There's some degree of xenophobia in my opinion though. "Hey look at those fake/paid Asian fans!"That's fair enough, but it's not racist to not get that or to mock that. I myself would expect a fan of the English football team to be English - surely that's not a racist statement or expectation?
Ah no. That’s mocking someone on the basis of where they come from. Taking the piss out of football fans for supporting nations that aren’t their own is purely on the basis of their behaviour. Nothing to do with race or nationality.Probably is racist to mock it. Like mocking someone coming to England and speaking English different even though it’s their second language.
I think you’re probably literally correct here. Xenophobia being fear of the strange. And their behaviour is very strange to most football fans. Hence the silly conspiracy theory about them all being fake fans. Because the reality is so strange it’s hard to believe.There's some degree of xenophobia in my opinion though. "Hey look at those fake/paid Asian fans!"
It wouldn't be strange when the games start. It is strange happening 9 days before first match and before any of the teams or players are there.I think you’re probably literally correct here. Xenophobia being fear of the strange. And their behaviour is very strange to most football fans. Hence the silly conspiracy theory about them all being fake fans. Because the reality is so strange it’s hard to believe.
If a load of people in Cornwall suddenly start supporting Newcastle, I'd absolutely thin they were glory hunters, plastic fans and all the usual crap. This isn't a million miles away from that.There's some degree of xenophobia in my opinion though. "Hey look at those fake/paid Asian fans!"
Maybe it’s a once in a lifetime trip so they want to make the most of it? Plus a proportion will already live in Qatar.It wouldn't be strange when the games start. It is strange happening 9 days before first match and before any of the teams or players are there.
The beer story referenced above. Never expected them to openly sell beers, just surprised they said they would then changed so late. Got FIFA all wrapped up.Tweet
— Twitter API (@user) date
That would be like having a hardcore group of Liverpool fans from Salford! Unimaginable.Why does it have to be racism? If I'd see some hardcore Germany "ultras" from Holland, I'd cringe too.
Nobody is travelling there 9 days before. They all live there already. It is a small country with very little to see and all the venues are extremely close to each other.Maybe it’s a once in a lifetime trip so they want to make the most of it? Plus a proportion will already live in Qatar.
Careful now.If a load of people in Cornwall suddenly start supporting Newcastle, I'd absolutely thin they were glory hunters, plastic fans and all the usual crap. This isn't a million miles away from that.
Who care what I think though, I'm not gonna stop them.
I am just happy that we've had enough "glory" to have glory hunters!
They don’t all live there already. We’ve heard plenty of stories about football fans from Kerala etc travelling over to support their team of choice.Nobody is travelling there 9 days before. They all live there already. It is a small country with very little to see and all the venues are extremely close to each other.
The United supporters club in Cornwall probably disbanded a few years agoI am just happy that we've had enough "glory" to have glory hunters!
Have we? We have heard general stories about football fans from Kerala. I haven't seen any stories or any argument why anyone would travel there 9-12 days before their team plays.They don’t all live there already. We’ve heard plenty of stories about football fans from Kerala etc travelling over to support their team of choice.
Not succesful enough and lacks star power I guess.No south asian Mexico fans then?
You sure it’s not Keralans already living in Qatar? There’s almost half a million of them.They don’t all live there already. We’ve heard plenty of stories about football fans from Kerala etc travelling over to support their team of choice.
They are basically budget Germans and they are usually quite generous against Germany at tournaments. So in a way it would be quite natural.That would be like having a hardcore group of Liverpool fans from Salford! Unimaginable.
Holy shit it's Cheech Marin!Facial hair today in support of Mexico.
(it didn't work unfortunately)
I think the Grauniad article linked up-thread talked to Keralans about their trip over?You sure it’s not Keralans already living in Qatar? There’s almost half a million of them.
Oh right I missed that.I think the Grauniad article linked up-thread talked to Keralans about their trip over?
Actually, I got that wrong. Just said they were from Kerala and I assumed they’d travelled from there for the WC.Oh right I missed that.
