FIFA made the mistake of giving Trump the fake Peace Prize and tens of thousands of soccer fans are cancelling tickets to watch the games in USA. FIFA is nervous and holding emergency meetings now.
Fans are afraid of getting arrested by ICE goons while in the USA, which is not far fetch, especially if you are a foreigner moving around sightseeing while not watching the games. There is a genuine fear if one were to think of it. Now, why would one want to run the risk being arrested and detained for weeks. Those 'stupidity without cure' may venture to go to the USA to watch the games, while the smart ones will just watch the matches on TV.
Trump may then threaten to ban televising the matches live. That is also not a feasible solution for FIFA, with television stations not having to pay an arm and a leg to FIFA for showing the matches live.
I think it is time to forget about the World Cup and Olympics, which are so politically entwined and corrupted. Sports was supposed to be free of political influence, but that has obviously been made into a clown show with the award of the fake Peace Prize to Trump.
China has already hinted it is not going to bid for another Olympic Games, a colossal waste of money, while the Olympic Committee has been trying to entice China to change its mind.
Anonymous
Trump is not just destroying FIFA ticket sales. USA hotels, F & B outlets, entertainment venues preparing to welcome more business resulting from the World Cup, are now shaking in their pants and now uncertain about what to do.
ReplyDeleteBut not to worry. Trump will come up with another subsidy for them. Money printing is no problem as it is just paper and ink. No sweat.
At home and abroad, Trump has the 'Midas Touch' in reverse. Artists cancelled performances at the Kennedy Center when Trump added his name to it, calling it Trump Kennedy Center. Football fans cancelled ticket bookings at the coming World Cup matches in USA after FIFA gave a Piss Prize to Trump, which literally pissed the fans off. As an added deterrent, football fans saw the ICE goon's behavior and are worried about going to the USA.
ReplyDeleteAbroad, Trump has made the USA the enemy of allies and friends. Canada, a NATO member is now mending relations with China and as I expected, EV accessibility and energy are going to figure prominently in that relationship. Denmark, another NATO member, is facing Trump's threat over fabricated Russian and Chinese encroachment in Greenland, when Greenlanders themselves denied the presence of Russian or Chinese ships around Greenland. Who is telling the lies - the USA or the citizens of Greenland?
Across continents, countries are ignoring Trump's tariff extortion letters, and those extortions are pushing them towards BRICS for their salvation. Now South Korea is moving to improve relations with China, with the South Korean President given a red-carpet welcome by Xi. China knows who it can trust and who to give the cold shoulder. China will not resort to mafia treatment of those visiting the country but follows diplomatic procedures.
But those who promote the anti-China mantra like the EU leaders will be given no limousine treatment travelling across China but given rides in buses. The message is clear and it is up to those who visited China to think about it.
I also need to talk about Lithuania, another NATO member, that tried to wear big shoes to antagonize China by allowing Taiwan to open a 'Taiwanese' representative office in Lithuania. The consequences were immediate with China cutting off rail lines across Lithuania and using Belarus and Poland instead. Lithuania tried to mend relations by extending friendly feelers which China just ignored. This made Lithuania angry and unhappy, but it reaped what it sowed. Blame itself and live with it now.
Lithuania is a lesson for Red Dot.
Delete