Avoiding the pitfalls of Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 coverage | Global Journalism Seminar with Chris McHardy, Head of Sport, Arabian Radio Network

12:30PM Nov 16, 2022

Speakers:

Caithlin Mercer

Keywords:

journalists

world cup

fifa

sports

qatar

football

bit

world

question

people

caitlin

females

chris

job

point

head

united arab emirates

talking

game

gianni

Hello and welcome to the global journalism seminars at the Reuters Institute for the Study of journalism. I'm Caitlin Mercer and we're turning our attention to sports journalism today. This Sunday at 4pm. UK time the 22nd FIFA World Cup kicks off in Qatar. The tournament will be attended by 32 National football teams watched by a million live spectators and typically draws a Global TV audience of over 3 billion people and coverage of those 64 matches will be provided by the 12,300 journalists who've been accredited by FIFA this year to work on the ground plus a vast army of commentators and support staff will be working on these stories from war rooms back home to among those covering will be Chris McCarty, who is head of sports at the Arabia news network and neighboring UAE. I chose Chris for today's seminar very specifically for a number of reasons. Firstly, for his unique perspective as a Scottish born sports journalist who's lived in the region since 2010. He understands the pressures and expectations of both sides. Secondly, I literally have never met anyone more passionate or knowledgeable about football. And thirdly, because he's one of the hardest working sports journalists I've had the pleasure of sharing a newsroom with. So welcome Chris.

Thank you very much Caitlin humbled by those lovely words. And yeah, the 10 Durham's as they see over here is in the post,

when it's put in the post, so you're about to start working very hard and not stuck for a very long time.

Yeah, I think a Christmas Day I think is the next day off. Over in these parts are of course living in the UAE you've got the small matter of the FIFA World Cup which of course as you've already alluded to kicks off on Sunday, and for you golfing, aficionados, enthusiasts, you've got the DP World Tour championship that kicks off tomorrow or tees off, should I say tomorrow, Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix this weekend as well Caitlin so an awful lot going on.

Is he busy? And you're going to be reporting on this FIFA World

Cup course? Yeah, of course. We're going to be in and out of Doha based here and the United Arab Emirates, but but then I've got a couple of matches. I'll be across for a couple of the knockout matches and then all being well both semi finals. And then the final, of course, the culmination of the 22nd edition. Come Sunday, December 18.

Now, accreditation this year has seems to be vexed. We're 16,000 Reporters accredited when the World Cup was in Russia only 12,300 this year. That's a 23% decrease. So have you have you had trouble yourself getting accredited? Have you heard

a long and hard about this? I think there's no doubt that the pandemic has had an impact. I know a number of entities publications have scaled back. I think that may play a part. I think, you know, the money that's swirling around now is a bit different. People have maybe realigned and their strategy around covering the World Cup based on that I think that undoubtedly will have played a part and yes, the short answer is I had a bit of trouble you go through the FIFA portal and very quickly, you're you're you're welcomed with rights holder or non rights holder and of course working for the Arabian radio network over here in the UAE. Sadly, we're a non rights holder which then it becomes a little bit more convoluted and a little bit more difficult to gain the access that kind of warrants that the cost. I mean, I'm sure we'll touch on the cost of being over that in Qatar that the hotel rooms are astronomical. I've been speaking to one or two of my peers over here in the UAE and it's a small fortune to pitch up there for the month to cover the World Cup. So I think there are a number of mitigating factors and being a normal right holder as we are the Arabian Radio Network has ensured that we know a little bit more satellite will be in and out. We're going to be covering of course we will. We're a major network over here in this part of the world. We'll be covering it but we'll be covering it a little bit differently than perhaps why maybe foolishly or naively thought we read maybe 12 months 18 months ago.

Yeah, what were for those who don't understand what is the rights holder versus a non rights holder mean?

So essentially, a lot of money has been spent to ensure again, take the case on be in sports Caetani base they are the the major Middle Eastern, and see when it comes to a TV perspective to men that I'm sure a lot of viewers today will know Richard Keyes and Andy gray will be helming. They'll be in sports English offering. They've got a huge hearted team as well. And then you've got the likes of the BBC. And the ITV in the UK where huge sums of money are being parted with to ensure that they are front and center of the country. So little old US unit the Arabian Radio Network whilst Yes, our pockets are deep to a point. They're not quite deep enough to satisfy that satisfy the wants and the desires of Gianni Infantino.

Fair enough, who manages the accreditation process?

FIFA directly. That was one thing that initially I was going through backchannels with some of my contacts in Qatar for the supreme committee, of course, the organizers of this World Cup on the ground, and you'll find that they are responsible for a number of things, vast majority of things, putting on the World Cup, building a football stadium, but when it comes to accreditation, it's FIFA that waits to keep their hands in the rain. That the hands their hands on the rain, shall I say so? Yes, you go through the FIFA portal. Initially you think that's going to be easy, but you need a patience of a saint to get it done. And if and if you do that and you check all the balances, then you match their criteria. Then you can become accredited and you can sample a football festival that is the World Cup.

There's only this small matter of trying to find an available room.

Yeah, and I'm sure you've all seen the pictures today. I mean, the idea of a tent with basic amenities it's it's not very flattering from Qatar to do some of those reports. And then, of course I've got other friends and who have who are safely into hotels and and they say that the staff haven't been nicer. They can kind of be more kind of welcoming. So you'll always get that I said it before and I'll say it again, every World Cup every major sporting event, I can think of a litany of Olympic games that have had teething problems at the beginning and that will be no different I'm sure for this World Cup coming.

