Ken M SweeneyJan 26
With the US administration banning people from countries participating in the next #WorldCup and threatening to strip hosting rights from cities, #FIFA needs to be challenged on whether it will defend its own rules — or fold to authoritarian pressure. #HumanRights 🧵
Show threadKen M SweeneyJan 26
Host nations sign binding agreements guaranteeing non-discriminatory entry for players, officials, media, and fans. Travel bans based on nationality or religion violate both FIFA statutes and hosting contracts. 2) #Equality #SportsLaw
Show threadKen M Sweeney
Legally, FIFA can remove matches, reassign venues, or even strip hosting rights. This isn’t radical — it’s enforcement of their own rules. 3)
#Accountability #SportsGovernance
Jan 26 at 9:13pmMastodon for Android
Show threadKen M SweeneyJan 26
But let’s be honest: FIFA has a long history of avoiding confrontation with powerful states, especially when commercial interests are at stake. Principle rarely wins over profit unless forced. 4) #Corruption #MoneyInSport
Show threadKen M SweeneyJan 26
If FIFA had the backbone, Mexico and Canada could absorb US-hosted matches. Both are official co-hosts, with World Cup–ready stadiums, transport networks, and hosting experience. 5)
#Canada #Mexico #Football
Show threadKen M SweeneyJan 26
Mexico has hosted two World Cups. Canada has modern stadiums and infrastructure in Toronto and Vancouver. Logistically difficult? Yes. Impossible? Absolutely not. 6)
#Infrastructure #Hosting
Show threadKen M SweeneyJan 26
This isn’t just about football — it’s about whether international sport will allow authoritarian policies to dictate who gets to participate in global events. 7) #Democracy #SportAndPolitics
Show threadKen M SweeneyJan 26
If FIFA won’t defend access, equality, and the integrity of competition, then what exactly are its rules for? Silence here isn’t neutrality — it’s complicity. 🔚
#Integrity #HumanRights #WorldCup
Show threadMiha MarkičJan 26
@TheComfortableSpotPodcast Sadly we all know how it ends...
Show threadKen M SweeneyJan 26
@mihamarkic do we though? I'm curious to see how it plays out. I couldn't give a damn about the tournament, just interesting to see how the dynamics end up.
Show threadMiha MarkičJan 27
@TheComfortableSpotPodcast I wouldn't bet that FIFA "we give peace prize to disgusting people" will come to the senses. OTOH how it turns out with fans is indeed something to watch for.
Show threadDG1JAN 🇪🇺Jan 26
@TheComfortableSpotPodcast LOL, From a morality standpoint, #FIFA is already below the #MAGA_GOP for a long time
Show threadKen M SweeneyJan 26
@DG1JAN they wrote the book on snake negotiating.
Show threadDavid PJan 26

@TheComfortableSpotPodcast

You're kidding right?

FIFA? The organisation that was complicit in human rights abuses and the deaths of dozens of migrant workers during the construction of facilities for the Qatar world cup.

The same organisation that is infamously rife with corruption and bribery.

They're clearly getting their kickbacks. That's all they care about.

I'll be surprised if they do anything further than a vaguely worded and whitewashed statement.

#FIFA #Corruption

Show threadKen M SweeneyJan 27
@pewnack I'm not kidding and I'm certainly not defending them.
Show threadDavid PJan 27

@TheComfortableSpotPodcast

Well prepared to be disappointed

Show threadKen M SweeneyJan 27
@pewnack what the fuck are you on about?
Show threadDavid PJan 27

@TheComfortableSpotPodcast

I think I made that clear above. FIFA is corrupt. There are no rules.

Show threadKarel Brits 🔻Jan 27
@TheComfortableSpotPodcast I don't expect anything from FIFA. They've been morally bankrupt for decades. Maybe individual countries could boycott the games by staying home, but I don't see anything moving there, they probably could use the money too much. Broadcasters could decide not to show the event. Supporters could stay home and people at home can refuse to watch the tournament. We can boycott this event on so many levels, and unfortunately I'm expecting nothing on any of them...
Show threadFernheadJan 26
@TheComfortableSpotPodcast 100%
Show threadTrip KJan 27

@TheComfortableSpotPodcast For a moment, I thought you used "FIFA" and "backbone" in the same sentence.

It's sad, really, how the men's World Cup has gone from being at least kinda open to the average fan to a luxury skybox event with no more scruples than a Mar a Lago party.

Show threadKen M SweeneyJan 27
@triplingual that's why I love Rugby Union but I think the fan base is watching carefully how World Rugby behaves itself. Rugby Union has a advantage in that many of its supporters are inbedded in the structure of the game from Schools right up to the international level so I hope we can keep any similarities to FIFA out of the game.
Show threadTrip KJan 27
@TheComfortableSpotPodcast Among many other ways, that's one where football's gone wrong. We in the USA are a sad symbol of football becoming a product rather than a community function.
Show threadKen M SweeneyJan 27

@triplingual football has traditionally been a very hard sell in the US. There's been numerous attempts since the 50s to try and join the big four but Americans don't see it in the same way, especially with low scores and relatively short events. I interviewed US football journalist Michael Lewis a few years ago about the history of football in the US. 👇

https://thecomfortablespotpodcast.com/2022/07/09/michael-lewis/

Michael Lewis

Spotify Google Apple Linktree “Women made 40% of the audience at NASL games which was remarkable at the time. It was a unique experience and marketers figured, wait a minute now, something sp…

The Comfortable Spot Podcast