The decision to disallow Chris Wood's goal in the qualifier against Costa Rica means that the All Whites and their fans will not be at the 2022 Football World Cup, which starts on November 20 in Qatar. They may have dodged a bullet.
There are, of course, worse places to hold the biggest sporting event in the world - for example, Stewart Island, Antarctica, or my spare bedroom. However, none of these quite have the trifecta of the inhospitable climate, lack of facilities and autocratic regime that Qatar has, though my back bedroom would run it close.
So, how did Fifa, the sport's governing body, end up choosing a tiny country in the Middle East without the football heritage, stadiums, climate, or accommodation to hold such a prestigious event? There are many rumours, not just of bribery but also that the then-French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, applied pressure for commercial reasons. Whatever the real story, Sepp Blatter, Fifa president at the time, now concedes that choosing Qatar was "a mistake".
Denne historien er fra November 25- December 2 2022-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
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Denne historien er fra November 25- December 2 2022-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
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First-world problem
Harrowing tales of migrants attempting to enter the US highlight the political failure to fully tackle the problem.
Applying intelligence to AI
I call it the 'Terminator Effect', based on the premise that thinking machines took over the world.
Nazism rears its head
Smirky Höcke, with his penchant for waving with a suspiciously straight elbow and an open palm, won't get to be boss of either state.
Staying ahead of the game
Will the brave new world of bipartisanship that seems to be on offer with an Infrastructure Commission come to fruition?
Grasping the nettle
Broccoli is horrible. It smells, when being cooked, like cat pee.
Hangry? Eat breakfast
People who don't break their fast first thing in the morning report the least life satisfaction.
Chemical reaction
Nitrates in processed meats are well known to cause harm, but consumed from plant sources, their effect is quite different.
Me and my guitar
Australian guitarist Karin Schaupp sticks to the familiar for her Dunedin concerts.
Time is on my side
Age does not weary some of our much-loved musicians but what keeps them on the road?
The kids are not alright
Nuanced account details how China's blessed generation has been replaced by one consumed by fear and hopelessness.
