For months, Qatar and FIFA have been trying to make us believe that things are not as we think they are. They verbally sold football fans the progress the emirate had made. Like a mantra, they beat the drum for one of the most controversial World Cup awards in history.
Then Khalid Salman spoke. You didn’t believe your ears! He is a former national player and official World Cup ambassador and believes that being gay is a “mental disorder”.
Words that nullify all attempts to whitewash this World Cup final. This is a hard landing on the ground of reality.
Should we still pursue the boycott that many are calling for? no Because he’ll be twelve years late. At that time, stakeholders – national associations, sponsors, rights holders and we, the media – had the opportunity to stand up and say: “Not with us!”. Did not happen.
Now TV channels that have bought expensive broadcasting rights must broadcast in black? Are players on the field now required to stick to the goalposts?
It requires unrealistic things from some of the participants in this circus world championship. Qatar will forever remain an infamous chapter in the history of FIFA. We won’t fix it again.
And Salman’s statements are a major PR crash at the wrong time for the World Football Association.