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Best regards for you all,

Looking forward to your visiting.

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Best regards for you all,

Looking forward to your visiting.

http://www.1shopping.us/

"Gay sex is illegal in Qatar, though the authorities don't normally go out of their way to track gay people down...very few gay-related cases have been reported in Qatar."

How would you feel if America criminalized Islam, but said - Oh, we will only enforce it to arrest terrorists?

Muscularliberal,

"It's also a close ally of Iran that refuses to recognise Israel...."

May I add this ad endum..... an important ally of the US since the late 90's, serves as host to US military facilities for command,basing and equipment, third largest field of pre-proven natural gas reserves in the world and enjoys the highest per capita income of anywhere in the Middle East ( US Embassy report, CRS -congressional research service - prepared for members and committee of congress2008)http://www.usembassy.it/pdf/other/RL31718.pdf
........which also goes on to mention their change to a more liberal stance, praises their progress regarding women and the right to vote and run for national office, the US Combat Air Operations Centre is based there regarding Afghanistan and Iraq since 2003, America has over 1 billion dollars invested in the exploration of Qatar's natural gas reserves, Qatar isn't subject to OPEC conditions, Qatar has signed several agreements with the US and other energy companies to export gas to the agreed countries, 1991 Gulf War and since has seen coalition forces operating from Qatari territory, Qatar gave over 100 million dollars in relief following Hurricane Katrina, Qatar invested over a million dollars in the building of american bases on Qatari territory, a further 126 billion dollars was authorised by congress for military operations in Qatar, US exports over a six month period to Qatar were worth 1.45 billion dollars, fuel and fertilizers over the same period were worth 338 million.

Other facts - the Emir gave land for an Anglican church to be built and finally, Iran and Qatar, according to the same US congressional report, maintain a positive relationship,they share a gas field off the Qatari coast and maintain respectful and peaceful relations concerning the production and related co-operations regarding the field.

So - I'd say it was a closer ally of America than it was Iran, wouldn't you and who really has the bigger interest in Qatar - Iran or America? According to the US congressional report, it's not Iran.

"though the authorities don't normally go out of their way to track gay people down"

Very nice of them, no probs there then.

"Compared with some parts of the Middle East, the country has had very little trouble with jihadist militants." Well that is some standard to be judged by.

As for your own point at the end, that Russia and China got major games therefore the problems of Qatar are null and void, did your mother never tell you that three wrongs don't make a right?

Quality Journalism from a quality journalist.

"Qatarphobia"!

Another specious "phobia" to hurl at critical voices. What a valuable contribution Mehdi makes to open debate.

Many writers at this paper rightly point out that much discussion of israel is suppressed by people shouting "anti-semite!" as soon as the topic is raised. It seems Mehdi is now playing the same card without shame or self-awareness.

Mehdi, you'll find liberal criticism comes from the emirate's awful record on everything from transparecy to democracy to human rights, to equality, to racism, to fair treatment of women. You'll find ample criticism on Russia about these - especially concerns about virulent racism and corruption - if you cared to stop acting as a self-appointed member of the anti-qatar defamation league.

To criticise another commenter on the basis that you were "not talking about" qatar's disgusting politics - illiberalism is a deliberately obfuscatory euphemism - is to miss the point: you are being criticised because you are not talking about them. Because you would prefer such issues were not part of the debate. Well, tough. They are. Your attempt to expunge them is pretty shameful.

I dearly love the NS, but stupid posts like Mehdi's make me wonder when he's going to get that tap on the shoulder.

Oh no!

I've re-read my last post, and it seems..... I've got.... the horror.... the shame....

Mehdiphobia!

Arrrrggghhh! The deligimation! It burns! It burns!

I need to get my priorities straight:

- ability for bigoted fiefdom to stage bloated crony-bastard football junket

trumps

- rights of and justice for fellow man.

This progressive lark is harder than I thought!

mehdi

it is football you prick. a game that used to be for diehard fans, not airmchair numpties like you. south africa was bad enough having 90% of the people in the stadium who had never been to a game. russia will be dire. qatar will be like a trip to disneyland. when did the real fans stop being important?

you dont have a clue

Perhaps it should also be mentioned that it is illegal in Qatar for a Muslim woman to marry a non-Muslim man, while it is perfectly legal for a Muslim man to marry a Christian or Jewish woman. Not only that, but he doesn't even habve to inform his new wife that he is already married!!!! Once the marriage is consumated, she cannot initiate a divorce, but he can divorce here simply by saying "I divorce you!' three times. Clearly, Messrs Hassan and Whitaker don't see a problem with that!

Why is the mainstream media so shrill? I really don't think it's good for the health of the country.

"China hosted the olympics, therefore some other abusive autocracy should host the world cup."

Welcome to the parallel universe where two wrongs make one right.

I fail to see how "China is bad" turns into an argument for "don't criticize Qatar".

Give me a break.

The English are going to be throwing their toys out of the stroller for years over this meaningless nonsense. I hope the U.S. never gets that thing again...keep it.

What happens if Israel qualify?

The dream final would be Israel v UAE and the score 0 : 2.

@swatantra. Israel should no longer be a member of UEFA. They should join the AFC.

Oh I forgot everyone hates them and thats why they pretend to be "European"!