Not everyone. About 3-5 posters here. and to be clear I'm against the WC being there.Care to elaborate? Just seems like you're casually calling everyone racist
That's a rare occurance. Probably a lot of paid people in Qatar for thatI can enjoy Usain Bolt, now... I'm not gonna do a parade with my countrymen waving jamaican flags and signing jamaican songs.
If south asians want to organize those parades for other NTs, fine...but I still think is very weird, and I'm not from Europe or USA.
Ya it is more likely that they are from Kerala, but work in Qatar.Actually, I got that wrong. Just said they were from Kerala and I assumed they’d travelled from there for the WC.
Of course they would.Why wouldn't anybody watch different sports? Or admire other athletes? But going from admire, support or watch other nations or sports in other countries is totaly different to what we see here. As I say, nothing wrong but in many western countries it feels little bit strange.
I still didn't get my answer. Would those people on different videos support their "own" country instead of lets say England if they met in a football game? Because I really don't know.
Thing is that I'm not saying it is right or wrong. Just feels little bit wierd seeing people in those videos doing what they do.
Qatar didn't demand anything. The world cup is rotated to increase growth and fill the pockets of corrupt officials. They paid the most bribes, which is how it's awarded. It's the reality of life, and why should they be punished for it?We don't watch rugby, so there is that. But there is nothing wrong with watching it. However, it would be odd if Germany demanded to host cricket or rugby events as often as, or more often, than the countries that actually play the sport.
Given the fact that it's mid-season as opposed to during the Summer after a long season and as a consequence players will be fresher, there's every chance the games will be of higher quality than usual in World Cups.I think it's going to come down to the football.
If the games are mediocre then there'll be no hiding for Qatar.
If the games are good they'll be able to wash any unpleasantness away.
I foresee one match day going awry and the security forces getting too heavy handed
In that case all the corruption and abuse was worth it.Given the fact that it's mid-season as opposed to during the Summer after a long season and as a consequence players will be fresher, there's every chance the games will be of higher quality than usual in World Cups.
You nearly had me thereIn that case all the corruption and abuse was worth it.
I'm joking obviously
So all this is just about party? They just love football and would support pretty much everyone. Because it is hard, in my opinion, to be hardcore fan to multiple teams. Specially national teams. If you love your national team it feel strange to be hardcore (insert other nation name) fan just because your team didn't qualify.Of course they would.
The bit you forget is that their national team is absolutely shit and has no hope of playing in the World Cup anytime soon so there is no conflictSo all this is just about party? They just love football and would support pretty much everyone. Because it is hard, in my opinion, to be hardcore fan to multiple teams. Specially national teams. If you love your national team it feel strange to be hardcore (insert other nation name) fan just because your team didn't qualify.
Just so you know. I still don't think it is wrong. Just strange in my opinion.
Don't people follow PL clubs when their local teams are in some way lower divisions. Something similar to that. If their home nations were regularly in WC, then they would probably not be a fan of any other NT.Because it is hard, in my opinion, to be hardcore fan to multiple teams
Why is it ironic?And to be clear, I’m conscious that Manchester United fans who aren’t from Manchester taking the piss out of this behaviour is a little ironic.
It's the paid aspect I have an issue with, not that they're Asian. It's not the people I have an issue with, it's the government/PR.There's some degree of xenophobia in my opinion though. "Hey look at those fake/paid Asian fans!"
I don't doubt they're football mad.Qatar is a country with 50% of its population from South Asia. And 700,000 of that are Indians. And almost 450,000 people out of that are from one state in India, named Kerala.
It is a ridiculously football crazy state, with fans greatly outnumbering the cricket fans. That is pretty unusual by Indian standards.
They regularly play football tournaments in Kerala. And they play football tournaments in Qatar too.
Even for the FIFA Arab cup in 2021, most of the spectators were south Asian.
https://www.goal.com/en/news/world-...azil-and-malayalees/38569fjmqrsj1uq49igfbf83o
Yes, a great many do. I get your point.Don't people follow PL clubs when their local teams are in some way lower divisions. Something similar to that. If their home nations were regularly in WC, then they would probably not be a fan of any other NT.