Football is usually dubbed ‘the sport for all,’ but that is not to mean the beautiful game is void of controversies. The latest and significantly long-running disagreement in circles of the sport is the 2022 edition of the FIFA World Cup.
Grumbles began when the Asian nation was awarded hosting rights back in 2010. Then, there were questions regarding the nation’s footballing culture as well as the suitability of the weather. The questions were still rife as November 2022, three weeks before the kick-off date, approached.
Poor Tournament Timing
Despite initially insisting that the tournament would run as usual, the tournament was eventually moved from its regular June/July schedule to November 20 to December 18. That places it almost midway through the European and other major leagues.
And therein rose the most bashing for the 2022 tourney. Stakeholders have asked whether organisers actually care about the welfare of players and other people involved in the actual running of the game.
Congested Fixtures
Already, clubs had to rush their fixtures, such as domestic leagues and continental competitions, to reach a particular stage before the World Cup. Many key players sustained injuries and became doubts for the games, and critics have been quick to blame this on the congested fixtures.
That the World Cup begins a week barely after the league’s break does not make things better. Even players who need just a short recovery period, such as Raphael Varane (three weeks) and Angel Di Maria (three to four weeks), fall into the doubt markets.
The absence of key players such as Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante definitely take away the shine from the tournament.
Qatar may have invested heavily in the tournament, but their treatment of the workers involved in the preparations has also raised human rights questions from various advocacy groups.
Hopefully, none of this will ruin a competition that the entire world has always loved and looked forward to.