Yeah, it's worth saying this isn't your first World Cup as you've covered multiple incidents in

Brazil 24 Let me go to Brazil 2014 And then Russia in 2018. So this will be your third time lucky will hopefully all be well be at the World Cup final which is third time lucky I missed it on the previous two occasions but yeah, we've gone from South America to Russia obviously Europe and and now for the first time ever here in the Middle East.

I want to I want to play a video of an ends I'm sure you've seen it but of an incident that unfolded live on on Danish TV last night. Give me one second to make this happen. Here we go.

Danish journalist Rasmus tamp halt who is working for T two out here. He was live on air last night when this happened.

Slept though as it was set fun. Keith Kosik well then hopefully we'll do for

him the reason for that is we are live on Danish television. Our there is a new baby and Opia we started filming in four and a half. Mr. You invited the whole world to the UN you invited the whole world to come here why can we film it's a public place this is the accreditation we can film anywhere we want. Now only Of course

no no no we don't need permanent when you can break the hammer. You want to get it okay. So you're threatening us by smashing the camera?

How did that clearly was a bit of an unsavory incident. Ouch. Ouch. Yeah. I mean, yeah, the pictures don't do the let's be honest about it. However, I saw that today. I read the story. I've read a number of articles Caitlin on this subject and I've been in that position before you know I've got a I've got to be honest about the kind of sensitivities over in this part of the world. And listen, there are sensitivities in all parts of the world. You know, you can for example, in any international airport, you can film in in certain areas. And whilst yes, that journalist in question, Erasmus did have the accreditation, it was a public place. To my knowledge. There was no security breach in him filming there, but I think it's important to point out that just the other week here in the United Arab Emirates, we were filming our own segment for Old World Cup coverage in a very similar situation to that a security card key. He asked for the correct permits, etc. And we had them he was a little unsure. He had to take them away. And I think it comes down to communication. That's one thing that's not an isolated incident. I've seen instances of that in the past whereby communication from the top down. I'm not aware of the nationality of the security guard in question undoubtedly the two men that in the conductor's I think are Kataria. I'm taking a bit of a leap there but I think it comes down to communication. I don't think that is indicative of what we'll see. I think that there's more to communicate and I'm not sitting here being an apologist. I see that as more being a communication enter, whereby perhaps before the World Cup, any individual filming an idea, should it the message hasn't cascaded down an overzealous security guard or individual and official in that instance, has jumped in and I do see that and I know that the journalist in question has received an apology from the Qatari supreme committee, thankfully, and we don't want to see journalists, cameras and equipment being broken and I do feel that those will be pockets of instances. I think it will be anything no after that incident in the supreme committee again, their messaging will be to ensure listen for these four weeks filming in these designated areas aren't allowed. Please please communicate that down the scale down the pyramid to those security guards to allow the journalists to do their job.

What would you do in that situation?

Always be respectful. That's the way that my mom brought me up regardless, doesn't matter whether I'm in Qatar, whether I'm in Dubai or anywhere else in the world, you you state your case, you've got your credentials. Have patience is a virtue as well guys and I know it's difficult at times where you're trying to do your job. I mean, in that instance, Rasmus is live for goodness sake. So there's a bit of professional embarrassment there. But you've just got to be respectful. You got to state your case, and ultimately, it will get sorted. You can bet your life that you know the katanas are they're mindful that this has been been all around the world they you know, their reputation is at stake and and they want to show themselves as a welcoming nation. My experiences of going to Qatar is exactly that, that they are a welcoming nation therefore. Yeah, I think always always and again, doesn't matter. Go back to a Caitlyn doesn't matter if you're in your homeland of South Africa. If you're in the northeast of Scotland and Scotland can be a very welcoming place, as I know, or whether you're in the Middle East, always be respectful, and have a modicum of patience and fingers crossed, that your issue will be sorted.

What are some of the other mistakes that journalists who are used to a certain level of accommodation in the West could make? Yeah,

I mean, the obvious one, and, you know, is coming arriving in these parts with preconceived notions, you know, again, as I've always said, and it's funny, I did an interview with Zlatan Ibrahimovic here the other day and we were talking about art and culture etc. And he was saying that that his experience of it has been an incredibly warm one. And I think you've got to leave those kind of preconceived ideas out the door, you know, judge the country judges people on merits. Hey, I come here and report and listen, I don't want to sit here and try and sugarcoat it. If you have a bad experience, it's your right to report that it's a bad experience. But, you know, give the people a chance to come here and really be open to having your mind kind of changed. Or maybe that's the wrong word, but at least being open to seeing exactly what the country and this region has to offer. And its culture rich, and my experiences of many of the people have been incredibly warm and incredibly accommodating in the hospitality hospitality is second to none, you know, in certain venues, etc as well. So yeah, that would be the first port of call and then, you know, if you're like me and you enjoy an adult beverage in there, and you work hard for your craft, at the end of the night, just perhaps, she asked, take the foot off the accelerator, a little bit, enjoy yourself, but just be mindful of where you are and make sure you've got a proper route home and you're sensible and these parts

there, make it a meal before you hit the pub,

I think widen the stomach as you'd say. Indeed, any lightweights as we would say up in the northeast, northeast of Scotland had Yeah, just take care would be the message.

