Qatar, Riyadh and the dark side of Sport

And the first Backtracking Award of 2024 goes to.... RORY MCILROY

Here, have some of this Rory

 

I wonder if he'll return the dough he trousered out there, the poor thing.
I'd not be surprised if he commutes from scouse land to Amsterdam to avoid getting homesick.

 

Serious crowd violence kicked off in the FA Cup...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68110807

First match between these rivals with fans present in 12 years.
The next time they meet it should be behind closed doors again.

 

Now Rory says LIV golfers returning to the PGA should not be punished
Singing a different tune these days...

 

One of the co-owners of Newcastle United has said there will be Saudi teams competing in the Champion's League in the future.

There's a surprise.

 

Poor girl.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/winter-sports/68570073

Doping kids. It's State operated child abuse.
13 years old and taking 56 "supplements & medications". Never mind her training regime, which was doubtless brutal.
World Sport needs to stamp this kind of thing out.
Gold medals for political bragging is not worth a child's health and future.
And I'm pretty sure it doesn't only happen in Russia.
Elite sport has gone way too far in some regions.

 

Ever heard of the 'Enhanced Games'?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/68604980

No, it isn't a tournament of ultra-marathons or other extreme sports.
It is a version of the Olympic Games where doping is allowed.

Frankly, who cares if the athletes taking part are putting their lives at risk?
It's their choice.
They clearly already have no self-respect or sense of fair play.
Let them kill themselves pumped full of drugs. I won't be watching, or losing any sleep over it.

What do winning competitors get - a Gold syringe?

 

Well done the Australian Cricket team

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/68603864

Refusing to play a series against Afghanistan because of Taliban suppression of women's rights.
That decision has probably cost them a chunk of TV money from the UAE.
It's good to know not everyone can be bought.

 

Our own home office has at the last minute reversed its decision to refuse entry to the Afghan Youth Orchestra for a concert tour. They already have refugee status in Portugal, where they have been granted asylum. They've been accepted everywhere else including France, Germany and the USA. A shame they were not made more welcome after escaping from the music-hating instrument-burning Taliban. Concerts in London, Manchester and Birmingham were threatened with cancellation, and I certainly hope to see them.

 

I haven't had a lot of time for Lewis Hamilton in the past, but he sounds like he is talking sense to me here...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/68623596

Formula 1 has a dreadful reputation for all kinds of murky stuff.
Hamilton is right to call it out

 

At first glance this looks more than a bit harsh...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68679506

But what Luis Rubiales did was a form of sexual assault in my opinion.
If it simply gets passed off as misguided celebration or a harmless but silly gesture, that sends the message that our society is not serious about tackling sexual harrassment of women.

I'm not saying the man should necessarily go to prison for what he did.
But if it is made clear to him that it is an option in the Judge's locker that sends a much better message.
Maybe the fool might actually show some genuine contrition.
All forms of misogyny must be faced down.

 

If he'd admitted he was out of order and made a proper apology immediately it would all be long forgotten.

 

Think it’s all been blown out of proportion- carried away with the moment and probably would of kissed a male player if it’d been the men’s team celebrating, people so easily offended

 

The self crotch-hugging in front of the Queen of Spain and her young daughter was a bit out of order too.
He's a bit of a plonker to say the least.

 

Oh dear - more than just a plonker possibly...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68721045

He is suspected of receiving illegal commissions when negotiating a lucrative deal
to stage the Spanish Super Cup competition in Saudi Arabia.

Surely not!

 

Saudi Arabia's Sports-washing continues unabated...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/68732673

In January, Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert said hosting the WTA Tour's flagship event in the kingdom would be a "step backward" for women's tennis.

But the WTA chief executive Steve Simon says that by choosing Riyadh, women's tennis is "supporting significant change being made within the region".
"The WTA has been breaking down barriers for more than 50 years," Simon told BBC Sport.
"We want to create more opportunities for women to play tennis at the elite level, and I think by doing this,
we believe that we can inspire more women and girls to get involved with the sport.

What significant change?
Apart from the WTA's bank balance.

Just how does taking Saudi money inspire more women & girls to get involved in Tennis?
Particularly Saudi Arabian women and girls.

 

Beijing's Half Marathon result fixed?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/68815592

Well there's a shocker

 

Daria Kasatkina has been "given guarantees" that if she plays Tennis in Saudi Arabia she won't be arrested or flogged or executed.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/articles/ceve4459v7vo

Isn't that nice.
Most reassuring.

 

Saudi Arabia are bidding for the next Women's World Cup. They've been named hosts of a UN Commission on Women's rights
It's not April 1st.

 

What sport is this please ?