- Apr 5, 2005
- 2,236
- 993
I'm not against it but it's not because I think we will suddenly become an English PSG. Far from it.
The world has changed, there are states that have a lot of wealth due to natural resources that know it won't last forever and are looking to spread the wealth around to future proof it I guess
The list of companies that have been invested in is seemingly endless, like it or not you can't avoid it.
To take it back to yesterdays debate about mobile phones is the Crux of it for me. People rightly point out they have a right to an opinion and you can't dismiss it because they're simply partaking in modern life. And their right but it seems to me that were then expecting football clubs to hold themselves to a higher standard than pretty much everyone else
Us fans pretty much have to use mobile phones to really get on, I mean you can use a ten quid nokia if you want but with the stuff we use and store on them you would struggle without a smartphone. We (I) work for companies owned or part owned by oil states whether we know it or not. We use social media platforms , Appa shops etc that are part owned by them. You get the drift.
If you don't you would almost have to withdraw from modern life. So no I don't blame anyone.
But then you're expecting your football club which is a private company owned by people who want just like the rest of us to make money to not partake in it . You're expecting them to ignore the fact the organisations your in are in with them, ignore the fact you play clubs owned by them and ignore you likely use sponsors part owned by them and refuse to let them take investment from them even though the investment is absolutely everywhere around them because of some supposed moral high ground we have?
I used to be angry just like many but what are you fighting? The money is all around us, they clearly don't care if we like them or not and it's going to come to every team at one point.
If you really can't handle it then ( not you personally I mean in general) then walk away now because football went a long time ago. Even our own government which sells weapons to the Saudis and pushed through their purchase of the barcodes have gone.
This isn't a black and white issue where someone is either 'wrong' or 'right' or is definitely a hypocrite or definitely isn't one. I see this issue, and specifically one's actual reaction to it as something that can be put on a sliding scale.
Whilst I can wholeheartedly reject the ethics and morals of the Qatari governments oppressive and discriminatory autocratic rule, is it practical for me to show my opinion by not driving a car, or using a phone, or visiting any shop/business funded by them? No it isn't. It doesn't mean I am a hypocrite as I am not able to reject them completely. I don't want the sea levels to rise either, but I know full well that by just being alive I am contributing to that happening - and i don't consider suicide as necessary for me to show my commitment to reducing climate change.
We strive for, and aim to achieve, positive change in the way we can, and not following or supporting Spurs if they are complicit in what I perceive to be morally wrong is justifiable and achievable in my eyes. I do not begrudge anyone who either a) does not share my opinion of Qatar and other oppressive regimes or b) does not think that un-supporting spurs is worthwhile in any way. It's a personal moral decision I guess - if it came to it I wouldn't tell anyone, i'd just stop going to games or buying stuff or watching on TV...