Qatar playing in the Copa America

[mkmel]

Since when has Qatar been in the Americas?

Money talks again??????

[PhiladelphiaChris]

They have two invited teams,Japan being the other one.

[Pimlico_Claret]

They have two invited teams,Japan being the other one.

Invited on what terms, the size of the brown envelope offered?

[ClaretTony]

If Australia can enter the Eurovision Song Contest then anything is possible

[theroyaldyche]

Invited on what terms, the size of the brown envelope offered?

Yes

[martin_p]

And Israeli teams play in the european competitions.

[TVC15]

And Blackburn in The Championship

[Fenwick]

And Israeli teams play in the european competitions.

There at least is a good reason for that. The alternative is the Asian confederation. Might get a bit tasty if they were drawn, say, an Iranian team.

[Falcon]

Copa America have always traditionally invited 2 non-South American sides to enter the tournament so this is not new info.

In past tournaments Australia, Costa Rica, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Panama and United States have all entered. Mexico were even losing finalists on a couple of occasions.

Would only have taken a simple Wikipedia search to find this out.

[Falcon]

There at least is a good reason for that. The alternative is the Asian confederation. Might get a bit tasty if they were drawn, say, an Iranian team.

They were in the Asian confederation but left for precisely this reason. The other members voted to ban Israel from AFC.

[Chester Perry]

Qatar are also the Asian champions

[Foulthrow]

Here's another question then on the Copa America which I couldn't find the answer to - why are they having another one next year? I think they also did the same in 2015 and 2016. It seems to be held pretty much at random.

[Foshiznik]

Copa America have always traditionally invited 2 non-South American sides to enter the tournament so this is not new info.

In past tournaments Australia, Costa Rica, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Panama and United States have all entered. Mexico were even losing finalists on a couple of occasions.

Would only have taken a simple Wikipedia search to find this out.

Unfortunately people of a certain age need to show mock rage at something they know nothing about to feel alive.

[Swizzlestick]

Here's another question then on the Copa America which I couldn't find the answer to - why are they having another one next year? I think they also did the same in 2015 and 2016. It seems to be held pretty much at random.

CONMEBOL voted to move the tournament so that it's played in 'even' years to coincide with the Euros. They'll be a four year gap after 2020.

2016 tournament was a 'special edition' to celebrate the centenary of the Copa America.

[jrgbfc]

CONMEBOL voted to move the tournament so that it's played in 'even' years to coincide with the Euros. They'll be a four year gap after 2020.

2016 tournament was a 'special edition' to celebrate the centenary of the Copa America.

Surely would have been more sensible to just give it a miss in 2019? Especially after having tournaments in 2015 and 16.

[rob63]

Surely would have been more sensible to just give it a miss in 2019? Especially after having tournaments in 2015 and 16.

Stop talking sense & talk money instead........you'll never make a football administrator at this rate!

[Swizzlestick]

Surely would have been more sensible to just give it a miss in 2019? Especially after having tournaments in 2015 and 16.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9o0rAvZtM7w" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[mkmel]

Qatar are also the Asian champions

Without playing a game no doubt

[Falcon]

Without playing a game no doubt

Ignorance showing through again.

The AFC Cup 2019 was played in UAE in January and Qatar won through, beating the hosts along the way.

Due to the political issues between the two countries, barely any Qatar fans were able to even enter the UAE to support their side, but they won the thing anyway, beating Japan in the final.

[mkmel]

So you think that Michel Platini who was going to vote for the USA to stage the 2022 World Cup was not shall we say influenced after meeting with the Quataris

So influenced that he changed his vote to Qatar and the French President Sarkozy I think it was after meeting with the Quataris managed to secure a lucrative defence contract

And we are talking of a country that has appalling human rights records homophobia and such extreme heat so should no way have been given the 2022 World Cup to stage

You think money doesn't play a part in all of this?

[Falcon]

What's that got anything to do with my response?

You said that Qatar were Asian champions 'without playing a game'

I pointed out that they won the tournament fair and square.

They beat heavyweight (by AFC standards) sides Saudi Arabia (2-0), Iran (1-0), South Korea (1-0) and Japan (3-1) along the way, as well as the host nation (4-0) in front of a partisan crowd. Were the refs paid off in every game?