World Cup?

I’ve given some thought to FIFA’s decisions in allocating the 2018 World Cup

My initial reactions were similar to the majority of English football fans: disappointment, some sadness, some anger, and definitely outrage.

“How dare they!” I cried, “Giving this honour to the damn Russians! Don’t they know that we are the home of football? Don’t they realise that we have the best league(s) in the world? Haven’t we shown everyone that we have the best fans? It’s a fix! It’s got to be! Russian money, that’s what did it!”

Then I stopped and started looking a bit deeper into this.

I don’t think that there is another team game which has the same international appeal as football. It is an easy game to play. The rules are fairly simple and all you need is a ball, a few players, and something that can be used to mark up goals - jumpers, sticks, anything...

It’s also a good way of keeping into shape and it encourages team-work. No small wonder then, that there are many so football teams of all standards in the world: from under 10’s to under 15’s, to school teams, to Saturday and Sunday teams, from semi-professional leagues to the professional game.

All of these are under the auspices of the World governing body FIFA who feel that they have a duty to spread the football gospel to all. Make the game high profile and countries will benefit: sports stadia all over the place where all manner of sports can be played, merchandise can be made and sold, thus keeping the economy buoyant and the development of footballing talent to be employed in the lucrative transfer market for the entertainment of the paying public...

As this country has already reached saturation point as far as media coverage, football merchandise and attendances, it is little wonder that FIFA has opted for a country where is scope for exploitation increased awareness such as Russia.

Well good luck with that. Russia has a growing right-wing problem and racism is rife. The police there is somewhat less liberal than over here and I suspect will take a dim view of some of the antics of some of the more colourful football fans.

I can now understand FIFA’s decision and, of course, it’s nothing to do with the romance of the game or who is the most deserved country