Dr Emily Ryall revealed her conflict with the idea of elite international sporting competitions in a public debate held at the University of Gloucestershire’s Park Campus yesterday evening.

“If we’re serious about climate change, the days of these World Cups are numbered”, was the way Dr Ryall described the only acceptable avenue to stop the current first world problem.

“We should not be having elite international sporting competitions where, [in Qatar] we’re building 7 new stadiums with air conditioning in them, fans travelling halfway across the world to see one match, politicians travelling halfway across the world to see 90 minutes of football.”

Dr Ryall’s argument inspired the other panellists to put forward their views on the problems with the hosting of the upcoming World Cup in a nation like Qatar, one being Associate Professor in Media Ethics and Practice, Dr Tom Bradshaw.

Player Power

Dr Bradshaw identified the numerous ways in which players and teams have opposed issues through sport, and though the sheer amount of media coverage this sporting event will gather, he believes players should take advantage.

“We’ve had quite a few symbols, campaigns, gestures; the rainbow laces, taking the knee, the wearing of armbands. I think there can be a bit of fatigue in there, ‘what armband are we wearing today?’

“Players will be interviewed to within an inch of their lives in the coming weeks. Maybe they shouldn’t be dodging it, maybe they should be thinking ‘we have this platform, maybe we should be saying some meaningful words about a need for change, and their own ideas on how that change could happen.’

The panel later posed the idea of putting themselves in the international players boots, and to make a decision in regards to attending this year’s competition, which lecturers Ceri Wynne and Chris Pyke fronted.

Human Rights

Sports journalism lecturer Pyke claimed that he would strive to do more than just “wear an armband”, and to personally educate himself on the problems the many thousands of migrants faced during the build up to this international competition.

“To give speeches, to use my own social media, to go and visit some of these migrant camps. Maybe speak to another captain of another team for something during a match. There were around 6500 deaths of migrant workers, so if I was playing I would get everyone to stop playing in the 65th minute, and do nothing, just for a minute and then carry on. If I just say, ‘I’m not playing’, the cycle goes on, and I get replaced.”

Governmental Influence

Wynne’s standpoint resonated more so with the lack of governmental influence on deciding against these issues, stating that these governments require “empowerment” to make these moral and ethical decisions,

“All governments are crap. You can’t rely on governing bodies to do this stuff; sport must have a higher function of that.

Following the closure of the debate, a show of hands were raised as to who will be watching the World Cup this year, with many deciding that this will occur begrudgingly.

These ethical and political issues in a country like Qatar, highlight the importance of a footballing society to take a stand against future inequality regarding new host countries.