#Argentina just won #FIFAWorldCup for the 3rd time.

I started watching the men's tournament in 1978, when Argentina hosted and won its 1st title.

#Qatar2022 was the 1st men's #WorldCup I have not watched in the 44 years since.

I had 6,500 reasons why.

https://www.feministgiant.com/p/essay-football-is-life-football-is

I was 12yo when I watched #Argentina lift its 1st #WorldCup and I did not know then of sportswashing that made that 1978 tournament possible. I am sure #FIFA did.

That 1978 World Cup was held in a country ruled by a military dictatorship. https://www.theguardian.com/football/in-bed-with-maradona/2017/jul/05/1978-world-cup-argentina-political-protest-goalposts h/t @[email protected]

The national team lifted its trophy in a stadium just a few blocks from the largest detention centre where that military dictatorship held political prisoners.

I might not have known that then but I’m confident that FIFA did. #WorldCup
https://papelitos.com.ar/nota/las-presas-politicas-y-el-mundial?z_language=en h/t @[email protected]

Just as I am confident that #FIFA knew what selling the 2022 Men's #WorldCup to the absolute monarchy that runs #Qatar meant.

#Qatar2022 represents the apotheosis of #FIFA fuckery.

https://www.feministgiant.com/p/essay-football-is-life-football-is

The more we let FIFA get away with, the lower it dragged our moral bar with it until we arrived at #Qatar2022, the apotheosis of fuckery & the nadir of a moral standard.

Authoritarianism. Misogyny. Homophobia.

And 6,500 migrant workers who died to make this specatcle possible

And yes the authoritarianism, misogyny, and homophobia all checked for the 2018 men's #WorldCup in #Russia. I am guilty of playing along with sportswashing. I claim no higher moral ground here.

But.

1/2

Losers are of course workers who made this spectacle of greed & corruption possible but more tellingly our collective consciences.

Football, esp so on a global level with WC, gives us a chance to learn and in this #WorldCup to spectacularly fail the test https://www.feministgiant.com/p/essay-football-is-life-football-is

My essays are free to read and share.

Subscribe--it's free, no paywall or ads.

if you can pay, it helps to keep it free.

https://www.feministgiant.com/