General Football 23/24

[Kenneth]

Nobody outside of FIFA needs FIFA. The sooner everyone realises this the better.

[Gray]

Nobody outside of FIFA needs FIFA. The sooner everyone realises this the better.

Electronic Arts have proven that.....

[baitman]

What's the point wasting money on a bid when you know it's going to the Saudis.

Why the **** don't we host a WC?

No one can compete with that level of bribery and corruption.

[Cormack74]

Australia just pulled out?

Did they give a reason?

$'s I'm guessing.

They pulled out of hosting the next(?) commonwealth games a couple of months back after deciding belatedly that they couldn't afford to do it

[Cerbie]

So another winter World Cup and a totally sober one - no way are they relaxing their laws.

[SB]

$'s I'm guessing.

They pulled out of hosting the next(?) commonwealth games a couple of months back after deciding belatedly that they couldn't afford to do it

Yeah it was supposed to be held in Victoria & the Premier of the state pulled the plug on it. Victoria were the worst hit state from Covid 19 with total lock down of months & months. My home town of the Gold Coast was looking at picking it up after hosting the 2018 games but the athletes village that they built has been sold/rented out since then so housing would be the biggest issue I’d imagine.

[Cormack74]

So another winter World Cup and a totally sober one - no way are they relaxing their laws.

They're already softening their stance.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/alcohol-free-saudi-arabia-reportedly-to-offer-booze-at-new-megacitys-resort/

Saudi Arabia is planning to break with its total ban on alcohol by offering strong drinks at a new resort scheduled to open next year, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Citing planning documents it reviewed and sources familiar with the project, the newspaper said in a Friday report that the resort will serve wine, cocktails and champagne.

It would mark the first time that alcohol is permitted for sale in the Islamic kingdom, where the possession or sale of alcohol is currently banned and punishable by prison, fines or even flogging.

The resort is to be located on the island of Sindalah and is part of the Red Sea megacity Neom, a plank of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s bid to diversify the Gulf state’s oil-dependent economy.

[Cerbie]

They're already softening their stance.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/alcohol-free-saudi-arabia-reportedly-to-offer-booze-at-new-megacitys-resort/

Saudi Arabia is planning to break with its total ban on alcohol by offering strong drinks at a new resort scheduled to open next year, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Citing planning documents it reviewed and sources familiar with the project, the newspaper said in a Friday report that the resort will serve wine, cocktails and champagne.

It would mark the first time that alcohol is permitted for sale in the Islamic kingdom, where the possession or sale of alcohol is currently banned and punishable by prison, fines or even flogging.

The resort is to be located on the island of Sindalah and is part of the Red Sea megacity Neom, a plank of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s bid to diversify the Gulf state’s oil-dependent economy.

Doing it on an offshore island designed only for wealthy international tourists is one thing, having it on the mainland for a football tournament is something very different. Even their airline is dry. Would be surprised if they softened their position any further.

[Norbs]

It's almost as if him and Spurs were holding each other back, both seem to be doing better since they parted ways

Not that it's going to happen, but if Spurs won the league it would surpass MO leaving the year before we won the CL by a country mile

[SB]

Not that it's going to happen, but if Spurs won the league it would surpass MO leaving the year before we won the CL by a country mile

He’d try to claim a winners medal for helping fund the rebuild

[Norbs]

He’d try to claim a winners medal for helping fund the rebuild

Can you imagine

[Cormack74]

Doing it on an offshore island designed only for wealthy international tourists is one thing, having it on the mainland for a football tournament is something very different. Even their airline is dry. Would be surprised if they softened their position any further.

But they're first steps and the WC is 10 years away so plenty of time for things to change.

And Saudia are rumoured to want to emulate Emirates / Etihad / Qatar and realise that to do so, their stance on booze free flights will also need to soften.

So who knows where it will end?

[Charly]

So who knows where it will end?

Hosting the 2035 GayVN Awards Ceremony?

[Norbs]

But they're first steps and the WC is 10 years away so plenty of time for things to change.

And Saudia are rumoured to want to emulate Emirates / Etihad / Qatar and realise that to do so, their stance on booze free flights will also need to soften.

So who knows where it will end?

I flew with Qatar about 10 years ago. Plenty of booze on the flight, plus the first 30 odd pages of the in flight magazine had a woman with lots of flesh showing, advertising booze, jewellery or perfume. That's every page

[Cormack74]

Yup I've flown Qatar and the others I mentioned. Well not Saudia obvs

Emirates are good, Etihad goodish but Qatar - absolutely no complaints