You mentioned culture there and something reporters from outside of the region might not grow. The importance of is saving face and the culture of saving face. Have hubs well I'll merge

probably. In other words, preserving dignity. Is there a backlash that reporters need to be aware of when it comes to shaming Qataris? Is that something you need to keep in mind or do you just go ahead and do your job to the

world? Ultimately, the cantata is know that they're welcoming the biggest sporting event on the planet the biggest event on the planet to their shores. So, you know, you're absolutely right to state that saving faces is something you're the kind of Catan ease and same here with the United Arab Emirates hundreds in general they are prone to people you know, to go into their house and and start casting aspersions or or being overly critical or overly negative. If you're not backing it up opinions one thing but back it up with facts as well. So listen, the guitars will know that and they they're aware of it. We've been building up to this World Cup, set blotter back in November 2010 Raid oats and the winners are cats are like Italys have been dealing with negativity for a whole host of issues that I'm sure we'll touch on later on in this webinar. So the They're not stupid. They know that people will be coming here with their agendas. You know there will be a number of journalists who will have a flee in their ear from the editors. Some of you will seeking out negativity. What I'd like to think by and large, it's the positive stories again, and I'm sure we'll touch on it. Football in this world cup can be a vehicle for genuine change can be a vehicle to at least evoke conversation around it and a normal touch on this Caitlin but you know you it's the old cliches and you know you're not going to you're going to revolutionize you're gonna change the change the world overnight. But if we can have a conversation if we can have a discourse then we're on the you know, we're on the right path.

I mean, let's let's not tiptoe around that anymore. Let's go straight there. There are very real issues around rights, workers rights LGBTQ rights, women's rights, that people are concerned about people from progressive countries. They want to see these addressed and redressed in Qatar. And I think I think I'd like to go into this conversation with a little clip from not your man near Manchester United personal

mind you need to find out I think is Juergen Klopp Liverpool boss, you know,

this is this your mortal enemy I'm not. Well,

no. We are again, each a lovely man. He's passionate, He's enthusiastic, and he's done an incredible job for Liverpool Football Club. And I think the clip that you're about to play we'll discuss that afterwards. Well, let's play it now and see what

Yes, yes. Some of that passion. Okay, here we go.

How you used to know it's different. It has nothing to do with Cagayan de WonderWorld. Cabinets now it's that that in the moment when you put it there it was all the things which followed up was clear. There was not one Stadium in Qatar or maybe one. So they have to build stadium and nobody thought about that. I don't think everybody mentioned that that day. That's the situation that was making make just can make you angry. Again, you know what, again, I watch it from a football point of view. And I don't like the fact that not play us from time to time get in a situation where they have they have no to send a message. You are all journalists, you have should have sent a message who didn't fly the most critical article about it and not about because it's Qatar and things know about the circumstances which was clear, but then just play the games to players and the managers and don't get yourself in constantly in a situation I have to talk about everything is not like I'm not a politician. His opinion on these are bloody listings and clocks, and Southgate said and all these kinds of things as potential anything. We all do more than I let it happen to have years ago. Now making a story of it now where it's happening now coming out the corner and getting our players under pressure but but we will put you will do with questioning these kinds of things will ask you the questions, but asking Harry Kane really worried hurricanes and civil worried. The other guy said please don't make politicians political statements. That's not okay. We all let it happen that time it was everything on the table. Everything was on the table

is that fair? Did we get

in a word? No. I think there'll be people smiling this thing getting a typical Man United fan or having American but I did I think that was super smashed a lot of people in those comments about we the journalists and of course I'm part of the fraternity we didn't do enough. I think that flies in the eye of a lot of journalists who did and you know, I can, I can remember it is if it was yesterday, you know, the corruption around alleged corruption, removing corruption around the bidding process. There was a lot of good men and women in the journalism field who wrote articles. There was a lot of people early on highlighting you know, the human rights issues and and for a Uruguayan to sit there and say that we as if the journalists are the custodians of this decision that we allowed it to happen neither left a bit of a bitter taste in my mouth in all honesty and these put a point Juergen Klopp himself, can engender change. You know, he's a football manager at the end of the day and but you know, soon as SAP and I go back to set because he's been making headlines in the last fortnight I find it remarkable that he's come out now to say it was a mistake. He was he was quiet was all set for the last 1112 years and then a couple of weeks out from the tournament says it was a mistake and the fact of the matter is those issues were highlighted, or as a huge storm around the decision to award the World Cup to Qatar and not just because of those rights that you've had and the issues that you've raised. Of course, it was a summer World Cup originally it was never it was never intended to be a winter World Cup. No 15 degrees in this part of the world in the summer. I mean, it's ridiculous. So for your Oregon to see it's the journalism, the journalists fault that they in some way, shape or form, kind of helped, you know, aided the awarding of the FIFA World Cup to Katherine I think is bang out of line. As I say I'll go back to it. Some real good people, rule articles highlighting this, fortunately Okay, when the horses bolted, the money was paid. The deal was done and cartel were always going to host a speaker woke up

and money was paid. It's interesting. What about your guys's comments about say saying journalists shouldn't be asking players to respond or or managing

again I again I think that your point each got one you know what can change no gotta Southgate is no trying to use Carter England managers as an example as you're getting used. Got its job now. They're there they've touchdown having winter as the majority of nations have. The job now has got a safety as a football manager. The Job knows as players is to win football matches and again it will be up to the players. I've always believed this some players some sports men and women want to be front and center of social movements, cultural movements, call them what you will. Others just want to do their day job and will will kind of have their own counsel on certain views, etc. So he's got a point but ultimately, again, it's what I said a little earlier Caitlin, it comes down to the editorial, you know, whatever the strategy is, there'll be journalists who are like dogs with bones and I mean that with the greatest of respect, they're doing their jobs. They will want to get those kind of lines out of the players and there'll be other journalists who will want to focus on the football my experience on past World Cups, I often find you can agree with us or not when the first whistle blows. All the noise does quieten down a little bit, the narrative the show begins. And then of course the storylines are then permeated. The storylines are written with the foot on the pitch and invariably and that's the same across Olympic Games. It's the same for certainly for FIFA World Cups. You know it is new Caitlyn and I've said this to a lot of people. The issues with which we're talking about, okay, there are a rights issues for the teething problems heading into a World Cup. They're not new. We saw them ahead of Russia. We saw them ahead of Brazil. The same of course, your whole nation of South Africa, that are issues that are highlighted. It's great for discussion, to you know to evoke in in gender conversation. That's what we want. As journalists, we want to make people see clearly and make people think differently and that will that won't change. And again, as I say when the football when the action begins, you'll start to see the storylines and the narrative changing.

