The 2022 Qatar World Cup will probably be remembered by everyone, even though it wasn't that long ago. The fact that it was held for the first time in the desert and in winter makes it a special event.
I am not going to recall the Qatar World Cup organization with its opening shows, group matches, the excitement it gave to football lovers, the final match or the winner!
Actually, what I want to talk about will be about the heavy criticism of FIFA by those who boycotted and called for a boycott of the Qatar World Cup organization for various reasons!
If we briefly recall the reasons for the boycott;
Inadequate measures were not taken for the workers who lost their lives during the construction of the stadiums to be used in the organization and workers were not valued,
Qatar, which is hosting the organization, is not a football country,
The fact that matches will be played in winter instead of summer due to the climate, so that the European Leagues will be suspended, the use of huge air conditioners with high energy use in the stadiums to make the stadiums suitable for playing and watching football,
Qatar as a country is not sufficiently developed in terms of women's and children's rights, in short, human rights violations,
And the bribery allegations during the awarding of the organization to Qatar. I may have forgotten some of them!
Personally, since I am interested in the on-field game of football, I must say that I did not support the boycott and I criticized the organizers of the boycott. Well, who were the people who started the boycott and who supported it? It was limited individuals and institutions from European countries, mainly France and Germany, but also Denmark, the Netherlands and so on. As far as I remember, no one outside Europe participated!
When it comes to football, Europe is the locomotive and the leading continent where all eyes are focused. It will probably remain so for decades to come, but football is not just about Europe!
Europe, which today lectures many countries on human rights, is the continent that has practiced the most human rights violations in the past and has directly hosted two world wars. With its development and civilization, it can inspire and set an example for many countries, but it is not in a position to exclude and despise them!
Saudi Arabia, which has similar characteristics and the same geography as Qatar, makes the whole of Europe experience the madness of the football transfer season.
Let's remember some of them;
Cristiano Ronaldo 500 million euros guaranteed for 2.5 years,
Karim Benzema 600 million euros guaranteed wage for 3 years,
N'Golo Kante 100 million euros guaranteed for 4 years,
For Ruben Neves, 55 million euros for the club and 45 million euros guaranteed for 3 years,
Apart from all these, new ones will surely be added in the ongoing transfer season. Many European clubs and footballers will benefit from the Saudi Arabia craze in the transfer season.
Let's get to the real issue;
Will Saudi Arabia, which is in the same position as Qatar and almost on the same line on human rights, be subjected to a similar boycott?
Will the initiators of the World Cup boycott in Europe take the same boycott steps against Saudi Arabia?
Will they demand that the European clubs or soccer players who accept the offers not watch their matches/not buy their jerseys/not have their matches broadcast live by their own country's TV channels, etc.?
Will the federations to which the clubs and footballers belong take preventive or punitive sanctions?
I don't think so because money opens every door! So there was no point in boycotting the Qatar World Cup organization!
Football is beautiful on the field!