# When will FIFA pull the plug on Qatar? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [February 26, 2015, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-fifa-pull-the-plug-on-qatar/713623 "2015-02-26T00:31:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2015, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-fifa-pull-the-plug-on-qatar/713623/101 "2015-03-07T17:55:15Z")
FA Members voting to get rid of corruption is, IMO, the same as suggesting direct democracy because elected representatives are corrupt. It’s unworkable and arguably creates every greater problems (rich members will vote at a much higher percentage than poor members). Between the two, I’d take the current system anyday, to be honest. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2015, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-fifa-pull-the-plug-on-qatar/713623/102 "2015-03-07T18:21:34Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > World cup to have a fixed continental rota with the regions deciding themselves which country to pick. (or again let the people decide) That is an outstandingly sane idea. ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2015, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-fifa-pull-the-plug-on-qatar/713623/103 "2015-03-07T18:50:03Z")
And will therefore never happen. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2015, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-fifa-pull-the-plug-on-qatar/713623/104 "2015-03-07T20:49:13Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > FA Members voting to get rid of corruption is, IMO, the same as suggesting direct democracy because elected representatives are corrupt. It’s unworkable and arguably creates every greater problems (rich members will vote at a much higher percentage than poor members). > > Between the two, I’d take the current system anyday, to be honest. Hang on, if my MP is corrupt I can directly vote him or her out. In what way is that “unworkable”? ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2015, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-fifa-pull-the-plug-on-qatar/713623/105 "2015-03-07T20:51:16Z")
> [@lisiate](#): > > And will therefore never happen. Sadly true. It removes multiple layers of decision-making that present an opportunity for palm-greasing, back-handers and brown envelopes. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2015, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-fifa-pull-the-plug-on-qatar/713623/106 "2015-03-08T16:28:01Z")
How about just letting the winner host the next games? ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2015, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-fifa-pull-the-plug-on-qatar/713623/107 "2015-03-08T17:36:21Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > How about just letting the winner host the next games? I gave this suggestion a kneejerk dismissal when I first read it because I figured it would result in a WC played in only a handful of countries all the time. But it made me think of an even more radical idea – let FIFA set the continental rotation and then let the winners pick the specific host nation within those parameters. It might result merely in the WC winners becoming the recipients of all the graft instead of FIFA but I’ll toy with this idea a little in days to come. It appeals to my sense of non-traditionalism. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2015, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-fifa-pull-the-plug-on-qatar/713623/108 "2015-03-08T18:24:52Z")
> [@Red\_Wiggler](#): > > I gave this suggestion a kneejerk dismissal when I first read it because I figured it would result in a WC played in only a handful of countries all the time. Sports aren’t about being fair, they’re about winning. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2015, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-fifa-pull-the-plug-on-qatar/713623/109 "2015-03-08T18:39:17Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Sports aren’t about being fair, they’re about winning. Ah, an existential question perhaps better saved for another time and thread. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2015, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-fifa-pull-the-plug-on-qatar/713623/110 "2015-03-08T19:06:29Z")
I’m just saying - give it to the country that proves it wants it the most, the one with the greatest love for the game. Beats the hell out of a stupid cup. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2015, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-fifa-pull-the-plug-on-qatar/713623/111 "2015-03-08T19:51:14Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I’m just saying - give it to the country that proves it wants it the most, the one with the greatest love for the game. Beats the hell out of a stupid cup. Kind of rude to preclude England from ever hosting the championship of the game they invented, don’t you think? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2015, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-fifa-pull-the-plug-on-qatar/713623/112 "2015-03-08T20:34:36Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > How about just letting the winner host the next games? This is one of the worst suggestions I’ve ever heard. Sports are about winning, not being fair? They’re only about winning given a fair playing field. Otherwise we’d applaud match fixing, kidnapping players of opposing sides, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2015, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-fifa-pull-the-plug-on-qatar/713623/113 "2015-03-08T21:21:59Z")
