bein graft claims test limit of qatars soft power
Last Updated : GMT 09:40:38
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Last Updated : GMT 09:40:38
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

beIN graft claims test limit of Qatar's soft power

Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchroniclebeIN graft claims test limit of Qatar's soft power

Paris Saint Germain's (PSG) Qatari president Nasser Al-Khelaifi
Doha - AFP

Thursday's bombshell announcement that the Swiss are investigating Qatar's Nasser Al-Khelaifi and a disgraced former senior FIFA executive on corruption charges places the emirate and world football back under scrutiny.

Investigators are examining allegations of bribery surrounding Khelaifi, head of the Doha-based beIN media group, and ex-FIFA secretary general, Jerome Valcke, over the sale of World Cup media rights for football's flagship tournament.

"It is suspected that Jerome Valcke accepted undue advantages from a businessman in the sports rights sector in connection with the award of media rights for certain countries at the FIFA World Cups in 2018, 2022, 2026 and 2030 and from Nasser al-Khelaifi in connection with the award of media rights for certain countries at the FIFA World Cups in 2026 and 2030," read a statement from the Swiss attorney general's office.

The Qatar broadcaster strongly denied the claims.

"beIN Media Group refutes all accusations made by the OAG (Switzerland's attorney general's office)," it said in a statement.

Although the investigation is bad news for the high-profile PSG president Khelaifi, thought currently to be in Qatar, it is highly unlikely the fallout will be contained to him and Valcke.

Scrutiny on FIFA and Qatar will intensify as a result, say experts.

"In isolation, it would be easy to explain today's developments as being yet another example of an allegedly dubious practice in a sport characterised by an endless flow of misdemeanours," said Simon Chadwick, professor of sports enterprise at Britain's Salford University.

"However, this is not an isolated incident, and forms part of an ongoing narrative that has built-up around both FIFA and Qatar."

World football is still dealing with the fallout from the events of 2015 when FIFA officials were arrested en masse at the governing body's annual conference.

- Limits of soft power? -

And Qatar also remains at the centre of the storm engulfing the sport.

The news from Geneva caps a tumultuous few days, weeks and months for Qatar.

Long used to denying graft allegations over its successful bid for the 2022 tournament -- which Qatar has done numerous times -- the Gulf state has been presented with a far different set of challenges since June 5, since the regional diplomatic crisis began.

The diplomatic isolation of Doha following the blockade announced by neighbouring countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE has impacted in almost unimaginable ways.

And Thursday's news also places its policy of diplomatic soft power centre-stage.

Qatar has been enormously ambitious and successful in using soft power through sport and the media -- beIN also owns Hollywood's Miramax, for example -- to promote itself on the world stage.

That strategy is increasingly under attack.

Earlier this week, Doha's government communications office took the unprecedented step of stating the 2022 World Cup "was not up for negotiation" after some claims it could be taken from Qatar because of the political crisis.

beIN has also found itself targeted across the Gulf during the crisis where it is a major sports broadcaster in the region, with programmes blocked.

"This development is set against a backdrop of an intense, and an increasingly fractious feud," Chadwick told AFP.

"Hence, the timing and nature of allegations being made against Al-Khelaifi is suspicious.

"One suspects it could be part of an ongoing information war being waged by Gulf rivals."

Probably the greatest example of soft power was the stunning transfer of Brazilian superstar Neymar to PSG, successfully overseen by Khelaifi, earlier this year.

Now though, Qatar may have overreached with that policy.

Khelaifi's connections are undeniable -- he is a tennis-playing friend of the country's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.

The fact that he has been named is notable.

But high-profile comes at a potential high cost.

"The image and reputation of both Qatar and the region is suffering," Chadwick told AFP.

"The feud is reinforcing preconceptions and stereotypes that many people across the world hold about Gulf nations.

"As such, it seems imperative that all concerned find a quick, consensual solution to what is damaging the region's football and its standing in the world."

source: AFP

themuslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

bein graft claims test limit of qatars soft power bein graft claims test limit of qatars soft power

 



Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

GMT 06:40 2017 Saturday ,16 December

Walker needs brains not just brawn

GMT 08:15 2017 Thursday ,07 September

US oil giant ExxonMobil plans Cyprus gas exploration

GMT 18:11 2011 Monday ,18 April

Zimbabwe and Zambia in tug of war over Vic Falls

GMT 16:05 2017 Tuesday ,31 October

Qadih calls for involving private sector

GMT 09:20 2017 Wednesday ,15 November

Qualcomm spurns $130 bn Broadcom bid for big tech tie-up

GMT 13:43 2017 Tuesday ,24 October

Stabbed Russian journalist 'in recovery'

GMT 10:26 2017 Friday ,14 April

Sock topples Haas to reach ATP Houston quarters

GMT 14:00 2017 Saturday ,25 November

Sudan condemns terrorist attack in Egypt

GMT 09:40 2017 Monday ,04 December

Stade down Racing, Clermont edge plucky Agen

GMT 08:08 2017 Thursday ,05 October

Injury jinx strikes again as Iordache exits

GMT 11:20 2017 Tuesday ,05 December

Prodigal son: Saleh Saudi overture tips Yemen balance

GMT 09:35 2013 Saturday ,31 August

Afghan suicide attack kills 6, hurts 20 in south

GMT 23:36 2016 Sunday ,11 December

Suicide attack in Istanbul claims 29 lives

GMT 18:29 2013 Sunday ,10 November

Samsung\'s Galaxy Note 3 top 5m

GMT 14:52 2013 Sunday ,24 November

Computer game opponents begin to think, feel alike

GMT 18:55 2012 Wednesday ,02 May

8 Secret guy insecurities

GMT 19:27 2012 Thursday ,10 May

How to win over your boss

GMT 18:27 2012 Sunday ,29 April

Why I\'m better off without a baby

GMT 13:40 2012 Friday ,25 May

Sharnoubi to make documentary on singer Warda

GMT 12:58 2014 Friday ,28 November

Incredibly small apartment in Paris

GMT 00:44 2011 Sunday ,25 December

Modern glass house

GMT 10:51 2011 Tuesday ,05 July

Dior loses its way without creative director
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
 
 Themuslimchronicle Facebook,themuslimchronicle facebook  Themuslimchronicle Twitter,themuslimchronicle twitter Themuslimchronicle Rss,themuslimchronicle rss  Themuslimchronicle Youtube,themuslimchronicle youtube  Themuslimchronicle Youtube,themuslimchronicle youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©

muslimchronicle muslimchronicle muslimchronicle muslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle themuslimchronicle themuslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle