Qatar are already showing their true colors

[ShibbOleth]

Via a blog on BigSoccer.com:

Qatar Screw Up - Royally by Bill Archer

Media reports are scarce at the moment - possibly because Qatar isn’t big on all that “Free Press” stuff - but thanks to numerous eyewitnesses and the miracle of YouTube Soccer News Topics, we’re able to piece together some of the details of what can only be described as a PR disaster.

t seems that the Qataris have some quaint local customs, among them being that when the Royal Family enters a venue the gates to same are immediately shut, locked and patrolled by heavily armed men.

In truth, I have no way of knowing whether this is SOP or if the Emir and his minions are a a bit extra jumpy these days.

Which isn’t that big a deal I suppose, except when they arrive 30 minutes before the kickoff of a soccer final and there are an estimated 8-10,000 ticket holders still milling around outside.

The basic story is that once the Emir and his family entered the stadium, the guards locked the place down, keeping thousands of paying fans outside. Some were separated from their children because of separate entrances for the two genders. When the crowd got riled up by this they got a beat down. Also apparently some issues with confrontations between the locals bussed in to fill the place taking the seats of paying customers.

Much more at the link, including video.

[Knorf]

What a surprise.

[Carmady]

I think people are reacting mildly to this precisely because it isn’t a surprise at all.

It is horrible stuff, but not unexpected.

[Duke]

@ShibbOleth

Some were separated from their children because of separate entrances for the two genders.

Funny, I don’t remember that being part of their presentation to FIFA.

And, yes, it is somewhat sad that this story isn’t getting much press, even in the UK where the FA has gone almost crazy with anger over not getting the World Cup, solely because everyone expects these problems to occur.

[Omniscient]

@Duke

Funny, I don’t remember that being part of their presentation to FIFA.

And, yes, it is somewhat sad that this story isn’t getting much press, even in the UK where the FA has gone almost crazy with anger over not getting the World Cup, solely because everyone expects these problems to occur.

Well, there are a couple of bigger stories coming out of the Arab world these days…

Speaking of which, this seems like an incredibly stupid thing to do if you’re the Emir. Revolution is sorta the hot thing these days and this might be the very thing that pushes one more nation over the edge.

[Snarky_Kong]

@Omniscient

Well, there are a couple of bigger stories coming out of the Arab world these days…

Speaking of which, this seems like an incredibly stupid thing to do if you’re the Emir. Revolution is sorta the hot thing these days and this might be the very thing that pushes one more nation over the edge.

Qatar is super rich, I think he’ll be ok.

[Mr.Excellent]

@Snarky_Kong

Qatar is super rich, I think he’ll be ok.

Plus, he’s got a handle on Al Jazeera that other states can’t match. That helps.