Four is an unlucky number in China, so I hope dedicating my 4th W C Special to Qatar does not bring the nation bad luck. They could do with some good luck right now. Their esteemed ambassador for their bid, the French Footballer, Zinadine Zidane, led a successful campaign and, on winning, he said: The message I was trying to convey throughout the campaign seems to have got through. I was saying that football belonged to the whole world, and now Russia and Qatar who’ve never organized the World Cup, will finally be hosting this amazing event. There’s a certain logic in that decision and it’s fantastic news for both countries.

Qatar won and a nation celebrates

It seemed then that the voting members had in mind to award World Cups to new parts of the world. Many delegates warmly welcomed Qatar's success.

Congratulations from the FIFA President

We must remember that Mohamed bin Hammam, the former FIFA Vice-President accused of bribing members for votes (and now serving a life ban), was neither officially nor unofficially connected with Qatar's bid. The Qatar Football Association has denied any wrong doing. We will have to wait until after the Brazil World Cup to learn the results of the American lawyer's detailed investigation. One of the major sponsors, Sony, has said that there must be an appropriate investigation. Justice must be seen to be done IF wrongdoing proven. At the least, in that case there would have to be a re-vote, among the 2022 original bidders, and a decision as to if Qatar be included in that new vote.

Yet it is very complicated. FIFA have said that it was a mistake to overlook the technical report about the unsuitability of the summer weather for holding a World Cup in Qatar. Really the event needs to be moved to a winter in Qatar. Yet the voters were not voting in 2010 on that option, and arguably they should have been. If there is a re-vote, should Qatar only be included in it on the basis that they are a winter option? Some National Football Associations are opposed to a Winter World Cup.

Then there is the huge amount of money that Qatar is spending in building the infrastructure for the World Cup - directly some ￡300 million (sterling) to host the tournament, but total investment of all kinds could exceed ￡23 billion. Qatar made a rapid start and it is notable that, while Brazil was still completing stadiums for 2014, Qatar was already building for 2022. There are few countries that can make such a financial commitment.

Qatar is making a huge financial commitment to a successful World Cup

I believe that most true football supporters must hope for a clean bill of health for Qatar and things move ahead. Then the Confederations must find a away to accommodate a winter tournament as a one off. It remains important that the World Cup be seen as a World event. It is also an important opportunity for a Middle Eastern nation to look beyond the time when oil revenues are not dominant and it can have other roles in the world.

By ColinSpeakman

International Educator, Economist, goal of helping to increase understanding of China by the West

 

 

(Opinions of the writer in this blog don't represent those of China Daily.)