If you had an interview with Juergen crook today, would you ask the question, question being Is it right that?

Would I ask her about his comments for the journalists who don't like what I've done is

comments about cats are being the host his his opinions his political opinions.

Yeah, I mean, if you're gonna be shot and and again go back to our I've spoken to the Oregon a couple of times, and I think more than anything, I think know that the Football World Cup is kicking off if your game was in front of me, I might take him to task with his viewpoint as to why he feels that we the journalist needed to do more. I'd probably dig around more on that front more than anything else because you know, you're Oregon's answer to me is this increasing doesn't matter what my views are my political views when whatever views it is, this World Cup is happening. You know, for your again, it's up to him whether he wants to be a headline grabber. He's a manager of Liverpool Football Club. He knows what he says. There's a lot of people that, you know, looking on and wanting to hear what he has to say, but it would all depend on what mood he's in. And, you know, for me I think the issue there is I think you're pretty clear and that SkySports clip, I think it was a six and a half minute clip. He made it clear he is not in favor of FIFA World Cup being in Qatar for a litany of reasons. So I think that that in many respects, he's gone on record. I think the biggest thing for me is holding him to account on the criticism of us to the journalist and I go back to you, I think we've all done the very best that we possibly can to highlight those issues. That's all we can do. It's up to governments and policy makers to drive that change.

If we turn our attention to FIFA who made the decision first Russia now Qatar are they profiteering from sports washing?

Yeah, I mean, it's the elephant in the room is you know if they are and I'll be diplomatic here a little bit if they are they they're not alone in that Caitlin you know, if we see so many sports and whether they're taking their lead from governments, you know, we I appreciate when I move into that territory, we're talking diplomacy it's perhaps a little bit different than than entertainment entities and let's be frank sport is a game it's entertainment at the end of the day, but, you know, our war of these sports, take the lead from again and go back to governments and policymakers and you know, there is a saying if it's good enough for them, then we are under that umbrella. It's good enough for us. And in the case of FIFA, I know what kind of governs itself. It doesn't really have borders, of course, it's got its headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, but they're not alone, Caitlin, we've seen Formula One profit, we've seen boxing. It doesn't take long to do a bit of research and on all of these sports to see that. Yeah, a lot of them will go into countries that have you know, understandably they have issues issues that have been well documented. They raised and and they will look to what fit from those. You know, that's that's the most I guess, succinct way I can put it and I come back to the point that and I'm sure the powers that be have the sports would say listen, if it's if the government is, you know, doing business and involved in that manner, then that opens the gates for us to do likewise. It's interesting enough that I actually hosted the sports industry forum here in Abu Dhabi. Here both yesterday and today, and I had a long conversation with Richard Scudamore, former CEO and chairman of the Premier League Ja Rule that he held for almost 20 years and we were talking about the FITS and poor person's taste, you know, the Premier League, doing his due diligence when clubs are sold to entities around the world and and he was making the point that, yes, they have that criteria. They have that criteria, proof of funds, making sure you can prove you are who you say you are. And of course, one of the other key checkpoints in that is you get seal of approval from government, you know, heads of state people who are employed to govern our country and he was making the point that, that in many respects, if that's getting a tick in the box, then it's open season per se, but if the government are saying yes to it, then I think when we hold these, these sporting entities to a higher order, those questions sometimes I do believe that we're going to shift that focus and say, Well, was it okay when we go to the governments of these countries and say, Listen, what are you doing more often to highlight these issues?

In terms of winning hearts and minds in your region, and promoting change, isn't happening.

It is it really really is. We are living in an incredibly, you know, the digital age is here. It's been here for a while and I want to see the proliferation of social media channels. Again, I referenced someone I was talking to in the last couple of days. There's a lot of people I have been speaking to a lady by the name of Ashima al Husseini, who's part of the SoDI ot for all Federation and she was a wonderful, wonderful auditor. And you know, she's very passionate about the growth of sport in Saudi Arabia and she was making the point that for 75% of the Sony population is 35. And under I believe it is it's increasingly a younger demographic, a younger population and you know, they are on social media they are consuming are not just wasted through World ideals and, you know, whether it be music or film or or what have you, they're taking in all different types of material and there is change in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We know they're 2030 vision is well documented over in here in the United Arab Emirates, and where I am right now in Abu Dhabi, there's the sports vision 2040. There is change, you can make no mistake about that, whether that's a quality, whether it's for women, women's rights and women getting more opportunities. In sport, Cheema was actually talking about the fact that CrossFit hugely popular among the female population in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and I'm using that as the example first and foremost and, you know, changes that are elements and then there are areas in society where those changes are Glaciar. Like, some of those changes are incremental, and I've witnessed it with my own eyes that are some and I would say, certainly in the United Arab Emirates, the majority of changes that are happening rapidly. So anyone who's been to this part of the world will know that that there's a lot of females, for example, now making up boards, sporting or otherwise. And I think you know, there's no doubt in my mind, and it's the same with cats out as well. I've spoken to a lot of females from Saudi Arabia who now hold some real, real key decision making positions in their country, and they speak with so much passion that we're not going to change this for anyone on this webinar think that change will be like a light switch. No, it's going to take a lot of conversation. Absolutely. On that front. It's going to be a lot of evolution. There are educational aspects to it as well. This is a slow burn. nowadays. I can't see it. Any other way. It is a slow burn button from from my own eyes from my own experiences. Perhaps not happening as quick as some liberals and you know, some would like the changes happening. Make no mistake about it.

