“The Beautiful Game Meets Ugly Western Bigotry… ” one headline says about the so-called western media’s demonization of the hosts. Like many western countries where all kinds of human rights abuses are under many guises the hosts would surely have their own problems. But the western media’s onslaught is not about human rights; it’s out and out racism. An official of the hosts was right to comment, “It is ironic when this tone is struck in countries in Europe that call themselves liberal democracies. It honestly sounds very arrogant and very racist;”
This is not about defending the Qataris. They can do it for themselves. It’s about defending the beautiful sport which by and by is not only being politicized but weaponized, too. The same media outlets which turn their backs to human rights abuses on their own doorsteps and inside their own houses now trying to spoil an event the aim of which has been, is, and would continue to be peace and brotherhood is abhorrent to say the least.
Several months back it was written UNHCR, “… is deeply concerned by the increasing number of incidents of violence and serious human rights violations against refugees and migrants at various European borders, several of which have resulted in tragic loss of life.” This following also comes from the same source, “What is happening at European borders is legally and morally unacceptable and must stop.” And yet the ‘moralistic’ rhetoric comes for such places. It’d have been better if they stopped playing the nice-kids-on-the-block game and took care of their own backyards.
Someone writes, “Every single country has its own sovereign laws & values that must be respected by any foreigner & Qatar has every right to enforce them!” that says it all. One could go to these countries where the patronizing media spew their toxic writings from and try to break a single law, even the most harmful one for that matter. One would get the welcome one never expects.
Take all the noise about beer sales being banned. What did they want to do? Throw beer fest or something! There are laws about alcohol consumption in many countries, things you can and you can’t do. It’s “Play it right or else…” Why should alcohol ban in Qatar World Cup be such a hot issue in the so-called mainstream western media? Some made it sound as if something out of the ordinary was committed. They even had ‘analysis’ and was top agenda on some ‘talk shows.’ It is sad, though not surprising, to see so much campaign-like shenanigans being hatched to discredit World Cup 2022 for the only reason that it is being held in a country which is refusing to compromise its laws and draws the line loud and clear where the line should be drawn. Author Stephen King writes; “If you can’t go to a World Cup game without a beer, you might have a problem.”
The arrogance spilled onto the pitch though by individual actors. The arrogant and very inconsiderate act of Rudiger is a case in point. The guy didn’t even try to hide his improper actions. Then the Japanese came, saw and conquered one of the most ..teams in World Cup history. This game wasn’t only significant for the unexpected Japanese victory but also one seemingly minor but disturbing act of disrespect and arrogance by one player. No one familiar with the game questions Antonio Rudiger’s defensive skills. The only thing is in that game he showed the ugliest character anyone would have expected of him. (Of course, one thing about this fellow is that in his defensive duties at Chelsea or elsewhere he is the type who wouldn’t care to take a foot or two along with the ball!) He actually mocked a Japanese forward laughing at him while the cameras were rolling and millions were watching all over the world. One fellow’s graphic description says it all; “Rudiger lifted his leg and you know. Don’t look down on the opponent like that because at some point they can go upstream. I think it’s very unprofessional. It shows arrogance. Rudiger laughed. But now only one team can laugh.” Some are making him individually responsible for the ‘humiliating’ defeat.
Make no mistake about it; this action was a display of larger heinous picture of disdain and disrespect of the ‘strong’ against the ‘weak,’ this time in football. When the underdogs turn the table the story is not written from their point of view but from the losing side’s. So the result is not amazing, astounding, and miraculous or whatever adjective one might attach to it; but it’s an ‘upset.’ So it is never about the underdogs! They can’t even hide their arrogance and that mentality of belittling others because maybe they are not seen as soccer powers.
“The West has a selfish greedy childish notion that all good things should belong to them at all costs. Where they are incapable of being in the driving seat they pour cold dirty water on the beneficiary,” someone wrote.
The human rights rhetoric flowing from these same places is indeed like a litmus test of what’s really going on in this world and maybe even what would continue to be the norm. Some of the most human rights abusers trying to play the morality game!
As someone commented, “This is coming from countries that have actively participated in most of the evils that have blighted humanity since Adam and Eve, is gross hypocrisy.”
“This moral lesson-giving — one-sided — is just hypocrisy;” This comes from no other than FIFA president Gianni Infantino. That’s not all; here is the cream of it all. “For what we Europeans have been doing for the last 3,000 years we should apologize for the next 3,000 years before starting giving moral lessons to people.” It gives this messy world hope that there’re still fully sane and reasonable people round who hit the nail where it should be hit – on the head. “I don’t want to give you any lessons of life, but what is going on here is profoundly, profoundly unjust.”
All countries have laws that should be respected. One stupid fan even went as far as baring her breast in the middle of the crowd for some photo-op, and in Qatar of all places! It’s sad to note that there are those who hailed her actions as the freedom of self-expression! They have locked her up and maybe she can ‘express’ herself without interference!
The beautiful game of football’s about respecting your opponents whoever they might be. Football is about equality, about peace, about mending fences. There are no kings and serfs, though the mainstream media makes it sound as such.
Ephrem Endale
Contributer
The Ethiopian Herald November 27/2022