Want to see a threat to democracy? Look at professional soccer

Wait, what? Human rights groups have condemned Qatar for using forced labor to build the infrastructure required to host the World Cup. More than 6,500 migrant workers are believed to have died there since 2020. The country is a longstanding supporter of Hamas, the Taliban, al Qaeda, and other Islamic terrorist groups.

So why is Qatar hosting the World Cup? Because FIFA is an irredeemably corrupt organization that represents an irredeemably corrupt sport. A U.S. Justice Department investigation found that Qatar and Russia, site of the 2018 World Cup, secured hosting rights by bribing FIFA officials.

What the hell? I know.

Is soccer a threat to freedom and democracy? Perhaps the single greatest threat, thanks for asking.

[Andrew Stiles’ ongoing parody of Axios’ style is well worth reading just for that alone. But he’s spot-on about the hypocrisy of international sports organizations … and that even applies to US sports orgs like the NBA when it comes to China and genocide, too. — Ed]