Is football a vehicle for change? Yeah,

ultimately Yes, sport is, is the unifier. As again, I referenced Richard Scudamore. It feels like turning into Richard but he's someone I look up to, and he's been there and done it when it comes to, you know, the highest level of football and he said, you know, it was a beautiful line, sport and music. The only two things in a lot of ways that the collapse borders the collapse, you know, your creed, your religion, your you know, whatever your fraud, whichever, whatever you believe in sport is the unifier and you know, football that are proofs of concepts. Football can be a good vehicle for change, if it's used properly and and again, if it's bringing people together being and bringing people together with healthy conversation, you know, and I think that's what it will do. Anyone that is heading over to Qatar and I've asked this with my friends and colleagues as well as will really take the time. See coat Caetani see coat conversation. You know, listen to what they've got to see and even if you're for an agreement with some of their ideals or or some of their thoughts, listen to them, listen to the why and at all and have that have those conversations and that's what this World Cup can do. They're gonna be fans from all around the world heading into Qatar. It brings us together and it will hopefully lead to open dialogue. And only in doing that, can we start to have these conversations constructive conversations, not saying you're right and wrong, constructive conversations that can lead to a continued period of discussion and analysis in the hope that we get the change that I think we all are certainly the majority of us would like to see.

You mentioned women and increased representation. How are we going to see some of that at this world? Cup? I was looking at some stats and of the accredited journalists in Russia four years ago only 14% or woman what's

happening? I mean 14% It's yeah, it's it's not great. Is it? I mean, yeah. It's interesting. And again, to give you a bit of personal kind of background to myself, you know, growing up in a single parent household, my mom and my sister, my brand or throw her into the mix as well. You know, I'm very passionate now a father of two young girls as well, massively championing you know, women's rights in this regard and 14% of women involved in in the reporting in the last World Cup. Yeah, I want to see that figure up and again, I use the UK and a lot of ways as the barometer of course, I'm from the UK and the huge strides that have been taken. You just have to look now you see, female lead analysts, I can name check. Noise and counting Carney, Alex score all of these ladies of course are well known to certainly a UK viewers and I appreciate it when you're based in the UK. You've got pitch pitch side reporters Melissa ready, who has no think chief reporter at Sky Sports news. I got to be even be in sports based over in Qatar. You've got a lady by the name of cardi Brown. She's based out of London. She's there can achieve pitchside reporter for the London clubs. You know, you've got a litany of ladies now involved at the coalface as I like to see your football and and that's brilliant and only known it's interesting game when because I think for a long time, females interested in sport today and thought to themselves is this is this something I can get into? Now they're seeing females and beyond that they're hearing females in the commentary box. There's females analyze games before matches halftime full time. And again, it's all about time. It's all about patience. We're going to see that change and we are seeing it from a UK perspective. I'll come back to that. And I do think again, I don't have the stats at hand. We'll only maybe get them at the end of this World Cup. I'll make a friendly wager it has to be a friendly wager of course, gambling not allowed in these parts a friendly wager with you that 14% We will see an increase in that come the 2022 World Cup I really do believe that again go back to the success of the lionesses for example, the England lionesses in football over in the UK again. Again, it's allowing young girls not to aspire to be leaner may see a Christiane Ronaldo put aspire to be the stars of the female game and there are many of those alums dig in, you know, I look at someone like Alex Morgan. I'm not talking us of course, and Megan Rapinoe, etc. So it says I actually think as a father of a three year old and a one year old. I have never been this infused by female sport in general. And know the proliferation of females in key positions and not just anchors. You know, there's many great female anchors, I'm talking about females talking about football and analyzing football and giving their opinion.

Great. If you do have questions for Chris, you can put them in WhatsApp or in the q&a box if you're on the webinar. I while we're on the topic of woman, I suppose it has to be asked although having lived in the region I hate this question. Will Women Journalists be safe in Qatar?

Yes, yes, yes. Yes. And yes. Listen, again. I can't that's not the Chris McCarty guarantee because you can't guarantee anything in life. Truly. You know what I mean? I know that maybe there's also a little chuckle back and I mean that sincerely. Like, you know, whether you're in a small village where I'm from healing form in the northeast of Scotland, to Qatar, there is inherent dangers are everywhere. You can't account for individuals who may or may not decide to harm you. Okay, so let's get that out the way but but yes, and again, I will say to you all if anyone is on this call heading to Carter, that will be probably the thing that surprises you most, you know, again, it kind of boggles the mind a little bit that yes, you got to be respectful. You've got to not seek cover. You don't have to I mean, get when you're in a better position than I am. You're off to cover your hair and etc. You absolutely don't have to do that. You have to be respectful, but you have to be respectful everywhere that you go, but But yes, you're going to be welcomed, everyone is going to be welcomed. There is no doubt about that. This is a World Cup. karts are not doing this for anything other than, you know, they want to be front and center in this and they want to be front and center and so on all the good things. You know, they don't want every negative connotation associated with them to be highlighted or you can bet your life you'll be welcomed and be welcomed at the airport with a smile and you know, for my experiences. My wife's here my daughters and I'm talking in the United Arab Emirates is slightly different but this is one of the safest places on the planet you know you certainly in the UK 20 years ago, you may have left your front door open at night, not know over in these parts. I'd have no hesitation and it's happened one too many times for my liking. The front doors left open because yeah the

first folks Chris McCarthy has doors unlocked.

I'm Scottish doll Caitlin so that isn't sitting around. I can tell you

I just want to have a look and see if we have any questions for you in the run. Frieda from Sweden. Can we get our camera going downstairs? And take the question about sports washing Here we go. I've read up. Give us one second to move the camera. Around. Well done Brett. And you're on mute.

