When I mentioned if much more took place over in France then that might not be the case. I was shot down with the following:-
“Would you want to be the one that told Putin Russia were getting the World Cup taken away from them?"
My reply to that was "Putin wasn’t the head of Russian Football Federation/Association so it wouldn't be Putin FIFA had to tell."
However that little discussion aside, my question is. On the basis that Russia definitely do host the World Cup. If your country qualified and you could get tickets to all 3 of your group matches plus hotel and travel etc. How safe would you feel going in 2018?
Now you could argue that attitudes could have changed by then. I watched that “Reggie Yates" 3 parter on BBC3 a little while back. I can’t see anything that suggests attitudes will have changed by enough people to feel safe.
I could actually imagine a scenario where even our fans might think twice before trying anything out there.
Russia is hosting the next World Cup.......
posted on 14/6/16
I've been to Russia - Fantastic place, (mostly) fantastic people and I would certainly go again but if you think high level corruption hasn't permeated every aspect of life or business there then you're living in a dream world.
posted on 14/6/16
My comments were specific and self explanatory. If you think corrupt officials and police in Russia are a fantasy then you are the one living in a bubble and you can stay in it for all I care.
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What I asked you was how the things you were rambling about as "relevant" affect Russia's hosting ability and you're still swinging and missing. There's not an idiot on the planet who doesn't know Russia has problems with corruption. So do many countries including the last 2 World Cup hosts. When you climb down from that high horse, perhaps you'd realize every World Cup is not an entitlement to only utopian Western Europe, North America, Australia and the "first world" club where there is no corruption and utopian living exists
posted on 14/6/16
There are levels of corruption though, it can't be boiled down to a solely yes or no answer.
posted on 14/6/16
The 2 countries with the biggest reserves of Natural Gas are Russia and Qatar. To think this fact wasn't used as a bargaining tool somewhere along the way is naive.
posted on 14/6/16
The 2 countries with the biggest reserves of Natural Gas are Russia and Qatar. To think this fact wasn't used as a bargaining tool somewhere along the way is naive.
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Interesting. Who thinks that?
posted on 14/6/16
There's not an idiot on the planet who doesn't know Russia has problems with corruption
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Yet you called it "fantasy" when I pointed it out. Suggesting you are that idiot.
Why don't you try explaining what I said which was untrue?
Because you can't which is why you are still ranting about stuff I never even said.
Carry on though, it is amusing watching you fumble about trying to work out what your own point is.
posted on 14/6/16
Yet you called it "fantasy" when I pointed it out. Suggesting you are that idiot.
Why don't you try explaining what I said which was untrue?
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You were waffling nonsense about "mafiosi" police and I was asking how those fantasies would affect a Russian World Cup. I said nothing about corruption.
For all your denials about "sour grapes", your ramblings were clearly reflecting precisely that: sour grapes. There is a hell of a lot wrong with most countries in the planet. Hosting a facking tournament where people kick around a ball is hardly something evil Russia are too far gone to do. But you'd need some perspective to climb down from that really high horse.
posted on 14/6/16
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 14/6/16
You were waffling nonsense about "mafiosi" police and I was asking how those fantasies would affect a Russian World Cup. I said nothing about corruption.
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It really needs spelling out?
Considering I have witnessed Russian police robbing innocent tourists (on two separate occasions) I can draw two very logical conclusions:-
1) Comparing Russian police with the mafia or suggesting they are corrupt is clearly not "fantasy" as you insist.
2) I for one would not feel comfortable relying on Russian police to "have my back" if I encountered any trouble in Russia.
You can waffle on about sour grapes all you want. I simply stated that if Russia get kicked out of the Euros for violence that is hardly a great credential for hosting the next world cup.
I backed this up with empirical evidence to show that Russian policing leaves a lot to be desired.
Keep ranting on about fantasies and unripened fruit all you like. Go to Russia. Enjoy the WC. I'm happy to catch it on telly.
posted on 14/6/16
Germany have been implicated in huge scandals in their bid win in 2006, but no one cares. Self-righteous reactions are only reseeved for big, bad Russia.
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You're right. We should take the 2006 WC away from Germany and host it somewhere else.
I and others have readily acknowledged that Russia is not the only party to blame for corruption. I also explained that several 'wrongs' do not make a 'right'. Russia is being criticised because they are the next to host and because...you know...they have been in the news a bit lately. It is a topical forum but we can all pretend it's 2006 again just for fun I guess.