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I don't see any scenario in which Germany, Italy or Portugal would boycott.
Germany will want to defend their championship, corruption is par for the course in Italy and Portugal has nothing to gain by boycotting. Heck, they could struggle just to qualify again.
Portugal isnt really that big a player in UEFA though.
The big guns are Spain, England, Germany and Italy.
Thats where the big money is.
And the really big money is in the clubs not the national sides. And clubs could not usually give a toss about the national side, in fact they see them as a liability and are reluctant to risk valuable players. You can almost predict the timing of "injuries" of certain players at certain clubs.
UEFA have trodden a very careful path in the past 2 decades, to try to keep control of the European game and keep the clubs happy. So far they have managed it pretty well but the big clubs sides are ever looking out for a way to take over the running of the game and they are very very unhappy with the Qatar decision, especially now that its scheduled for winter in the middle of the European seasons. I would be very surprised if it ever took place.
I cant see the Russia WC being moved or boycotted though, bar an open war - which is possible with Putin and the situation in Ukraine - because its fairly well known territory football wise. But even before the revelations about the savagery of the working conditions in the stadia development, the Qatar WC was really a non starter.
FIFA were usually a good back up for UEFA to use in keeping the big clubs in line, but if FIFA itself is looking neutered then UEFA has to be extra careful in keeping the clubs happy.
You have to remember that in Europe the supporters attitude is usually club first, national side second. If they have a choice of paying to view Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, Real, Barca, Bayern, Dortmund, Juve, and Milan or England, Spain, Germany and Italy then its pretty much a no brainer, the money goes clubwards.
Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely
Absolute monarchies are those in which all power is given to or, as is more often the case, taken by, the monarch. Examples of absolute power corrupting are Roman emperors (who declared themselves gods) and Napoleon Bonaparte (who declared himself an emperor).
I have the feeling that good ole Sepp will have a best seller when he writes his memoirs especially among those who aspire to run fiefdoms with vassals and make mighty dinero with the enterprise. Beats the hell out of me how he stands without a scratch and the castle walls around crumble.
Thing is FIFA is a clubby club and at bottom run like a criminal enterprise. Further I'm not surprised at the racism in soccer. We only have to look at the 'moralities' of the front office. That'll give an idea of how the clubsters look at the great big global world that shovels so much money into its golden coffers. Too bad football is a sport that has to be run by reprehensibles.
That is how elections work. Like here in the US, the votes of part-time car washer and petty criminal Joe Smith and Bill Gates have the same power.
Oh I know. Just as in the US Rhode Island and Wyoming have the same amount of Senators as California or Texas. It can be a bit of a bugger but at least its fair-ish. But does anyone think that FIFA is anything other than a sick pretence of democracy?
Lol, MiamiResident - you obviously have no clue on the happenings in FIFA if that is your stance.
FIFA is corrupted and rotten to the core. Thank god the Americans decided to do something about it - which they have every right to do, as corrupted transaction took place in American bank accounts.
Laughable as well that Putin has come out and criticized the US - another corrupt man himself.
Do you think there is no corruption in the NBA, NFL, and NHL?
So your point is that richer people are less likely to have slaves working for them.
Um.....you might want to stop by the local library and pick up some history books.
And your point is ....there could be slaves anywhere without any proof?
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