This interesting post is by our friend Sav.
My first memories of ‘the world cup’ are from 1990.
To this date I am not sure if its a ‘real’ memory, or one of those you imagine you had by piecing together what you were told of the events that transpired. As I was only 4 years of age, the details are vague regardless.
Well the stage was set.
World Cup Final.
West Germany vs Argentina. A rematch to boot!
My father and his brothers were watching the match with such an intensity as I had not yet seen in men. They were literally on the edge or over the top of their seats, barely able to contain themselves at the prospect of this, football’s golden trophy. And all I wanted to do was watch cartoons. Well, we had one of those old TVs, the ones before remotes – and I edged ever closer, eyes flitting between spectacle and spectator, waiting for my chance to change the channel. My nerve broke and I went for it and changed the channel – only a split second passed and I changed it back as they let out a roar of anguish! I wanted to watch cartoons during the world cup final. To this date I am amazed at my utter lack of perspective.
Well by the time 1994 popped up, I had started to follow football. And by 1998 even I could see that Zidane fellow was quite good. 2002 was during my exams but I remember that goal for Ronaldinho and the final that Brazil won. The last worthy Brazilian side in my opinion. 2006 came and I stood amazed as France somehow did not win. Everyone points to Zidane but the turning point was Viera going off (cramp wasn’t it?) – his driving runs from midfield were opening up the Italians. It was only a matter of time. Bloody football, eh. 2010 finally came and this time I saw Africa host a world cup.
And after you have indulged me with my incoherent rambling, I shall endeavour to get to my point – eventually.
I am a South African by birth and as such I – along with all of Africa – found great pride to see the 2010 World Cup awarded to South Africa. I also found it very interesting. Brazil 2014, Russia 2018, Qatar 2022. These appointments only confirmed a trend. A trend it seems started under Havelange and carried on by Blatter.
FIFA is an odd beast. I will admit that I have not gone into in-depth research – but altruism and idealism married to corruption is an odd combination.
I shall outline my contention first and then attempt to show evidence. Basically, I have come to believe that FIFA under Blatter has a specific goal – maybe not the main goal, but specific nonetheless – of integration. Integration of regions into the global fraternity. Getting awarded a world cup does not just affect that particular country – its affects the entire region. National pride, regional pride – but more than that, a sense of ‘we have made it’ – ‘we have arrived’, as it were.
To truly understand why this matters to developing regions requires a history lesson that is not really necessary. It is also a very touchy topic. The gist is that Asia, Africa and the other developing regions were demoralised. There was – and perhaps still is – a very real sense that they were/are not equal to those fortunate enough to be born in western Europe or America (or Canada/NZ/Australia – lets not forget the Commonwealth).
The developing world was and is growing economically but they had need of a morale boost, a way for the everyman (and woman) to feel they belonged in the global community. A question of belonging, of self confidence. Besides FIFA, I do not see a single organisation making any attempt to address this pressing issue that is so important to the future of all humanity.
East Asia got their boost in 2002.
Africa was recognised as being capable in 2010.
Brazil is an emerging an economic power and 2014 confirms that status to their people and perhaps is a message of hope to all South America.
Russia hosting the cup in 2018 is an indication that they belong in Europe and not ostracised – although goodness knows how the recent events in Ukraine effect all that.
And 2022 in Qatar. CORRUPTION!! They bought it!! Complain, complain, complain. What balls does it take to give the world cup to a muslim country in the era of ‘the war on terror’. The Arab world, the Muslim world, has been villified from the shores of the Atlantic to the plains of Pakistan. What does a world cup in Qatar – a stable country amidst an unstable region – say to the region. Surely, a message of hope and of integration and confidence that the region will one day overcome its current strifes.
What’s the point?
Well, I see a trend. Sure, FIFA are looking at expanding markets and building revenue. But what about the people? How do they feel to host a world cup?
In 2002 I was in high school in New Zealand and many of my good friends were from Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Singapore, let alone Indonesia and Thailand. They took immense pride in the Football World Cup being played in east Asia. It was as if they had been accepted into the global fraternity in a very real and tangible way. Shown to be equals in a way that the everyday man and woman on the street could appreciate.
