Anyone boycotting the World Cup?

[gazza ladra]

I would boycott the World Cup if I had any interest in it to begin with. I wouldn't be watching in any case. I could afford to go to a game or two, but I really couldn't be bothered. 

[Wolfcastle]

Not actively but I can't stand international football so the more these tournaments pass me by the better.  Probably saw about an hour combined in 2018 (which should have been boycotted).

Don't even think its about 'morals' so much as just a political bias. Being okay with Putin, Qatar, Saudi but being anti-America/Trump on 'morals' doesn't wash. Even liking football is a bit questionable if you think you're that noble

[wormy]

Any games I bother to watch will be via not-so-legitimate sources, thereby sticking it to The Man by not adding to viewership figures. My conscience is clear.

 

[jemo96]

6 minutes ago, Kilcline said:

It's probably not a great attitude to have but I stopped giving a shit about most things a long while ago on the basis that it'd be very difficult to actually participate in life.

 

Fair play to those who genuinely do though and not just to virtue signal, they're much bigger people than me.

I hear ya.. YOLO as they say 

[Vinny Green Balls]

1 minute ago, Kilcline said:

It's probably not a great attitude to have but I stopped giving a shit about most things a long while ago on the basis that it'd be very difficult to actually participate in life.

 

Fair play to those who genuinely do though and not just to virtue signal, they're much bigger people than me.

Nah man, they are not bigger than you. I really am not interested in judging people who are in different circumstances than me. The holier than thou fools can be just as damaging to a cause as any opponents. I think it's more useful to approach with compassion and empathy. If people choose not to do the same, that's fine.  I didn't do shit for years when I could have.

 

On the same token, judging people for trying to make a difference and lecturing them how futile their actions are is not cool. I remember doing this exact thing when my ex talked about how she could help the underprivileged community. 

[toon25]

At this rate, with what's going on in the world, I'd like to say absolutely 

 

 

[gazza ladra]

2 minutes ago, Vinny Green Balls said:

Viewing numbers do affect FIFA, particularly with revenue and sponsorship. Would it have a significant impact? I have no idea. Possibly. It certainly wouldn't be well-received if huge numbers of people decided not to watch the World Cup for political reasons. It could put pressure on FIFA. 

 

But it's also about witholding my individual power as consumer. It would be much more powerful in a targeted movement with many voices, so it's time to start I guess.

 

Just boycotting the World Cup is not helpful. I think the BDS movement should be targeting the most realistic complicit companies with the United States to boycott, like it does with Israel.

Paramount, Amazon... the list of want-to-be oligarches is endless.

 

All my life it always seemed strange how the fascists took power so easily in Germany. I understand it too well now. 

[Vinny Green Balls]

6 minutes ago, Wolfcastle said:

Not actively but I can't stand international football so the more these tournaments pass me by the better.  Probably saw about an hour combined in 2018 (which should have been boycotted).

Don't even think its about 'morals' so much as just a political bias. Being okay with Putin, Qatar, Saudi but being anti-America/Trump on 'morals' doesn't wash. Even liking football is a bit questionable if you think you're that noble

It doesn't wash. I've seen the damage Qatar has done interfering in North Africa. And the UAE has backed the RSF in Sudan. Saudi Arabia caused a famine in Yemen. Putin killed 20,000 people in Grozny, thousands in Syria, and at least tens of thousands in Ukraine. I've criticized them all quite a bit one this site. Fuck all of them.

 

And yes, I'm having serious doubts about my own past actions with regard to football up to now. So accusing me of doing it out of political bias is fucking lame if that was aimed at me, man.

 

 

Edited January 3 by Vinny Green Balls

[The Butcher]

Yes, I will watch it on my IPTV.

[leffe186]

37 minutes ago, relámpago blanco said:

I'm thinking about boycotting football in general

Been thinking about that for a long time. 
 

Genuinely considering boycotting the World Cup, but I would absolutely support the Home Nations boycotting it.

[Yorkie]

6 minutes ago, Vinny Green Balls said:

On the same token, judging people for trying to make a difference and lecturing them how futile their actions are is not cool

 

Just double-checking this isn't a response to my earlier posts because - whilst I would consider my own personal boycott to be a futile effort outside of a mass cultural surge - I certainly wouldn't judge anyone for doing it.

 

I'm massively in favour of the concept of protest, I just don't really see the point here and - rightly or wrongly - I'd rather just enjoy the tournament (again notwithstanding the impact of format changes).

 

Fwiw I used to recoil at people calling protests against Ashley 'pointless,' but that was because a meaningful protest for that cause was so achievable, and likely to produce results. There was a fast-moving bandwagon to jump on and no good reason not to do so. But in this case there's no relative bandwagon and plenty of reasons not to jump on one anyway. 

[Chapo]

I've checked out on most things football over the past few years, particularly since our takeover.I used to take days off work to watch our games now I'll only watch if it suits me. Hate the characters involved in at the top of football right now including our own. I still always want Newcastle to do well and really like the players and management but find it hard to really care now when we know who's pulling the strings.  
 

[500bhp]

1 hour ago, bobbydazzla said:

I’ve effectively boycoutted the World Cup since 1998 as that was the last time I was remotely arsed about it.

 

World Cups lay bare the worst excesses of a game that has been swallowed up by capitalism, corporate advertising, shady backhanders and greed.
 

And this year in particular the last thing England needs is another reason for racists to be able to get their St George Cross flags out by latching on to a World Cup. 
 

I’m not an England supporter and I cringe at that fucking stupid brass band. And generally the fans of all nationalities in stadiums at World Cups are the very worst type of plastic gimps. 

 

And I fucking despise hearing Three Lions. That daft fucking song needs firing into the sun. 
 

