to get them trained to the required standard.

While the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) says they have upgraded control systems and ‘executed meticulous plans’ with ‘continuous training for air traffic controllers in line with international requirements’, it can be also be disclosed that:

The situation has been described by one panicked official as ‘at crisis point’.


Serious concerns are held over the recruitment process amid a belief jobs are being offered to people without the completion of the necessary training.


Staff have been warned anyone deemed to be ‘sabotaging’ the operation will be ‘dealt with by the state’.


During the World Cup, which starts next month, flights going in and out of the airport will surge from 700 per day to 1,600. But a number of workers, all of whom wish to remain anonymous for fear of recriminations, are worried. They believe the Doha-based facility is incapable of dealing with the extra traffic amid a desperate shortage of air traffic control staff.

Some feel flights will be delayed or diverted to Dubai, which is a six-and-a-half hour drive away, with fans who will have paid thousands at serious risk of missing matches.

The tournament will be the first that has operated in one city, with Doha International Airport to cater for a fraction of those arriving and staff concerned that the main Hamad International does not have the infrastructure or workforce to cope. They believe problems there will far outstrip any worries over accommodation or booze bans.

Insiders, who have raised their concerns on an online forum for airport professionals, claim new recruits are being given 20 to 30 hours of training, which they say is not enough time to make them familiar with the layout of the area and operational issues. There has also been talk of the potential impact of Qatar’s strained relationship with near neighbours Bahrain.

Insiders point out that Bahrain has the rights to the airspace over Qatar, which was handed over on September 8. They feel that does not allow enough time to prepare for the huge increase in traffic that is coming.

The situation is so stark that staff have been gagged and banned from leaving to take jobs elsewhere.

Sportsmail has seen a chilling memo from QCAA management to staff.

In it, workers are ominously told that the World Cup ‘is significantly important for Qatar and there are extremely high expectations from the highest levels in the state’.

It adds that workers will be ‘closely monitored by high-level individuals and their representatives’.

In what appears to be a thinly-veiled threat, the document states ‘undesired acts from individuals to sabotage the event or be part of being a factor to delay or even to fail some of the projects will be totally unacceptable and dealt with firmly by the state’.

The memo also warns that those ‘aware of such acts’ who do not report them will be ‘held responsible and questioned’. The stark, dark note concludes: ‘Staff who are believed not to be fully motivated towards ultimate success and also motivating others not to partake in the successful delivery may be considered as having hidden agendas to sabotage state plans.’

Insiders say the current plans are based on everything running smoothly and do not allow for external factors such as inclement weather, with the tournament taking place during Qatar’s rainy season.

They believe the increase in traffic could force circling planes to land at Dubai and feel some fans may be told they can only bring hand luggage to speed-up turnaround times.

In a bid to get a grip on the situation, all leave for four months from August to the end of December has been cancelled but concerns over the quality of new recruits have been raised.

In a statement, QCAA said: ‘QCAA air traffic control operates to the highest international standards and takes its responsibilities extremely seriously.

‘Our prime objective is to ensure the safe and expeditious flow of air traffic and enhance the passenger journey for all users.

‘In anticipation of the surge in traffic during the World Cup, the State of Qatar has upgraded its traffic control systems and executed meticulous plans that were conceived well in advance of hosting the event.

‘Air traffic controllers undergo continuous training and checking as per international requirements. The training and safety management system of QCAA meets and exceeds standards as defined by the International Civil Aviation Organisation and we have been successfully audited to those standards.’

With regards to capacity, they added: ‘The additional capacity generated from upgrading our systems has been validated using the latest simulation and verification methods.

‘As a result, Qatar will have a capacity to support 100 take-off or landing movements per hour, which exceeds the expected peak number of 80 per hour during the World Cup.

‘Our ability to efficiently manage the rapid growth of air traffic in the past years without incident is a strong testament to the quality and professionalism of our team of controllers and we are committed to maintaining the same high standards during the World Cup.’

A spokesperson for MATAR, the Qatar Company for Airports Operation and Management added: ‘MATAR successfully operates two international airports, Doha International and the award-winning Hamad International, which has won the World’s Best Airport award in 2021 and 2022.

