It should come as no surprise to anyone that I have been watching the 2022 FIFA World Cup the last two weeks. Cheering on Team Canada, watching other games, and seeing the elite global football stars excel on the pitch. Even the unfortunate losses for Team Canada are positive for the sport in our country.
Among my highlights, as a Canadian football (not egg-shaped throw ball) fan so far included seeing Alphonso Davies score Sunday against Croatia; the Canadian team held the world’s second-highest ranked team (Belgium) to a 1-0 game; and Canada is finally being recognized by other countries for developing world-class football talent. Even though Canada lost 4-1 to the 2018 World Cup runners-up, there are many positives to this competition from a football perspective for Canada.
A friend asked me how I can support watching the World Cup considering the plight of the migrant workers who Qatar used to construct the stadiums and other infrastructure needed to stage this world event. How could I square my love of the game with the host country’s intolerance of LGTBQ community? There is an easy answer to the first part of that – when you have sports and money mix, there will inherently be corruption.
The modern Olympic movement allows professional (paid) athletes to compete as amateurs for their country. NBA, NHL, MLB, and club football organizations all have players competing in the Olympics for their countries.
There has been corruption in awarding the Olympics for decades. Amateur sport is worth billions in sponsorships, broadcast rights, contracts, development fees, and consulting fees. And that’s before any athlete puts a foot on a track. FIFA is no different. Don’t even start about American NCAA sports and the money involved there.
The 2018 World Cup was awarded to Russia. It was allowed to proceed despite that country’s illegal annexation of the Crimean Peninsula – a precursor to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. Corruption in Russia is as shocking as the fact that water is indeed wet.
Similarly, Qatar is not known for having a stellar human rights record. Individual freedoms are limited, and homosexuality is outlawed.
Several governments investigated the awarding of those two World Cups which saw many voting members charged and convicted for corruption and bribery. The head of FIFA at the time, Sepp Blatter, who resigned in disgrace over the matter, has twice publicly said Qatar should not have received the World Cup.
Where I square the two is that I recognize that professional sports is about both the sport and money, and I don’t equate sports with patriotism. I also speak with my wallet. Yes, I could have spent a stupid amount of money to go to Qatar to see a World Cup game. I could have spent even more money to go to a Canadian game against Croatia, Belgium, or Morocco.
Instead I watch games on my phone, or the highlight reel on YouTube. FIFA corruption may get a fractional penny from me, but it’s a lot less than if I went on an adventure overseas.
I don’t know where the idea of sports patriotism originated, but I think it needs to go the way of the Dodo or Cristano Ronaldo’s second stint at Manchester United – out the door. Maybe it started when the ancient Romans took over Greece and polluted the classic Olympic battles between city-states with Roman commercialism. It is a tale as old as time.
Seeing top professional football players compete for their countries at the World Cup is great, and there are some interesting stories out there for the sports commentators to tell. Will Lionel Messi advance Argentina in what will likely be his last kick at the can? Can the mighty “Socceroos” from Australia advance out of the group stage? Will French striker Kylian Mbappe win the Golden Boot award for the most goals?
All that said, I really prefer watching Club Football. Professional football players playing for their professional team, for money, in a professional league. Professional clubs are promoted or relegated based on their on-pitch results, for which they are paid. Jerseys have paid sponsorships, and tickets cost more than they are likely worth, especially if my team loses. In all ways, the lines are clear where the money is, who is getting paid, and who is paying.
Sports doesn’t need to be patriotic, just enjoyable. Injecting patriotism and other non-sports overtones into a game muddies the waters. Just enjoy the game.
Column originally published in the November 30, 2022 edition of The Morrisburg Leader.