If I may before for you to ask this question. I have a love affair with Sweden. And my friends actually worked in Austria students, which is about five and a half hours drive up from Stockholm. So I've done them all I've done Malmo have done golf lubricants done Stockholm. I've done a police called dagger fours as well and as soon as violin and Ulster shooting so I wonder what freedoms for me she can maybe tell me that before she asked.

My Oh, it really taught me footballs to use I would say EF core Guttenberg for me, but I know that there is a really good difficult story from us the showed about this super small team that race and play the glossy what British team was a painting

so austere scene, so my very good friend is very important former manager and they are who's now the manager of Chelsea Football Club. 13 of Swedish people very quickly. 13 of Swedish football took them to the top division one the Swedish cup got to the last 32 of the Europa League. The last three nelta are snow in Australia in the game, and then the new one and the second leg before bugging a great story. Sorry. You've got a question for you now

yeah, no, no facing very much economic problems back home. But that's another story. My question is about the sports washing that he talked about earlier. And there is actually no discussion because there has been a recent book coming out this weekend about ahead of the World Cup run this Swedish journalist cooler bloomed a popularize and he's talking about a sport for a sports washing and he applies that it is a like a Western perspective on on the World Cup. That is that the topic of human rights and equity passport, was it mainly raised in western outlets. Is that something you agree on the was or is a worldwide?

Let's also say that again? Just to be clear, I think about your question. You mentioned there that the idea of sports washing is a western concept that no one else is reporting.

Or in his case when it comes to Qatar, the question is mainly racing Western athletes.

Yep. Listen, there's no doubt in my mind that that's the case. You know, again, I'm trying to troll through my memory bank. In terms of you know, publications hear the same stories are run yeah, there's no doubt about that. I think questions are asked of key individuals slot and I use your compatriot as a case in point questions are asked of him and you know, he will sidestep some you'll answer others but there is no doubt I think, from a sports wash in perspective, the majority of articles the majority of discussion does come from the Western from the Western world, you know, a lot of these countries that we speak of in this region that have been accused of it, they can, you know, they will have to answer questions about it, but in terms of journalists writing about it, per se, No, there isn't. There isn't that much. It does come from a Western standpoint, mainly, the question certainly when I'm in press conferences, etc. When I'm speaking with these people, it's hits the Western journalists that are asking about this notion of sports moshing, and, again, it comes down I see it all the time it comes down to the individual, some individuals will answer it and give their honest opinion, some will be what I would call respectful of the fact of where they are, you know, if there'll be asked these questions in these countries, then it becomes that little bit more difficult perhaps to answer honestly, but it's an interesting notion that's been put forward and I would probably concur that jority of those kind of articles and, and kind of documentaries or whatever we're talking about here probably does come from more of a western world kind of standpoint.

Can we go to Olga from the from

Hello Thank you, Chris, for this presentation. Yummy Ukrainian journalist and actually, I've been to Qatar once I had the connection fly there. So I spent some hours in Doha. And my impression was that this is not a city for pedestrians for you know, tourism budgets. I'm really looking forward to see will this issue be addressed somehow during the World Cup will be accessible for many people from various countries around the world. So in terms of you know, the infrastructure and then my question is about different things. So recently, the FIFA president Gianni Infantino speaking in Indonesia, head of the G 20. Summit, he called for a ceasefire in Ukraine and he said that, well during the World conferences wire could be implemented. In fact, this calls you know, in Ukraine, where we receive a lot of incomprehension, like why why did he have to say that because this is why it is not something that you bring in second at the moment because it doesn't benefit your brand at the moment is actually Russia. Grand Prix promises. Why was it this was it on the battlefield? So my question is, you know, what do you think of the schools Why would you continue like going into this political things command to war, especially considering also his relationship with Russia that he had an award from Putin some years ago,

yet, simply poof, thank you for your question. I mean, I think it will come as no surprise that you probably saw me shaking my head there. I mean, he's made light of the situation in that part of the world. He's, he's done that in a way it seems almost like a sales pitch. Asking for a ceasefire to walk are very your gaze to the FIFA World Cups or what so that the coffers of FIFA and there starts at the end of this World Cup in terms of figures watching it. It's out of place. It's out of kilter and Gianni, like the majority of FIFA, semi SAP, so you know, and UEFA with Michel Platini, they do have a habit of putting their foods in, you know, more often than not, you know, again, Gianni's job isn't as a politician. I appreciate that the rule was president of FIFA, it's not an easy one. I'm sure it is an easy one. I've never actually had the pleasure of actually sitting down and having a conversation with Gianni. But that yeah, that seems it seems insensitive, at best. I actually never actually saw that comment. So thank you for highlighting it. But that's not his role. You know, his role is to be the figure for football. I mean, again, I would, if I was advising Gianni Infantino, I would not be getting involved in any situation with sickle he is there to you know, he's the custodian of football. FIFA is the governing body of you know, the world game and yeah, that that comment kind of sticks in the throat a little bit. So, on behalf of Jana Yeah, I apologize because it's very insensitive. Indeed.

Let's stay with Gianni for a second. He's been calling for a World Cup every two years. Do you think that's going to happen?