TL;DR I’ll watch a few specially selected games because I love it when the camera zooms in on the honeys in the crowd wearing tiny football shirts. 

 

 

 

This is me as well. If England were playing in my back garden I'd shut the curtains. How can I support a team that fucking Pickford plays for. 

[Vinny Green Balls]

20 minutes ago, Yorkie said:

 

Just double-checking this isn't a response to my earlier posts because - whilst I would consider my own personal boycott to be a futile effort outside of a mass cultural surge - I certainly wouldn't judge anyone for doing it.

 

I'm massively in favour of the concept of protest, I just don't really see the point here and - rightly or wrongly - I'd rather just enjoy the tournament (again notwithstanding the impact of format changes).

 

Fwiw I used to recoil at people calling protests against Ashley 'pointless,' but that was because a meaningful protest for that cause was so achievable, and likely to produce results. There was a fast-moving bandwagon to jump on and no good reason not to do so. But in this case there's no relative bandwagon and plenty of reasons not to jump on one anyway. 

nah man. That wasn't aimed at you. 

 

I do think there are plenty of good reasons to indeed boycott this.

 

1) A leader who tried to delegitimize elections just kidnapped a leader who successfully did deligitmize his own election. Infantino gave that leader a peace prize. 

2) FIFA rightly suspended Russia, but refused to do the same for Israel. The United States has shirked international law, and would be considered for suspension in a just world

3) I wouildn't watch the games on Fox anyway.

4) Our civil rights are being curtailed and many of the sponsors are complicit in supporting rogue regimes like the Trump Administration.

5) If you could get enough people to boycott FIFA events, then it may just put pressure on the organization to start living up to certain standards. Soda Stream moved a factory out of an illegal Israeli settlement from BDS pressure.

6) Many of the games are on U.S. soil.

7) If we want a just world, we have to make some pricipled sacrifices. the easiest place to start for us is what we consume.

 

BDS has been effective in the past. A bandwagon has to start somewhere, and there are plenty of rumblings about it surfacing in places like Jewish Voice for Peace and the official bdsmovement.

 

 

 

 

Edited January 3 by Vinny Green Balls

[Vinny Green Balls]

I won't do this, but I could get behind people illegally viewing the games en masse.

[Casey]

12 minutes ago, Vinny Green Balls said:

4) Our civil rights are being curtailed and many of the sponsors are complicit in supporting rogue regimes like the Trump Administration.

Can I ask what you mean by this?

 

As in what civil rights have you had curtailed by FIFA, the US government and/or the sponsors supporting them?

 

Perhaps I am not getting the use of 'our'. 

 

Edit to add, not purposefully being obtuse, mostly curious.

 

 

Edited January 3 by Casey

[Vinny Green Balls]

Just now, Casey said:

Can I ask what you mean by this?

 

As in what civil rights have you had curtailed by FIFA, the US government and/or the sponsors supporting them?

 

Perhaps I am not getting the use of 'our'. 

 

Edit to add, not purposefully being obtuse, mostly curious.

 

 

 

Here in the United States...there have been attempts to suppress free speech, like absurd BDS laws etc. the Admin and cronies have used their positions to put pressure on media to censor free speech with mixed results, but it's going to get much worse because their tech lord allies like Larry Ellison have been buying up the biggest networks. Also, people are being deported en masse. Many have been legal residents and citizens. The National Guard has been depoloyed against peaceful protests. 2026, an election year, will likely see escalations across the board, and at the very least an attempt to deligitimize results that didn't got their way.

[Novocastrian]

Absolutely loved the World Cup since I was old enough to remember. It’s not as if it’s competing with club football and you have to choose. Yes every facet of football is now riddled with corruption but in some ways international football is still one of its purest forms.

[SEMTEX]

Our Cardiff boycott will look earth-shaking compared to any efforts to boycott the World Cup.  

[Vinny Green Balls]

I don't think boycotting one by itself would be very useful. That's why it should probably be a plan of the next three in cluding this one. It would probably take that long for FIFA to really feel  the repurcussions.

[La Parka]

Ww3 will boycoutt it for us. 

[Vinny Green Balls]

The more I think about it, the poster who suggested watching it on pirate sites adds something to the equation. It could weaken FIFA's commercial power over time. It's weaker than boycotting, but may have the potential to get more people on board. So a tier boycott. But the boycott is not useful unless the reasons why are well-mapped out.

[Teslact]

2 hours ago, Miercoles said:

Btw there are games being played within an hour or so of my house and I didn't even consider trying to get tickets, which is pretty fucked.

Either side of 10 minutes on the light rail, I live only a 5 minute walk from "Seattle Stadium". Prices were and are crazy, though I would have for a once in a lifetime experience, but the peace prize award was the final straw for me.

[GM]

I'm not considering boycotting it, simply because I don't think it's going to happen. 

[gazza ladra]

10 minutes ago, Vinny Green Balls said:

The more I think about it, the poster who suggested watching it on pirate sites adds something to the equation. It could weaken FIFA's commercial power over time. It's weaker than boycotting, but may have the potential to get more people on board. So a tier boycott. But the boycott is not useful unless the reasons why are well-mapped out.

I'm not paying to watch football at all now.

 

Here in the US it's basically impossible to watch games without also paying for a bunch of additional crap that I would never watch.

 

Sports is basically a loss leader. You pay for it and a bunch of junk channels that run ads all day. Or worse. Found it impossible to watch football without also subscribing to Fox News via some BS package. 

 

So, I am done with it out of principal. Not going to line the pockets of media conglomerates. And I am not going to  pay anything to fund their "news" channels. Bread and circuses, etc.

 

 

Edited January 3 by gazza ladra