2010 in South Africa was the same. And now Brazil 2014. Although, I daresay Brazil’s organisers have been somewhat the architects of their own demise. But the trend is there. Football as integration. Football as a tool for global equality.
FIFA have previous in these matters. Germany won the world cup against Hungary after WW2. It gave a confidence boost to a demoralised West Germany. Beaten in war, all their young men dead or in a gulag – the country cut in half. How badly did they need a ‘win’, any win?
It would seem that winning the world cup is a great confidence booster for a nation short on confidence. And even being awarded a host of a world cup brings about self confidence for entire continents.
What do you think?
Positively Arsenal 
this cesc thing is making me furious but i dont know who to be furious at….barcelona? cesc? jose? us?
someone write something with balance
ill go get a bottle of whiskey…
LikeLike
“football is round. it has no edge. rolls anywhere. let it go round without polician taking advantage of it”
HA! …what for free? …free is dead mate. …. im not bringing this around the world for the romance of the game mate…im bringing it around for the money!!!
take it this way..
i am an engineer and i have devised a water pump….a very complex and efficient water pump. as the engineer and developer of this equipment i go out and sell it to countries that have need of clean water. im not doing this out of some charity ideal of wanting to help the poor nations. im doing it cause i know ill get fucking rich out of it. why give it for free? even if it is to improve the life of people ? the name of the game is not to improve but to profit….if i can improve and profit at the same time then i will milk it and milk it forever…i will also establish lobbies to protect my interest and bribe where necessary.
so…if i can do that with utilities that are essential for the healthy living of people, imagine what i can do with football and all these people worldwide going nuts about it haha 😉
LikeLike
Ah the vuvuzela (shudders)
LikeLike
ah indeed anicol5
LikeLike
there is a movie that explains it perfectly layksite and with tremendous acting as well…’there will be blood’ … with daniel d. lewis
LikeLike
Diego at his best ! great shot
LikeLike
GET IN!
LikeLike
when arsene wenger was fighting the financial dopers, the media, fa and the premier league mock him and called him several names. but now that the same dopers defeated them hands down, they want the whole world to know that fifa is corrupt.
yes we know, move on. just as arsenal did for nine years.
LikeLike
Tee hee Georgaki @1:02pm
Luckily I didn’t say it on this blog then!!!!!! But you’ve kindly done it for me…..
LikeLike
hold on ….and what is arsenal doing then? if they believe in what their manager is saying/doing…why arent they making fucking noise in UEFA..or the f.a ? .where is ivan and his team of lawyers digging up the scandals and presenting them in a tribunal…..what? we gonna go to this fight firing flowers from our cannons? and not actual cannon BALLS?! who is the daily mail or the f.a or anyone else to mock us ? are we or are we not determined to take this all the way? we cant expect it all from the manager?
LikeLike
most fans want this exercise of power to be through transfers and spending, naive and stupid, whereas i think it should be at backscene level. BUT heres the catch…..they did not hesitate to bring down fucking JUVENTUS of the agnelli family ..hehe…. when barca’s pep looked shaking in s.b they denied chelsea three penalties….lol………and all the millions roman has given them agents and in zurich and they still effed him up …..
LikeLike
northbank1969 @1:56 pm
Perhaps you feel that kind of comment belongs there and not here!
Anyway, I would very much appreciate to read more on how you think “Wenger may have started seeing the light”…
LikeLike
Georgaki P
What exactly is it you see that I said wrong?
LikeLike
there is a movie that explains it perfectly layksite…
“Maximus: My name is Gladiator.
Commodus: How dare you show your back to me! Slave, you will remove your helmet and tell me your name.
Maximus: [removes helmet and turns around to face Commodus] My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions and loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.”
–
Thank the football gods for the Arsenal.
LikeLike
I’ll answer that Northbank. If I may?
I implies that previously Arsene was in the dark.
It most likely assumes that “the light” that he can now see ,is that being shone from the enlightened posters and bloggers,that somehow knew how to step into it.