Apologies, that should say "joint bid" not "joint bit" :)

Mehdi, I think your perception is pretty warped if you think taking the World Cup to Qatar is a good idea. There's all the criticisms you allude to (but do not mention the idiocy of relying on completely unproven technology). However the main problem with staging it there, beside the impossibility of even walking down the street in the summer, is the fact that THERE IS NOBODY THERE. Qatar has a native population the size of Bognor Regis with most of the rest of the population being migrant South Asian workers. What on earth is the point of building all these huge stadiums there when there is no one to sit in them? It is utter lunacy. And using the phrase Qatarphobia in your headline is overblown and silly.

"Germany should insist on having their country shortened to GAY for the q(UEER)tar world cup"

This may actually be a more poignant statement that you realise, as it is strongly rumoured that two of the current German side are gay, although no names to date have been divulged.

Secondly, I think it was a shame that the USA were overlooked. I know they hosted the competition as recently as 94, but I honestly believe that there was a huge potential for getting 'Soccer' on the front page. They only really have one sport over here, their version of football, which is covered fully by the media, whether in College or NFL format. Basketball and Baseball are not as popular as they would have you believe, the stadia are never full and the TV coverage is less all consuming. Given the right promotion, Fifa could have made inroads in this country. The younger generations play proper football at schools, and are now continuing to play it into adult life. There is an ever growing Hispanic population which love the sport. Last year Mexico played Iceland in a friendly in my city, Charlotte, to a sell-out capacity crowd of 70,000. England wouldn't sell out Wembley if Iceland played there.

Next year the NFL players are all going out on strike, it is highly unlikely that a ball is going to be thrown in competition. The time is right to go head first with 'Soccer' coverage, but instead Fifa chose to send a World Cup to Qatar. More fool they. If they really wanted to make football the brand they were talking about, then they have just shot themselves in the foot.

Once again Mehdi lets it slip. Why pretend to be a liberal, but then turn round and say a country banning homosexuality is not much of an issue?

Re the comment about the world cup being granted to an anti gay country. Perhaps we should address the distinct lack of openly gay footballers/sports people in our own country and what that says about UK sport first and foremost? I don't agree with Qatar's stance on homosexuality but I think there's more to be said about a country that is supposedly tolerant and accepting of homosexuality but doesn't have a single openly gay person representing us at any sport.

Spot on, Mehdi.
Something tells me Qatar will give the World a World Cup tournament they'll never forget.
I see air-conditioned stadiums and marquees. Lots of freebies, free entry to games a possibility. I predict the most hi-tech World Cup ever.

Every advanced geographical region should be given the chance to host the football world cup tournament. Football is the most popular sport on the planet. It brings together people of different race and culture, it breaks down barriers and promotes peace and friendship.

Those who object to Qatar hosting the 2022 Football World Cup do so because they think there will be no alcohol or prostitutes in Qatar-come 2022.
Alcohol-yes. Prostitutes...I doubt it. Bangkok is only 7 hours by air from Doha though ;)

The decision to give the world cup to Qatar is not in the interests of the global game .Every nation that had hosted a world cup has qualified for previous tournaments : USA 1990 ,South Korea ,1986 ,1990, 1994. Japan had the J league throughout the 1990's .the World game had been developing in Asia and the United States.it was a logical development for world cups to be given to those emerging footballong nations.The United States is one of the greatest sporting nations who correctly were given the 1994 world cup .Russia have a strong sporting pedigree in a number of sports .the Russian league has had enormous investment and the national team had won major international prizes: 1960 , European championships , finalists : 1972 , 1988 , semi-final 2008 . The country had produced to club sides who have won major international prizes and players that have won the prestigious European player of the year award .An outstanding Cv that merits world cup and for the futures development of the game of football.Qatar have know sporting pedigree and have never qualfied for a world cup and have know home grown talent that grace the top leagues in Europe.an Oil rich tiny state that had know connection to football. The tournament will be lacking character because football has know roots in Qatar .stupid decision that needs to be reversed in the interests of a successful tournament. I think it's time terms like Qataphobia were not used to dismiss opponents of Qatar since it's based on football and nothing else.I think it's time The writer learns a bit about football because his argument is poor without facts about sport! England doesn't have a divine right to host s tournament ,but with one of the top leagues in the world and historical connection to the development of the game England deserve their chance to host a tournament which they have not done since 1966. Let the great football nations modernise the way FIFA works which should be the conclusions from what has happened over the past few days .

Look NS is wasting some fat salaries. Mehdi for example. An Islamist to the core, his only contribution is to write Comments on other peoples article although as Edit contribution to NS. Shame.

Jouno asked, "What on earth is the point of building all these huge stadiums there when there is no one to sit in them?"

I think Qatar was an eccentric choice but then again, I don't give a monkeys about football.

Back to your point. After the World Cup is over many of the stadia will be dismantled and re-erected in Third World countries. This is mentioned in this BBC report: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/9252194.stm (about a minute in).

The fact of the matter is this was not a win for new innovation, or technology but a win for oil money. For a sport to go in the direction of oil money is never a good idea. Just look at formula 1, both of the worst races were in the middle east and only there because of oil money. Please Medhi, can you not understand the anger from a country that was the birthplace for football and upholds it's values to lose to an unfair voting system to russia (Jean Todt reminding the commite of media influence just before they voted) and then insult to injury to give the 2022 world cup on the basis of financial interests (oil money) instead of the one who upholds football values. I'm usually a great admirer of your writing Mehdi but in this case I 100% disagree with you.