Said & Done: Qatar 2022; Arsenal’s cash pile; and a hotel fiestita

Posted Sunday, March 01, 2015 by theguardian.com

Said & Done: Qatar 2022; Arsenal’s cash pile; and a hotel fiestita
Hassan al-Thawadi and Jerome Valcke

Proud week for
Jérôme Valcke – content with Fifa’s impact since 2010 on Qatar’s 45p-an-hour migrants, after viewing improved dorms in Doha: “This shows the power of the World Cup to act as a catalyst. We look forward to sustainable change for all.”

• Also drawing a line at the Doha press event, with media attention still on the 1,200 dead workers and alleged corruption – tournament head Hassan al-Thawadi: “Separating sports from politics is what we are committed to, and to unleashing the World Cup’s unifying power. That’s the spirit of the World Cup, bringing people together, and that’s the spirit of Qatar.”

Rebuttal news
Valcke’s other key message last week: modifying his December 2010 rebuttal of ill-informed “certain people who said we should change the calendar and put this World Cup in a winter period”, by putting the World Cup in a winter period. “Why should we apologise? I definitely don’t have to.”

• Reacting first to the move: Luis Figo – still positioning himself as Fifa’s clean-break, fresh-start presidential candidate with the help of the same PR firm used by the Qatar 2022 bid – on why the winter switch makes sense: “Qatar deserves to be put in the position to organise a great event.”

Elsewhere
The week’s non-Doha football family news:

• Thai Fifa executive Worawi Makudi denying ethics breaches, eyeing four more years (“people still support me”) and giving “100%, 100%” backing to Sepp’s status quo. “Football has been lifted very high because of his leadership, and his vision.”

• Nepal’s FA demanding Fifa act against their own president Ganesh Thapa before his self-imposed four-month ethics sabbatical runs out next week. Thapa “stepped aside” last year to fight claims he used his 19-year term to embezzle £3.7m; Fifa are yet to rule.

Racism update
New from Russia: researchers reporting on 200 cases of club football racism over two seasons, 72 involving neo-Nazis; and 2018 head Vitaly Mutko weighing it all up: “There are [racism] problems everywhere, but in Russia it’s not very serious. There are lots of black players here, and I don’t see any problem.”

Football in the community
2014: West Ham choose “local developer and employer” Galliard to redevelop Upton Park due to the firm’s commitment “to work closely with the local community, to benefit the local community”. 2015: Plans submitted for 838 homes, 6% “affordable”.

Pile of the week
Arsenal reporting cash reserves of £138.8m – four months after chief executive Ivan Gazidis defended high ticket prices and denied hoarding “tens of millions in spare cash”. “It’s quite untrue that we’re sitting on a huge cash pile.”

Long-term manager news
• Sept: Coventry CEO Steve Waggott. “In Steven Pressley we have a manager whose long-term vision absolutely mirrors that of the football club … stability will be our bedrock.” Nov: Coventry chairman Tim Fisher: “Steven is here long-term, part of our long-term plan. This club is historically short-termist; we have a long-term vision.” Feb: “We thank Steven for his efforts.”

• Brazil, 14 Feb: Piracicaba director Renato Bonfiglio on coach Roque Júnior: “The president has met and spoken with Roque, and they have a clear understanding, a clear vote of confidence. Roque stays.” 24 Feb: Roque goes.

Most unmoved
Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi: unimpressed by his new contract offer from the FA – £16,000 a month, with new performance targets. “From the clauses I have seen so far, I don’t know what words to use. This could be described as a ‘slave contract’.”

Obstacle of the week
Costa Rica: Alajuelense midfielder Juan Gabriel Guzmán sacked over a leaked audio file of him calling teammates “wimps and bitches” and “suckers without balls … I have balls, they do not.” Alajuelense said the comments were “serious”; Guzmán told local media: “I can only bow my head. God puts many obstacles in my path.”

Most serene
Italy: Sampdoria manager Sinisa Mihajlovic, denying he tried to choke his left-back. “Let’s be clear. I didn’t take his neck, I took his shirt, pushed his chest and screamed at his face. That’s all. I’m generally serene. I’d say ‘case closed’, but there is no case. We move on.”

Best positivity
Brazil: Colo Colo physio Edson “Father Ogum” Borges on how fans react to his religious robes and shades: “Fans chant: ‘Uh holy father, uh holy father,’ and I’m pleased. My outfits bring positivity, never intolerance.” Colo Colo director Flavio Medrado: “People often ask us about Father Ogum. He’s good for our brand.”

— Goleada Info (@goleada_info)
February 21, 2015
Esse é o Edson, massagista do Colo Colo-BA. Também é conhecido como "Pai Ogum". Que figura! pic.twitter.com/XfDu4A1IyV

Plus: best impact
Argentina: Dani Osvaldo marking week one on loan at Boca Juniors with an alleged “hotel fiestita involving four team-mates and two female guests” – days after he told the press: “I’m here to lend a hand, with humility. I just hope it all goes well.”

• Playing down the row: broadcaster Yanina Latorre. “It happens. My husband [ex-striker Diego] was no saint either … no one’s immune to these gold-diggers. But I’m fine with them, really. They go to training, to changing rooms – they follow the sweat. I applaud their spirit.”