It is, in short, a poor thing to say.
Of course I assume it was made on ACLF? Which no doubt is the prevailing feeling. But perhaps it those very posters that should be seeing the light and understand that it was force of circumstance that stopped Arsene from following the advice of the enlightened . As I have always maintained.
LikeLike
We have the bloggers
We have the podcasters
We have the Tweeters
We have the marchers
We have banners
No one can resist us
the World Cup is ours
LikeLike
Very well put George……….. I feel enlightened.
LikeLike
Embrace the power of enlightenment NB. George is often consulted by the Dalai Lama on matters pertaining to football – a renowned sage and purveyor of spiritual strength in a sometimes dark world.
LikeLike
Happy to help NB. I’m all about helping.
LikeLike
NB
Although PG gave a response that I wholeheartedly endorse I would like to add that I’m far more interested in hearing your explanation. I truly do appreciate your views and would welcome them. I just need to understand how people formulate their opinions. I enjoy civilised debate.
LikeLike
wa wa wait till i get my whiskey….and some peanuts ….this sounds interesting…
ok go….
LikeLike
its like carlos vela is coming back.
LikeLike
@7:51pm
That’s very sweet of you Georgaki, but as far as I’m concern it’s not that important. I often just use throw away phrases and don’t give them a second thought. Not a big issue for me. Some may take it seriously, but my views are neither here nor there really. George explained what to him the phrase implied, which made me aware. But as I said, I comment sometimes without really thinking things threw, it’s a fault that I suffer from but I don’t take it that seriously.
LikeLike
Cant say fairer than that NB.
LikeLike
I’m excited by Vela’s possible return.
LikeLike
yeah PG you beat me to that… just always thought there was more to come from him, and he didn’t quite settle in that first time. a more matured Vela, not bad. He reminds me of Reyes too, just did not fulfill his potential with us.
LikeLike
I hope it’s true that Vela is coming back, although it looks like Arsenal were prepared to let him stay at Sociedad for the right price but they just can’t afford what he’s worth now.
LikeLike
NB
I’m about as sweet as Pedantic George……
Sing the following to the tune of “Baby Come Back” by The Equals
Come back
Vela, come back
That boy had bags of potential…I hope he realizes it next season….with us….
LikeLike
considering his performance and non adaptation to the league while he was here, the move doesnt feel me with much enthusiasm. but his performance in la liga in the past three season means we need to give him a second chance. especially with the way that some fans want us to break the bank for griezman who is not even better than vela in my opinion.
another angle to it is economic. from rumours in the media, we hear that some clubs are willing to pay as much as 25m for him. it is better we take him now and let him have pre season with us, and if he fails to meet up with the require standard, we can then sell him outrightly to the highest bider.
i’ll rather we give gnabry a chance to progress next season.
LikeLike
An interesting little piece from Jeremy Wilson in the Telegraph about upgrading of Colney over the next three years, and of the backroom staff perhaps more swiftly than that.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/10891594/Arsene-Wenger-overseeing-plans-for-major-upgrade-to-Arsenals-training-centre-at-London-Colney.html
Good to see Arsene building so far forward, with his new contract just signed. Not really what the Groaner’s had in mind perhaps.
LikeLike
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andries_Jonker
–
Walcott out till around about October, Chambo not fully “match fit” through the world cup and Wilshere not really quite there either – earlier in the season, pre-season, I predicted that Wilshere might be hopefully returning to his best pre-injury form by now after the last phase of the season, but that last impact injury picked up in that England friendly did for that!
Having a Vela (no WC) and Campbell (Costa Rica shouldn’t make the QFs) back in squad in good time for the CL qualifiers would be helpful! A lefty and a righty? Plus some signings perhaps? I don’t know, I’m looking forward to the WC football and not newsnow. But after last years mantra by the AAA that “Vengargggghhh won’t sign any players” and “Levy knows what he is doing, he’s spending plenty of Wonga on even better terms then my own pay day loan, which I need to eat. Look! They’ve only gone and signed Soldado! FFS!!! Vengarrrrghhhhh…….” which obviously sucked in one or two or maybe just one above into the darkness I would hope that people out there will have learnt their lesson and will dismiss those uncredible sources, as, well, as uncredible. Given their record. An ‘all.
