Football (Soccer) Thread

[Duque de Bragança]

Apparently Qatar is breaking another promise and not allowing cooked Kosher food or public Jewish prayer:
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-722891

From online - FIFA: "Soccer brings all of us together."

Qatar: "Except the Jews."

FIFA: "Okay."

Well there are limits to how much soccer can bring us together.

I am sure Qatari apologists à la Gianni will find a good reason.

[Duque de Bragança]

Apparently England's group is the only one where all teams are ranked top 20.

Shows the value of rankings really.

England is n° 5 the other are under 15, to be fair.

[Valmy]

Goal for the Dutch

[Syt]

John Oliver this week was about the WC, but basically just reiterated the shittiness around the whole affair and Qatar in general - nothing overly new if you've followed the negative coverage so far.

I did like his describing FIFA as "a cartel-like group of scumbags and assorted criminals who occasionally put on soccer matches," though (and felt he put it rather mildly, IMHO).

[Josephus]

The FIFA doc on Netflix really shows what a corrupt Mafioso organization FIFA is.
At one time they hired a governance head, who was fired shortly after.

[Syt]

I mean, most major sports bodies are. UEFA, IOC, DFB ...

[Josephus]

FIFA tells Belgium to remove the word "love" from the back collar of jersey.
Because, you know, love goes against the ideas of unity and bringing everyone together.

https://www.espn.com/soccer/belgium-bel/story/4808660/fifa-tells-belgium-to-remove-word-love-on-shirts-sources

[Sheilbh]

Really having a "are we the baddies?" tournament here.

[HVC]

We should create our own association... with blackjack and hookers.

[celedhring]

Really having a "are we the baddies?" tournament here.

That's what Infantino told us.

[Josephus]

Wonder if the Wrexham owners are here for this one

[Sheilbh]

And in contrast to spinelessness, Iran's captain:
https://twitter.com/carolineframke/status/1594509813765087233?s=46&t=fq71K42YXNRKEfF1oaz5fA

I saw Iranian fans were also chanting "dishonourable" all through the game, which is a slogan in the protests.

[Josephus]

So Wales has as many MLS players in the starting lineup as the USA

[Valmy]

USA! USA! USA!

[HVC]

Americas playing a bit rough.