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November 18, 2005
Turkey: A Soccer Story Gone Wrong
I am reluctant to link to a sports story. It is not particularly important in the grand scheme of things. But I think the behavior of the Turkish fans, and especially the behavior of the Turkish players and officials, speaks of a sense of entitlement that is destructive everywhere it is found. Furthermore, in 1969, a war broke up between El Salvador and Honduras after pre-existing tensions were inflamed after two hard-fought soccer matches. (No, the soccer did not cause the war, Salvadorian citizens were being murdered in Honduras at the instigation of the Honduran government, their corpses floating down the river separating the two countries. The "Soccer War" is probably a misnomer.)
About the story itself: last Wednesday Switzerland met Turkey in a qualifying match for the 2006 World Cup. (Turkey won the match 4-2 and the total score for the home-and-away series was 4-4, but Switzerland qualified because it scored two goals away from home while Turkey scored none.) After the match, Turkish fans began throwing things at the Swiss players, and then Turkish players and officials began attacking the Swiss too. A Swiss player was taken to a hospital. Now FIFA has launched an investigation which may result in severe sanctions. Here is where the Islamic "Mind" takes over. I'll let the Turkish coach dig his own grave: Coach Terim says soccer world prejudiced against Turkey
Turkey coach Fatih Terim called for unity after FIFA launched an investigation of violent incidents following a World Cup match against Switzerland and said the soccer world was prejudiced against Turkey.FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who is Swiss, said he was hopping mad about the mayhem after Wednesday's playoff.
Swiss players were pelted with objects from the crowd and have accused Turkish players and officials of attacking them. One Swiss player had a catheter fitted in hospital after being kicked in the groin.
Terim plans to work out a defence strategy with colleagues in the national team set-up. If Turkey was deemed to be responsible for the violence, they could be banned from playing internationals by world soccer's ruling body.
"As a country everyone must do their duty down to the smallest detail. We must act together," Terim said on Friday.
"There is prejudice against Turkey and rival countries use this to their own advantage even if nothing has happened."
Turkish media accused Blatter of bias.[...]
Thus, dear reader, this has nothing to do with the violence, nothing at all. It is all about "prejudice". Please.
P.S. In what may well be a coincidence, but may not well be, watch which other country is crying, crying about the unfairness of it all: Bahrain
Posted by Ruy Diaz at November 18, 2005 11:46 AM
Comments
I thought Islam was the religion of 'peace'?
Posted by: Tito at November 20, 2005 12:13 AM
Any culture which oppresses its women will have men who are narcissistic and believe they are always entitled to special consiseration.
I suspect it is because it is a bad thing developmentally for a boy to pass his mother in status while he is still young, and on the basis of no personal achievements.
Posted by: Assistant Village Idiot at November 20, 2005 3:07 PM
> I thought Islam was the religion of 'peace'?
This is an egregious typo, carried forth ad infinitem by an uncritical press which never checks its facts.
The original translation was that Islam is a Religion of PEAS.... Everyone like a good little religious pea, sitting uncomplaining in its little religious pod, asking no questions, thinking no independent thoughts, indistinguishable and interchangeable.
Amazing what a difference in meaning a silent "e" can bring, isn't it?
Posted by: OhBloodyHell at November 21, 2005 2:18 AM
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