At a time when Russian tanks are sadly rolling in across the border into Ukraine in a war of aggression, it is no wonder that sportswashing is emerging as a topic. Because when you look at Russia, it’s hard to close your eyes to the sport’s dirty rubbish with Vladimir Putin. There are many who are happy to take part in the billions that have flowed out.
Of course, it is easy to become what Lars Lagerbäck’s assistant Roland Andersson was happy to pull up when you had views afterwards. “There’s something in America called the Monday morning quarterback.” He was, of course, referring to all the hindsight who in fact point out how one should have done.
Of course, Andersson had a point. But it is equally important to go back and check what different people have done and what responsibility they have. Even before Putin’s attack on Ukraine, I jumped in when the Center Party’s Annie Lööf in SVT’s 30 minutes said that Sweden will boycott the World Cup in Qatar.
Lööf answered Anders Holmberg’s question and developed it with: “I love football and have played it much of my life. I love watching football, but in Qatar, human rights are violated on a daily basis. We have just had an Olympics in Beijing where we have seen that our athletes dare to tell what they think when they come home, but not when they are in place. “
Now I know, of course, that it is election year and that politicians in different ways want to offer some election pork. Talking about a boycott of the World Cup in the hated Qatar is an easy way to pick up points. I do not know anyone who is in favor of the championship, but then it is possible to discuss whether a boycott is the right way. Should 23 Swedish players take responsibility for what Sweden feels?
Now Lööf was not satisfied with that but went on to promise a diplomatic boycott: “I think we have to mark from a political point of view to those who host the World Cup and the Olympics. That dictatorships and non-democratic states cannot be offered the star shine that a World Cup or the Olympics entails. “
Then you can point out that Annie Lööf and the party she represents sat in a Swedish government 2006-2014 when, among other things, they nobbed a possible Swedish application to arrange the European Championships 2016 together with Norway or the Ryder Cup. Unfortunately, alternatives must be provided if non-democratic states are not to receive the star-studded championship.
Some Lööf friends may object that the question of Qatar was one of three short questions and she was not allowed to develop more than she did. Firstly, Sweden is not even ready for the World Cup, the playoffs are expected in March and the Swedish chances of reaching the emirate are less than 50 percent in terms of first beating the Czech Republic at home and then either Poland or Russia away.
But regarding Qatar, it is nevertheless quite stomach-churning that Annie Lööf sat as Minister of Trade and Industry in the government that in 2013 decided to open an embassy in Doha, Qatar. Then the government wrote: “The establishment increases the conditions for a continued active Swedish role in the Middle East. Sweden promotion is a high priority because the Qatari market has a growing potential for Swedish business. “
Lööf’s Minister colleague Ewa Björling, who was Minister of Trade, inaugurated the embassy with the words: “It is an exciting time to open an embassy in Doha. Qatar is undergoing dynamic social and economic development. It is important that Sweden is in place to conduct a political dialogue and to promote Swedish exports. “
The press release stated that the embassy was opened to “assist Swedish companies in the expansive Qatari market” and it was announced that exports amounted to SEK 1.7 billion. Nowadays, it is close to SEK 4 billion and Sweden has applied for and received the go-ahead to sell weapons to the country.
Maybe this is where you should put the effort if you now have views on Qatar. Especially since Lööf’s government took the step to open the embassy. There would have been credibility in Annie Lööf if she could reflect on what the government she was in did and could also promise that Sweden would stop trading with the emirate.
There is no doubt that Qatar is preying on migrant workers, but unfortunately it is not just about the World Cup in football. It’s just as much about getting a spin on the country and its trade. Sweden would like to be there and make money, but we will not play football.
Even politicians need to take responsibility and stand for what they say and make decisions. I would have liked to have seen the World Cup move and certainly do not support the emirate’s efforts to polish its image with a major championship, but it would be nice if you did not press over all responsibility for the sport because it may sound good.
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