‘Airport preparations for the World Cup have been ongoing for years and have been thoroughly tested and peer-reviewed. MATAR is confident in its ability to provide a safe and seamless airport experience for all visitors who will come through its gates.’

 

 

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  • Rob1981 changed the title to COUNTDOWN! 40 days to the World Cup.
Yuko

Yuko

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11 hours ago, foolsgold said:

I appreciate that you can't exactly tell just from looking at it, but I had to connect at that airport earlier this year and it looked anything but 'not ready'.  Probably the fanciest one I've ever seen.

Yeah it's absurd to consider it inadequate. Probably one of the most capable airports out there. 

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  • Rob1981 changed the title to COUNTDOWN! 39 days to the World Cup.
  • Rob1981 changed the title to COUNTDOWN! 37 days to the World Cup.
decapitated

decapitated

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https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/oct/15/qatar-world-cup-tv-reports-restrictions

 

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International television crews in Qatar for the Fifa World Cup will be banned from interviewing people in their own homes as part of sweeping reporting restrictions that could have a “severe chilling effect” on media coverage.

Broadcasters, such as the BBC and ITV, will also be forbidden from filming at accommodation sites, like those housing migrant workers, under the terms of filming permits issued by the Qatari government.

Instead, they will be permitted to film in public places in only three locations in Doha: the Corniche waterfront promenade, the West Bay area and the Towers area.

Capturing footage “near or within” government buildings, universities, places of worship and hospitals is also prohibited, along with recording on “any privately owned property”, even with the owner’s consent.

The restrictions are within a list of conditions that outlets must agree to when applying for a filming permit from the Qatari authorities to “capture photography and videography of the most popular locations around the country”. They also apply to photographers but do not explicitly refer to print journalists who do not film their interviews.

The rules do not prohibit reports on specific subjects, but barring crews from filming on private property – “including but not limited to houses, apartment complexes, accommodation sites” – is likely to make it difficult for them to investigate reported abuses, such as the mistreatment of migrant workers, or to conduct interviews on subjects people may be reluctant to discuss in public, such as LGBTQ+ rights.

The rules also say applicants “acknowledge and agree” they will not produce reports that may be “inappropriate or offensive to the Qatari culture, Islamic principles” or “may arouse ethnic or religious disturbances”. They add that organisations will be “held responsible for criminal and civil liability for any breach of the above mentioned provisions when filming”.

Qatar’s supreme committee for delivery and legacy did not respond to requests for comment on the rules, which are published in its official media portal.

Fifa said it was “working with the supreme committee and relevant organisations in Qatar to ensure the best possible working conditions for media attending the tournament, as well as ensuring that broadcasters continue to report freely without any restrictions”.

A spokesman said it would be “important to clarify that filming on private property in any country remains subject to approval of the owner/operator of the property”. He did not comment on why the terms include an outright ban on filming on private property.

Journalists have previously been detained in Qatar for reporting on issues deemed contentious by the authorities. In 2015, a group of BBC reporters were arrested in Doha and spent two nights in prison while investigating housing conditions for migrant workers. Last November, two Norwegian journalists investigating conditions for migrant labourers working on World Cup venues were arrested and detained for 36 hours as they tried to leave the country.

James Lynch, from FairSquare, a London-based human rights group, said the rules were an “extraordinarily sweeping range of restrictions” that would make it difficult for TV crews to pursue non-football-related stories. He said: “It would be incredibly difficult to fully comply with these terms, if even filming near to private or government property violates the terms of a permit.

“This is likely to have a severe chilling effect on free expression. How many organisations will authorise reporting on Qatar’s social issues if to do so puts them at risk of ending up in court?”

The restrictions present an ethical dilemma for broadcasters.

The BBC and ITV’s stringent editorial guidelines promote impartiality and are designed to protect against undue influence, including from governments. BBC guidelines, which apply to all content, say broadcasts should not unnecessarily offend but stress the importance of free expression.

Jemimah Steinfeld, editor-in-chief at Index on Censorship, said the film permit conditions were a “definite cause for concern” and appeared to be “purposely ambiguous” so that broadcasters would “err on the side of caution”.