Nope. Nope. Nope. This is a rotten idea. And the fact that arson venga who is FIFA as Head of Global Development I mean someone give that man a job I'm being serious here. Anyone needs a garden or gate arson bangers number the man is losing the plot law professor as he was known at Arsenal and yeah, I have not come across if football or Caitlin either, you know, current or past that believes it's a good idea. You know, again, I'm name dropping a little bit here but slapped on again. I was on stage with him on Sunday night, clot and seed off earlier this week, you know, two legends of the game and and they just cut me down. I hadn't even finished the question. And they said nope, stop right there. We are not robots. We are human beings we have families we are you know you are running us into the ground for for walk to the end of the day FIFA may well dress itself up as non for profit. But you know fine well that the and Gianni flips through the dollar bills at the end of this World Cup. There's no doubt about that. And and yet we have to be mindful of this and Pep Guardiola who was over in these parts at the start of the year with Expo 2020 down in Dubai and I had a long conversation with him about this as well. And, you know, he makes the point that we journalists were desensitized sometimes to the fact that football players are human beings. They have emotions like you and I they have families they have arguments they have disagreements with their wife or their children they have you know, it sounds a bit morbid but you know, death in the family and and yet we expect from them every Saturday, every Wednesday night when it comes to the Champions League, a certain level of performance and if they drop below that we're up their throats without them on social media now is such a beautiful place but it's a cancerous poisonous place as well and no all of these players have made the point coming back to your question or World Cup every two years. What does it serve? It says FIFA Yes, they will dress it up that it serves the fans but to my knowledge, it's not one fan that is walking around asking for a World Cup every two years. It's sacrosanct. It is the beauty of the World Cup is it's every four years the level of interest. The fact that I'm sitting on this seminar with you now is because it's finally here. And for that change. There's an old saying isn't that if it's not broken? Don't fix it. And then when it comes to the FIFA World Cup, the players don't want it. There's no massive appetite from the fans. FIFA wants it and I've often said this FIFA you know, the amazing thing with football this is that it is the global game. And yet two of the most powerful entities we're not even discussing over the course of the next four weeks China and India and that's the next kind of, you know, conquest or free flights they want the sooner they can get those two powerhouses to the table, the top table of world football, the better because that's the opening of yet more riches, love issues of riches and yeah, they won't stop until they get there hence, I mean, we'll probably won't touching on this seminar Kate went but even the idea of a 48 nation World Cup in 2026. We probably don't have long enough for me to bang the drum on that but I find even that is is in my opinion is not a great idea. But that's gonna be a discussion for another for another day.

What it brings, I'm gonna go to UNC next but it brings to my mind the question, Are sports journalists doing enough to talk about sustainability in football? I mean,

yeah, again, it's a hot topic. Yeah, it is a hot topic. I'll go back to it to agree on Porter I'm on again, as I say, I know. Well, he was actually asked this quite recently, the Chelsea manager and to my knowledge, certainly in the Premier League, the first manager to say, Yeah, we aren't doing enough. You know, we need to look at our carbon emissions. You know, again, there's been instances where think Arsenal Football Club if memory serves me correct, have a game against knowledge, which again, you're all based in England, so you're probably a better job than I do. Norwich is down in East Anglia if I'm if I'm not mistaken, and other taking a 15 minute 15 minute flight. I mean, that's just to me. Come on. I know you're an errand 100 grand a week. But you can all get on a bus. You know you can I just I just find it find it ludicrous. I think that is that's the next big thing. And there are pockets Forest Green Rovers is a great story. Again, I won't bore you with the details on that. You can look that up in your own time. There a club that wants to be increasingly more green, increasingly more sustainable, but I do think that is the next Vanguard, if you will, that's the next area that he's Yarny and his I'll call them mold might take a little Luca is there's more can be done who can football and sustainability and and getting a message across kind of get a little bit more aligned because there is no doubt and and listening in fairness to Qatar. Now one of the stadiums that are being built, there is a kind of a legacy to them. There's a sustainable kind of, you know, element in nature to them. So that will again, only time will tell if they're true to the word and on those builds and where those materials end up. We'll have to hold them to that but then yeah, there is no don't get when the short answer to your question is sustainability is an issue. It's getting increasingly your covered and it's an area that I'm sure will be looked at in a lot more detail in the coming months and years

is something you think about with your coverage.

Honestly, I must admit it's not front and center. being truthful. There isn't I'd be lying if I said it was and yeah, I mean, we all can you know, we all can do our best. I like to think that I do my best. I actually don't drive I'm a 36 year old man, that doesn't drive I get ferried around so we make sure there's carpool so that's that's me do my little tiny little bit for that for the environment, Caitlin, but in all seriousness, though, I've got to be honest, I probably don't get it, give it you know more. I probably don't give it enough thought than I should I'll be honest.

Thank you for your honesty. I now have questions coming in thick and fast and we're not by a longshot going to have a chance to get to them or

burn as many as you can.

Let's do a quick fire round Timmy to appear says if you're a woman, and particularly if you're a woman of color, how do you get a foot up? How do you become a sports journalist? How do you crack the industry?

is a great question and yet Listen, I'd like to think and again it's maybe I'm a little bit wet by in the years and and perhaps a little bit too naive. But you know, in this day and age, you put in the hard work that there's no substitute for that. You know, if you are a woman of color, that you have to have first brass tacks, you need the qualifications, right? So your work blooming hard to ensure that you've got the qualifications and then like any good journalist and I like to think I had a bit of this in Munich came from my upbringing. You're a bull in a china shop. You do not accept the answer. No. So yeah, listen, I know and I certainly wasn't a position in a working class family, you know, single mothers my mum was you have to put yourself out there. Though. You've got to do the jobs that you think it's not really where I want to be you do it, you do it to gain the experience. You do it to gain the respect of your peers. And you're very quickly certainly in this part of the world. Again, either, although a lot of cliches today, and I apologize for that. I'm a bit cheesy when it comes to that but, you know, sometimes it's not what you know, it's who you know. Can and again, a good journalist is only as good as his contact book. So your work bloody hard. You put yourself at the center, you send email after email. For some good journalists in this world. I'll never forget Neil Costas at the sun. I was a young little whippersnapper. Again, I appreciate I'm not a woman of color, but I did. He wasn't to know what I was something could have been Christina rather than Chris but I sent him an email when fairplay to within three days he took the time out give me a little bit of tiny little bit of advice and I've actually never met Neil to thank him for that and it's, it's those little bits and pieces across this but you worked hard. You literally if you want it enough. And again a lot of people might shake their head at their spy truly i There is. There is a belief in Me that does if you want it hard enough. And by the way, if you sit and you send your emails out there and and you get out there and you go to matches your doorstop. You're almost in a lot of ways. What you're attaining aren't what you're aspiring to be you actually have to straight away do it together. Does that make sense? I'm hoping again, a few notes here where if you dream of being a journalist, be a journalist straight off the bat to try and get your opportunities and workloads conducted and keep pestering until someone gives in and that would be again, maybe a bit foolhardy and I appreciate there are a number of challenges if you are, you know, a female, you know of color. There are other challenges that I'm perhaps not touching on but also old school first and foremost and see where that takes you.

