World Cup 2022: Fifa president Infantino ‘is in a hole and should stop digging’ – live

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Bad news for the Socceroos:

Here’s reader Michael Ohl on the Infantino speech: “It is not binary issue. Yes, the west should look at itself and our historic abuses. But just because the west behaved as bad, if not worse, it is not a good enough reason for not condemning abuses happening in all countries around the world today, including Qatar. War, colonialism, subjugation by one nation on another nation, state sanctioned killing people, torturing people, discriminating against people or abusing people for whatever reason is wrong and has always been wrong, and that applies to all eras and all countries.”

Kurt Perleberg keeps things simple: “Is this Fifa World Cup turning out to be the worst sporting event of all time?”

Fawad Azam writes in: “I do find the tirade against Qatar a tad hypocritical. We all know the awarding of Russia and Qatar was riddled with issues. However I do agree that bringing the World Cup has put a spotlight on the issues in Qatar and forced some changes which wouldn’t have happened otherwise, such as banning the Kafala system and minimum wage. The problems with migrant workers is still an issue in many parts of the gulf which Brits are more than happy to holiday in every year but we have no issues when taking our selfies at the pool.

“We have had China hosting the Olympics with their human rights track record and Russia hosting the last World Cup four years after it had illegally annexed Crimea. We have Egypt currently hosting COP27 with its human rights abuses. I don’t think these hosting duties go to model countries. But then again what is a model country? In UK we have migrant fruit pickers who are going back home to Indonesia after only eight weeks of work despite being offered six months’ worth. They are now riddled with years of debt.

“I am not white and don’t drink alcohol. I am going to the World Cup for the first time, some may mistake me as a fake fan! The ‘fake fan’ accusations brings a whole new angle into the racism of what is a ‘true fan’.

“However this is probably the only time I have felt safe and comfortable going to a World Cup without the fear of hooliganism and drunken behaviour. Previously would have never considered going to any other World Cup as being a brown England fan I would stick out in the wrong way from either side. So for me Qatar hosting the World Cup has opened the door to people like me who have otherwise not been able to attend.”

El Diego klaxon! Here’s an extract from Diego Maradona: The Last Interview & Other Conversations – a 1992 discussion in which the crazed genius talks Baggio, Berlusconi and USA 94:

Ruben Neves knows which side his bread is buttered on. Here’s the Portugal midfielder on You Know Who: “From what I’ve seen in training, he’s in spectacular shape. He doesn’t worry us at all, we as a team know perfectly well what we need to work on so that each individual stands out on gameday. If we’re good as a team, Cristiano will be phenomenal.”

Antonio Rudiger reckons Germany can go the distance. He would say that, wouldn’t he?

Meanwhile, back in the Northern Premier League:

The first signs of fallout from Infantino’s speech come from the Welsh first minister, Mark Drakeford. Here’s what he has to say:

I had two thoughts when I heard those comments. First of all, I think there is a serious point about being prepared to review our own history. Wales is an outward-looking, inclusive nation where people’s rights really matter to us. But it wasn’t always like that. In our own history, we have had times when things that we have done, including things that we have done in other parts of the world, wouldn’t measure up to the sorts of beliefs and standards that we hold ourselves to today. So to take a moment to reflect on our own histories, it’s not a moment wasted.

The second thought I had listening to what was said was to remind me of Healy’s first law of holes. Some people will remember Denis Healey, the great labour politician. And his first law of holes was when you’re in one, stop digging.

(via Reuters)

In case you missed it last night – Karim Benzema becomes an automatic pick for the Injured World Cup XI. In fact, N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba would be part of that team, too – poor old France. Luckily they still have the adoring Mbappe-Giroud partnership up front. Fraternit?!

Fun fact: Raheem Sterling made his England debut alongside Leon Osman, Steven Caulker and Carl Jenkinson. Ten years later, he’s a senior figure in the squad and battling against younger upstarts for a place in Southgate’s XI. He’s out of form but I’d still have him in the side tomorrow, ahead of Grealish and Rashford. You?

A few have pointed out that Gianni’s speech yesterday bore a striking resemblance to one made by former Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo from back in 2017. Great minds?

Managing Brazil at a World Cup – the hardest job in football? Happily, their current boss seems to have a healthy perspective. “Whether we win or not, I want to be at peace,” says Tite. “At peace with myself. That’s my big desire.”

Something tells me that sense of inner peace might be a lot easier to find from the champions’ podium on 18 December. Read the full interview here:

Wales’s World Cup gets under way tomorrow evening. Here, former winger Terry Medwin remembers the country’s first – and last – appearance at the tournament, when they were knocked out by an unknown 17-year-old called Pel?:

Now then. That Infantino speech eh? “Today I feel Qatari,” said the 52-year-old Swiss-Italian man yesterday. “Today I feel Arabic. Today I feel African. Today I feel gay. Today I feel disabled. Today I feel like a migrant worker.”

Not, apparently, a Gervais-esque send-up of modern identity politics but rather an earnest plea for open-mindedness and unity during the course of this tournament. Here’s our report, here’s Barney Ronay’s take, and here’s our in-house fact-check on what exactly was said. Are we being too harsh on Gianni, or is there a kernel of a clumsily-delivered half-decent point in there somewhere? Thoughts welcome.

Let’s kick off with some Sunday-morning listening:

“It will be the best World Cup ever – of course.” Those the words of Gianni Infantino about an event marred before a ball has been kicked by criminality, corruption and death – and yet somehow the least contentious statement of yesterday’s grand address. (More on that shortly.)

Today, at least, we’ll get to put his theory to the test. That’s right: 12 years after the World Cup was awarded to Qatar in a decision that left even David Beckham lost for words, the day is finally here and it looks like we’re actually going through with it.

“Focus on the football” is another favourite Infantino directive. We can do a bit of that this afternoon, when the hosts face Ecuador at the gleaming new Al Bayt Stadium. And if the prospect of the planet’s 44th and 50th best international sides locking horns wasn’t enough for you, there’ll be a lavish opening ceremony beforehand featuring K-pop superstar Jeon Jungkook and nay-pop superstars the Black Eyed Peas.

But before then we will have an uninterrupted stream of news, previews, buildup, correspondence, interviews, debates, squabbles, quibbles, protestations, trivia, reminiscences, hopes, dreams and regrets from this strangest of World Cups … plus a bit of football, too. Got any of the above? Please send them through via email.

So kick back, crack open a Bud Zero, and stay tuned for live updates from day one of Qatar 2022.