She said her gut feeling was She felt they should not agree to such terms but said it was “extremely difficult terrain” to navigate. “The question is whether there might be stories that they can still do within the realms of that agreement, and is it more important that they do those stories?” she said. “If the BBC is basically being shoved into a position where all they can cover is the glory of it, then that would be a bad outcome.”

Qatar is an Islamic country with an authoritarian system of government. Swearing, public displays of affection and dressing immodestly are seen as offensive. Homosexual behaviour is illegal. Posting material that appears to insult, slander or is culturally insensitive may also be considered a crime, according to travel advice from the UK government.

In recent months, Qatar appears to have softened its stance on several issues in an attempt to convince visitors that it is safe and tolerant. It is allowing the sale of alcohol at stadiums, for instance, and has said that gay fans will be able to display affection during the World Cup. It has not eased rules restricting freedom of speech, which include a law against spreading “fake news” online.

The country’s World Cup bosses have attempted to discourage discussion of wider societal issues. In an interview with Sky News last week, Nasser al-Khater, the chief executive of the tournament, told football associations to focus on football instead of politics. “This is a sporting tournament that people want to come [to] and enjoy. Turning it into a platform of political statements I don’t think is right for the sport,” he said.

The BBC, which will be offering “extensive coveragemedia”, did not say if it had agreed to or challenged the film permit rules, which are detailed in the official World Cup media portal.

A spokeswoman said the broadcaster had a “long, proud history of bringing major international football tournaments to audiences” and a “proven record of addressing topical issues as part of our coverage. This World Cup will be no different”.

ITV said its news and current affairs team had carried out “extensive reporting of the decision to award the tournament to Qatar and the questions surrounding the host nation’s human rights record and will continue to do so”.

“Our journalism will be robustly independent. ITV’s World Cup tournament coverage will focus on the football, but will not shy away from the controversies off the pitch,” a spokesman said

 

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  • Rob1981 changed the title to COUNTDOWN! 34 days to the World Cup.
  • Rob1981 changed the title to COUNTDOWN! 33 days to the World Cup.
VamPook

VamPook

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Posted
On 12/10/2022 at 05:56, foolsgold said:

I appreciate that you can't exactly tell just from looking at it, but I had to connect at that airport earlier this year and it looked anything but 'not ready'.  Probably the fanciest one I've ever seen.

C'mon, you've been to Singapore :brock:

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Rob1981

Rob1981

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12 hours ago, foolsgold said:

I sense there is about 1/10th the usual excitement for this World Cup. Just doesn't feel like a real one.

At the risk of sounding like a stuck record, it would be a LOT better if there was more of a lead in time.  Put a three week break in between the domestic fixtures and the start of the WC and the PL would be finishing at the end of this month.  Then you've got chance to build up to the WC in the press and get everyone excited and for the countries to play a friendly or two.  Plus you wouldn't have top players missing it at the last minute because of minor injuries with a short recovery time. 

And while you're at it you could put it back to 32 days long instead of 28 days long... then you're not making the players play with a short turnaround time in between group games.  And you're not sticking four games on a day instead of three in the first week and having the TV audiences cannabilise each other.

People will blame FIFA and the Qataris for the scheduling obviously, but the big leagues have known this has been coming for 12 years.  And the PL were only prepared to budge their start date by a week :D   

I mean I didn't want it in Qatar and I didn't want in November.  But both of these things could have been managed a lot better if the elite clubs and leagues had been more flexible.

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Coulthard's Jaw

Coulthard's Jaw

Posted
Posted (edited)

I think once it gets going it will be a good world cup, will be a different watch because the players will be a lot fresher than is the case with a northern hemisphere world cup so the quality of the matches will probably be higher.

Just a shame Qatar is such a terrible country and should never have been awarded this event.

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Rob1981

Rob1981

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7 minutes ago, pearcey_90 said:

It’s a gimmicky World Cup, all for leagues refusing to budge much on their calendars.

That's fine until you realise the players would rather be at the WC than playing for their middling teams chasing 12th place or whatever.  And there will be long list of them missing it, some of whom probably go through their whole careers now and never get another chance. 

