Standards I’d kept, in the back of my mind
Are now just rules to break from time to time

As the singer of The Lemonheads, Evan Dando possesses the magic of turning scenes taken from our daily lives into little pop gems. This applies to the song “No Backbone,” quoted above. We have all been there: We intend to approach the problems we’re facing with confidence and backbone, both in the literal and metaphorical sense. However, this is difficult to achieve and more often than not, we are not able to show our backbone. This may be for many reasons.

Taking this quote into football however, it is astonishing to see national football associations crumble to pieces when faced with moral decisions that may prove to be a difficult path to go along.

The World Cup 2034 is about to be awarded in December. Already there are little to no hopes that the only candidate, Saudi Arabia, and FIFA will get their will. The critcism FIFA is receiving for this process does go unnoticed. Its president is an apt example of having no backbone since the decisive congress will be held online. Gianni Infantino gets away unharmed and unscrutinised.

By simply saying “No”, many national football associations the world over could make it clear that they have serious issues about FIFA’s and Saudi Arabia’s behaviour. Both wield power that is unprecedented and the power reaches beyond football. Yet, so do the national associations. If the leading nations decide to flex their muscles and simply not partake in the World Cup, this will leave the competition void of any excitement. Who wants to see a World Cup without Argentina, Brazil, Italy or Spain?

If a group of major associations can vow others to follow, this could force FIFA to change their minds. Yet, corrupted as they are by greed, next to nothing will happen.

Without running the risk of anything real
Ever being given, ever being shown.
Back in the back[sic]room
No backbone.

image credit: screenshot of © backbone journal

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