17-11-2022, 13:54
Watching Newsnight last night I learned that Iranian "organisers" are hoping for fairly large-scale protests at Iran's games and are urging England supporters to show solidarity by joining in the booing of their National Anthem.
From the English team's perspective I fear this may make the Iranian team ever more difficult to beat, as it will draw them together in the face of "worldwide" disapproval.
I can't say I'm big on banning countries. The whole trouble with Iran is it doesn't get out enough. And once we start banning, where do we stop? Do we ban Israel? Should we compete against China? Significantly no one talks about banning the USA whatever policies it follows at home and abroad. Let them all see what the world thinks of them I say! How Qatar reacts to Western opinion might be the only good to come out of this World Cup. Will they re-trench, or might their society open up? And perhaps our team's rainbow armbands might also open up our own homophobic dressing rooms, which remain significantly empty of gay players.
From the English team's perspective I fear this may make the Iranian team ever more difficult to beat, as it will draw them together in the face of "worldwide" disapproval.
I can't say I'm big on banning countries. The whole trouble with Iran is it doesn't get out enough. And once we start banning, where do we stop? Do we ban Israel? Should we compete against China? Significantly no one talks about banning the USA whatever policies it follows at home and abroad. Let them all see what the world thinks of them I say! How Qatar reacts to Western opinion might be the only good to come out of this World Cup. Will they re-trench, or might their society open up? And perhaps our team's rainbow armbands might also open up our own homophobic dressing rooms, which remain significantly empty of gay players.