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TalkSport

TalkSport

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Posted
8 minutes ago, Rob1981 said:

That's fine until you realise the players would rather be at the WC than playing for their middling teams chasing 12th place or whatever.  And there will be long list of them missing it, some of whom probably go through their whole careers now and never get another chance. 

Why have sympathy for the players? Europe is where the money is, can’t have their cake and eat it. 

If players are that devoted to World Cup, their superstars should be pushing for the World Cup to be biannual. 

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Rob1981

Rob1981

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57 minutes ago, pearcey_90 said:

If players are that devoted to World Cup, their superstars should be pushing for the World Cup to be biannual. 

What? :D  Literally makes no sense.  I like Christmas, but I wouldn't want it three times a year.

The World Cup is special because it doesn't come around very often.  Ergo most of the time players want to play in it above everything else.

But talk about "having your cake and eating it"... this is exactly what the clubs do.  Happy to add another zero on a transfer fee because a player has had a good World Cup.  Or they go and shift their club shirts and make their money in Egypt or South Korea or Senegal because they've signed one of the stars of the national team.  But god forbid they might need to leave a bit of space in the calendar for these matches to actually happen.

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Weezer

Weezer

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Posted

I think a lot will depend on how your home nation does when it comes to how it’s received also, though people won’t necessarily want to admit it.

Russia aren’t that far off some of the scumbaggery of Qatar but there wasn’t much protest once England started their journey to the semifinals.

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Rob1981

Rob1981

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Interesting with the talk about preparation time (or lack of).  I did notice a few countries have managed to shoehorn friendlies into that last week:

Tue 15/11
Iraq v Belgium

Wed 16/11
Poland v Chile
UAE v Argentina
Oman v Germany
Saudi Arabia v Croatia
Mexico v Sweden

Thu 17/11
Ghana v Switzerland
Japan v Canada
Iraq v Costa Rica
Portugal v Nigeria
Jordan v Spain

Fri 18/11
Cameroon v Panama
Belgium v Egypt
Bahrain v Serbia

So these are wedged in between the big leagues breaking on Sunday 13th and the World Cup starting on Sunday 20th... Belgium playing twice (:D) even though most countries are not playing at all.

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sc91

sc91

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16 hours ago, foolsgold said:

****ing ridiculous.

I sense there is about 1/10th the usual excitement for this World Cup. Just doesn't feel like a real one.

Kinda nails it, apart from this thread, no one I know gives a ****, mainly as it's a crap time of year, people are in work, and it's midway through the domestic seasons. Just all adds up (again, anecdotally) into people I know not bothering.

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Rob1981

Rob1981

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1 hour ago, sc91 said:

no one I know gives a ****, mainly as it's a crap time of year, people are in work, and it's midway through the domestic seasons.

You say that, but when it's a straight choice between dealing with your work emails or watching Croatia v Morocco at 10am on a weekday... that's no choice at all.

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Weezer

Weezer

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Posted
3 hours ago, GunmaN1905 said:

Those are "let's get Hazard some minutes" friendlies.

Bit off topic but I saw a stat at the weekend that said there's been 8 El Classicos since Hazard joined Real Madrid and he hasn't played a single minute in any of them.

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PMLF

PMLF

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5 hours ago, Rob1981 said:

What? :D  Literally makes no sense.  I like Christmas, but I wouldn't want it three times a year.

The World Cup is special because it doesn't come around very often.  Ergo most of the time players want to play in it above everything else.

But talk about "having your cake and eating it"... this is exactly what the clubs do.  Happy to add another zero on a transfer fee because a player has had a good World Cup.  Or they go and shift their club shirts and make their money in Egypt or South Korea or Senegal because they've signed one of the stars of the national team.  But god forbid they might need to leave a bit of space in the calendar for these matches to actually happen.

Indeed.

I am sure this WC will be just as good as any other, and the time of the year is great as for the first time ever we don’t have to stop Brazilian football in the middle of the season. 

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  • Rob1981 changed the title to COUNTDOWN! 32 days to the World Cup.
Barry Cartman

Barry Cartman

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Posted

He's a scumbag, if you didn't watch check out the tiktok he posted the other week that is on the last page, where he gives a platform on this social media to someone claiming only 3 workers have died building the stadiums and the west are reporting it wrong 

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