The world governing body Fifa, an organisation willing to do deals with dictators, never mind the constant corruption allegations that assail it, is as good a suspect as any, I’d suggest. Among those not to blame, though, are the footballers themselves. The game, like all sports, has always been subject to realpolitik. But it is also a game. Which is why we watch in the first place. Squeamish as I am about Qatar hosting this World Cup, I’ll still want to know what’s happening. The challenge is to not lose sight of the backdrop. As Gary Lineker has pointed out, sportswashing only works if you stop talking about the issues. So let’s not.
