When Sepp Blatter wades into controversy again, more than a flutter, rather a flotilla of outrage sets out against him. Following on from the bribes for World Cup hosting debacle, Blatter tries to defend the awarding to the first non-democratic countries since Mexico in 1986. Told of Qatar’s strict laws against homosexuality, he flippantly remarks that gays should “refrain from affection,” before moving on as if the issue was as absent as the democracy in these countries. John Amaechi, gay NBA star, is fired up by this, but maybe should have used a better turn of phrase – “if sport is to be more about grown men playing with balls…”
On a sidebar note, Barcelona, disgracing their strips with Qatar 2022 as part of the vote-trading deal that failed for one side, with Spain-Portugal losing out, prove that they need a crucial word to be added before their famous motto. Now, they are are “Not more than a club.”
If the minds of corrupt Swiss crooks are locked in the past, then at least most of the US House of Representatives takes a more common-sense viewpoint. Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell has cleared the first stage to being officially repealed. Some commanders, the type who blamed the failure of Dutch UN peacekeepers to protect Srbenica as a result of the tolerance of homosexuality in Dutch culture, are against it; they are a little more media-savvy than in the past, but not much, those such as John McCain (American Hero Trademark) calling it a distraction, as if Marines and the like will suddenly go doo-lally and their rifles droopy. The repeal is an entirely logical, liberal and civilised step. As Representative Jared Polis said, it is “the only law in the country that requires people to be dishonest or be fired if they choose to be honest.” One thing is certain – if the American military is going to be weakened, it will not be from this.