Thank you. I'm going to rapid fire a couple of these for you. Do you think sportsmen from particular countries should be banned because of the decisions that leaders and politicians make in their countries?

Wow. And of course that is a ticket in reference to what's going on in Ukraine and Russia. I can understand them. I truly can. And in the case of what we've seen, and again, tennis is a great example. And all Wimbledon came in for a lot of abuse for essentially banning Belarusian and Russian athletes. I think it depends how how much we want to hold leaders accountable. At the end of the day, again, I don't want to sit here and get political. I'm not a politician. And you know, I certainly don't pretend to be one but I put it like this. I can understand. I can understand why some sporting entities would make that decision and whilst I appreciate you that will be universally there'll be a lot of people shooting that room and and watching on it don't necessarily agree with that. I can I can understand that. I truly can we want to live in a fair and balanced world. Of course we do that there's no one on this planet that wouldn't want that. And, and sometimes sports against these deem it necessary to take more steps for the good of society and the good of the world. And that's their decisions to make and we've got to respect that. Yes, we can challenge it, but ultimately, they will make their decisions and ultimately, whether you like it or not, you have to respect it.

Yeah, question from Johnny in Northern Ireland. How much of a culture shock should fans expect when they arrive in Cata?

or Yes, yeah. The factor of 50 for a star and it may be November, December. I mean, I will say this and in all seriousness on this, I've lived here 12 years, United Arab Emirates, that is and this November is unseasonably hot. I mean, I'm in a suit today. You don't want to see this little sky blue shirt. You don't want to see what's under here. Today, that's for sure. But Sam Yeah, 35 degrees I think it is today. So again, if you're if you're interested in the football aspect, I think the South American clubs and expect that African nation and I see clubs country and African nation to do well, it's the nations that are used to the stifling heat because it is on seasonably warm. So culture shock wise. Yeah, the heat is something but embrace it. You know, Brazil was a culture shock for me. You know, Russia to your point was a culture shock and you go there, have your eyes open and just just enjoy it London. You know, we're all journalists here. Just embrace it. Come back to embrace it. poke your head in and get into the shops, get into the museums, have those conversations with locals people around the world and and then only then in the fullness of time and the fullness of your experience in Qatar? Can you then truly go away and then come up with your conclusion as to your experience and and the country and I'm telling you now, I will say this to you all. Qatar in the Middle East if you haven't been it will surprise you in the positive more than it will in the negative. I do believe

this has been a brilliant conversation because i i don't think i've necessarily appreciated the complexity required of a sports journalist in terms of grasping the politics grasping the finance and the financial aspects and mismanagement by FIFA. Alleged and and now also understanding climate change and sustainability and it's it's not an easy job. You guys always seem to be having the most fun in the corner. Very loud, but it's not an easy job. So my hat's off to you 100% I can't let you go Chris without asking. You're a Scotsman. We've got Wales and England playing. Who you cheering for?

Well, I'll give you an ID on this. I thought it would be Scotland at least I was hoping it was going to be Scotland. So I'm actually over there for England Wales. There. I don't know if you've got any Welsh viewers in so I apologize for what I'm going to say here, but O'Meara heat. Okay, Amara heat, which Michael Sheen has gone viral. The actor has gone viral. There's a big chance I will be supporting. Yeah, he's amazing. Michael Sheen, it easy to see if I'm quoting Amara heeds it means I'll absolutely be with the Welsh dragon or the dragon or the Welsh or whatever it is. Yeah, it's fair to say. And there'll be one or two thinking you tiny you petty Scotsman but yeah, anyone and I don't I won't apologize for seeing this. Anyone But England. So with no World Cup.

Oh, you got applause downstairs. And no, no, no bets of course. But any. Any tips?

Everyone's talking about Argentina the 35 marches on Peter Leno's cologne. He's done an incredible job Copa America winners in 2019. They have the plate size genius. As well, you know, may see, it would be a wonder a wonderful exclamation mark on his career. I think we all maybe not the Ronaldo kind of sympathizers out there. But if we may see in Argentina, were to win it. It would just be he deserves it. He is the greatest player in my opinion we've ever seen. The things you can do on a football field show? Argentina? Yes, I do think I must say I do think it will come out of Argentina or Brazil. One of those nations will emerge victorious. come December 18 2022. I'm looking forward to

Chris, you're a champ. Good luck out there. Don't forget your sunscreen and we'll be watching.

Thank you so much, Caitlin. It's been a pleasure. Thank you guys as well. My Scottish accents a bit fake. So I apologize. If maybe one or two of you might have needed some translation there. But it's been an absolute pleasure. Hopefully you've taken something from it. And yeah, thank you very much. Thanks. Caitlin.

Come back soon. Thank you. Thanks, Caitlin.