Are you saying that the teams playing the World Cup don’t have a fair playing field? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2015, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-fifa-pull-the-plug-on-qatar/713623/114 "2015-03-08T21:43:00Z")
> [@Red\_Wiggler](#): > > I gave this suggestion a kneejerk dismissal when I first read it because I figured it would result in a WC played in only a handful of countries all the time. There are only a handful of countries capable of hosting the World Cup in terms of population, infrastructure, and ability to absorb a massive influx of tourists for a month. Qatar is not one of them. Here are the six countries of the world immediately above and below Qatar in population: Lithuania Albania Jamaica Qatar Lesotho Namibia Macedonia Qatar’s only possible capability is wealth. And, well, we all know what they did with that wealth in order to gain the World Cup. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2015, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-fifa-pull-the-plug-on-qatar/713623/115 "2015-03-09T15:05:48Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > Hang on, if my MP is corrupt I can directly vote him or her out. In what way is that “unworkable”? You got it backwards. Direct Democracy is unworkable, not elected representatives. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2015, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-fifa-pull-the-plug-on-qatar/713623/116 "2015-03-09T15:08:51Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > There are only a handful of countries capable of hosting the World Cup in terms of population, infrastructure, and ability to absorb a massive influx of tourists for a month. Qatar is not one of them. Here are the six countries of the world immediately above and below Qatar in population: > > Lithuania > Albania > Jamaica > Qatar > Lesotho > Namibia > Macedonia > > Qatar’s only possible capability is wealth. And, well, we all know what they did with that wealth in order to gain the World Cup. The other issue is that there aren’t many countries in West Asia that can host the Cup (both Turkey and Russia are in UEFA), and no one really wants to give it to, say, Iran. Of course, we don’t have to have a West Asian World Cup, but when Middle Eastern sheikhs are buying teams (and championships) in England, well, it was only a matter of time. ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2015, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-fifa-pull-the-plug-on-qatar/713623/117 "2015-03-09T15:39:11Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > What’s your actual idea for FIFA? Stop posting hypos and answer the question. As I’ve said, get rid of Blatter and his corrupt cronies. Hypos? Surely if you believe in one vote per nation in soccer the same should be applied to cricket. If not, why not? ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2015, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-fifa-pull-the-plug-on-qatar/713623/118 "2015-03-09T22:38:12Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > You got it backwards. Direct Democracy is unworkable, not elected representatives. I didn’t suggest a pure direct democracy system but FA members electing their representatives and the head of the organisation is absolutely “workable”. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-fifa-pull-the-plug-on-qatar/713623/119 "2015-03-10T04:52:10Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > I didn’t suggest a pure direct democracy system but FA members electing their representatives and the head of the organisation is absolutely “workable”. I’ve already pointed out why I don’t think FA members electing the head of the organization is anything close to workable. In most countries FA members do elect their representatives (well, at least the one they are connected with - so US youth leagues get to help choose the US Youth Council Representative on the USSF Board). Though, in countries that don’t necessarily have elections to begin with, I’m guessing they likely don’t have that power - good luck convincing them they need to start having FA elections. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-fifa-pull-the-plug-on-qatar/713623/120 "2015-03-10T05:00:24Z")
> [@mascaroni](#): > > As I’ve said, get rid of Blatter and his corrupt cronies. So a magic wand then? > [@](#): > > Hypos? Surely if you believe in one vote per nation in soccer the same should be applied to cricket. Of course. The fact that the ICC basically gets to have its special top members (aka Full Members) determine which Associate Members (which pass all of the minimum criteria of membership) get to enter the ‘inner circle’ is a travesty. It’s even more corrupt than soccer. If you meet whatever minimum criteria, you should be in, no vote required - but what would you expect with a governing body created by the English ;). In addition, the ICC’s president, FWIW, is picked on a rotating basis by one of the Full Members. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-fifa-pull-the-plug-on-qatar/713623.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-fifa-pull-the-plug-on-qatar/713623.md?page=7)