LikeLike
http://www.thetakeaway.org/story/fifa-faces-accusations-bribery/
“FIFA has been mobbed up for a very long time,” We know!
– Andrew Jennings
LikeLike
@laysksite
Apparently Vela can’t be sold straight on – we have to have him for a season. I think that sounds credible and indeed fair to the player. If it isn’t working out, I would imagine he himself would be happy to move on after six months. It could be likened to getting a player on loan for a season except that we expect to recoup the loan fee at the end if we move him on.
I wasn’t CV’s biggest fan while he was here, I felt he was immature and not making the most of his chance (by which I mean impressing the socks off AW in training), but he has clearly developed since then so I am very curious and a bit excited. He is also pacey, which we could do with. And he will be fresh, as others have pointed out.
LikeLike
And of course, Vela himself has to agree to the move. He can’t be sold against his will.
LikeLike
PG – it took several goes to post that last comment. I have been finding that I get a message saying “You are posting comments too quickly” even on my first comment. Is it an issue with the website or is it a problem at my end, do you think?
LikeLike
Its at your end FG.
LikeLike
Europe won?! That’s a pretty limited perspective on world history, Hunter. Take a longer view and you see that China and South Asia are now reasserting an economic and technical dominance they have historically enjoyed. 300 hundred years of European hegemony was built on a relative advantage created by nearly eradicating the indigenous folk of three continents and filling it with enslaved labor from a fourth. It generated huge capital and control for a time. A common Mediterranean scientific and philosophical inheritance was developed further under new logics and investments of capital. But world history goes in cycles and 300 years is not an especially long one. In 50 years it will be much more difficult to assert such a Eurocentric view and history will appear less final as the world economy will have more fully rebalanced. Winners and losers? The game hasn’t ended and its outcomes are evolutions, syntheses, interactions not contests.
LikeLike
LG, what the fuck?
Do I have to think?
LikeLike
limestonegunner …not necessarily only europe…but the whole system of the west…
banks./insurance/ social……….we all copy or are governed by that system. the system of industrialism capitalism.
if it dont make profit then it wont happen ….this is 100% western mentality and thats how the whole world works unfortunately. perhaps i should have made it clearer.
its the western decision centres that still control the world..that hasnt changed…no matter what china does….
LikeLike
put it this way
japan : from samurai and horses to pontiacs and skyscrapers
middle east : from camels and fruit to golden versace bath tiles and bentleys
russia : from vodka and snow and communism to owning whole blocks of london
india, china, turkey…all developed with the purpose to create markets to sell more and more western or multinational group of “good guys” products
europe : balcans &eastern block – promoted to also open up markets for “good guys” productas
s.america: the “vault” of the west’s fuel…cocaine federal reserve / brazil “our buddies” ..argentina..comply or else we bankrupt you …
africa…mmmm nigeria has oil huh..well lets develop you then…for a small return….
all over wherever i see whatever happens happens for one purpose …to promote and persevere the west and those who have adopted the western lifestyle and emntality.
LikeLike
WTF are people on about?
LikeLike
George
Politics and religion….. two things too avoid talking about in a pub. Stay clear my friend. Ignorance is bliss. Similar to, there are three things you don’t want to see made, Sausages, Taxes and Transfer deals!!!
LikeLike
George, I think it may be your end?
LikeLike
I posted a comment, ‘awaiting moderation’ I posted a second and it was published.
LikeLike
haha george…
LikeLike
is that heisenberg in your pic n1969 ?
LikeLike
It’s me Hunter, doing a very good impression of Walter White!
LikeLike
ha is just you look like another friend fan of arsenal ..gary the gooner..he used to run a site too..dont knwo if he stillhas it…know his son too..beast…. proper fans both !!
LikeLike
i have found the solution ..just like solomon…we buy cesc back and loan him out to ….panathinaikos. best solution ever.
LikeLike
until we sell ozil … 🙂
LikeLike